Mastering Revit Coordinate Visibility: How to Hide the Project Base Point and Survey Point (Revit 2026)

Managing coordinate markers in Revit is part of daily BIM work. The Project Base Point (PBP) and Survey Point (SP) are essential for shared coordinates, positioning, and site alignment. But in documentation views, they quickly become visual noise.

If you’re seeing coordinate symbols showing up in plans or 3D views, you’re dealing with Revit’s coordinate system markers. The fix is simple—but not obvious if you don’t know where to look.

The Problem: Coordinate Symbols Showing in Your Views

A common issue is the sudden appearance of:

  • a blue circle with a crosshair → Project Base Point
  • a blue triangle → Survey Point
  • colored XYZ axes (red, green, blue) → Internal Origin

These markers can appear:

  • near the internal origin
  • at a georeferenced survey location
  • in linked models or shared coordinate setups

In MEP, architectural sheets, or exported views, they reduce clarity and affect deliverable quality.

How to Hide Project Base Point and Survey Point in Revit

Revit treats these markers as subcategories under the Site category. You control their visibility through Visibility/Graphics Overrides (VG/VV).

Step-by-step (fastest method)

  1. Open Visibility/Graphics
    • Shortcut: VG or VV
  2. Go to Model Categories
  3. Scroll down to Site
  4. Expand the category (click +)
  5. Uncheck:
    • Project Base Point
    • Survey Point
  6. Click OK

That removes both markers from the current view.

How to Hide the Internal Origin (Often Missed)

Since recent versions, including Revit 2026, the Internal Origin is visible by default and frequently confused with other coordinate markers.

To hide it:

  1. Open VG/VV
  2. Go to Model Categories
  3. Expand Site
  4. Uncheck Internal Origin

Key point:

  • The Internal Origin is fixed
  • It cannot be moved or modified
  • It serves as Revit’s absolute reference point

Use View Templates (Do It Once, Not 50 Times)

Hiding these markers manually in every view wastes time.

The correct workflow:

  • Open your View Template
  • Go to Visibility/Graphics Overrides
  • Disable:
    • Project Base Point
    • Survey Point
    • Internal Origin

Apply that template to:

  • Floor plans
  • Sections
  • 3D documentation views

This keeps all new views clean by default.

Revit Coordinate System: What Each Point Actually Does

You need to understand what you’re hiding.

Project Base Point (PBP)

  • Defines project origin (0,0,0)
  • Used for:
    • internal measurements
    • offsets within the building model

Important (Revit 2020.2+ → 2026):

  • The Project Base Point no longer has a clipped/unclipped state
  • It behaves as a fixed project reference with controlled movement

Survey Point (SP)

  • Represents a real-world coordinate reference
  • Used for:
    • shared coordinates
    • linking models across disciplines
    • site positioning

Key detail:

  • The Survey Point still has a clipped/unclipped (paperclip) state
  • This controls whether you move:
    • the point itself
    • or the entire coordinate system

Internal Origin

  • Fixed internal reference point
  • Cannot be moved under any circumstance
  • Used internally for:
    • geometry calculations
    • model stability
    • exports

This is the anchor of the entire model.

When You Should NOT Hide These Points

Hiding is fine for documentation. Not for coordination.

Keep them visible when:

  • Setting up shared coordinates
  • Coordinating with civil / site models
  • Running clash detection workflows
  • Exporting to:
    • IFC
    • DWG
    • NWC / Navisworks

In practice:

  • Many coordination issues come from models not aligned correctly
  • Hiding points too early removes visual control over origins

Linked Models: Why Points Still Appear

If markers remain visible even after disabling them:

They may come from a Revit Link.

Fix:

  1. Open VG/VV
  2. Go to Revit Links tab
  3. Select the linked model
  4. Set display to Custom
  5. Click Display Settings
  6. Go to Model Categories
  7. Expand Site
  8. Disable:
    • Project Base Point
    • Survey Point
    • Internal Origin

This is a common oversight in multi-model BIM setups.

Common Issues and Fixes

You hid them, but they still appear

Check:

  • The view template is not overriding visibility
  • The elements are not coming from a linked model

You can’t see the Project Base Point even when enabled

Possible causes:

Fix:

  • Click Reveal Hidden Elements
  • Check View Range
  • Zoom to extents

Survey Point moved unexpectedly

This usually happens when:

  • It was moved in unclipped mode
  • Coordinates were modified without coordination control

Always verify:

  • Clipped vs unclipped state
  • Shared coordinate setup

Markers appear in exports (DWG / IFC / NWC)

Even if hidden in view:

  • Export settings may still use:
    • Shared Coordinates
    • Internal Origin

Always verify:

  • Export coordinate system
  • Alignment before exporting

Revit 2026: Has Anything Changed?

No change in workflow.

In Revit 2026, coordinate markers are still located under:

  • Visibility/Graphics → Site category

The structure remains stable.

FAQ: Revit Coordinate Visibility and Control

Why can’t I see the Project Base Point even when it is turned on?

If the category is enabled but nothing shows:

  • It may be outside the View Crop
  • It could be hidden manually

Use Reveal Hidden Elements and check the View Range.

What is the difference between Project Base Point and Survey Point?

  • Project Base Point → internal project reference (0,0,0)
  • Survey Point → real-world coordinate reference used for shared coordinates

Can I hide Project Base Point and Survey Point globally?

No global switch exists.

Visibility is view-specific.

To apply it project-wide:

  • Use View Templates

Does hiding these markers affect shared coordinates?

No.

This is purely graphical visibility.

Your:

  • N/S
  • E/W
  • Elevation
  • shared coordinates

remain intact.

How do I show the Project Base Point again?

  • Open VG/VV
  • Go to Site
  • Re-enable Project Base Point

What is the difference between Internal Origin and Project Base Point?

  • Internal Origin → fixed, non-movable system reference
  • Project Base Point → project-level reference used by the user

Why is my Survey Point not visible?

Check:

  • It’s enabled in VG
  • It’s inside the view range
  • It hasn’t been hidden manually
  • It’s not coming from a linked model

Practical Takeaway

If coordinate symbols are cluttering your views:

  • Go to VG → Site
  • Disable:
    • Project Base Point
    • Survey Point
    • Internal Origin
  • Apply it via a View Template
  • Check linked models if needed

This keeps documentation clean while maintaining full control over coordinates during coordination phases.

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