AutoCAD Civil 3D and Google Earth

In CAD:

Exporting Location to Google Earth:

Make the Workspace Civil 3D
Toolspace -> Toolbox -> Miscellaneous Utilities
Export KML

 

Importing Geolocated Google Earth Images with Plex.Earth:

This can bring in high quality images to use as a background for your drawings or figures.
Install Plex.Earth from the AutoCAD apps store while signed in to your account. Plex.Earth will automatically be added to your ribbon next time you open CAD while signed into your account. It requires a yearly prescription, which you will have to get approved by your manager if you are using it for business applications.
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Quantity Estimates

Using the QTO Tool:

Analyze -> QTO -> QTO Manager
Load your Pay Items
Perform Overkill on any polylines you plan on using, so you don't over count.
Select Polylines (for linear measurements)
Assign Pay Item
Make sure your units match exactly

Styles

How to Create Complex Linetypes:

• *MAP is the name of the linetype
• ---MAP--- is the description of the linetype
• A is A-type alignment (see help for details)
• 1.0 is the length of the dash
• - indicates a space
• 0.5 is the amount of space before text
• brackets ([ ]) enclose string, style name, and transform
• "Map" is the text string
• mcstyle is the text style
• S is the text height for this case, or scale of height set in text style
• R is the rotate, set to zero relative rotation
• X is the xoffset, set to no offset
• Y is the yoffset, set to .5
• 3.0 is the distance between dashes (the area where the text resides) 

Follow the method here:
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To Add a Block to a Line:

Type MEASURE
Type B - enter
Type name of block to insert (e.g.. AZ24-700)
TYPE length in feet (e.g.. 4.59)

Formatting Dimensions:

Set “dim scale overall” in “Fit” to the view scale (ex. view scale = 1”:40’, dim scale = 40)
Set “arrow size” in “Lines and Arrows” to text height (ex. text height = 0.125, arrow size = 0.125

Copying Styles from One Drawing to Another:

Switch to master view and open the drawing with the desired style.
Navigate to the style in the settings of that drawing.
Drag that setting into the model space of the target drawing.
The setting should override the existing setting with the same name in the target file.

Change the Color of the Crosshairs:

Type OPTIONS and hit enter
Go to the Display Tab
Select the Colors button
Navigate to 3D Crosshairs
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Printing One Layout:

Type PLOT and hit enter.
Select the plot style you wish to use.
Select the printer, paper size, plot area, orientation, etc...

Plotter: DWG to PDF.pc3

Paper size for ANSI B: ANSI full bleed B (17.00 x 11.00 Inches)

Plot Area: select window, select the title block diagonal corners, select the "center the plot" option

Hit Ok.

Publishing Multiple Layouts:

Right-click on a layout tab.
Select Page Setup Manager.
Name and set up a new page setup.
Select the desired plot styles, plot options, printer, paper size, plot area, orientation, etc...
Type PUBLISH and hit enter.
Remove any sheets you don't want to publish.
Assign the correct page set up to each sheets.

Set the publish options:

• File type: multi-sheet file
• Naming: prompt for name
• Layer information: include
• Merge control: lines overwrite
• Check publish in background box.

Hit Publish.
Type the name of your new PDF and select the folder destination.
Hit Ok.

Printing with Linetype Styles:

To customize the way linetypes are printed:
Make a copy of the CTB file you usually use.
Save it under a new name in an accessible location.
Use colors to determine the line thicknesses.
Use lineweights to determine the thicknesses of polylines for construction drawings because the lines will look better when you zoom in.

 

Layouts

Move something from paper space to model space (or visa versa):

Select the object
Type CHSPACE and hit enter

To align a viewport with a rectangle in model space:

Draw a line for the corners you want to match up on all the viewports. 

CHSPACE to model space.

To align everything up to the same spot:

• Unlock the viewport
• Type ALIGNSPACE and hit enter.
• Snap the end of the line to the corner of your viewport
• Repeat for each viewport you want to align

Relock the viewport and double check the scale

Delete the guidance line
 

To change the view in a viewport:

Create a polyline on the x axis you want to create.
Type UCS and hit enter.
Type OB and hit enter.
Select the polyline you created in a way that displays the x-y axis you want to create and hit enter.
Type PLAN and hit enter twice.

To change the orientation of a viewport:

Double click the viewport.
Type DVIEW and hit enter.
Type TW and enter the angle you want to rotate to and hit enter.

AutoCAD Civil 3D and HEC-RAS

From AutoCAD Civil3D

Exporting Data to HEC-RAS:

1. Prepare the data in your drawing:
• Bring in the surface for the existing grade of the ground in and around the stream.
• Define the centerline (CL) of your stream with an alignment in your drawing with the stationing increase downstream.
• Create a sample line group at the desired intervals of the alignment. Be sure they do not extend beyond the extents of the surface.
• Optional: Create alignments or polylines that represent the top of bank (TB) and bottom of bank (BB).
2. Export the data as a GEO file:
• OUTPUT TAB>EXPORT PANEL>Select EXPORT to HEC RAS
• Select the surface you want for the stream sections.
• Select the site that contains the CL alignment. If it is not in a site, select <None>.
• Select the alignment that represents the CL.
• Select the Sample Line Group that contains the sections you want to export.
• Enter a name for the river/reach. This will be the name of the GEO file and the label for the stream in the HEC-RAS Geometric Data Window.
• Select the river banks if you prepared them:
• The bank locations appear in the HEC-RAS application as red dots on the sections.
• The left and right bank locations tell HEC-RAS where the Manning’s n values change for left, channel, and right bank situations in the section.
• This effects the calculations and the level of water in the section.
• The Bank Positions exported to the GEO file are measured as percentages of the overall section length rather than as offset distances.
• Click Export.
• Select where you want to save the file, enter a name and click save.
• Click OK to exit the Export to HEC RAS dialog box.

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Importing Data to HEC-RAS:

1. Start the HEC-RAS Software.
2. Click Edit>Geometric Data.
3. In the Geometric Data dialog box, click File menu>import Geometric Data>GIS Format.
4. In the Import GIS Format Data File dialog box, navigate to and select the GEO file you exported from AutoCAD Civil 3D. Hit OK.
5. In the Import Geometry Data wizard, confirm the import geometry data and click Finish - Import Data. The geometry will be visible in the Geometric Data window.

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From HEC-RAS

Export Data from HEC-RAS:

1. Complete your analysis in HEC-RAS.
2. In the main HEC-RAS window, click File menu>Export GIS Data.
3. In the GIS Export dialog box:
• Under Results Export Options, select Export Water Surfaces
• Select any profiles you may have created during the analysis.
4. Click Export Data. A SDF file is created.

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Importing Data from HEC-RAS:

1. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, open the drawing that you exported the GEO file from.
2. INSERT TAB>IMPORT PANEL>Import HEC-RAS
3. In the Import HEC RAS dialog box, select the Site For Reach Alignment.
• If no sites exist in the drawing, then a new site named "RASimport" is selected and will be created.
• The stream alignment is imported into the drawing only if an alignment of the same name does not already exist in the site you specify.
• Existing alignments of the same name and site are not overwritten.
• Line objects that represent the sections are only imported if the alignment is imported.
4. Select the Style For Reach Alignment.
5. Select the Alignment Label Style Set.
6. Select the Profile Style.
7. Select the Profile Label Style Set.
8. Under SDF To Import, click the browse button and select the SDF file you exported from the HEC-RAS application.
9. Click Open.
10. In the Import HEC RAS dialog box, select the stream to import.
• When you select a stream, the number of profiles and sections that exist for that stream are shown in the dialog box. 
• The profiles are imported as AutoCAD Civil 3D profile objects. You must create a profile view in the drawing to view them.
• Existing profiles of the same name inside the same alignment WILL be overwritten. This is designed to allow multiple iterations within the HEC-RAS application without having to manually delete profiles in AutoCAD Civil 3D when you bring in updated data.
• The section data is imported as line objects along the alignment. These lines show where the top water surface intersects each section (according to the HEC-RAS application). They are created on layers using the convention <alignment name> - <profile name>. The section lines are imported only if the alignment is imported.
11. Click Import.
12. The flood elevation profiles are imported into the drawing and are visible in Prospector.
• If an alignment of the same name and site, as the selected stream alignment, does not already exist in the drawing, then it and the section lines are also imported.
• Section lines are not imported if the alignment is not imported.
13. Click OK.

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Complex Production

Insert a Raster Image to Reference:

Open the XREF palette
Insert image
Place and scale image

Adding Excel Graphs to AutoCAD as Polylines:

In excel select the graph that you want and copy it (ctrl c).
In the CAD drawing, select home from the ribbon.
Click the drop down arrow beneath Paste.
Select "Paste Special".
Click "AutoCAD Entities" and then okay.
Select insertion point.
To keep it looking like the original graph, group the objects and then you can scale it as needed.

Exporting Layouts to Individual Drawing Files:

You can use the EXPORTLAYOUT command.
You can also use a lisp developed by JTBWorld called LayoutsToDwgs.lsp.
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Sharing Files with XREFs via Email or SendFiles:

ETRANSMIT<Hit OK<Select Location for File and File name
To added additional files select Add File and select your files to include in the transmittal package.
References

Referencing a Data Shortcut in the Working File:

The working drawing must be saved in order to reference a data shortcut.
Right-click Data Shortcuts []
“Set Working Folder”
Navigate to the folder you wish to use
Right-click on reference
Create reference

Creating a Data Shortcut in the Source File:

The drawing must be saved in order to create a data shortcut.
Right-click Data Shortcuts[]
“Associate with Current Project”
Choose the right folder to create a shortcut in
Save the drawing
“Create Data Shortcut”

Surfaces

Labeling Surface Elevations on a Grid

Go to the Annotate Tab<Go to the Labels & Tables Panel<Select the "Add Labels" Menu<Go to "Surface" and then "Spot Elevations on Grid"
Select your surface.
Select your base point (bottom left corner of grid).
Select the grid orientation.
Select the grid spacing.
Select the upper right corner of the grid.
Hit enter if you don't want to change the size or rotation.
Your labels will be created on the C-TOPO-TEXT layer and only where they overlap with the surface.
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Converting Surfaces to 3D Solids

Select your surface to bring up the surface specific ribbon.
Go to the "Surface Tools" Panel<Select the "Extract from Surface" dropdown< Select "Extract Solids from Surface"
In the "Extract Solid from Surface" Menu<Select your surface to extract from<Select the vertical definition (down a depth, to a fixed elevation, to another surface)<Select "insert into current drawing" or "add to new drawing<Select "Create Solid"
In the "3D Modeling" Workspace:
You can "slice" your solid along a straight line to cut it.
You can find it's volume by typing the MASSPROP command.

Filling in Holes in a Surface

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