Setting the Project Base Point

You can reset the elevations reported for the floor levels in your project to a scheme that is more convenient for your modeling work:

• The elevations reported in a project exported from Forma Building Design match the True Survey Elevation relative to sea level.
• For easier reference as you model, you can reset the Project Base Point to match the lowest floor level in your project. Using this scheme, all Levels will report their elevation relative to this lowest level—the Project Base Point.

Workflow

• Create a Default 3D View (or use an existing 3D orthographic view with no cropping).
• Turn on the visibility of the Project Base Point.
• Open the View > Visibility Graphics tool.
• In the Model Categories tab, scroll down to the Site categories.
• Click the + to the left of the Site label to see the subcategories.

• Turn on the checkbox for the Project Base Point.
• Click OK to close the dialog and return to the 3D view.
• Note the elevation of your lowest building level.
• Zoom in to view the Level lines.

• Note the elevation reported for the lowest building level (or the level that you’d like to use as your Project Zero).
• Raise the Project Base Point elevation to match this level.
• Zoom to Fit (type “ZF”) to zoom out to expose all the model elements.
• The Project Base Point will likely appear far below your building element. It could be several thousand feet below your lowest floor level.

• Select the Project Base Point.

• Enter the new elevation in the Elev field in the property palette.

• The Project Base Point will be raised to that elevation.
• Zoom Out, then Zoom In on the lowest building level to confirm that the Project Base Point appears at that level and the elevation reported matches the scheme you’d like to use.