Overview
This workflow offers a fairly high degree of accuracy and the use of BIM tools you are already familiar with. We recommend this workflow if you plan to add more than 15 QR codes to your project.
We offer detailed workflows for placing QR code points in Revit and AutoCAD.
Before you begin:
- Upload at least one model to your project. This model needs to be in the same Shared Coordinate system as the model you will be placing points in.
- You will need Revit, AutoCAD, or any other BIM Software capable of managing points (placing points, adding attribute, and exporting with XYZ location)
Basic Steps
Adding lots of points?
We find a little bit of planning goes a long way. Try to come up with a methodology for your placement and be consistent. For example:
- If placing codes on columns, always place on North side, center of column @ 5ft elevation.
- If placing codes on floors, always place 1' x 1' to the North of grid intersection.
Consider making a physical jig to help with consistent placement as well to avoid pulling tape for each and every code.
- Place your QR codes onsite.
- Note the QR ID and locations of your QR codes on a floorplan.
Typically you can note the last 2 digits of your code and apply the prefix later. - Open your model and place points at the marked locations. Be sure to add the correct QR ID for each location.
- Export a CSV.
- Open your project at app.sitelink.ai.
- Open the QR codes Panel.
- Click on the blue "plus" button and upload your CSV.
- Click on the "Save Changes" button near the bottom.
Revit
- Download the dynamo script and Sitelink QR code family.
- Open your project and load the Sitelink QR code family.
- Place the QR code family at each of your QR code locations. Please note the red arrow in the family points towards the survey registration mark at the top-left of a code label.
- Add the ID for each code (e.g. STL1234) to the
Sitelink_QRCode
parameter.- Important: The three letter prefix (usually "STL") must be included in the code ID.
- Once you've added all of your points, run the Dynamo script.
- The Dynamo script will create CSV with the QR IDs and X, Y, Z coordinates (shared coordinate) for each of your points.
- Troubleshooting: The Dynamo script requires specific dependencies that may not already be installed on your system, and may need to be configured to scale to your model. If the script fails to run, or runs with warnings, launch Dynamo from the Manage tab and check the below:
- Dependencies: Check the Workspace References tab on the right for missing dependencies. If that tab doesn't open by default, you can find it under Extensions. Select any dependency with a red ❌ and click Install Specified Version. You may need to install multiple dependencies and some may only appear after an earlier dependency is installed.
- Scaling: If Dynamo reports a warning about geometry scale on the "Element.GetLocation" node (you'll also notice the output CSV only contains 0s) you'll need to adjust the geometry scaling within the Dynamo window. This control can be found just below the zoom and move controls at the top-right corner of the Dynamo window. Click this control and raise it to the next highest setting, repeating until the script runs without a warning and outputs a CSV.
- Troubleshooting: The Dynamo script requires specific dependencies that may not already be installed on your system, and may need to be configured to scale to your model. If the script fails to run, or runs with warnings, launch Dynamo from the Manage tab and check the below:
- Check your Dynamo Script folder for the exported CSV.
AutoCAD
- Download the Sitelink QR code block.
- Open your CAD file and import the Sitelink QR code block.
- Use the "Insert Multiple Blocks" mode and start placing points at each location.
- You will be prompted to enter the QR ID for each block placed.
- Once finished, use the "DATA EXTRACT" command
- Filter out all of the elements except your Sitelink QR code blocks.
- Set the columns as follows:
- QR ID
- Position X
- Position Y
- Position Z
- Uncheck the name/count columns
- Export as CSV