Civil Immersion

The Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS

In 30 years, I have never worked on a civil project that did not require some interaction with GIS data.  Whether it is referencing GIS data to get started, using GIS data to help make better design decisions or exporting as-built information to GIS at the end of a project, GIS is an essential part of civil projects.

Having said this, our ability to engage with GIS data hasn’t always been as easy as it should be.  In some cases making a connection to the data could be challenging.  In others, the GIS data required conversion to CAD geometry.  In others, the performance may not have been what we expected. Or worse yet, what we thought was a “live link” was more dead than alive.  😊 

At the end of the day, we all found ways to get our jobs done but always thought there really should be a better way.

The recent partnership between Autodesk and Esri is that better way!

New tools are being developed to create more seamless integrations between the worlds of BIM & GIS.  One of these tools is the Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS.  Using this tool, we can link solutions like InfraWorks and Civil 3D directly to ArcGIS online.  Once linked, we can push and pull GIS data back and forth in ways that were never before possible. 

Much has been accomplished as a result of the Autodesk & Esri partnership over the past couple of years.  I am super excited to see how much more will be accomplished moving forward into the future.

Click on the video below to check it out.

 

-Jerry

Using BIM 360 Docs by Civil Teams

Today’s installment is all about ways to work together.  Whether your Civil team resides in a single office, spans multiple offices, works from home…  the ability to collaborate efficiently on a project is critical.

This collaboration includes more than just file access.  It also requires ALL of the typical “face to face” interactions that happen countless times a day. For example:

Marking up large format plan sheets, Assigning and tracking critical tasks, Facilitating communication, Understanding who is working on what and when, Comparing current and previous documents, Exchanging files, and more.

Fortunately, there is a single tool that can help with all of this.  The tool I am speaking of is BIM 360 Docs.

Click on the video below to see it works!

FYI – If you do not currently have access to BIM 360 Docs, at the time of this post, Autodesk is making it easier than ever to access their cloud services as part of Autodesk's COVID-19 response.

You can find more information here:

https://adsknews.autodesk.com/views/covid-19

-Jerry

AEC Collection – The Best Tool for the Job!

Recently, I had the opportunity to present a live demonstration focused on the advantages of using the AEC Collection for a civil site plan.  The goal of the session was to demonstrate how the many tools in the collection can work together to take a project from conceptual design through finished visualizations.  Fortunately, the session was recorded, giving us the opportunity to share it here!

If you have access to the AEC Collection and are using a small handful of tools, this presentation can help you take advantage of even more applications and increase the value of your investment.  If you are someone who leverages Civil 3D to accomplish most of your design work, this presentation will introduce you to many of the purpose-built, time-saving tools and workflows made possible using the AEC Collection. 

If you are interested, I’ve added a link to the recording below…

-Jeff

 

Adding Intelligence to InfraWorks Models using the Extend Schema Tool

Historically, the default schema used by InfraWorks was “fixed”, having a predefined number of feature classes and attributes.  This limited the number of unique features (and data) InfraWorks was able to consume and represent.  As a result, it was a challenge to manage multiple utility types or leverage extended attribution.

Today, InfraWorks 2020 includes a new Extend Schema Tool that makes it easy to create custom feature classes having virtually unlimited attribution.  By opening up the schema, designers now have much more control over the organization of attached content while also increasing the value of data analysis and visualization.  In today’s installment, we’ll use the Extend Schema Tool to create a custom feature class (with attributes) and then explore some ways to take advantage of the rich attribution.

If you're interested, I’ve recorded a video that walks through everything…

-Jeff

Modeling an InfraWorks Site Plan from Aggregated Data

Last Friday, (2020-01-24) I presented a live demonstration that focused on modeling large InfraWorks site plans from multiple data sources.  During the session I showed how to aggregate data from SHP, 3D models, LandXML and ArcGIS Online.

If you're someone who is just getting started with InfraWorks, I also walked through some of the basics when it comes to creating, visualizing and analyzing models.  For more experienced users, this recording represents a great introduction to the new ribbon style interface. :)  We don’t often get a chance to share "long format" recordings, so I was excited for the opportunity such that I could post the content here!

If you are interested, a link to the recording can be found below…

-Jeff

 

Using InfraWorks Tooltips to Open Files

Quite often, InfraWorks tooltips are used to display the data associated with objects in a model.  Because these tooltips are HTML based however, they can do a lot more.  In today’s installment, we’ll explore a way to use InfraWorks tooltips to open files. 

For a tooltip to open a file, you’ll need to provide the filename (and file path) and a description using the following HTML syntax… <a href= "Path/Filename"><font size="4">Description</font></a>  This is a relatively simple example that will produce a text label called “Description” that opens a designated file when clicked.  By incorporating a little creativity (and a few more HTML tags) you can create much more elaborate tooltips.

By leveraging this technique, an InfraWorks model can act much like a “kiosk”, providing a graphical representation of an overall site that users can navigate to open associated files.  Everything from CAD models, to parts lists, to maintenance schedules could be accessed by simply hovering over the objects in a model!

If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through a possible workflow…   

-Jeff

Finish Strong Friday: Utilizing Survey Monument GIS Data in Infraworks

For this week's video, I thought I would stay with the same theme and utilize some survey monument GIS data inside Autodesk Infraworks.  I show some tips for moving attributes from the SHP file to the Infraworks database.  I also show using some of these attributes as tooltips.

Check out the video below to see this in action.

-Alan

Migrating a Surface Model from InfraWorks to Civil 3D

Using the “Point Cloud Terrain” feature, InfraWorks makes it easy to extract a bare earth surface from a point cloud.  Extracted surfaces are a perfect way to add detail to an existing conditions model.  InfraWorks then makes it easy to share these surfaces with other Autodesk applications, providing countless opportunities to analyze, visualize, and sample the data.

In this week’s installment, we’ll explore a workflow to migrate an existing ground surface (built from aerial imagery) from InfraWorks to Civil 3D.  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick recording below that walks through everything…

-Jeff

Importing a Point Cloud from ReCap Photo into InfraWorks

When using ReCap Photo to process drone imagery, you have the option of creating a 3D point cloud.  This point cloud can serve many purposes!  When added to an InfraWorks model for example, the cloud can be used to improve the accuracy of the existing ground surface.

In this week’s installment, we’ll look at how to import a point cloud from ReCap Photo into InfraWorks.  We will then use the “Point Cloud Terrain” feature to extract a bare earth surface that will provide additional detail and accuracy to a site model.   If you are interested, I've created a quick video that walks through a possible workflow...

NOTE: Point clouds created from imagery will produce surface elevations matching a site’s vegetation: grass, brush, crops, etc.  (Basically, the surface represents what the camera “sees”.)  Point clouds created from Lidar however, will provide the most accurate bare earth extraction as the laser used to collect the data is capable of penetrating vegetation.

-Jeff

 

Importing High Resolution Aerial Imagery from ReCap Photo into InfraWorks

Using today’s drone technology, it’s easier than ever to obtain current, high quality aerial imagery for most any project site.  The ease in which these images are created also means they can be “swapped out” frequently (even daily) as site conditions change! 

In our last session we looked at how ReCap Photo can be used to convert a collection of drone images into a high resolution orthographic aerial image.  In this week’s installment, we’ll look at how that orthographic image can be incorporated into an InfraWorks model.  If you are interested, I’ve created a video below that walks through the workflow...

-Jeff

Note: If you would like to review the ReCap Photo workflow used to create the image used in this example, please follow the link below…
https://youtu.be/W560LxggqeM