Convert BIM data to a geodatabase

Data in ArcGIS Pro can be organized in geodatabases as a system of record for geospatial information. Building information modeling (BIM) content can be converted to a geodatabase, allowing you to use ArcGIS Pro to edit and maintain building information originating from BIM design files. These capabilities include maintenance and connecting buildings with other document management systems.

Using a geodatabase, you can merge information from multiple BIM files into one building layer. You can combine multiple buildings into one campus. Individual buildings can be identified using a unique name, allowing you to search for assets within a specific building or a set of buildings. After the buildings are stored in a geodatabase, you can maintain and update the attributes or geometry like any other GIS datasets. The 3D assets from BIM files are stored as multipatch feature classes.

If the BIM file contains textures, the multipatch feature class will maintain those textures. You can also change the symbology to only show simple colors.

Convert a BIM file workspace to a geodatabase

You can use Revit or IFC files directly in ArcGIS as a BIM file workspace, or as input to the BIM File To Geodatabase geoprocessing tool.

The feature classes of the BIM file workspace are already GIS data that is usable in geoprocessing tools, and as data sources for feature layers in a map or scene. Converting the data to a geodatabase using geoprocessing tools such as Copy Features, Merge, Append, and Export Features allows you to convert read-only BIM data to an editable geodatabase version of the data. The BIM File To Geodatabase tool combines several geoprocessing steps to both convert and merge data into a single geodatabase feature dataset of multiple feature classes. The format of that data is the proper input to the Make Building Layer tool, which can create a building layer that helps you work with building information in ArcGIS Pro. The building layer created by the Make Building Layer tool is, in turn, the proper input to the Create Building Scene Layer Content tool, which creates a building scene layer that can be shared across the ArcGIS system.

To convert a BIM file to a geodatabase, complete the following steps:

1. Open the BIM File To Geodatabase geoprocessing tool.
2. For Input BIM File Workspace, browse to and select the input file.
For Output Geodatabase, browse to and select the geodatabase.
3. For Dataset, provide a name.
4. Optionally, set a Spatial Reference value.
5. Click Run.

Alternately, you can use other geoprocessing tools on individual BIM file workspace feature classes to copy, merge, or append data to other GIS datasets or to export data to other formats.