Civil Immersion

Civil 3D 2024 New Features!

Civil 3D 2024 provides several improvements that make creating and managing infrastructure designs easier.  If you’ve struggled with sharing/updating custom subassemblies in the past, you’ll find Civil 3D 2024 treats PKTs just like external references in that they can be attached or reloaded with a couple clicks of the mouse. 

The Connector for ArcGIS is enhanced in 2024 to allow for the stylization of connected GIS layers based on attribution.  Connected objects may also be brought in as AutoCAD entities if desired.  If you’ve been taking advantage of the recent Corridor Transitions feature, you’ll find a new “lock” option in 2024 that makes it possible to slide transition sets back and forth along a corridor baseline.

If you're interested, I’ve uploaded some videos below that provide a practical run-through of each of these new features.

-Jeff

Getting Started Modeling Pressure Networks in Civil 3D

Historically, Civil 3D pressure networks were treated as an arrangement of static parts, making creating and editing networks challenging.  Today, however, pressure networks are modeled as “pipe runs,” having dynamic fittings along with associated alignments and profiles.

The pipe run methodology (introduced in Civil 3D 2021) allows pipe network geometry to be modified horizontally and vertically using familiar alignment and profile grips.  As the geometry changes, fitting angles update automatically, and appurtenances remain aligned with their associated pipes.  Leveraging pipe runs can help simplify creating and modifying your next pressure network model. 

If you’d like to explore the new pipe run workflows, I’ve posted a video below to help you get started!

If you'd like more information on this topic, I recommend the following resources...

Rediscover Pressure Pipes in Civil 3D 2021 – Charlie Ogden:
https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Rediscover-Pressure-Pipes-Civil-3D-2021-New-Path-Based-Workflows-2020

Pressure Pipes: Getting Started with Pipe Runs – Alan Gilbert:
https://youtu.be/kLYn_rmuOfU

-Jeff

Model Civil 3D Corridor Transitions Using Any Subassembly!

Historically, if you wanted to apply transitions to the dimensions of a corridor model, it required the use of horizontal or vertical targets.  That said, not every subassembly supports targeting, and the ones that do may not apply to the dimensions you’d like to transition.  This usually meant creating your own custom subassemblies from scratch. Fortunately, using Civil 3D 2023.2, we can apply transitions to virtually any dimension of any subassembly without the need for targets or custom parts.

Transitions are created (and managed) using a brand new tab in the Panorama called “Corridor Transition.”  This tab allows users to create transition sets by simply selecting a subassembly (and the parameter they wish to transition) followed by the start/end stations and parameter values.  Civil 3D will then calculate the transition as a “straight line” or by following a specified curvature principle.

This tool can be helpful when modeling curb lowerings, transitional daylighting, or when component widening (or thickening) is required!  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video to help you get started.

-Jeff

 

Add a Background Color to Civil 3D Corridor Hatch

The traditional AutoCAD Hatch command provides a “background color” option. Assigning background colors to hatch is a great way to define multiple variations from a single pattern. However, background colors are not allowed when the hatch is applied through a Civil 3D style.

In today’s installment, we’ll explore a workflow that simulates a background color when hatching Civil 3D corridors. The example shown references brick pavers, but this technique can apply to any component of any linear design modeled using a corridor. If you are interested, I've created a quick video below that walks through everything...

Note: If this is your first experience hatching corridors, you may be interested in this video as well.
Hatching Civil 3D Corridor Models using a Code Set Style
https://youtu.be/mFW2PtQqbdQ 

-Jeff

 

Using Subassembly Composer & Cross Slope Profiles for Superelevation

In this 30 Minute Workout session, we walk through the process of controlling superelevation using profiles that are designed with lane cross slope values. How do we link the cross slope values from these profiles to the lane of interest? We create an "output parameter" custom subassembly that connects them.

-Alan

Getting Started with Civil 3D Quantity Take-Off (QTO)

Estimating the overall cost of a civil design requires quantifying all of the components. Fortunately, Civil 3D makes quantity extraction easy using the QTO Manager. The QTO Manager represents a one-stop shop for loading pay items, assigning them to objects, and extracting their quantities into reports.  

In today’s installment, we’ll explore Civil 3D’s quantity take-off functionality. Designers can use QTO tools to assign pay items to ANY object, even generic AutoCAD entities. Pay items can also be pre-assigned as part of a Civil 3D template, making quantity extraction a virtually automatic process.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video that will help you get started!

-Jeff

 

Next 30 min. Workout - Civil 3D Quantity Extraction!

Click to Register!

When attending software training, there is never enough time to learn everything an application has to offer. In many cases, training sessions are only able to focus on “need to know” functionality to accomplish typical workflows.

In our upcoming bi-weekly sessions we plan to explore many Civil 3D, InfraWorks and Cloud Collaboration tools, tips, and shortcuts not typically shown during traditional training sessions. Our goal being that adding more tools to your toolbox will help you gain efficiency and get the most value from your Autodesk investment.

We hope you can attend our next session...

• July 28 - Getting Started with Civil 3D Quantity Take-off - Jeff Bartels

The sessions are only 30 min. and will be 100% live demonstration - no PowerPoint is allowed. We are also more than happy to answer any questions arising from the material!

Click to Register!

-Jeff

Accomplish more in a single command using Civil 3D’s Action Recorder

In today's installment, we look at another technique to help you avoid performing the same task multiple times. 

(Because our time is much better spent on things other than constantly reinventing the wheel. :) ) 

In the past we explored similar tools like writing scripts, creating macros, using simple LISP code, and more. 

Each technique has many Pros.  Unfortunately, they all have the same Con.  Each method requires the user to key in command information manually.

Wouldn't it be so much easier if these macros/automations could be created automatically by just recording us while we work?  The answer is definitely Yes, and fortunately for us, it is possible today using the Action Recorder.

Additionally, these recordings can be easily shared with other users by storing them in a central location where everyone has access.

Check out the video below to see it in action!

-Jerry

 

Grading: Fun with Feature Lines

In this 30 min session, we walk through some grading examples in Civil 3D using Feature Lines. We will grade a pond, a simple site, and will also show a few grade transitioning examples between feature lines/surfaces.

-Alan

Working with Property Set Data in Civil 3D

In today’s installment of the 30 min workout, we look at several ways that Property Set Data (PSD) can be used in Civil 3D.  We accomplish this by using PSD to solve a problem we were faced with. 

i.e. Merging data collected by an Arborist and Surveyor into a single repository.  (Civil 3D Points)

Along the way, we review the benefits of using Property Set Data over other forms of attribution, show a scenario where PSD tables and data are created automatically, and demonstrate how to add PSD to Civil 3D labels. 

The session concludes with a brief discussion of the SHP Import/Export Utility.  Using this tool, we can export the Property Set Data and Civil 3D Point Objects to a GIS file.

Sound like something that could help you?  Check out the video below to see it in action.

-Jerry