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.
Reference

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

Reference

AutoCAD Civil 3D and ArcGIS

In CAD:

Import Shapefile to CAD:

MAPIMPORT

Export Polylines as Polygons to GIS:

MAPEXPORT

Querying Shapefile in CAD:

Change the Workspace from Civil 3D to Planning and Analysis
Home Tab -> Palettes Panel -> Map Task Pane
Manage data content -> Connect to Data
Add SHP Connection -> Browse to the Shapefile -> Connect
Add to Map -> Add to Map with Query

Insert SID files as images in CAD:

Change the Workspace from Civil 3D to Planning and Analysis
Home Tab -> Data Panel -> Insert an Image button (middle button to the right of the Attach button)
Change the file type to MrSID and select your file.
Reference

Using Geolocation:

Toolspace -> Settings -> right-click on Drawing and select Edit Drawing Settings
Set the coordinate system
Geolocation Tab -> Online Map -> Select your map style
To print high quality:
Go to your viewport and select capture area.
In model space, select your captured image and adjust the resolution to Very Fine.

In GIS:

Import CAD DWG by Converting to Geodatabase:

Go to ArcToolbox
Go to Conversion Tools
Select To Geodatabase
Reference

Save your Map as a TIFF to use as an image in CAD:

Go to File and then Export Map
Change the File Type to .TIFF and save it in the appropriate folder with the right name.
Reference 

Merge Polygons:

Bring your source polygon files into GIS.
ArcToolbox>Analysis Tools>Overlay>Union

Finding Overlapping Polygons:

ArcToolbox>Analysis Tools>Overlay>Intersect
Inspect each new overlapping polygon.
Refine your source files.
Bring the source files back into GIS.
Run the intersect tool again until there are no more overlapping polygons.

Removing Overlapping Polygons:

Merge your polygons using the Union Tool.
Using the Editor, Start Editing.
Select the polygons you want to delete, right-click and select delete.
Save your edits and stop editing.

Copying Attribute Date to Excel:

Open Attribute Table
Select the upper left-hand corner of the table while holding down CTRL.
Right-click in the far left side of the table and select "Copy Selected."
Paste data into your Excel Spreadsheet.
You can now process your data in excel (ex. subdividing areas with multiple classifications, breaking them up by type and summing up their areas)

Working with Coordinates and Coordinate Systems:

If your points are in the right coordinate system but only show lat/long:
Run "add XY coordinates" from the data management Toolbox to add Easting and Northing to the attribute data.
You can extract the attribute data, paste into excel and create a csv to import your points as COGO points in your drawing.

If your points/shapes are in the wrong coordinate system:
Run "project" to the correct system.
You can export your points/shapes to CAD and copy and paste them into your drawing. If you need them as COGO points, run "add XY coordinates" to add them to your attributes and create a csv for import into your drawing.

You can also use the Earth Point website to convert between coordinate systems if you have a subscription. Without a subscription you can still use the website, but you can only convert five sets of coordinates at a time.
Reference

Geotechnical Module 2016

Step 1: Connect to a database

This will be locally on your computer. You will be the only one to be able to add more data to this database in the future. Unlike the 2015 version, in order to share access to a database with colleagues you have to purchase something from Keynetix.

Go to the “Geotechnical Module” ribbon, the “Data Management” tab and select “Connect.”

Hit “Login” to connect to the “Geotechnical Module” database.

If you have used this version of the geotechnical module and created a project before, you have the option to connect to a pre-existing project or create a new project.

To create a new project, hit “Create” in the bottom left hand corner of the window.

Enter the Project Details:

• Project ID - Required
• Name - Required
• Status (drop-down) - Required
• Category (drop-down) - Required
• Contractor’s Name
• Project Engineer
• Office
• General Project Comments

Select the project you want to use and hit “Ok.”

You are now connected to the selected project.

Step 2: Import “Field Geological Descriptions.csv” (FGD) and “Location Details.csv” (LD) files

You must save the drawing before importing the files.

The files must have the exact names “Field Geological Descriptions.csv,” “Location Details.csv” and “Orientation and Inclination.csv” in order for the import to work. You do not need to import the “Orientation and Inclination.csv” (O&I) file if all of your borings are straight up and down.

If the module crashes while importing, there is probably an error with your source files.

Fix your source files and try again.

You cannot have the files open when trying to import them.

The location IDs in the two files must have a 1:1 relationship.

Every boring in the FGD file must have corresponding data in the LD file.

Intervals in FGD file must be unique.

There cannot be empty cells in columns that have data in them. If a column is completely blank other than the header that is fine.

The files must have the correct headers spelled correctly (case sensitive) or else they won’t import.

FGD File Headers:

• Location ID – Required
• Depth Top – Required
• Depth Base – Required
• Legend Code
• Geology Code – Required
• Geology Code 2
• BGS Lexicon
• Description

LD File Headers:

• Location ID – Required
• Location Type
• Easting – Required
• Northing – Required
• Ground Level – Required
• Final Depth – Required

O&I File Headers:

• Location ID – Required
• Orientation – Required
• Inclination - Required

If your files are valid, hit “Import.”

When the import is complete, hit “Finish.”

Step 3: Geotechnics creates borings as COGO points and 3D solids

You only need the 3D solids.

You can use object viewer to inspect the 3D solids.

Good data has very few gaps.

The COGO points will be put on layer KNL_BLOB.

The 3D solids will be put on layers KNX_... based on Geology Code:

• BOULDER CLAY: KNX_BOULDER_CLAY
• COURSE GRAINED IGNEOUS: KNX_COURSE_GRAINED_IGNEOUS
• FILL: KNX_FILL

…

Step 4: Set up your 3D Solid Styles

Visual Styles - box with arrow pointing down and to the right for Visual Style Manager

2D Wireframe

Contour lines

When working in the file – keep contour lines set to 0

When plotting – change contour lines to 200-500

Draw true silhouette yes

REGEN

Locations

Change 3D Sticks (and 2D Strips) Vertical Exaggeration to 1

Styles

Geology Code - KNX_Location - 3D Stick – Small

Set Diameter

NOTES:

Make sure all of your Geology Codes are spelled the same; otherwise, they will be split up onto different layers depending on spelling (e.g. Coarse Grained Sand and Coarse-Grained Sand will be on different layers).

REFERENCES:

For help with the Geotechnical Module, hit the Help Button on the Geotechnical Ribbon.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Managing Drawings:

Ctrl+n - New Drawing 
Ctrl+s - Save drawing 
Ctrl+o - Open drawing
Ctrl+p - Plot dialog box 
Ctrl+Tab - Switch to next             
Ctrl+Shift+Tab - Switch to previous drawing 
Ctrl+Page Up - Switch to previous tab in current drawing 
Ctrl+Page Down - Switch to next tab in current drawing 
Ctrl+q - Exit 
Ctrl+a - Select all objects

Manage Screen:

Ctrl+0 - Clean Screen
Ctrl+1 - Property Palette
Ctrl+2 - Design Center Palette
Ctrl+3 - Tool Palette
Ctrl+4 - Sheet Set Palette
Ctrl+6 - DBConnect Manager
Ctrl+7 - Markup Set Manager Palette
Ctrl+8 - Quick Calc
Ctrl+9 - Command Line

To select a window and move it:

Alt + Space and hit enter
M and hit enter
Use the arrow keys to move the window around the screen.

Manage Workflow:

Ctrl+c - Copy object
Ctrl+x - Cut object
Ctrl+v - Paste object
Ctrl+Shift+c - Copy to clipboard with base point
Ctrl+Shift+v - Paste data as block with base point
Ctrl+z - Undo last action
Ctrl+y - Redo last action
Ctrl+[ or Ctrl+\ or ESC - Cancel current command

Drawing Modes:

F1 - Display Help
F2 - Toggle Text Screen
F3 - Toggle OSNAP Mode
F4 - Toggle 3D OSNAP Mode
F5 - Toggle Isoplane
F6 - Toggle Dynamic UCS
F7 - Toggle Grid Mode
F8 - Toggle Ortho Mode
F9 - Toggle Snap Mode
F10 - Toggle Polar Mode
F11 - Toggle Object Snap Tracking
F12 - Toggle Dynamic Input Mode

One Key Commands:

Q - QSAVE (saves the current drawing)
A - ARC (creates an arc)
Z - ZOOM (increases or decreases the magnification of the view in the current viewport)
W - WBLOCK (write objects or block to new drawing file)
S - STRETCH (stretches objects crossed by a selection window or polygon)
X - EXPLODE (breaks a compound object into its component objects)
E - ERASE (removes objects from drawing)
D - DIMSTYLE (creates and modifies dimension styles)
C - CIRCLE (creates a circle)
R - REDRAW (refreshes the display in the current viewport)
F - FILLET (rounds and fillets the edges of objects)
V - VIEW (saves and restores named views, and preset views)
T - MTEXT (creates multiline text object)
G - GROUP (creates and manages saved sets of objects called groups)
B - BLOCK (creates a block definition from selected objects)
H - HATCH (fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.
J - JOIN (joins similar objects to form a single, unbroken object)
M - MOVE (moves objects in a specified direction)
I - INSERT (inserts a block or drawing into the current drawing)
O - OFFSET (creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves)
L - LINE (creates straight line segments)
P - PAN (adds a parameter with grips to a dynamic block definition)

Reference

Sloped Excavation Surfaces

Terminal Excavation Elevation (TEE) is going to be used to refer to the target final elevation to be reached during excavation in a set location. This post is applicable to projects that work on a grid (like a chess board) and will excavate each grid down to an assigned elevation. This process creates an excavation surface with a consistent slope for each grid. We will be creating "levels" of TEEs. The first level will have local maximum TEEs. We will then hide that level and repeat the process. We will be grading the TEE levels in order of creation. This process cuts the higher TEE sloping where we will actually be digging deeper, thus creating a pretty accurate model of what the excavation surface will look like upon completion.

Step 1: Create TEEs

Create an excavation boundary (to be modified later):

• With sheet pile constriction
• Without anticipated sloping extension

Keep excavation boundary frozen until finished with excavation surface.

Grade the grids as full grids. We will trim the excavation surface later with the excavation boundary.
Create the TEEs as 2D Polylines so that they will have the same elevation on all vertices.

• Layer: _###-C-EXCAV

One way to create the TEEs is to draw a 2D polylines just inside the limits of the grid. You want to leave about a foot between TEEs.

Another way to create TEEs, especially if you have a lot of them, is to create a csv (PENZD) file with a point number (P) center of grid coordinates (E and N), TEE (Z) and Grid ID (D). You will create a point group that you will use to format COGO points into 2D polylines at the correct elevations. This point group has no description and has square around the point with the desired side length. I will import your csv file to your point group and then isolate them in the drawing. Select all of the points and explode them multiple times until they are no longer COGO points, or blocks, but polylines.

QC that they have the right elevations.

Step 2: Create Target Surface

 This surface will be used during the grading process. We will be grading the first layer up to the pre-construction surface. We will paste the first level into the target surface and then grade the second level to that surface. We will paste the second level into that surface and grade the third level to that surface, etc...

Paste in the pre-construction (existing ground) surface to a new surface called "0-Target".  

Step 3: Levels

We will be creating feature lines for the polylines we created to do they actual grading, but we will be saving the polylines as references. A benefit of preserving your TEEs as polylines on separate layers, even after you finish creating your excavation surface, is if you have to go back and recreate the surface for some reason you will already have the TEEs separated out onto different layers. It saves you from having to recreate TEEs if you need to alter something.

Create layers for your levels:

• _###-C-EXCAV-1
• _###-C-EXCAV-2
• _###-C-EXCAV-3
• _###-C-EXCAV-4
• ....

Create a layer for your feature lines:

• _###-C-EXCAV-FL

This layer will be used to isolate your feature lines so that they can be deleted after you have graded them (level by level).
Locate the local maximum TEEs.
Put them on your first level layer.
Double check that they are 2D polylines and have the correct elevations.
Create feature lines from your first level.
Uncheck the box that says “erase existing entities.”
Put the feature lines on your feature line layer.
Freeze the first level layer with your polylines.

Grade the temporary feature lines for your level:
Create a group for your feature lines:

• EXCAV

Set your target layer:

• 0-TARGET

Set your grading settings:

• Grade to Surface (Cut Up Only)

Start Grading:

• Select a feature line.
• Click outside of feature line.
• Yes to apply all around feature line.
• Hit S to assign your slope
• 1.5H:1V or 1H:1V
• Grade all feature lines on the level
• DON’T FORGET TO INFILL!

Create a Detached Surface:

• EXCAV – 1

Object View to QC the new detached surface.

PASTE THE NEW DETACHED SURFACE INTO THE TARGET SURFACE!

Put your surface to no display.
Clean Up Your Grading.

Quick Select all of the feature lines and grading and delete them. This should get rid of all of your grading, including the features lines, which is necessary to accurately grade your next level.

QC the Target Surface:

• Turn on the target surface.
• Object View to QC.
• Put target surface to no display

Repeat for Next Levels:

• _###-C-EXCAV-2
• _###-C-EXCAV-3
• …

Do this until all of the TEEs are graded.

Step 4: Create Excavation Surface 

Create a new surface called "EXCAVATION."
Paste Layers into new surface in order of creation.
Object view to QC.
Turn on excavation boundary.
Adjust the excavation boundary based on where sloping is allowed to occur (absence of sheet pile).
Add boundary as an outer boundary to surface.
Delete and swap lines in the surface where necessary.

Web Resources

Online Autodesk Resources 

Autodesk Forums
http://forums.autodesk.com/
Create an account and post your question or answer other people’s questions when you have the answer. Before you post though, make sure someone hasn't already asked your question. This will get you to the answer sooner!

Autodesk 360
https://360.autodesk.com/
This is Autodesk’s cloud service, which allows you to load cad files to the cloud, and share them with other people for editing. You can use it to upload files to view on a different device when you're out in the field.

Online Resources

CAD Blogs

AutoCAD Official Blog
Reference

LinkedIn Articles
Reference

Lynn Allen's Tips and Tricks
Reference

CAD Details Blog
https://caddetailsblog.com

CAD Intentions
http://cadintentions.com/

Civil 3D Plus
Reference

CAD Forum
http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/default.asp
Here you can see other people's questions and they also have a library of AutoCAD commands, which are often explained in greater depth than the help files. They also have a AutoCAD block user library. There are some great blocks for steel beams and other structural features. 

Manufacturers’ websites

You can often find CAD details online that you can download into your drawings.
Skyline Steel: Sheet pile
http://www.skylinesteel.com/globalnav/technical-library/datasheets--autocads

United States National CAD Standard
http://www.usbr.gov/foia/Vol%20III/NCS-CAD_Layer_Guidelines.pdf
You should also check DOT and engineering company websites in the state you are working in for CAD standards.

Details

ARCAT
www.arcat.com
Free details and specifications and no registration required.

Profile and Section Views

Profile Views

Scale

The scale must be 1”=10’, 1”=20’, 1”=30’, 1”=40’, 1”=50’, 1”=60’, 1”=80’, 1”=100’, 1”=120’, 1”=150’, etc… It must be something engineers in the field can use their ruler to scale up from the profile view.

Spacing

Make the cross section spacing equal so that the cross sections fit within the viewport (e.g. 1”=40’ works well for ANSI D).

Quality Checking 

Make sure only things that should be in a cross-section are there and that everything that needs to be there is there:

• ground surface profiles
• boring ID (PDI, waste characterization, etc...) points
• The boring ID should be the original surveyed elevation of the boring
• Do not alter the boring ID elevation
• sample (specific analyte, TCLP, etc...) data points
• 3D solids (lithology, waste characterization, etc...) from geotechnical module
• Waste characterization 3D solids should be sent to back and have a transparency of 50.
• Set the "show transparency" option to yes when publishing figures.
• labeled terminal excavation 3D polylines
• labeled hatching and annotation
• To help determine exact locations, add PVIs to where the feature intersects with alignment:
• roads
• alleyways
• buildings
• etc...

Make sure the visual makes sense:

• There should be a boring ID above all of the associated 3D solids and data points.
• The boring IDs should be in the appropriate profiles.
• Make sure all of the boring ID and data labels are visible.
• Make sure everything in the plan and profile view has a corresponding key in the legend.
• Layfrz features in plan view that should only be in profile view.

Make sure all of the data is accurate and up-to-date. Question the data and think through the process.
Make sure all of the information on the title block is accurate and up-to-date.

Formatting 3D Solids for Publishing

Change the 2D wireframe visual style to 500 contour lines from 0 contour lines (the last step before publishing because this will slow down CAD):

Click on the view ribbon

Select the down/right arrow at the bottom of the visual styles tab

Change the contours from 0 to 500

 

Adding Hatching

Open the individual profile view properties.
Go to the “Hatch” Tab.
Add new "fill area" hatches (landfill example):

• Consolidation
• Upper: Subgrade
• Lower: Existing
• Material: Fill Material
• Cover
• Upper: Final Grade
• Lower: Cover Bottom (Subgrade pasted into Existing)
• Material: Multiple Boundary Material

Section Views

Adding Materials To Section Views

Materials are added through the sample lines.
Navigate to the alignment – sample line groups – sample line group in Toolspace.
Right-click on the sample line group and select properties.
Go to the “Material List” Tab.
Click “Add New Material.”
Cut: materials are oriented with the surface as the bottom and the end depth as the top
Add new materials (landfill example):

 

• Consolidation (Fill Material)
• Above: Existing
• Below: Subgrade
• Cover (Multiple Boundary Material)
• Above: Cover Bottom (Subgrade pasted into Existing)
• Below: Final Grade

Layers

General

Layers are how you control things.
Don't ever work on Layer 0.
If something isn't printing, make sure something isn't toggled off in the layer manager.

It is ok to use V-NODE-#### layers when creating different COGO point layers.
It is ok to use the default Civil 3D layers for the following items:

• Title block (G-ANNO-TTLB)
• Viewport (G-ANNO-VPORT).

You should use the company convention for the following items:

• XREF (_###-G-XREF)
• Legend (_###-G-ANNO-LGND)
• Symbol (_###-G-ANNO-SYMB)
• Revclouds (_###-G-ANNO-REVC)
• Notes in paper space (_###-G-ANNO-TXNT)
• ...

Properties

If you set a setting in the properties of an object, it will override the layer's properties.
You will usually want to set an object's properties by layer.
 When New VP Freeze is on, the layer will not show up when you create a new viewport.
In order to preserve your layer properties when you close the drawing, set VISRETAIN to 1.

Color

Color is important in two ways:
1. Plotting Styles
2. Organizing what is in the drawing

There should be no color in construction drawings:
1. Regulatory agencies don’t like color.
2. Things get lost in translation in the field.
3. Line type and line weight are the primary way that you distinguish between items in construction drawings.

Feel free to use color in figures.

Commands

Layfrz - Freezes a layer
Laythw - Thaws a layer
Laycur - Sets selected object onto current layer
Layiso - Isolates the selected layers

Naming Layers

0. Company Code - _### (Mandatory)

1. Discipline Code - # (Mandatory)
 
A – Architectural
B – Geotechnical
C – Civil
D – Process
E– Electrical
F – Fire Protection
G – General
H – Hazardous Material
I – Interiors
J – Justice/Detention
K – Food Service
L – Landscape
M – Mechanical
O – Operations
P – Plumbing
Q – Equipment
S – Structural
T – Telecommunication
U – Railway
V – Survey/Mapping
W – Civil Works
X – Other Disciplines
TY – Security
Z – Contractors/Shop Drawings
3D – 3D Software Generated Items

2. Major Group - #### (Mandatory)

ANNO – annotative
BLDG – building
BNDY – political boundary
DTCH – ditch
ELEC – electrical
NODE – indicates COGO points
POWR – power
PRKG – parking lots
RAIL
ROAD
SITE – site features
SSWR – sanitary sewer
STRC - structure
STRM – storm sewer
TEXT
TOPO - topographic
UTIL - utilities
WALL
WATR – water supply
WETL – wetland

3. Minor Group - #### (Optional)

BNDY - boundary
BUSH
CONC – concrete
CULV - culvert
CURB
DECK
DROP
FENC – fence
GATE
MHOL – manhole
MISC – miscellaneous
PIPE
POOL
POST
PUMP
STEP
TANK
TREE
VALV - valve
VEGE – vegetative

4. Status Field - ## or ### or #### (Optional)

RCP – reinforced concrete pipe
CMP – corrugated metal pipe

For more information, visit the United States National CAD standard - version 5:

Fixing Malfunctioning

If you are working with a really buggy file:

AUDIT - Evaluates the integrity of the drawing and will correct some errors
PURGE - Removes unused items from the drawing (e.g. block definitions and layers)
-PURGE - Removes unused named items from the drawing (e.g. block definitions and layers)

If you can’t select the object and then apply a command:

PICKFIRST = 1

If you are asked to enter a file path to open a file:

FILEDIA = 1

If you lose your command line:

Try Crl+9
Try typing COMMANDLINE
Try selecting workspace switching (bottom right hand corner)
Customize
Highlight Civil 3D Default (current) in the left-side window
Expand Palettes on right-side window
Command line
Change the Settings: Show – yes, Orientation – bottom
Reference

To turn off the "unreconciled layers" notification:

To turn off for the active drawing:
LAYERNOTIFY = 0 or click the Settings button in the upper-right corner of the layers palette and uncheck “Evaluate New Layers Added to Drawings”
To turn off for all drawings:
LAYEREVALCTL = 0

To remove comment boxes when they show up in PDF XChange:

EPDFSHX = 0

If you lose your menu bar (click Clear Screen Button):

Type CUI
Go to Workspaces and select Civil 3D (Default)
Go to properties and turn Menu
Borrowing the AutoCAD Civil 3D license Bar to <On>

If the coordinate system becomes messed up:

Make sure your Drawing Units are correct.
DWGUNIT =
<2>, feet
<1>, inches

If you insert a block and it comes in far away from where it should be:

Type UCS and hit enter.
Type W and hit enter.
Try inserting the block.

When working from home:

Type BORROWLICENSE and hit enter
Elect the date you want to return the license and hit enter.
Reference

If you can’t see the XREF:

Make sure it's layer is turned on and that it is on the correct layer.
If multi-sheet printing isn’t working:
PUBLISHCOLLATE = <1>

If you can't move a window:

press ALT+Space (enables the control menu for the remote layer manager window)
Press the M key to move the window and use the arrow keys
Reference

If you can't see the layout tabs at the bottom of model space:

Type CUI and hit enter (opens Customize User Interface)
Select the workspace you want to change
Under properties (on the right) in the Display Section turn Model/Layout Tabs to On
Reference

If multiple auto-generated point groups pop-up:

Recover the drawing
Delete the duplicate point groups
Reference