If you think about it, virtually every selected object in a Civil 3D model displays grips of one form or another. The more we know about how grips work, the more proficient we can be when modifying every aspect of a design. In today’s installment we’ll take a closer look at the concept of “grips”.
Grips have been a part of the AutoCAD platform since the early days. In their purest form, grips provide a quick way to modify geometry (and civil objects) “in-canvas”. In the 30 min. presentation, we’ll explore the many modification modes (and sub options) made possible using grips. We’ll also learn how to leverage multi-functional grips to access object specific tools right from the cursor. Finally, we’ll learn how to use grips in conjunction with the Dynamic Input mode to query (and edit) geometry and Civil objects using a “heads up” display.
If you’re interested, the video below will help you get started…
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.
The more information a Civil 3D model contains, the more value it provides at all stages of a project lifecycle. Typically, Civil 3D data may be thought of as the attribution associated with civil objects, or maybe user defined properties or property set data. Fortunately, Civil 3D can manage more than just attribution! Each entity in a Civil 3D model can reference virtually unlimited files and documentation. In today’s installment we’ll explore a concept called Reference Documents.
The Reference Documents feature can be found on the “Extended Data Tab” of the Properties Palette. Simply clicking the property allows you to link external files to most any selected object. Just imagine how valuable your Civil 3D models could be if they gave you direct access to the supporting documentation for every object in a design.
If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video to help get you started...
When you think about it, practically every command requires some user input in the form of an Object Snap. Move from the END of this, Rotate around the INTERSECTION of this....
The problem is that typically, a handful of Object snaps become our "Go-tos". As a result, we attack most drafting and design challenges with only a subset of what is actually possible.
In today’s installment, we explore how to do more with Object snaps. This includes reviewing several very powerful (and underutilized) Object snaps, locating Object snaps in space, performing mathematical operations on Object snaps to compute other Object snaps, saving running Object snaps and more.
In fact, during this 30 min session, we’ll explore greater than 30 ways you can get even more out of Object snaps.
If you’ve ever taken a formal training course to learn an application like Civil 3D, you know there’s never enough time to explore EVERYTHING the application can do. (Not to mention all the features and tools included with Map 3D and AutoCAD.) Typical courses cover the “need to know” functionality to get you up and running using the application. The remaining features, tools, and shortcuts are then learned over the course of years using Civil 3D in production.
To help fast track some of the on-the-job learning, we’ve started a new bi-weekly webinar series called “30 min. Workout”. Each session is designed to demonstrate features and functionality not typically shown during traditional classroom training. This week we launched the series by exploring the many ways the AutoCAD platform allows us to select objects. When you think about it, most commands require object selection. The more selection methods you know, the more efficient you can be using virtually every command!
If you are interested, I’ve included a link to a recording of the session…
In our last installment, we talked about how BIM 360 Docs can help us collaborate by providing tools to address typical “face to face” interactions.
In today’s installment, we will open it up to several additional tools within the BIM 360 Platform. This includes BIM 360 Design and BIM 360 Build. We will also look at how the complete project model can be aggregated in Navisworks and BIM 360 issues created where any design problems may exist.
Now I know what you are thinking…. I heard those tools were for Architects and Contractors. How can they help on a Civil 3D project?
In short they can provide tremendous value!! For starters, you can work on a Civil 3D project in the cloud. You can automate existing manual tasks. You can enhance productivity. And you can get additional visibility and verification in your projects.
To demonstrate this I have put together a presentation that walks through a "workflow" overview of what this design collaboration could look like.
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.
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…
If you organize your Civil 3D projects into sheet sets, you’re probably familiar with the concept of Fields. Fields represent “smart” text objects that populate automatically when they’re added to a sheet set. On occasion, individual fields may present a challenge when linked to an empty (or unknown) value. That’s because fields have an inherent need to show SOMETHING. In today’s installment, we’ll learn a trick for displaying empty fields.
The trick involves using a pair of “%” symbols. Back in the day, these symbols were used to incorporate special characters into text objects. (%%C for example, placed a diameter symbol.) By simply “pulling up short” and eliminating the character after the %% will cause a field to have an empty display. Using this technique, you can create nice clean fields that only display data when you want them to.
If you're interested, I’ve created a quick video that walks through the workflow…
-Jeff
Note: In my example I am working in Civil 3D. This trick also works in ANY other AutoCAD based application.
On occasion, sectioned pipe network components may appear “faceted” when displayed in a Civil 3D profile or section view. In today's installment we’ll look at a quick way to smooth out the appearance of these objects using a system variable (unique to Civil 3D) called FACETDEV. FACETDEV is short for Facet Deviation.
FACETDEV controls how much the display of a sectioned object can deviate from its true curved shape. The lower you set FACETDEV, the closer the geometry will match the actual curve. That said, there is a trade-off. Setting it too low may impact drawing performance, so try not to be overly aggressive when assigning a value. It’s important to note that this system variable is stored within the drawing, so assigning FACETDEV in a template file would apply it automatically to all future drawings.
If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that demonstrates the use of FACETDEV…
