Getting along

What is the best way the architects, structural and MEP engineers can get along? I think communication is the key. The zen of collaboration can be achieved by sharing more information, often. File linking, copy/monitor, shared coordinates, these are the tools within Revit that can get us there.

Link in DWGs never import. That's an important discussion for another post however.

Revit Linking;

Option One:
Give all team members a site file. Maybe a dwg if that's what you have. Everyone links that file into there own project, origin to origin and we begin to work.
We all have the same origin. As soon as possible, we link each other Revit project files into each other project, origin to origin.
Yippee.

Option Two Copy / Monitor:
The architectural model of a building is ready for the engineers to contribute: each engineer links the architectural building into a blank project. Yes, origin to origin. The engineers should now use copy/monitor to copy the levels and grids from the architectural project. These levels and column grids will be in the engineer's new project. More importantly they will be synchronized with the architects file. The original levels and grids still remain we can delete the original datum (level 1, Level 2) later.

When the arch model is updated and or reloaded, Revit will suggest a coordination review. This report will list all changes of the monitored elements. Postpone, reject, modify. These are all legitimate steps available. Accept difference is not a good choice. This object will not be monitored anymore. Why didn't the designer / programmer just use "ignore forever"?

Another Option:
Shared Coordinates:
When we have a host file (Site.rvt for example) we should first agree that the internal location is this file's origin. All other files, like building one building two, etc, will be linked into site. The positions of these files will be recorded internally of Site.rvt. Cool huh? When one closes the project, Revit will ask if the location of these files should be saved. Revit will record this "place" in the buildings Revit project files. We can open each of the other building project files and make the new place current. We now have new and accurate views to study, analyze and render.

When you test the suggestions discussed here it, the picks and clicks will be obvious.
I welcome questions and comments, allow me to explain further if necessary,
Maybe someone else's ideas on how they might implement they tools might bring on an epiphany on how we could use them better.