Civil Immersion

Civil 3D Quick Tip: Improve Text Display in the Label Style Editor

If you’re someone who creates, or edits Civil 3D label styles, you may find the text in the editor to be a little challenging to read.  In today’s installment we’ll look at a quick way to resolve the issue.

First let me mention that I typically work on a laptop having a screen resolution of 1920x1080.  The laptop is capable of displaying 4K resolution, I simply prefer the look and feel of working in traditional HD.  I mention this because the issue I’m going to show you may not affect everyone.  It’s likely caused by a combination of things related to hardware and screen resolution.

Fortunately, if you are experiencing the issue, it can be resolved by simply toggling off a setting in Windows.  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything…

-Jeff

Calculating Topsoil Volumes in Civil 3D using Place Lined Material

It’s often necessary to compute the volumes of materials associated with corridor daylighting.  These materials may include things like topsoil, rip rap or seeded grass.  In today’s installment, we’ll look at a way to calculate material volumes like these using Civil 3D’s “Place Lined Material” option.

Place Lined Material represents a setting available on every daylight subassembly provided with Civil 3D.  Simply turning this feature on allows up to three slope dependent materials to be assigned to specified daylight links.  (Options include Fill Links Only, Daylight Links, and All Links.)

The next time you need to calculate topsoil (or other daylight related materials) associated with a corridor, try experimenting with the Place Lined Material option.  You may find that it provides an easy out-of-the-box way to apply and compute these material volumes. If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that will help get you started!

-Jeff

Getting Started with Project Explorer for Civil 3D – Pt 2

In today’s installment we’ll take a deeper dive look at Autodesk’s new add-on for Civil 3D called Project Explorer.  (Project Explorer was made available as part of the 2021 AEC Collection.) 

We'll start by learning how to customize the appearance of design data using a feature called Layouts.   Layouts control both the arrangement of columns AND the formatting of the tabular data.  (They can also be saved, restored, and shared with other users.)  Next, we’ll explore ways to export civil data to a myriad of formats including external files (.html, .pdf, xlsx, .dwg, etc.) and dynamic AutoCAD tables.  We will also learn how to automate the creation of such deliverables using a feature called Object Sets.  Finally, we’ll take a tour of Project Explorer’s user preferences and customize the look and feel of the application to suit our needs. 

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

If you are interested in reviewing “Part 1” of this presentation, it can be found here - https://youtu.be/MqnUslv8tT4

-Jeff

Getting Started with Project Explorer for Civil 3D - Part 1

In today’s installment we’ll take our first look at Autodesk’s new add-on for Civil 3D called Project Explorer.  Project Explorer represents a single, modeless dialog box that allows users to create, review, compare and report on content stored in a Civil 3D drawing.  Due to the amount of functionality Project Explorer offers, we are splitting this post into two parts!

In Part 1, we focus on Project Explorer basics:  Understanding the interface, Reviewing/Editing civil objects, as well as some keyboard shortcuts and best practices.  Many of the demonstrations are centered on workflows made easier using Project Explorer vs. traditional Civil 3D.  Everything you need to get started using the tool is included in this part.

In Part 2, (coming December 17^th) we’ll take a deeper dive look at the Project Explorer toolset and learn how to: Create/customize reports, Export content to vanilla AutoCAD, Automate repetitive tasks, and demonstrate additional shortcuts and best practices.

If you are interested, I’ve included a link to the Project Explorer Part 1 recording below…

Would you like to attend the Part 2 live session?
Click here to register!  We look forward to seeing you there!

-Jeff

“Civil 3D Test Drive” Recording!

Do you collaborate with firms that use Civil 3D to model roadway designs?  Have you wondered how Civil 3D workflows (surfaces, alignments, profiles, sections, etc.) might compare/contrast to the civil infrastructure software you currently use?  If you are interested, I’ve created a “Civil 3D Test Drive” recording that walks through the basics of using Civil 3D.

In less than two hours, I demonstrate a multitude of concepts including: Civil 3D interface, Surface creation & editing, Alignment creation & editing, Profile creation & editing, Offset Alignments & Profiles, Assemblies, Corridor modeling, Corridor targeting, Intersections, Superelevation, Cross Sections, Earthwork & Material calculations, and Automated sheet creation.

If you are interested in piloting Civil 3D on a future project, this recording will walk you through the basics of how the application works, how civil content is created, labeled, and stylized, and how the dynamic relationships between objects allow design modifications to update all affected objects, labels, calculations and sheets.

-Jeff

Our Next 30 min. Workout Session is this Thursday! (Oct. 29th)

In this session we will be taking a look at Civil 3D's numerous "Inquiry Commands".  If you have not used them before, they can be very helpful in quickly determining things like Distance, Station, Elevation, Grade and so much more. 

In short, they are used to quickly interrogate Autodesk Civil 3D objects. You can then use the information extracted from the design model to aid in design, validation, and analysis.

The live session “30-Minute Workout - Using Civil 3D's inquiry tools to establish Who, What and Where” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29th,  at 1:30 PM Eastern Time.  If you are interested in attending, please use the link below to register…

https://autodesk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ptocx9U-Rk6z61O9GtcPHQ

We look forward to seeing you there!

-Jerry

Unlocking the Power of Transparent Commands in Civil 3D!

Object Snaps are arguably the most important feature in the AutoCAD platform.  Their ability to “lock on” to precise coordinates represents the foundation on which all geometry is created, edited, and queried. 

Civil 3D also relies on Object Snaps to model civil infrastructure designs.  In addition, Civil 3D provides its own collection of engineering related snaps called Transparent Commands.  Using Transparent Commands, civil engineers can select from 20+ options including: Northing/Easting, Bearing/Distance, Station/Offset, Profile Station/Elevation, etc.  In today’s installment, we’ll explore Civil 3D’s collection of Transparent Commands as well as a few best practices for their application. 

The recording below walks through everything you'll need to get started using this powerful feature!

-Jeff

Our Next 30 min. Workout Session is this Thursday! (Oct. 1st)

In this session we will be taking a tour of “Design Center”.  This tool was originally introduced in AutoCAD 2000 and (even after 20 years) it still provides tons of value.  If you have not used it before, (or if it's been a while :)) this tool provides a quick and easy way to find and reuse your drawing components.  Think of it like a “Windows Explorer” for .DWG files.

 

The live session “30-Minute Workout - Recycle drawing content using Design Center” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1^st at 1:30 PM Eastern Time.  If you are interested in attending, please use the link below to register…

https://autodesk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e25PQtMQTO2Q7djDDboDdQ

We look forward to seeing you there!

-Jerry

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

Taking Advantage of AutoCAD's Annotative Objects in Civil 3D

When applied to civil objects, Civil 3D's purpose built labels maintain a dynamic link to the underlying civil data AND will size themselves automatically when displayed on construction drawings. That said, civil infrastructure designs often include "generic" objects that also require labeling.

Many times these objects can be labeled using a Civil 3D note, OR (depending on your needs), an AutoCAD Annotative object may be a better fit. In today's installment, we'll explore the concept of annotative objects, learn how to create and edit them, and walk through some ways to incorporate them into our civil designs.

If you're interested, the video below walks step by step through everything you need to get started...

-Jeff