Civil Immersion

Exploring 3D Modeling using AutoCAD

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of teaching an AutoCAD course at a small school in northern Thailand.  Part of the training included some 3D modeling.  Typically, when I teach 3D modeling, I give students small inexpensive objects (usually toys) and ask them to model the objects using the commands they’ve learned.

In today’s installment, I thought we would model one of those objects because it’s a great way to explore some of the many 3D tools available in AutoCAD.  Please note, that as we go through this we are not looking for the “fastest” way to create the object.  Our goal is to explore as many tools as possible.  Hopefully, along the way, you’ll see a command or two you haven’t tried before. 

If you are interested, I've created a quick video below that walks through everything...

-Jeff

Would you like to work along with me?  Download the image I used here - https://autode.sk/2KlaIAb

“Prompting for Name” when Inserting Civil 3D Subassemblies

The shape of a Civil 3D corridor is based on its assemblies.  Assemblies are built from individual components called “subassemblies” that represent things like lanes, shoulders, sidewalks and curb.  By default, subassemblies are assigned generic (sometimes identical) names making it challenging to tell them apart, especially when selecting corridor targets.

For this reason, subassemblies are typically renamed by users.  In today’s installment we’ll look at a way to eliminate the renaming process and assign logical names to subassemblies ONE TIME at the point of their insertion.

The feature is actually a toggle called "Subassembly Name Prompt", found within the Subassembly Options on the Settings Tab of the Toolspace. Once turned on, Civil 3D will prompt users to enter a name each time a subassembly is inserted into the drawing.  Simply add this setting to your template drawing and you may never need to rename subassembly parts again!

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that demonstrates a possible workflow… 

-Jeff

Apply Transitions to Virtually any Civil 3D Subassembly!

Quite often, a proposed corridor design will require subassemblies to transition or change shape as they progress along an alignment.  Typically, these transitions are controlled using a horizontal, vertical, or surface target so long as the subassembly part supports it.  Not all of them do.

In today’s installment we’ll look at a way to assign transitions to virtually any subassembly part, even if it doesn’t support targeting.  We’ll do that by creating a “numeric control line” to calculate and apply the transitions for us!

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

-Jeff

Learn more about Subassembly Composer...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsw5HrA4MXn0qTwXCASOBlnYeG2jN8KI

Learn more about Output Parameters...
https://youtu.be/N5Gid8FbUAI

 

 

Sharing Properties Between Civil 3D Subassemblies using Output Parameters

If multiple parts in a Civil 3D Assembly require the same dimension or slope, it may be possible to share their common properties.  By sharing properties, future design changes are more efficient because one subassembly part can be used to drive the properties of several others.  In today’s installment we’ll learn about a concept called Output Parameters.

Output parameters represent dimensional values that are baked into many of the “out of the box” Civil 3D subassemblies.  Specifically, output parameters are values that a subassembly part can pass to other subassembly parts.  (To view the available output parameters for any subassembly, Rt-Click on its icon in the Tool Palette and select Help from the menu.)

Using output parameters, dimensional properties can be applied to a group of subassemblies, making it much easier to modify a proposed design!  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that demonstrates some possible workflows.

-Jeff

 

Locking Civil 3D Structure Label Leaders to ANY Location

On occasion, structure labels placed in a Civil 3D profile view may need to be pulled into a dragged state.  When dragged, the default leaders will point to the “center” of each structure which isn’t always what is wanted.  In today’s installment we’ll look at a simple trick that gives us more control over the location of these leaders.

The trick involves the toggling of a label “pin”.  Typically, the pinning feature is used in drawings that are saturated with annotations.  Pinning labels in congested areas helps ensure future design changes do not cause updated labels to overlap other labels.  For our purposes today, using the pinned feature (along with a temporary leader grip) will also make it possible to lock the leader’s arrowhead at any location.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks though the workflow…

-Jeff

Creating Custom Civil 3D Label Styles to Annotate Linear Crossings in Profile Views

After experimenting with the new “Show Profile Crossings” feature in Civil 3D 2019.2 you may be wondering how difficult it might be to develop your own custom label styles.  Fortunately, EVERY Civil 3D label style is created the same way; the crossing labels are no exception.  In today’s installment, we’ll explore a few workflows to produce custom crossing label styles.

Crossing label styles can be found on the Settings Tab within the Profile View group inside the Label Styles folder.  Out of the box, Civil 3D 2019.2 provides a single “Standard” label style for annotating linear profile crossings.  In the recording below, I walk through the basics necessary to create three additional styles. 

Note: the skills learned in this session can be applied to most any Civil 3D label style!  (Points, Alignments, Surfaces, Profiles, Sections, etc.)  With a little creativity, experimentation and practice, you’ll soon be creating custom annotations that meet most any need!

-Jeff

 

Creating Custom Civil 3D Marker Styles to Display Linear Crossings in Profile Views

The new “show crossings” feature in Civil 3D 2019.2 makes it easy to display linear crossings in a profile view.  Selected 3D linear crossings are represented using a marker and label style.  Fortunately, these styles can be configured to match most any CAD standard!  In today’s installment, we’ll explore some ways to create custom marker styles.

If you’ve created marker styles in the past, you’ll quickly find that the markers used for linear profile crossings are identical.  The only difference is found when selecting “profile” as the view direction.  When profile is selected, the marker component is shown as "dual purpose". (Listed as “Marker / Crossing Vertical Line”.)  So if the style is applied to a crossing 3D linear entity (feature line, survey figure, 3D polyline or profile) it will display as a symbol.  If it’s applied to an alignment, it will display as a vertical line.  Being dual purpose, you have the option of creating multiple marker styles that apply to specific crossings, or a single style that applies to multiple crossings.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video that walks through the creation of some custom marker styles…

-Jeff

 

Displaying Crossing Linear Elements in a Civil 3D Profile View

If a proposed design intersects 3D linear elements, it can be helpful to see where those crossings occur in any profile views.  Historically, displaying (and annotating) profile crossings was challenging.  Now, using Civil 3D 2019.2 it’s much easier to dynamically view and label crossing elements in profile views.

To display crossing elements, simply select a profile view and choose “Add Crossings to Profile View” from the contextual ribbon.  You can then select your desired entities.  (Supported entities include: Feature Lines, Survey Figures, 3D Polylines, Alignments and Profiles.)  Crossings are displayed using a marker and label style that will update automatically when changes are made to their respective linear elements. 

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video that walks through some possible workflows…

-Jeff

Reverse Engineering Civil 3D Design Data from AutoCAD Entities

On occasion a Civil 3D project may require data from a “legacy” drawing.  One example might be a DWG file for which you do not know (or have) the original authoring application.  In cases like this, Civil 3D can re-create design data from drawing entities.  In this installment we’ll learn how to build a surface model from selected objects.

I have created a quick video below that walks through the workflow.  After reviewing the recording, take a tour through Civil 3D's creation menus and you’ll find several other design components can also be created “From Object”. 

It’s been said that you can’t always get what you want.  On occasion, that may mean having to extract data from generic AutoCAD drawings.  Fortunately, when the need arises, Civil 3D makes it easy to reverse engineer many design components from selected entities.

-Jeff

 

Creating and Manipulating Civil 3D Sample Lines

By default, Civil 3D sample lines are placed perpendicular to an alignment.  That said, some designs (or cross sections) may require “skewed” or multi-segmented sample lines.  At times like these, Civil 3D provides specialized tools for creating virtually any sample line you may need.

In this installment we’ll explore some ways to create custom sample lines.  We’ll also look at how to change their position and/or geometry using grips.  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything…

-Jeff