Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024, 13th Edition

Chapter 1: Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

Basic Features of AutoCAD Civil 3D

Points

Point Groups

Surfaces

Alignments

Profiles

Profile Views

Assemblies and Subassemblies

Corridors

Parcels

Grading

Sections

Pipe Networks

Pressure Pipe Networks

Superelevation View

Starting AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 User Interface

Drawing Area

Ribbon

Application Menu

Command Bar

Drawing File Tabs

Status Bar

TOOLSPACE Palette

Shortcut Menu

Layout Tools

Autodesk Account

Panorama Window

Civil 3D Workspaces

Civil 3D

Drafting & Annotation

3D Modeling

Planning and Analysis

Getting Started with AutoCAD Civil 3D

Drawing Settings

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Chapter 2: Working with Points

Point Object

Components of Point Object

Creating Points

Point Settings and Styles

Point Styles

Point Label Styles

Creating a Point Label Style

Adding the Text Component to the Label

Editing Points

Renumbering a Point

Changing the Elevation of the Point

Changing the Point Elevation with Respect to a Surface

Deleting a Point

Zooming to a Point

Locking/Unlocking Points

Using the Geodetic Calculator

Editing Points Using the PANORAMA Window

Importing/Exporting/Transferring Points

Adding Point Tables

Point Groups

Creating Point Groups

Editing Point Groups

Description Keys

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 3: Working with Surfaces

Surfaces

Types of Surfaces

Creating and Editing Surfaces

Creating a Surface

Adding Data from Different Sources to a Surface

Adding Surface Boundaries

Deleting a Boundary

Adding Breaklines to the Surface

Editing a Surface

Creating Volume Surfaces

Surface Styles

Creating a Surface Style

Editing Surface Styles

Editing Surface Properties

Surface Tools

Drape Image

Extract Solids from Surface

Export to DEM

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 4: Surface Volumes and Analysis

Surface Volumes

Volumes Dashboard

Composite Volumes

Bounded Volumes

Creating Volume Surfaces

Creating the TIN Volume Surface

Creating the Grid Volume Surface

Surface Analysis

Contour Analysis

Direction Analysis

Elevations Analysis

Slopes Analysis

Slope Arrows Analysis

User-defined Contours Analysis

Watersheds Analysis

Surface Analysis Tables

Creating Legend Table Styles

Surface Labels

Adding Contour Labels

Adding Slope Labels

Adding Spot Labels

Surface Label Styles

Information Tab

General Tab

Layout Tab

Dragged State Tab

Summary Tab

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Tutorial 4

Self-Evaluation Test

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 5: Alignments

Alignments

Types of Alignments

Key Points for Designing an Alignment

Components of Alignment

Factors Affecting an Alignment

Creating Alignments

Creating Alignments Using Polylines

Creating Alignments Using the Alignment Layout Tools

Alignment Layout Tools Toolbar

Tangent Tools

Point of Intersection Tools (PI)

Line Tools

Curve Tools

Line with Spiral Tools

Curve with Spiral Tools

Spiral Tools

Creating Alignments using the Best Fit Method

Creating Lines, Arcs, and Points as Entities by Using the Best Fit Entities Tool

Criteria-Based Alignment Design

Design Criteria

Creating Connected Alignments

Design Checks

Working with Design Checks in a Design Check Set

Creating a Design-based Alignment

Editing the Design Criteria

Alignment Properties

Information Tab

Station Control Tab

Design Criteria Tab

Alignment Styles

Creating an Alignment Style

Editing the Current Alignment Style

Alignment Label Styles

Creating an Alignment Label Style

Creating a Label Set

Adding Alignment Labels

Editing Alignments

Editing an Alignment Layout Using the Geometry Editor

Editing the Alignment Using the Grip Edits

Adding Alignment Tables

Superelevation

Analyzing Superelevation

Calculating Superelevation

Creating Superelevation View

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 6: Working with Profiles

Profiles

Types of Profiles

Creating a Surface Profile

Creating a Profile View

Creating a Layout or Criteria-Based Profile

Creating a Superimposed Profile

Creating Multiple Profile Views

Creating a Quick Profile

Creating Dynamic Offset Profiles

Defining a Profile Design Criteria

Editing Layout/Design Profiles

Editing Profile Using the Profile Layout Tools Toolbar

Editing Profiles Using Grips

Profile and Profile View Styles

Creating a Profile Style

Creating a Profile View Style

Assigning the Profile View Style

Profile Labels

Creating a New Profile Label Style

Creating a Label Set

Assigning Labels to a Profile

Creating a New Profile View Label Style

Band Sets and Band Styles

Creating a Band Style (Framing a Band)

Profile Properties

Profile View Properties

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Tutorial 4

Tutorial 5

Tutorial 6

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 7: Working with Assemblies and Subassemblies

Introduction to Assemblies and Subassemblies

Assemblies

Components of an Assembly

Assembly Properties

Assembly Styles

Using Codes

Link Codes

Shape Codes

Code Set Styles

Creating Label Styles

Creating Code Set Styles

Working with Subassemblies

Subassembly Properties

Creating Subassemblies using Polylines

Adding Codes to the Subassembly

Subassembly Catalog Library

Adding Assemblies to Tool Palettes

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Tutorial 4

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 8: Working with Corridors and Parcels

Overview

Corridors

Creating Corridor

Corridor Surface

Options in the Surfaces Tab

Creating a Corridor Surface

Adding the Surface Boundary

Calculating Earthwork Volumes

Creating Civil 3D Objects using Corridor

Create Polyline From Corridor

Create Feature Line from Corridor

Create Alignment from Corridor

Create Profile from Corridor

Create COGO Points from Corridor

Creating Surfaces from Corridor

Selecting and Editing Corridor Station

Selecting the Baselines and Offsets of a Corridor

Selecting a Station

Editing a Corridor Section

Checking the Corridor Visibility

Drive

Sight Distance

Extracting Corridor Solids and Bodies

Codes to Extract Page

Property Data Page

Output Options Page

Restoring Corridor Bowties

Introduction to Parcels

Key Points for Designing a Parcel

Creating Parcels

Creating Parcels using Polylines

Creating Parcels Using the Parcels Layout Tools

Parcels Layout Tools Toolbar

Lot Line Tools

Parcel Sizing Tools

PI Editing Tools

Other Tools

Parcel Sizing Parameters

Right Of Way (ROW) Parcel

Creating Right of Way Parcels

PARCEL PROPERTIES

Information Tab

Composition Tab

Analysis Tab

User Defined Properties Tab

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Tutorial 4

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 9: Sample Lines, Sections, and Quantity Takeoffs

Overview

Sample Lines

Creating Sample Lines

Sample Line Properties

Sample Line Group Properties

Editing Sample Lines

Creating Section Views

Creating a Single Section View

Creating Multiple Section Views

Section View Band Set

Adding Section View Labels

Section View Properties

Editing Sections

Move Sections Views to a Different Section View Group

Quantity Takeoffs

Defining the Quantity Takeoff Criteria

Computing Materials

Generating Volume Reports

Adding Tables

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Chapter 10: Feature Lines and Grading

Overview

Feature Lines

Creating Feature Lines by Using the Create Feature Line Tool

Editing Feature Lines

Editing the Feature Line Geometry

Creating Dynamic Feature Lines

Setting the Properties and Style of the Feature Line

Adding Labels to Feature Lines

Grading Objects

Creating Criteria Sets

Creating a Grading Group

Using the Grading Creation Tools Toolbar

Editing Gradings Using the Grading Editor Tool

Creating the Grading Infill

Grading Transition

Grading Utilities

Grading Style

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Chapter 11: Pipe Networks

Overview

Pipe Network

Pipes

Structures

Null Structures

Part Catalog

Parts List

Part Builder

Part Rules

Creating a Pipe Network

Using the Network Layout Tools

Pipes and Structures Tool

Pipes Only Tool

Structures Only Tool

Creating Pipe Networks from Objects

Drawing Pipe Network Parts in a Profile View

Editing a Pipe Network in a Profile View

Network Properties

Structure Properties

Pipe Properties

Editing A Pipe Network in plan layout

Using the Pipe Network Layout Tools Toolbar

Editing Pipes and Structures Using the Toolspace Item View

Grip Editing of the Pipe Network

Adding Pipe Network Labels

Adding Tables

Adding a Structure Table

Adding a Pipe Table

Interference Check

Creating the Style for the Interference Check

Running the Interference Check

Swapping Parts

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Chapter 12: Pressure Networks

Pressure Networks

Defining Network Components

Creating a Pressure Network

Creating Pressure Networks from Objects

Pressure Network Properties

Pressure Pipe Properties

Fittings and Appurtenances Properties

Editing Pressure Network

Using the Pressure Network Plan Layout or Profile Layout Tab

Editing Pressure Network Objects Using the TOOLSPACE Item View

Grip Editing of the Pressure Pipe Network

Adding Pressure Network Labels

Adding Pressure Network Tables

Adding a Pressure Pipe Table

Adding a Fitting Table

Adding an Appurtenance Table

Validating a Pressure Network

Performing Design Check

Performing Depth Check

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Chapter 13: Working with Plan Production Tools and Data Shortcuts

Plan Production Tools

Creating View Frames

Alignment Page

Creating Sheets

Data Sharing

Data Shortcut

Data Reference

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Self-Evaluation Test

Review Questions

Exercise 1

Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

(13th Edition)

CADCIM Technologies

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Contributing Author

Sham Tickoo

Professor

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana, USA

CADCIM Technologies

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www.cadcim.com

Copyright © 2024 by CADCIM Technologies, USA. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976.

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ISBN: 978-1-64057-213-3

NOTICE TO THE READER

Publisher does not warrant or guarantee any of the products described in the text or perform any independent analysis in connection with any of the product information contained in the text. Publisher does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to obtain and include information other than that provided to it by the manufacturer.

The reader is expressly warned to consider and adopt all safety precautions that might be indicated by the activities herein and to avoid all potential hazards. By following the instructions contained herein, the reader willingly assumes all risks in connection with such instructions.

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Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024, 13th Edition

Sham Tickoo

DEDICATION

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to enlighten the young and curious minds

of our future generations

To students, who are dedicated to learning new technologies

and making the world a better place to live in

THANKS

To employees of CADCIM Technologies and

Tickoo Institute of Emererging Technologies

for their valuable help

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Training for Students and Companies in a Classroom Setting

Highly experienced instructors and qualified Engineers at CADCIM Technologies conduct the classes under the guidance of Prof. Sham Tickoo of Purdue University Northwest, USA. This team has authored several textbooks that are rated one of the best in their categories and are used in various colleges, universities, and training centers in North America, Europe, and in other parts of the world.

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Preface

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

AutoCAD Civil 3D is one of the leading civil engineering software developed by Autodesk Inc., USA. This software provides a comprehensive solution for various infrastructure works such as earthwork, subdivision, highways, land development, survey, drainage, and different areas related to project management. AutoCAD Civil 3D has the ability to dynamically link various objects created in it. As a result any changes or revisions made in the design are instantly updated by a click of mouse. This powerful feature saves a lot of time, thereby enabling the engineers and designers involved in the project to assess various conditions that can affect their design process.

Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 textbook has been written with the intention of helping the readers effectively use AutoCAD Civil 3D. Structured in a pedagogical sequence, the chapters in this textbook cover the basic as well as advanced concepts of AutoCAD Civil 3D such as alignments, surfaces, gradings, corridor modeling, and earthwork calculations to name only a few. The civil engineering industry examples that are used as tutorials and the related additional exercises at the end of each chapter will help the users to understand the techniques used in the industry to design a project.

The salient features of this textbook are as follows:

• Tutorial Approach

The author has adopted the tutorial point-of-view and the learn-by-doing approach throughout the textbook. This approach guides the users through the process of creating models in the tutorials.

• Real-World Models as Projects

The author has used about 36 real-world projects as tutorials in this textbook. This enables the readers to relate the models in the tutorials to the real-world. In addition, there are about 20 exercises that can be used by the readers to assess their knowledge.

• Tips and Notes

Additional information related to various topics is provided to the users in the form of tips and notes.

• Heavily Illustrated Text

The text in this textbook is heavily illustrated with about 750 diagrams and screen capture images.

Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

• Learning Objectives

The first page of every chapter summarizes the topics that are covered in the chapter.

• Self-Evaluation Test, Review Questions, and Exercises

Each chapter ends with Self-Evaluation Test so that the users can assess their knowledge of the chapter. The answers to Self-Evaluation Test are given at the end of the chapter. Also, the Review Questions and Exercises are given at the end of the chapters and they can be used by the instructor as test questions and assignments.

Symbols Used in the Textbook

Formatting Conventions Used in the Textbook

Please refer to the following list for the formatting conventions used in this textbook.

Preface

Naming Conventions Used in the Textbook

Tool

If you click on an item in a panel of the ribbon and a command is invoked to create/edit an object or perform some action then that item is termed as tool.

For example:

Create Corridor tool, Create Surface tool, Create Surface Profile tool

If you click on an item in a panel of the ribbon and a dialog box is invoked wherein you can set the properties to create/edit an object then that item is also termed as tool, refer to Figure 1.

For example:

Create Surface tool, Create Feature Line tool

Water Drop tool, Bounded Volumes tool

Dialog Box

In this textbook, different terms are used for referring to the components of a dialog box. Refer to Figure 2 for the terminology used.

Button

The item in a dialog box that has a 3D shape like a button is termed as button. For example, OK button, Cancel button, Apply button, and so on. If the item in a ribbon is used to exit a tool or a mode, it is also termed as button. For example, Modify button, Finish Editing System button, Cancel Editing System button, and so on, refer to Figure 2.

Drop-down

A drop-down is one in which a set of common tools are grouped together. You can identify a drop-down with a down arrow on it. These drop-downs are given a name based on the tools grouped in them. For example, Surfaces drop-down, Points drop-down, Grading drop-down, and so on, refer to Figure 3.

Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

Preface

Drop-down List

A drop-down list is one in which a set of options are grouped together. You can set various parameters using these options. You can identify a drop-down list with a down arrow on it. For example, Type Selector drop-down list, Units drop-down list, and so on, refer to Figure 4.

Exploring AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

Options

Options are the items that are available in shortcut menu, drop-down list, dialog boxes, and so on. For example, choose the Alignment Properties option from the shortcut menu displayed on right-clicking in the drawing area, refer to Figure 5.

Free Companion Website

It has been our constant endeavor to provide you the best textbooks and services at affordable price. In this endeavor, we have come out with a Free Companion website that will facilitate the process of teaching and learning of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024. If you purchase this textbook, you will get access to the files on the Companion website.

The following resources are available in this website:

Faculty Resourses

• Technical Support

You can get online technical support by contacting [email protected].

• Instructor Guide

Solutions to all review questions and exercises in the textbook are provided in this guide.

• Part Files

The files used in illustration, tutorials, and exercises are available for free download.

Preface

Student Resources

• Technical Support

You can get online technical support by contacting [email protected].

• Part Files

The files used in illustration, tutorials, and exercises are available for free download.

If you face any problem in accessing these files, please contact the publisher at [email protected] or the author at [email protected] or [email protected]

Video Courses

CADCIM offers video courses in CAD, CAE Simulation, BIM, Civil/GIS, and Animation domains on various e-Learning/ Video platforms. To enroll for the video courses, please visit the CADCIM website using the following link: https://www.cadcim.com/video-courses

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Chapter 1

Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Understand the basic features of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

• Understand AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 screen components

• Get familiar with different workspaces in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024

INTRODUCTION TO AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D 2024

AutoCAD Civil 3D is a powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) tool that is used for designing, analyzing, and documenting engineering projects such as land development, transportation, and environmental projects.

This software includes various sets of tools for designing a civil engineering project along with the tools from other Autodesk products such as AutoCAD and Map 3D. It also has interfacing application such as Trimble Link™ , Carlson Connect™, InfraWorks, and Leica Exchange for transferring and converting data set into Civil 3D environment. These tools can be accessed through toolbars and Ribbon provided in the software interface. Civil 3D also supports the traditional commands that exist in AutoCAD software to invoke various tools. These commands are executed using the command prompt in the software.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 provides a model-centric technology at the core that enables the entire team in a project to coordinate and work on a single updated model. Data sharing is conducted through various approaches ranging from Xrefs and data shortcuts to integrated data management controls. These approaches help team members to work in parallel, connected locally or remotely, on the latest updated model. As a result, a project can be managed well and the budget can also be controlled.

BASIC FEATURES OF AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D

AutoCAD Civil 3D features a range of design and analysis objects within its three-dimensional dynamic engineering model. These Civil 3D objects include points, surfaces, parcels, alignments, profiles, and gradings. All objects in this model have a hierarchical interaction mechanism with each other. This mechanism ensures that modifications carried out in one object are truly reflected in other objects that are connected to it.

A Civil 3D object is a drawing element that maintains a relationship with another Civil 3D objects. For example, an alignment object is a combination of lines and curves in a horizontal plane that collectively defines the location of a project component such as the centerline of a road. This alignment can be an independent object or it can be a parent object of other Civil 3D objects such as profiles and cross-sections. If you edit this alignment object, it will result in the change of other related Civil 3D objects.

Civil 3D has other objects such as points, surfaces, alignments, profiles, sites, parcels, gradings, corridors, assemblies, and subassemblies. All these objects have a designated hierarchy that can be viewed in an interface component called the TOOLSPACE palette.

AutoCAD Civil 3D also features various other object components such as tables, object labels, and the analysis results that are derived from the model. These object components are associated with the core model and they can be dynamically updated so as to reflect any change made in the core model.

Some of the various objects required to create a Civil 3D model are discussed next.

Points

Points are the basic building blocks in AutoCAD Civil 3D. In Civil 3D, points are coordinate geometry points and are also known as the COGO points. In a civil engineering project, points are used to represent the existing ground locations and design elements. A Civil 3D point object is different from the AutoCAD point object. An AutoCAD point merely displays the location of an object. A Civil 3D point has a unique identification number and properties such as northing, easting, elevation, and description. These points can also have additional properties to control their appearance such as point style, point label style, and layer.

Point Groups

The point groups allow you to group the COGO points together. The groups are created by using the point objects that have similar characteristics. This helps you to control the overall appearance of the points. Point group objects make it easy to change the point number, point style, and other properties of a large number of points.

Surfaces

Surfaces are key objects in AutoCAD Civil 3D. They are the three-dimensional geometric representation of a land terrain. In Civil 3D, you can calculate a composite volume surface that represents the difference between two surface areas.

The surfaces are created using points, point files, DEM data, existing AutoCAD objects, contours, breaklines, and boundaries. You can also import the information regarding the surfaces from LandXML, TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network), and DEM (Digital Elevation Model) files.

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can perform various surface analyses to show different height ranges, slopes, and watershed areas. This is done to ensure that there are no unwanted point in the design.

Alignments

The alignment objects in civil engineering projects represent the geometry of features like the pipeline, road, canal, railway, or construction baselines in a horizontal plane. Creating and defining the alignment is the first step in the design process of highway, railway, or other engineering projects.

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, an alignment object can be created from a polyline or by using the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar. The alignment objects can also be edited using the grips or commands in the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.

Profiles

The profiles (or long sections) are used to show surface levels along a selected horizontal alignment using the specified surfaces. After creating a profile in Civil 3D, you can design the vertical alignment directly on it by using standard alignment tools, grips, or editors.

Profile Views

The profile views are used to represent the graph lines which form the grid along which the profile is plotted. One profile view object can be used to represent multiple profiles. Profile view object also includes data bands. Data bands can be used to display additional information about the profile view.

Assemblies and Subassemblies

Assemblies constitute the primary structure of an AutoCAD Civil 3D corridor model. The subassemblies are the building blocks for creating an assembly. The assembly objects are composed of subassemblies. The assembly forms the primary structure of a corridor model. The subassemblies can be carriage ways, curbs, and slopes that can be added to the assembly baseline to create an assembly.

Corridors

A corridor represents a path such as a road, railway, or canal. The horizontal and vertical geometry of a corridor is defined by the alignment and the profile.

The corridor objects are created along one or more baselines (alignments). These are then created by placing a 2D section (assembly) at incremental locations along the baselines and by creating matching slopes that reach a surface model at each incremental location. The corridor models can be edited on the basis of sections.

Parcels

The parcels represent any closed boundary that is spatially referenced to a geographical location. However, the major use of parcel is to represent a tract of land which could be a lot in a subdivision. Parcel can also be a water body or even a lot in a given site which is termed as site parcel.

Grading

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the grading tools enable the engineers to grade a surface by applying different grading criteria. On applying grading to a surface, you can analyze the grading and balance the cut and fill volumes of a surface.

Sections

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, sections or cross-sections provide a view of the terrain that is cut at an angle across a linear feature such as a proposed road. The sections are cut across the horizontal alignments at specified station intervals. These sections can be plotted individually for a specified station or as a group for a specified range of stations, depending on the purpose of a plot. You can generate the section volumes from a design for earthworks and materials using the Quantity Take Off tools.

Pipe Networks

You can use pipe networks to design the utility system such as the storm and wastewater system which carry fluids under the effect of gravity. The pipe networks are created from design catalogs and can be edited in plan views. You can also display the pipe network parts in profile and section views. Therefore, if a change is made to the pipe networks in plan view, the profile and section views are dynamically updated.

Pressure Pipe Networks

In Civil 3D, the pressure pipe network consists of objects that are used to design a pipe network that carries fluids under pressure, such as water supply network. In this category, various tools are provided to design the network in plan and profile layout. Similar to pipe network, the pressure pipe network is created from the parts that are available in a parts list. This parts list is derived from the AutoCAD catalog which is a master collection of various available parts.

Superelevation View

Superelevation or banking is defined as the transverse inclination to the road pavement surface created to counter the centrifugal forces that are exerted on the vehicle while travelling along a curved path. The superelevation view in Civil 3D is used to represent the superelevation. It is also used to perform the superelevation calculations and edit the superelevation data.

STARTING AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D 2024

You can start AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 by double-clicking on its shortcut icon on the desktop or from the taskbar. To start it from the taskbar, click on Windows icon and then choose Civil 3D 2024 Imperial/Metric from the menu displayed (for Windows 10), refer to Figure 1-1; AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 will start and a window will be displayed with the Start Tab chosen by default.

Using the options in the Start tab, you can access drawing files, recently opened drawing files and sheet sets, and online and learning resources.

This tab contains two other tabs: Learn and Create. The Learn tab consists of two panes. The left pane of this tab contains a list of video links under the head Getting Started Videos. These links and videos can be used as additional learning resources. The right pane of the Learn tab contains the links for learning tips and checking online resources in the Learning Tips and Online Resources areas, respectively.

The Create tab consists of three panes: Get Started, Recent Documents, and Connect. This tab provides information such as how to start Civil 3D, list of recently opened documents and notifications, and feedback. The third pane enables you to sign in to Autodesk.

AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D 2024 USER INTERFACE

The AutoCAD Civil 3D interface components are discussed next.

Drawing Area

The drawing area covers the major portion of the screen. Here, you can draw various objects and use commands. To draw the objects, you need to define the coordinate points that can be selected by using a pointing device. The position of the pointing device is represented on the screen by the cursor. There is a coordinate system icon at the lower left corner of the drawing area. The window also has standard Windows buttons such as close, minimize, scroll bar, and so on at the top right corner. These buttons have the same functions as in any other standard window.

Ribbon

The Ribbon interface in AutoCAD Civil 3D has a collection of tools that are grouped into various tabs based on their functionality. This interface provides an alternative to the layered menus, toolbars, and task panes which were used previously for displaying tools. The tools in the tabs are further sub grouped and placed into various panels depending on their usage and functionality. To invoke a command, choose the required tool from the Ribbon. Figure 1-3 shows the typical Home tab of the AutoCAD Civil 3D Ribbon.

When you start a Civil 3D session for the first time, by default the Ribbon is displayed horizontally below the Quick Access Toolbar. The panels in the Ribbon have various tools arranged in rows. Some of the tools have a small white down arrow displayed on their right. This arrow indicates that there are other tools as well that have similar functions and are grouped together in this drop-down. Click on the down arrow; a list of tools will be displayed. Note that if you choose a tool from the drop-down, the corresponding command will be invoked and the tool that you have chosen will be displayed in the panel. For example, to create a surface using the Create Surface tool, click on the down arrow next to the Surfaces drop-down in the Create Ground Data panel of the Home tab. Choose the Create Surface tool from the drop-down; the Create Surface dialog box will be displayed. Next, specify the various options in this dialog box to create the required surface.

In this book, the tool selection sequence is written as: choose the Create Surface tool from Home > Create Ground Data > Surfaces drop-down.

Some panels have a down arrow displayed on the right of their name. This indicates that more tools are available. To access these tools, click on the down arrow to expand the panel. You will notice that a push pin is available at the left of the panel. Click on the pushpin to keep the panel in the expanded state. Also, some of the panels have an inclined arrow at the lower right corner. When you click on an inclined arrow, a dialog box will be displayed. You can define the setting of the corresponding panel in the dialog box.

You can reorder the panels in the tab. To do so, press and hold the left mouse button on the panel to be moved and then drag it to the required position in the tab. To undock the Ribbon, right-click on the blank space in the Ribbon; a shortcut menu is displayed. Choose the Undock option from the shortcut menu. Civil 3D allows you to customize the display and the contents of the tabs and panels in the Ribbon. To customize the Ribbon, right-click in the Ribbon; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Hover the cursor over an option in the menu; a flyout will be displayed. For example, if you hover the cursor over the Show Tabs option, a flyout will be displayed with the list of names of tabs that are available in the Ribbon. In the flyout, by default, a check mark is displayed beside those tab names that are available in ribbon. The check indicates that the corresponding panel will be displayed in the Ribbon. If you clear the check, the corresponding tab will get hidden in the Ribbon.

The options in the Autodesk InfraWorks tab are shown in Figure 1-4. The AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 gives you access to InfraWorks-related commands and enables you to launch InfraWorks directly from the Ribbon.

Application Menu

The Application Menu, shown in Figure 1-5, will be displayed when you choose the Application button located on the top left corner of the Civil 3D window.

It contains some of the tools that are available in the Standard toolbar. You can search a command using the search field in the Application Menu. To search a tool, enter the complete or partial name of the command in the search field; the possible tool list will be displayed. If you click on a tool from the list, the corresponding command will get activated.

By default, the Recent Documents button is chosen in the Application Menu. As a result, the list of recently opened drawings will be displayed in the menu. If you have opened multiple drawing files, choose the Open Documents button; the documents that are opened will be listed in the Application Menu. To set the preferences of the file, choose the Options button available at the bottom right of the Application Menu. To exit Civil 3D, choose the Exit Autodesk Civil 3D 2024 button next to the Options button.

Command Bar

The command bar located at the bottom of the drawing area has the command prompt where you can enter the commands. It also displays the subsequent prompt sequences and messages, refer to Figure 1-2. You can change the size of the command bar by placing the cursor on the top edge (double line bar known as the Grab bar) and then dragging it. This way you can increase its size to see the previous commands that you have used. By default, the command window displays only three lines. You can also press the F2 function key to display the AutoCAD Text window.

Drawing File Tabs

The drawing file tabs are displayed above the drawing area, refer to Figure 1-2, shows drawing that are currently opened. Using these drawing tabs, you can quickly switch between the drawings. The order in which these tabs are displayed is based on the sequence in which the files are opened.

Status Bar

The Status bar is displayed at the bottom of the screen, as shown in Figure 1-6. It contains some useful information and buttons that will make it easier for you to change the status of some AutoCAD functions. You can toggle between on and off states of most of these functions by choosing buttons from this bar.

Model

The Model button is chosen by default because you work in the model space to create drawings. You will learn more about the model space in later chapters.

Display drawing grids

The grid lines are used as reference lines to draw objects in AutoCAD. If the GRIDMODE button is chosen, the display drawing grid will be on and the grid lines will be displayed on the screen. The F7 function key can be used to turn the grid display on or off.

Snap Mode

You can choose this button to turn on the snap mode. In this mode, the cursor moves in fixed increments. The F9 function key acts as a toggle key to turn the snap off or on.

Ortho Mode

You can choose this button to draw lines at right angles only. You can use the F8 function key to turn ortho mode on or off.

Polar Tracking

If you turn the polar tracking on, the movement of the cursor is restricted along a path based on the angle set as the polar angle. Choose the Polar Tracking button to turn the polar tracking on. You can also use the F10 function key to turn on this option. Note that turning the polar tracking on, automatically turns off the ortho mode.

Isometric Drafting

In AutoCAD, you can activate the required working plane. To activate the required working plane, choose the Isometric Drafting button from the Status bar. On choosing this button, a flyout is displayed with the isoplane Left, isoplane Top, and isoplane Right options. You can choose the required option from this flyout to activate the respective work plane.

Object Snap Tracking

When you choose this button, the inferencing lines will be displayed. Inferencing lines are dashed lines that are displayed automatically when you select a sketching tool and track a particular keypoint on the screen. Choosing this button turns the object snap tracking on or off. You can also use the F11 function key to turn the object snap tracking on or off.

Object Snap

When the Object Snap button is chosen, you can use the running object snaps to snap on to a point. You can also use the F3 function key to turn the object snap on or off. The status of OSNAP (off or on) does not prevent you from using the immediate mode object snaps.

Show/Hide Lineweight

This button in the Status Bar allows you to toggle on or off the display of lineweights in the drawing. If this button is not chosen, the display of lineweight will be turned off.

Show annotation objects

This button is used to control the visibility of the annotative objects that do not support the current annotation scale in the drawing area.

Add Scales to annotative objects when the annotative scale changes

On choosing this button, the annotation scales that are set current will be added to all the annotative objects present in the drawing.

Annotation Monitor

The Annotation Monitor button helps you to identify and address the disassociated annotations in the drawing. When this button is activated, you are automatically notified about the non associative dimensions, leaders, and associated model geometry.

Isolate Objects

This button is used to hide or isolate objects from the drawing area. On choosing this button, a flyout will be displayed. Choose the required option from this flyout and then select the objects to hide or isolate. To end isolation or display a hidden object, choose this button again and choose the End Object Isolation option.

Hardware Acceleration On

This button is used to set the performance of the software to an acceptable level.

Clean Screen

The Clean Screen button is available at the lower right corner of the screen. When you choose this button, it displays an expanded view of the drawing area by hiding all the toolbars except the command window, Status Bar, and menu bar. Choose the Clean Screen button again to restore the previous display rate.

Customization

The Customization button is available on the right corner of the Status Bar. Using this button, you can add or remove tools in the Status Bar.

TOOLSPACE Palette

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can view the project data and its status at any time in the TOOLSPACE palette. The data in the palette updates itself dynamically to show the status of the data within the drawing. To display the TOOLSPACE palette in a drawing, choose the TOOLSPACE button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab or type SHOWTS in the command line. There are four tabs in the palette: Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox. These tabs are discussed next.

Prospector Tab

 The Prospector tab is used to manage project files. You can choose the Prospector tab in the TOOLSPACE palette. The options in the Prospector tab, as shown in Figure 1-7, are used to view, edit, and manage drawings. You can also edit the object data for the Civil 3D objects that are present in the drawing. In this tab, all the objects in a drawing or project are arranged in a hierarchy.

The drop-down list displayed at the top of the Prospector tab displays various options. The content displayed in the Prospector tab depends on the option selected from this drop-down list. Select the Master View option from the drop-down list; all project and drawing items, including drawing templates are displayed in a hierarchical order in the Prospector tab. If more than one Civil 3D drawing file are opened then the name of the active drawing is highlighted. Select the Active Drawing View option in the drop-down list; hierarchy of all the items in the active drawing is displayed in the Prospector tab, refer to Figure 1-7. You can toggle the display of the Prospector tab in the TOOLSPACE palette by choosing the Prospector button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab.

Settings Tab

Choose the Settings tab from the TOOLSPACE palette; various options in this tab will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-8. You can also invoke this tab by choosing the Settings button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab. You can use this tab to view, create, and modify different styles for different object types in Civil 3D. This tab is also used to control the settings for drawings and commands.

Survey Tab

Choose the Survey tab from the TOOLSPACE palette; various options in this tab will be displayed. You can also invoke this tab by choosing the Survey button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab. The Survey tab shows the survey data present in the AutoCAD Civil 3D projects folder. This survey data can be accessed from multiple drawings. This tab displays a collection of databases such as Survey Databases, Equipment Databases, Figure Prefix Databases, and Linework Code Sets, as shown in Figure 1-9.

The survey databases consist of the records of survey points whereas the equipment database records the standard deviations and other operational parameters of the equipment used for the survey. The figure prefix databases record the conversion routines that are used while creating site features from the survey points.

Toolbox Tab

Choose the Toolbox button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab; the options in this tab will be displayed in the TOOLSPACE palette, as shown in Figure 1-10. This tab manages reports for each type of object in Civil 3D. These reports provide you useful engineering information regarding the objects in the drawing. The data available in these reports can be in Land XML format with custom/predefined XSL style sheets or in a .NET format

The TOOLSPACE Item View

The TOOLSPACE Item View is used to view the contents of a given node or subnode in a list. This pane is displayed below the tree in the TOOLSPACE palette. For example, the Points node has a set of points which are displayed in the Toolspace Item View at the bottom of the toolspace.

Shortcut Menu

AutoCAD Civil 3D provides you with shortcut menus that are an easy and convenient way of invoking tools and the recently used commands. These shortcut menus are context-sensitive which means that the commands present in them are dependent on the place or object for which they are displayed. A shortcut menu is invoked by right-clicking and is displayed at the cursor location. You can right-click anywhere in the drawing area to display the general shortcut menu. The shortcut menus are also displayed when you right-click on one or more drawing objects or on an individual item from the TOOLSPACE palette. Figure 1-11 shows a shortcut menu displayed on right-clicking on the Points node in the Prospector tab.

Layout Tools

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can use various layout toolbars to create and edit the Civil 3D objects such as alignments, grading, points, profiles, pipes, pressure pipes, and parcels. These toolbars provide access to object-specific designs and edit commands. To invoke a toolbar, choose the drop-down corresponding to the object. Next, choose the layout or creation method from the options that will be displayed in the flyout. Figure 1-12 shows the Alignment Layout Tools - toolbar invoked by choosing Alignment Creation Tools from Home > Create Design > Alignment drop-down.

Autodesk Account

You can access the Autodesk services using your Autodesk ID. To login to your Autodesk account, choose the Sign In button in the InfoCenter toolbar; a drop-down list will be displayed. Next, choose the Sign In to Autodesk account option from this list; the Autodesk-Sign In dialog box will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-13. Enter your credentials in this dialog box and choose the Sign In button; Autodesk will validate your credentials and then provide access to your account.

PANORAMA Window

This window can be used to display the entities of the objects such as alignments and profiles in a tabular form. The PANORAMA window is a floating, dockable window that can be kept open while working. This window includes several tables called vistas on different tabs. In the PANORAMA window, the data displayed in black is editable and the data displayed in grey is non-editable.

CIVIL 3D WORKSPACES

Workspaces are the set of toolbars, menus, and Ribbon that are grouped and organized together to work in a custom and task-oriented environment. A workspace controls the layout of the Civil 3D user interface. When you use a specific workspace, you can view the Ribbon, toolbars, and other applications that have been specified for the selected workspace. To invoke the applications and tools that are specified in other workspaces, enter the commands in the command line.

You can select workspaces at the beginning when you start the Civil 3D application or anytime during the drawing session. When you start AutoCAD Civil 3D, you are prompted to select a specific workspace and then continue. Once you are done, you can switch to other workspace settings at any time by choosing the Workspace Switching button that is located in the Status Bar. On doing so, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-14.

Choose an option from this flyout for specifying different workspace settings in the current drawing environments. After you choose the required option, the drawing interface will change according to the setting of the workspace you have chosen.

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, there are four default workspaces such as Civil 3D, Planning and Analysis, 2D Drafting & Annotation, and 3D Modeling. These default workspaces are designed considering the tools that a user might use for that kind of project. You can also create your own customized workspace and save it using the Save Current As tool from the flyout, refer to Figure 1-14.

The default workspaces that are available in AutoCAD Civil 3D are discussed next.

Civil 3D

The Civil 3D workspace includes all the necessary tools and applications that required for designing a civil engineering project such as the road, railway, or a pipe network designing project.

Drafting & Annotation

This workspace is used for the purpose of documentation of a project. The Annotation tab is included in the Ribbon in this workspace. All the tools related to annotation are available in this tab so that you can annotate easily as per your requirement.

3D Modeling

This workspace contains all the tools and applications that are available in the AutoCAD and can be useful in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Planning and Analysis

This workspace contains all the tools and features that are available in AutoCAD Map 3D and can be used directly in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

GETTING STARTED WITH AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D

Before you create a new project or start working on the existing project, you should be familiar with various tools and concepts that can be applied to create the initial setup of the project. The basic setup tools like drawing templates and setting units are discussed next.

Drawing Templates

Drawing templates are very useful tools for AutoCAD Civil 3D users. These tools help in maintaining consistency throughout the drawings in the project.

To use a template in a drawing, choose the Prospector tab of the TOOLSPACE palette and then select the Master View option from the drop-down list at the top. Now, expand the Drawing Templates node and right-click on a template; a shortcut menu will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-15.

To create a new drawing file, choose the Create New Drawing option from the shortcut menu displayed; a new drawing file will be created using the settings of the drawing template file that you had selected.

You can also open the existing drawing template in AutoCAD Civil 3D. To do so, choose the Open option from the shortcut menu; the template will open in the drawing area.

An AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing template file contains information of the standard AutoCAD settings such as layers, text styles, dimension styles, and so on. It also contains AutoCAD objects such as lines and texts. The drawing template files also carry AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing information that is listed in the Settings and Prospector tabs of the TOOLSPACE palette.

Drawing Settings

Drawing settings allow the user to review or modify settings specified for a drawing. To edit the current drawing settings, right-click on the drawing name that is displayed in the Settings tab of the TOOLSPACE palette; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Edit Drawing Settings option from this shortcut menu, as shown in Figure 1-16; the Drawing Settings - dialog box will be displayed, refer to Figure 1-17. This dialog box contains five tabs that are discussed next.

Units and Zone Tab

This tab is used to set linear and angular units, intended plot scale, and coordinate zone for the current drawing.

Transformation Tab

This tab is primarily used to specify the parameters for the projection and coordinate system of the drawing.

Object Layers Tab

This tab provides a table in which the objects can be directly assigned a layer. To change the layer of an object, click in the field of the Layer column corresponding to that object; the Layer Selection dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box, select the layer name that you want to assign to the selected object and choose the OK button; the dialog box will be closed and the selected layer name will be assigned to the object.

The layer of an object controls various properties such as color, linetype, and lineweight of an object to which it is assigned. As a result, the object to which a layer is assigned can have maximum flexibility in its display.

Abbreviations Tab

In this tab, you can set the abbreviations used in object labels, especially for alignment and profile geometry points.

Ambient Settings Tab

This tab provides global default settings such as precision, unit, rounding of the numeric values, visibility of tooltips, and so on. You can expand various properties and make the required settings in the Value column of this tab. The ambient settings made in the Ambient tab are used throughout the drawing unless they are overridden at the feature or command level.

After configuring the settings in the Drawing Settings dialog box, you need to examine the default styles for each feature and its labels, the feature name format, and other settings that you may want to modify. To do so, go through point, surface, and other features in the Settings tab and right-click on each feature. Next, choose the Edit Feature Settings option from the shortcut menu to invoke the Edit Feature Settings dialog box. You can examine various settings of the selected feature by using the options in this dialog box.

Self- Evaluation Test

Answer the following questions and then compare them to those given at the end of this chapter:

1. The horizontal and vertical geometry of a corridor is defined by its __________ and profile.

2. The ____________ palette is used to view the project data and its status at any time.

3. You can use the __________ tab in the TOOLSPACE palette to view, create, and modify different styles for different object types in Civil 3D.

4. When you select the Active Drawing View option from the drop-down list in the Prospector tab, only the items in the __________ drawing will be displayed.

5. You can switch between the workspaces by choosing the __________ button in the Status Bar.

6. In Civil 3D, each defined point has a unique number. (T/F)

7. The Planning and Analysis workspace displays all the tools and toolbars that are available in AutoCAD Civil 3D. (T/F)

8. You can invoke the Survey tab by choosing the Survey button from the Palettes panel of the Home tab. (T/F)

9. The annotation scale controls the size and display of the annotative objects in the model space. (T/F)

10. The SHOWTS command is used to display the TOOLSPACE palette. (T/F)

Review Questions

Answer the following questions:

1. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the __________ tool enables the engineers to grade a surface by applying criteria such as slope to a surface or grade to a distance.

2. The __________ tab in the TOOLSPACE palette manages reports for each type of object in Civil 3D.

3. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the __________ workspace is used for the purpose of drafting and annotating features.

4. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, ___________ provides you with a view of the terrain that is cut at an angle across a linear feature.

5. The Transformation tab in the Drawing Settings dialog box is used to transform the coordinate system to local specifications. (T/F)

Answers to Self-Evaluation Test

1. alignment, 2. TOOLSPACE, 3. Settings, 4. active, 5. Workspace Switching, 6. T, 7. F, 8. T, 9. T, 10. T

Chapter 2

 Working with Points

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Understand the concept of points in Civil 3D

• Create points using different methods

• Create point styles

• Create point label styles

• Understand file formats

• Edit points

• Understand description keys

POINT OBJECT

A point object represents a location in 3D space, and is defined by its X, Y, and Z coordinates. Each civil engineering project starts with data collection. This data is imported into Civil 3D workspace as points by using a suitable coordinate system. Generally, points specify the location of different features on the site such as trees, road geometry points, property corners, edge of pavements, and so on. However, Civil 3D points offer you more than just specifying the location of different objects on the site. In Civil 3D, each point represents an individual object with different information and has a unique point number. The information displayed by a Civil 3D point object depends upon the point settings, which will be discussed later in the chapter.

Components of Point Object

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, a point object has two major components, marker and label. Marker represents the location of point object whereas label displays information about that point object. The display of point marker is controlled by point style and the display of the point label is controlled by the point label style. Figure 2-1 shows a point with number, elevation, and description.

The properties of an individual Civil 3D point can be viewed in the PROPERTIES palette, refer to Figure 2-2. You can modify the properties of the selected point(s) such as color, layer, linetype, and point elevation.

Creating Points

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can create points using various methods. These methods of point creation involve conversion of AutoCAD points into Civil 3D points, importing points from external point files, and creation of points using input parameters specified by the user.

These methods for point creation have been broadly classified into six categories which are discussed next.

The Miscellaneous Category

The tools in the Miscellaneous category are used to create points by manually specifying the point location in the drawing. The tools in the Miscellaneous category are the most commonly used tools to create points. To access these tools, choose the Create Points-Miscellaneous option from the Create Ground Data panel; a flyout will be displayed with different tools, as shown in Figure 2-3. Some of the tools in this category are discussed next.

Manual

The Manual tool is used to manually create points. To create points using this tool, invoke this tool from the Create Ground Data panel; the Create Points toolbar will be displayed and you will be prompted to specify the location of the point. Click in the drawing to specify the location.

Next, enter description of the point in