The discontinuation of automatic analytical element creation from Revit 2023 has led to significant frustrations, especially with the Analytical Automation function. Its rigidity has made it challenging to use for large models. Often, it fails to create all the necessary analytical elements, requiring an incremental approach to ensure all elements are represented. This process is particularly daunting with large models.
This was just the beginning of our challenges. Engineering software like Prokon and Robot require analytical elements, making the creation of an analytical model essential. Manually adding members is a cumbersome task. Additionally, due to the differences between 3D construction modeling and analytical modeling (refer to our blog on Physical vs. Analytical Models), most analytical elements were disconnected, with no quick fix available. I’ve spent over 90 hours on a single model to make it analysis-ready, turning it into a tedious and costly process with a high risk of missing elements. While applying best practices can ease the workflow, it adds extra time to correct the Revit model afterward (see our blog on Best Practices).
However, it seems Autodesk has heard our pleas. The latest version, Revit 2025.2, introduces a new and improved version of the Physical to Analytical for Buildings function.
This function includes settings that allow you to set adjustment tolerances for different element types
Though these settings may seem unfamiliar at first, their impact is remarkable. Beams running beneath slabs (which makes sense in the 3D construction space) can now have their analytical elements adjusted to align with the slab above them. Column lines extend to the slab, and beams are now flush with the slab’s analytical plane. Walls also intersect at corners. This alone is incredibly useful and offers great benefits to designers. With some tweaking of the different settings, you can significantly reduce your post-processing time. While this won’t eliminate the need for post-processing, it will make the process much easier.
Previously, Revit’s Analytical Automation would create analytical models that looked like this:
Note the position of the analytical elements. The beam and column elements are not connected to the slab and the column element extends slightly above that of the beam’s element. Also, your walls did not connect at corners, and there is essentially nothing you could do to correct that. How frustrating!
Now, with the new function:
Column lines extend to the slab and beams are now flush with the slab’s analytical plane. Walls also intersect at corners. This alone is so useful and is of great benefit to the designer.
The new function transforms the analytical modeling process, reducing the time and effort required to prepare models for analysis. This improvement not only streamlines workflows but also enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the modeling process. It results in more accurate, and complete, analysis models, which can easily be transferred to an analytical package such as Prokon’s SUMO using Prodesk (click for YouTube clip).
If you have any questions or need assistance with the new Revit features, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help! Also, check out our Micrographics YouTube page for tons of content.
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