Revit 2025 Update
The workflow for cutting away topography was updated again in Revit 2025 to make it easier to work with toposolids.
In Revit 2025, you:
- Select the toposolid from which you want to excavate an area.
- Choose the Modify | Toposolid > Shape Editing > Excavate tool.
- Select the intersecting geometry (typically the floor element) that you’d like to use to create a void in the toposolid.
Here’s a video that demostrates the workflow from the creators at BIMsmith.
If using Revit 2024
The workflow for cutting away topography using building pad elements was changed to an entirely new implementation in Revit 2024 that used voids to subtract from a toposolid.
If using Revit 2023 or earlier versions
Workflow
Demo
Practice Exercise (Optional)
Download Practice File: Starting Point
- Create a new building pad with a size of approximately 1760 SF. The building pad should be located near the road but not intersect the road. Make sure the pad completely cuts through the topography.
When you have completed this exercise, your model should look something like this:
Download File: Ending Point