Civil Immersion

Traffic Simulation Webcast Recording Available

Thanks to all those who were able to attend our first Civil Immersion live webcast earlier today!  For those that missed it, you can view the recording below.

 

-Jerry

 

Civil 3D 2017 New Features – Corridor Baselines & Corner Cleanup

In this week’s installment, we’ll explore the Civil 3D 2017 improvements made to corridor modeling.  In 2017 corridor modeling is further streamlined by allowing us to select a SINGLE object (feature line) to use as a baseline rather than the traditional alignment/profile combination.  Having this option means we no longer need to create (and edit) two objects when only one is necessary.

In addition, Civil 3D 2017 does a much nicer job cleaning up corridor geometry at inside and outside corners.  This new functionality can make corridors a more attractive option for modeling site related content such as parking lots and retaining walls.

If you are interested, I’ve created a video that walks through the new corridor modeling functionality.

 

- Jeff

Tool for Tuesday: "ADEDOCVIEW"

Have you ever wished you could click on an object in Civil 3D and have it automatically pull up a photo?  How nice would it be if you clicked on a parcel and could immediately access the legal description?  The great news is that we can do these things today using the ADEDOCVIEW tool! 

OK, technically, it is a collection of tools which concludes with ADEDOCVIEW.  The entire process actually involves four commands which officially makes today’s post “Tools” for Tuesday.  :)

Check out the video below to see how it works.

 

 If you would like to try what is shown in the demo, you can download a "Civil Kit" containing the DWG file shown (Start & Finish) as well as the attached content folder by clicking on the following link. ADEDOCVIEW Civil Kit

-Jerry

Our first look at the new features available in Civil 3D 2017

One sure sign that spring is upon us is the release of a new version of Civil 3D!  The latest installment, Civil 3D 2017 includes several enhancements, many of which represent customer wish list items submitted over the last couple years.  The “bulk” of the new features are centered on improvements to corridors and corridor modeling.  That being said, some nice data and style management tools have also been added, not to mention a couple undocumented features worth exploring.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be taking a look at what Civil 3D 2017 has to offer!  Today we’ll start by reviewing the new functionality designed to help organize, and share project data.

If you are interested, I’ve started a Civil 3D 2017 New Features playlist below.  More to come next week!

 

- Jeff

Tool for Tuesday: "Creating Left Turn Lanes"

Today I am covering a really cool purpose built tool within the February 2016 release of Infraworks 360. Using this tool, we can quickly and easily create dedicated Left Turn Lanes!

Until February, creating left turn lanes has been possible but not as straight forward and intuitive as folks would have liked. Today that has all changed. Moving forward, creating Left Turns is as simple as a couple of clicks.

Check out the video below to see how quick and easy it is.

 

-Jerry

Labeling Civil 3D objects through an external reference

Many times, Civil 3D objects are labeled in the "host" drawing. That being said, the dynamic relationship between civil objects and their labels will also work through an external reference. In fact, labeling objects through an XREF can give you even more flexibility over the placement of annotations.

Take for example the image below (left).  Here we can see a model space view of a utility label sized for an intended plot scale of 1"=40'. The image on the right is the same DWG file after it is XREF'ed into an exhibit and viewed in a 1"=20' viewport.

    

In both cases, the label is properly sized for the respective plots, however, in the 20 scale exhibit I would like to move the label closer to the structure. Unfortunately, this isn't easily done because the label doesn't exist locally in exhibit drawing.  

Fortunately there is no need to fight with XREF'ed labels. I can simply freeze their layers to hide them from view, and then create new labels in the exhibit drawing by leveraging Civil 3D's ability to recognize civil data through an external reference. Using this technique we can place labels in ANY drawing and the annotations will always remain dynamic to their respective objects! 

If you are interested, I've created a quick recording showing how to add dynamic labels to Civil 3D content even if that content lives in an external reference.

 

- Jeff

Tool for Tuesday: "RPNCALC"

Ever wish there were an RPN style calculator available within Civil 3D?  I know I do.  Somehow, after learning to use my HP RPN scientific calculator, a standard calculator feels kind of clumsy.

Unfortunately, the only calculator available in Civil 3D is the standard one provided by AutoCAD, right?

Wrong.  Several years back, Civil 3D incorporated an RPN style scientific calculator and it is still one of the best kept secrets.  Doesn’t even show up in any of the documentation or by searching Help. 

A truly undocumented command!

If you would like to try it, type RPNCALC at the command line.

-Jerry

Civil Immersion will host its first Live Webcast!!

Join us for a 30min. live webinar on Apr 29, 2016 at 12:00 PM CDT.

InfraWorks 360: Drive Through Traffic Simulation
Click Here to register!

During this 30 min. Civil Immersion "Brown Bag" session Jerry will do a live walk through of a portion of the Traffic Simulation functionality available in InfraWorks 360.  Why only 30 minutes??  Because this will be a PowerPoint free session, we can deliver 30 minutes of quality information and still leave you 30 minutes to eat your lunch. :)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

 

Using Civil 3D Property Sets to add extended attribution to ANY object

Civil 3D does a great job managing the design data associated with each of its objects.  If however, you ask Civil 3D to manage some of YOUR data (i.e. custom attribution) you may find it a little challenging.  Fortunately it doesn’t have to be!

There is an undocumented feature in Civil 3D called Property Sets. (Technically, this feature comes from AutoCAD Architecture which shares some of its code with Civil 3D.) Using Property Sets, you can assign custom attribution to ANY object in a Civil 3D drawing. The metadata that you add is also capable of traveling with the drawing, such that it can be leveraged by other applications such as Navisworks or BIM 360 Glue.

If you are interested, I’ve created a recording showing how to use property set data to maintain the placement accuracy of each component in a utility model. There are many places where extended attribution comes in handy, you are only limited by your imagination!

 

-Jeff

Tool for Tuesday: Type "SAVE"

The SAVE command!!  Really!!  Everyone knows save!!

Yes, because there are more aspects of the SAVE command than you might think.

The situation…
You are working on a large project and are laying out tons of geometry.  When finished, you have a copy of the original state in an existing conditions file and a copy of the proposed state in a final conditions file.  The challenge is explaining to your client how you arrived at proposed state.  What was your thought process?  What challenges did you have to overcome?  What was the rationale behind you making some of the decisions you did.  In other words, you have to respond to the client’s questions and you only have drawings that show where you started and where you ended.

The solution…
Type the SAVE command in at the command line to quickly capture and record the state of your model edits at whatever milestones help you document your thought process.

I know, you are thinking that you use SAVE all of the time, how is typing SAVE in at the command line different.  First, if you click on the disk icon in the interface to save, you are really getting the QSAVE command.  (Saves your model in its current state)  When you use SAVEAS, it saves your model’s current state in a new file with a new name and forces you to work in it.  Wouldn’t it be great if you could save the state of your model in a separate file with a new name while at the same time STAY in the model you are currently editing?  Answer, Yes it is great and that is what typing the SAVE command at the command line does.

Check out the video below to see it in action.

 

-Jerry