Estimating the overall cost of a civil design requires quantifying all of the components. Fortunately, Civil 3D makes quantity extraction easy using the QTO Manager. The QTO Manager represents a one-stop shop for loading pay items, assigning them to objects, and extracting their quantities into reports.
In today’s installment, we’ll explore Civil 3D’s quantity take-off functionality. Designers can use QTO tools to assign pay items to ANY object, even generic AutoCAD entities. Pay items can also be pre-assigned as part of a Civil 3D template, making quantity extraction a virtually automatic process.
If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video that will help you get started!
When attending software training, there is never enough time to learn everything 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 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 will help you gain efficiency and get the most value from your Autodesk investment.
We hope you can attend our next session...
July 28 - Getting Started with Civil 3D Quantity Take-off - Jeff Bartels
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!
In today's installment, we look at another technique to help you avoid performing the same task multiple times.
(Because our time is much better spent on things other than constantly reinventing the wheel. :) )
In the past we explored similar tools like writing scripts, creating macros, using simple LISP code, and more.
Each technique has many Pros. Unfortunately, they all have the same Con. Each method requires the user to key in command information manually.
Wouldn't it be so much easier if these macros/automations could be created automatically by just recording us while we work? The answer is definitely Yes, and fortunately for us, it is possible today using the Action Recorder.
Additionally, these recordings can be easily shared with other users by storing them in a central location where everyone has access.
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.
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.
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 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…
This week I had the rare pleasure of presenting at a Civil 3D user group meeting. My session focused on time saving best practices when working with alignments and profiles. In approximately 30 minutes, we managed to explore more than 15 topics ranging from creation, to analysis, to stylization.
In keeping with our 30 min. Workout philosophy, I attempted to choose topics that both provide value and fall outside traditional Civil 3D training courses. My hope was to demonstrate some workflows the users may not have seen before. If you are interested, I’ve uploaded a recording of the session below…
Thank you so much to Michelle Hood for inviting me to present at JMT’s Civil 3D User Group Meeting!
Tool palettes are one of the most powerful and versatile features in the Civil 3D / AutoCAD user interface. Having said this, most folks only use tool palettes for simpler things like quick access to blocks, or inserting content preset to adhere to the company CAD standards.
Tool palettes can be used for much much more. This includes organizing commands into workflows, creating a training tool, launching lisp routines, hosting quick access to custom macros, providing an easy gateway to almost anything available in Civil 3D.
To make things even better, they can be created through simple drag and drop operations. No extensive coding or CUI writing required!
Once defined, there are several ways to share tool palettes amongst users so no one has to "reinvent the wheel".
When placed along an alignment, Civil 3D sample lines slice through corridor models and identify the end areas used to calculate earthwork and structural material volumes. In places where alignments intersect, their respective sample lines may also intersect resulting in duplicate volume calculations. Fortunately, Civil 3D makes it easy to calculate average end area volumes at intersections using “match line” alignments.
In today’s installment we’ll explore a way to build custom alignments that serve as match lines for the sample lines used in volume calculation. Ensuring sample lines terminate along common linear segments eliminates the possibility of crossings and avoids overlap in volume calculations.
If you’re interested, I’ve created a video below that walks through everything…
