Did you know that Autodesk Docs can be used as a conduit for sharing Civil 3D surface models with Revit? Unlike older surface sharing workflows, the surfaces shared through Docs retain the triangulation found in Civil 3D. They are also much easier to update! In the event a shared surface is modified in Civil 3D, a new version can be published to Docs and then refreshed within the Revit environment.
In today’s installment, we’ll learn how to make the connection between the two platforms. Along the way, we’ll explore how the Shared Reference Point feature can be used to align the Civil 3D and Revit environments.
If you are interested, the video below will help you get started...
In this 30 min session we look at several ways we can import, analyze, edit and export GIS within Civil 3D. This includes using GIS geometry / data as DWG objects as well as connecting to GIS files directly. We even walk through a special form of DWG Attach such that drawing geometry can be queried and included in different files.
The queried data can even be edited and automatically sent back to the original source DWG!
During the session, we walk through a practical example using a SHP file containing tree data. Having said this, the same approach can be used with any GIS information.
Cross section views bring together virtually every aspect of a Civil 3D design model. Survey figures, cogo points, surfaces, corridors, utilities, feature lines, solid models, blocks, etc. all participate in the display of section views.
Each of these items may carry with it specialized styles and settings for visualization and labeling. Civil 3D section views also provide plan production functionality. The sheer number of options and settings involved with cross sections makes them a perfect topic for a tips and tricks discussion!
In today’s installment we’ll explore a multitude of shortcuts related to cross section sizing, stylization, organization, labeling and more. The content is presented using a shotgun approach, allowing us to cover as many concepts as possible in a quick, focused, easy to consume manner. If you are interested, the video below will walk you through everything...
If you'd like to take a deeper dive look at these topics (as well as a few others) I’ve included links to additional cross section workflow videos below!
When attending software training, there is never enough time to learn everything that 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 of the 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 can help you gain efficiency and get the most value from your Autodesk investment. New session list below...
February 10 - Civil 3D Cross Section Tips & Tricks - Jeff Bartels
February 24 - GIS data creation, manipulation, and analysis using Civil 3D - Jerry Bartels
March 10 - Pressure Pipes: Getting Started with Pipe Runs - Alan Gilbert
Mar 24 - Drawing Maintenance: A Key to Success - Angel Espinoza
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.
We hope you will join us for the next session in our “30 Min Workout” series of webcasts!
Civil 3D provides a feature called “Property Sets” that allows extended attribution to be applied to ANY object(s). Typically, Property Set Data is accessed by selecting an object and then reviewing the data from the Extended Data Tab of the Properties Palette. While this is a nice option, there is a faster way to view extended attribution!
In today’s installment we’ll explore how a feature of the SHP Import/Export Utilities will add Property Set data to the rollover tooltips. (SHP Import/Export Utilities is an add-on available for Civil 3D 2020 and above. It can be downloaded and installed using the Autodesk Subscription Site, or the Autodesk Desktop App.)
If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything!
If you'd like to learn more about Property Sets, the videos below will help get you started...
In this 30 min session, we walk through some examples of adjusting/balancing record property and/or survey data using the Traverse Adjustment tool in Civil 3D. The first example is a closed loop boundary and the second example is a closed connecting traverse.
Civil 3D makes it easy to define corridors from an alignment, profile, and assembly. That said, after the initial creation, additional components like surfaces, boundaries, slope patterns and frequencies are almost always added. This process then repeats with each new corridor.
Wouldn’t it be nice if these additional components were treated like “properties” that could be easily copied from one corridor to another? Fortunately, Civil 3D 2022.1 makes this possible with a brand-new feature called “Corridor Templates”.
In today’s installment we’ll use the Corridor Template feature to extract surface definitions, slope patterns, and code set styles from a saved corridor model and apply them to a new (or existing) corridor. As a bonus we’ll also explore the improved “Match Parameters” feature to copy/paste even more properties between corridor models.
If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything…
When using Civil 3D (or any AutoCAD based tool) there are multiple ways to automate repetitive tasks. Today we will be looking at two of them. These include Script files (.SCR) and simple LISP code (.LSP)
I chose these before jumping right to Dynamo or the Civil 3D API because Scripts and AutoLISP have been around for decades, there is a TON of information (sample code) online, and they are very easy to learn and use.
In short, wanted to leave you with something you could literally start experimenting with immediately after reading/watching the video.
In the 30 min presentation recording below, I walk through the creation of both interactive and fully automated tools. I also explore how these tools can be easily be applied to an entire folder of files using the Civil 3D Batch Save Utility.
Civil 3D 2022.1 includes powerful new additions to corridor target mapping. Along with the new features is an updated Target Mapping dialog box. In today’s installment, we’ll explore the new dialog box and the many improvements it offers.
First, the Target Mapping dialog box is modeless, meaning you can pan/zoom (even launch other commands) while the dialog box is active. The list of subassemblies can now be filtered based on metadata such as name, baseline, region, side, etc. This makes it easy to isolate specific subassemblies prior to assigning targets. When a subassembly (or target) is selected from the dialog box, it highlights in the drawing providing a nice visual queue as to how each part fits into an overall design.
Civil 3D 2022.1 also supports copy/pasting targets between subassemblies! If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that demonstrates all these items and more!
Civil 3D allows users to create a multitude of dedicated civil objects. Everything from cogo points to alignments, profiles, assemblies, corridors, utilities, feature lines and more may participate in the design of a dynamic infrastructure model. Surprisingly, it’s very easy to develop label styles for such a wide variety of objects using a single dialog box.
In today’s installment, we’ll explore Civil 3D’s “Label Style Composer”. The Label Style Composer represents a collection of settings used to create (and edit) label styles for virtually ANY Civil 3D object.
If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything...
For more information on Creating Civil 3D Label Styles, please visit the links below…
