Civil Immersion

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

GIS data creation, manipulation, and analysis using Civil 3D

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.

Click on the link below to check it out.

- Jerry

Displaying Civil 3D Corridor Targets Inside the Section Editor!

In today’s installment, we’ll look at an approach that can make Civil 3D corridor targeting more “graphical”.  By simply adjusting some object styles, users can predictably display corridor targets inside Civil 3D’s Section Editor.  Once displayed, designers and engineers working within the Section Editor may easily review targets (and potential targets) in context with their corridor designs.

If you are interested, I've provided a video below that walks through everything!  Note that this recording was made as part of our 30 min. Workout webinar series.  If you'd like to attend these sessions live, click here to register!!

-Jeff

 

Creating higher value geometry using the Map Cleanup tools in Civil 3D

During today’s presentation, we do a deep dive into the MapClean Tools within Civil 3D. 

Using MAPCLEAN, we can quickly analyze and correct geometric “issues”.  These include deleting duplicate objects, erasing short objects, extending undershoots, snapping clustered nodes and much much more.

We also explore several ways to select geometry, so we are sure we are working on exactly the entities we are interested in.  Along the way, we look at how the MAPCLEAN tools can address issues automatically as well as identify every issue allowing us the opportunity to address it or not.

If you have never seen/used MAPCLEAN before, you will learn how helpful each analysis option can be.  Additionally, learning to couple multiple analysis types together in a single operation can quickly make MAPCLEAN one of the most powerful tools in your tool belt.

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

Preparing Digital Images for use as Material Maps

Several of the AEC Collection applications support the use of digital images as material maps.  This allows users to photograph an existing building (for example) and then wrap the images around a 3D virtual model.

The trick to creating custom material maps is knowing how to optimize the images.  In today’s installment we’ll explore some best practices for sizing, cropping, stretching and touching up images such that they'll map perfectly to the faces of a 3D model.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video that walks through the process…

NOTE: The images I create in this example are meant for use in InfraWorks.
(Click here to learn how they are applied to an InfraWorks building).
That being said, these images could also be leveraged as material maps in other AEC applications such as AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, 3DS Max and FormIt.  

-Jeff

Configuring the Section Editor Display Properties within a Civil 3D Template

Civil 3D’s Section Editor is a powerful tool for displaying and editing a corridor design.  The tool itself is very graphical, allowing an engineer to see (if desired) a simultaneous plan, profile and section view at selected stations along a corridor model. 

All of the Section Editor components, (even the placement of the views themselves) can be configured ahead of time and stored within a Civil 3D template file. Having said that, the Section Editor display properties aren’t always easy to find and may require digging around within the Command Settings on the Settings Tab of the Toolspace. 

In today’s installment, we’ll avoid the digging, and learn a really quick way to access Section Editor properties from the ribbon.

If you are interested, I’ve created a video that steps through the workflow…

-Jeff

 

Creating & Applying Custom Materials to FormIt Models

Autodesk FormIt Pro includes a large library of photorealistic materials.  That being said, if you can't find exactly what you need within the library, you can easily create your own materials from scratch.  In today’s installment, we’ll use FormIt’s Material Editor to define a custom material using a .jpg image.

We will also explore how the horizontal and vertical scale properties can be used to create tiled patterns. 

If you are interested, I’ve recorded a quick video that walks through the process...

-Jeff

 

Using FormIt to Model 3D Buildings for use in InfraWorks

To add realism to InfraWorks visualizations, try including spatially accurate versions of the existing buildings that surround your project.  At first this may seem like a difficult task, however, if you have access to FormIt (and a few estimated dimensions) you can make quick work of modeling existing structures!

The FormIt application is very easy to learn and use, incorporating a “press & pull” workflow to create 3D shapes.  Generally speaking, all 3D structures can be defined using faces, edges, and vertices.  By pressing and pulling each these components, you can quickly model most any shape necessary.

After modeling a structure, FormIt includes a library of photorealistic (editable) materials allowing you to customize its appearance to suit your needs.  You can even create your own materials if desired.  Finished buildings can then be exported to FBX making them easy to incorporate into InfraWorks.

If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick playlist that walks through the entire process…

-Jeff

 

Using FROM to Snap to a Location "Relative" to a Selected Object Snap

AutoCAD provides several object snaps to choose from.  In most cases, these object snaps represent points that are physically on an object.  Generally speaking, they are a “destination”.  That being said, object snaps can also be viewed as a starting point from which to navigate to an even more valuable location.

One way to do this, is by using the FROM object snap…

FROM provides a way to snap to a location relative to a selected object snap.  FROM can be accessed using any of the Draw or Modify tools, and in many cases will reduce the amount of construction lines needed to create or edit geometry.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video demonstrating some workflows using the FROM object snap…

Would you like to explore more snap techniques?  If so, please take a look at this playlist created by my colleague Alan Gilbert.

-Jeff