What is Revit?

Revit is Building Information Modeling (BIM) software used by architects, engineers, and other construction professionals to create a unified model that all disciplines and trades can use to complete a building project from its initial conception to completion.

Revit is a single file database that can be shared among multiple users. Plans, sections, elevations, legends, and schedules are all interconnected, and if a user makes a change in one view, the other views are automatically updated. Thus, Revit drawings and schedules are always fully coordinated in terms of the building objects shown in drawings.

When a project database is shared, a central file is created which stores the master copy of the project database on a file server on the office's LAN. Each user works on a copy of the central file (known as the local file), stored on the user's workstation. Users then save to the central file to update the central file with their changes, and to receive changes from other users. Revit checks with the central file whenever a user starts working on an object in the database to see if another user is editing the object. This procedure prevents two people from making the same change simultaneously and prevents conflicts.

Since purchasing Revit, Autodesk has integrated three Revit platforms into the one Revit software title for the varying building design disciplines:

Revit Architecture, for architects and building designers (formerly Revit Building)

Revit Structure, for structural engineers

Revit MEP, for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers (formerly Revit Systems)