ElementOutline is a Revit plugin that computes and exports 2D outline polygons from selected building elements within the software. This utility is a specialized tool designed to process complex 3D Revit geometry into simplified 2D polygon data. It functions by calculating the outer boundaries of selected elements, effectively flattening the 3D volume into a clean, two-dimensional profile. The add-in focuses on precision, ensuring that the generated outlines maintain the essential footprint of the original objects. It is lightweight and operates as a background process within the BIM environment, providing a streamlined way to extract geometric metadata without requiring manual drafting or complex workarounds to capture essential plan-view shapes.

The download is a 532 KB file containing .ZIP files.

Users install the plugin into the Revit environment to access its functionality directly from the ribbon. Once loaded, the workflow involves selecting the desired building elements and triggering the add-in to perform the computation. The tool then generates the outline polygons, which can be exported or utilized for further downstream tasks. It is essential to ensure that the Revit model is clean and well-organized to achieve the most accurate polygon extraction during the calculation process.

This add-in is highly effective for architects and BIM managers working on large-scale residential, commercial, or industrial projects where massing data or simplified floor plates are required. It is particularly useful during the early design stages for space planning, zoning analysis, or when preparing simplified site context models. By automating the extraction of element outlines, professionals can save significant time on documentation tasks, allowing for faster iteration of site layouts and improved interoperability with external analysis software or CAD workflows.