Civil Immersion

Managing Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud – Pt4 – Managing Civil 3D Content

This week, we wrapped up our four-part series on getting started with BIM Collaborate Pro for Civil.  This session focused on managing Civil 3D content within the cloud platform.  Specifically, we explored creation/management workflows associated with external references, data shortcuts, and the Sheet Set Manager.

If you are interested, I’ve included a link to the session recording below.

These four sessions provide enough context to help you host a Civil 3D project in the cloud, similar to how you would do it on a traditional server.  After attending these sessions, we recommend “test driving” the BIM Collaborate Pro using your own data and workflows to understand better how it can help improve your project collaboration!

In the big scheme of things, we’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to what the cloud platform can do.  Team spaces, swim lanes, shared packages, coordination spaces, clash detection, and meeting & correspondence management (among other things) are all topics for future exploration!

-Jeff

 

Managing Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud – Pt3 – Syncing Civil 3D with ACC

On Thursday this week (Oct 19), we completed part 3 of our four-part webinar series to help folks get started using BIM Collaborate Pro to host Civil 3D projects in the cloud.  This session focused on Desktop Connector and its ability to connect Civil 3D to the cloud. 

Once installed, Desktop Connector creates a drive called "Autodesk Docs" on your machine.  This drive represents a synced environment between your local device and ACC.  Files accessed from this drive are automatically locked/unlocked/versioned in the cloud transparently to the user.  This automation dramatically reduces the learning curve for managing cloud projects, as the workflows are similar to working off a traditional drive letter.

During the session, we learned how to select projects to sync to the local workspace and demonstrated how they are automatically locked/unlocked when accessed.  We also reviewed file versioning and how to control it using a free "local save" add-in.  Finally, we wrapped up with some helpful tips for using and troubleshooting Desktop Connector.

If you are interested, I've uploaded the session recording below.

Want to attend the live sessions?  Please REGISTER HERE.  We hope to see you there!

-Jeff

 

Managing Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud – Pt2 – Controlling Access

This week, we completed Part Two of our four-part series designed to help you get up and running using BIM Collaborate Pro to host Civil 3D projects in the cloud.  This session focused on controlling access to cloud-based projects.

Among other things, we learned how to invite members to a project and assign their permissions to folder content.  Member management tasks were also reviewed at both the project and account levels.  Finally, we walked through a workflow that demonstrated how to markup a file, assign work to an individual, and then review/approve that work once completed.

If you’re interested, I’ve uploaded the session video below.

Want to attend the live sessions?  Please REGISTER HERE. We hope to see you there!

-Jeff

 

Managing Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud - Pt 1 - Project Creation

Join us for our 30-minute workout webinars on managing Civil 3D projects in the cloud! Last week's session began our multipart series, where we introduced Autodesk's Construction Cloud platform. We covered creating new projects, uploading and viewing files, and accessing cloud content using a web browser or mobile device.
(Session recording below.)

In our upcoming session (Oct 12th), we'll learn how to control access to cloud projects by inviting members and assigning permissions. We'll also explore some initial collaborative workflows made possible by the cloud. If you are interested in attending the live sessions, please REGISTER HERE. We hope to see you there!

-Jeff

 

Brand New 30 Minute Webinars Coming!

Are you interested in exploring how Autodesk’s cloud platform can assist with Civil 3D project collaboration?  In the next several weeks, I’ll be hosting a multi-part webinar series to walk through everything you’ll need to begin taking your Civil 3D projects to the cloud.  Each session is only 30 minutes long and 100% live in-product demonstration.  (No PowerPoint allowed.)

– REGISTER HERE -

Topics include

Sept 28^th – Initiating Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud

Oct 12^th – Controlling Access to Civil 3D Cloud Projects

Oct 19^th – Synchronizing Civil 3D with the Autodesk Construction Cloud

Oct 26^th – Managing Civil 3D Project Data in the Cloud

Sessions will be recorded and shared with all who register.
– REGISTER HERE -

After attending these sessions, you’ll have a great understanding of Autodesk’s cloud platform and how it can be configured to support Civil 3D projects.  We look forward to seeing you there!

-Jeff

Civil 3D 2024 New Features!

Civil 3D 2024 provides several improvements that make creating and managing infrastructure designs easier.  If you’ve struggled with sharing/updating custom subassemblies in the past, you’ll find Civil 3D 2024 treats PKTs just like external references in that they can be attached or reloaded with a couple clicks of the mouse. 

The Connector for ArcGIS is enhanced in 2024 to allow for the stylization of connected GIS layers based on attribution.  Connected objects may also be brought in as AutoCAD entities if desired.  If you’ve been taking advantage of the recent Corridor Transitions feature, you’ll find a new “lock” option in 2024 that makes it possible to slide transition sets back and forth along a corridor baseline.

If you're interested, I’ve uploaded some videos below that provide a practical run-through of each of these new features.

-Jeff

Getting Started Modeling Pressure Networks in Civil 3D

Historically, Civil 3D pressure networks were treated as an arrangement of static parts, making creating and editing networks challenging.  Today, however, pressure networks are modeled as “pipe runs,” having dynamic fittings along with associated alignments and profiles.

The pipe run methodology (introduced in Civil 3D 2021) allows pipe network geometry to be modified horizontally and vertically using familiar alignment and profile grips.  As the geometry changes, fitting angles update automatically, and appurtenances remain aligned with their associated pipes.  Leveraging pipe runs can help simplify creating and modifying your next pressure network model. 

If you’d like to explore the new pipe run workflows, I’ve posted a video below to help you get started!

If you'd like more information on this topic, I recommend the following resources...

Rediscover Pressure Pipes in Civil 3D 2021 – Charlie Ogden:
https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Rediscover-Pressure-Pipes-Civil-3D-2021-New-Path-Based-Workflows-2020

Pressure Pipes: Getting Started with Pipe Runs – Alan Gilbert:
https://youtu.be/kLYn_rmuOfU

-Jeff

Model Civil 3D Corridor Transitions Using Any Subassembly!

Historically, if you wanted to apply transitions to the dimensions of a corridor model, it required the use of horizontal or vertical targets.  That said, not every subassembly supports targeting, and the ones that do may not apply to the dimensions you’d like to transition.  This usually meant creating your own custom subassemblies from scratch. Fortunately, using Civil 3D 2023.2, we can apply transitions to virtually any dimension of any subassembly without the need for targets or custom parts.

Transitions are created (and managed) using a brand new tab in the Panorama called “Corridor Transition.”  This tab allows users to create transition sets by simply selecting a subassembly (and the parameter they wish to transition) followed by the start/end stations and parameter values.  Civil 3D will then calculate the transition as a “straight line” or by following a specified curvature principle.

This tool can be helpful when modeling curb lowerings, transitional daylighting, or when component widening (or thickening) is required!  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video to help you get started.

-Jeff

 

Add a Background Color to Civil 3D Corridor Hatch

The traditional AutoCAD Hatch command provides a “background color” option. Assigning background colors to hatch is a great way to define multiple variations from a single pattern. However, background colors are not allowed when the hatch is applied through a Civil 3D style.

In today’s installment, we’ll explore a workflow that simulates a background color when hatching Civil 3D corridors. The example shown references brick pavers, but this technique can apply to any component of any linear design modeled using a corridor. If you are interested, I've created a quick video below that walks through everything...

Note: If this is your first experience hatching corridors, you may be interested in this video as well.
Hatching Civil 3D Corridor Models using a Code Set Style
https://youtu.be/mFW2PtQqbdQ 

-Jeff

 

Using Subassembly Composer & Cross Slope Profiles for Superelevation

In this 30 Minute Workout session, we walk through the process of controlling superelevation using profiles that are designed with lane cross slope values. How do we link the cross slope values from these profiles to the lane of interest? We create an "output parameter" custom subassembly that connects them.

-Alan