How to Use Revit Copy Monitor Tools for Coordination

Copy Monitor is a tool for replicating and tracking elements from one Revit model to another. Most commonly used to transfer grids and levels from a structural model to an architectural model.

Developed BIM projects have separate models for architecture, structure, and MEP. This is where copying and monitoring comes into play. The structural engineer can handle grids and will be notified if any of them moves or changes within another model.

This tool requires linking project files. You can hide linked views via Visibility and Graphics (Shortcut: VG), to avoid duplicate elements in views of the host project.

Elements that can be copied and monitored are grids, levels, columns, walls, floors, openings, and MEP fixtures.

In this tutorial, we copy and monitor levels of the architectural RAC sample project in the equivalent structural RTC project…

Copy Monitor

Details: Use the “Copy Monitor” tool to transfer the elements of the architect model to the structural model.

Step 1

Go to the Insert tab > Link panel > click Link Revit. Align the linked model with its host.

Step 2

Go to the Collaborate tab > drop-down Copy/Monitor menu > click Select Link.

Step 3

Click on the linked project view in the viewport.

Step 4

Click “Monitor” in the Tools panel to track two corresponding elements from each view, or click “Copy” to monitor multiple linked elements.

monitor elements — Monitoring Roof Line and Top of Parapet in one viewport.

copy elements — Copy levels of a linked model for monitoring.

Step 5

Click Finish.

Results

If something changes within the linked model, whenever the linked model loads, a message will appear, showing that a Coordination Review is necessary.

show warning window — The Monitor icon appears on copied objects.

To review notifications of model changes and make a report out of them, go to Collaborate tab > drop-down Coordination Review menu > click Select Link > Select the link within the viewport.

review coordination warnings — Add comments and take actions for unresolved changes.

Postpone will keep the warning review-able until the specialist intervenes to decide. The last action on the menu will reset the element to its original place.

✨ Tip: To stop monitoring an element within a view, select the element > Modify | Element Type tab > Monitor panel > click Stop Monitoring.

Tools

Options: Customize parameters and type properties of copied elements in the host model.
Batch Copy: Replicate MEP fixtures from the linked model into the host model.

✨ Tip: Avoid undesirable warnings by limiting the use of Copy/ Monitor.

Model Coordination

Details: Coordination commands in the Collaborate bar.

Coordination Review

To take actions on monitored elements, make comments, and export tracking reports.

Coordination Settings

For choosing what Revit does when copying fixtures from a linked MEP model. You can apply settings to allow copying patches, individual elements, or for the process to ignore the category.

Reconcile Hosting

To identify orphaned elements after making changes to a linked model.

Interference Check

Run an interference check to find intersections between a set of selected elements or between all elements in the model.

Tips

To distinguish monitored elements in views: Create a custom yes/no parameter named (Copy/Monitor). After copy/ monitoring an element into the project, check YES in the box. Using view Filters, assign a color to the associated elements. (Via r/Andrroid on Reddit)
To monitor multiple linked views in less time, assign hotkeys for “Copy/ Monitor:Select Link”. Lean how to create shortcuts

Model coordination tools are important for sharing Revit files with collaborators in other disciplines.