AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014 Essentials Autodesk Official Press

Quickly learn essential Civil 3D tools and techniques

Get a thorough introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D, the industry-leading engineering software used to design roads, highways, subdivisions, drainage and sewer systems, and more. This Autodesk Official Press book is a unique learning resource that features concise, straightforward explanations and real-world, hands-on exercises and tutorials. With compelling full-color screenshots and approachable exercises that demonstrate core features and functions, the book helps you gain understanding and confidence as you master this premiere civil engineering software.

• Introduces the software's interface and foundational concepts
• Follows a workflow-based approach that mirrors how projects progress in the real world, and guides you through importing and working with field survey data, managing point data with groups and styles, and modeling terrain using surfaces
• Covers creating and editing alignments and profiles, designing 3D road models, building and analyzing terrain models, designing and analyzing pipe networks, and much more
• Shows how to estimate quantities and create construction documentation
• Provides information to help you prepare for the Civil 3D certification exam

AutoCAD Civil 3D Essentials is the perfect, real-world introduction to the powerful civil engineering software.

Eric Chappell, EIT, is a Civil 3D consultant and award-winning instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the civil engineering field. He has been providing consulting, training, and support for Civil 3D since its inception. He has close ties to the software development team and Civil 3D community and has worked with Autodesk numerous times, including his involvement as subject matter expert in developing the Civil 3D certification exam. Eric is a highly rated Autodesk University speaker and contributes regularly to his popular blog (ericchappell.blogspot.com).

Chapter 1 Navigating the AutoCAD Civil 3D User Interface 1

Getting to Know the Civil 3D User Interface 2

Using the Application Menu 3

Using the Ribbon  5

Using the Toolspace  7

Prospector Tab 7

Settings Tab 9

Survey Tab  9

Toolbox Tab  10

Using the Drawing Area  10

Using the Command Line 10

Using Panorama  11

Using the Transparent Commands Toolbar 12

Using the Inquiry Tool  13

The Essentials and Beyond 14

Chapter 2 Leveraging a Dynamic Environment 17

Connecting Objects and Styles  18

Connecting Labels and Label Styles  22

Connecting Objects to Objects 26

Connecting Objects to Labels  28

The Richness of the 3D Model  29

Sharing Data in a Dynamic Environment 32

The Essentials and Beyond 35

Chapter 3 Establishing Existing Conditions Using Survey Data 37

What Is Survey Data? 38

Creating a Survey Database 39

Importing Survey Data 41

Automating Field-to-Finish 44

Linework Code Set 45

Point Styles  46

Point Label Styles  46

Description Keys  46

Figure Prefix Database  48

Point Groups  50

Editing Survey Points 52

Editing Survey Figures 56

Creating Additional Points 57

The Essentials and Beyond 59

Chapter 4 Modeling the Existing Terrain Using Sur faces 61

Understanding Surfaces 61

Creating a Surface from Survey Data  63

Using Breaklines to Improve Surface Accuracy  65

Editing Surfaces 71

Adding Boundaries  71

Deleting Lines  73

Editing Points  74

Displaying and Analyzing Surfaces  76

Analyzing Elevation 76

Analyzing Slope 77

Performing Other Types of Analysis 79

Exploring Even More Analysis Tools 79

Annotating Surfaces 80

Adding Spot Elevation Labels  80

Adding Slope Labels 81

Adding Contour Labels  82

The Essentials and Beyond 83

Chapter 5 Designing in 2D Using Alignments 85

Understanding Alignments  86

Creating Alignments from Objects  86

Creating Alignments Using the Alignment Creation Tools  89

Editing Alignments 91

Editing Alignments with Grips 92

Editing Alignments Using the Alignment Layout Tools  95

Editing Alignments Numerically  97

Applying Design Criteria Files and Check Sets 99

Applying Design Check Sets  100

Applying Design Criteria Files 102

The Essentials and Beyond 103

Chapter 6 Displaying and Annotating Alignments 105

Using Alignment Styles  105

Applying Alignment Labels and Label Sets 107

Applying Labels to Alignments 108

Using Alignment Label Sets  109

Editing Alignment Labels  111

Creating Station/Offset Labels 113

Creating Segment Labels 114

Using Tag Labels and Tables 117

Creating Tag Labels 117

Renumbering Tag Labels 117

Creating Tables  118

The Essentials and Beyond 120

Chapter 7 Designing Vertically Using Profiles 121

Creating Surface Profiles  121

Displaying Profiles in Profile Views 123

Creating Design Profiles 124

Editing Profiles 125

Editing Profiles with Grips  126

Editing Profiles Using the Profile Layout Tools 128

Editing Profiles Numerically 130

Using Design Check Sets and Criteria Files  131

Using Design Check Sets 132

Using Design Criteria Files  133

The Essentials and Beyond 135

Chapter 8 Displaying and Annotating Profiles 137

Applying Profile Styles  138

Applying Profile View Styles 140

Applying Profile View Bands 142

Applying Profile Labels 144

Creating and Applying Profile Label Sets  146

Creating Profile View Labels  147

Projecting Objects to Profile Views  150

Projecting Linear Objects  150

Projecting Blocks and Points  152

The Essentials and Beyond 153

Chapter 9 Designing in 3D Using Corridors 155

Understanding Corridors  156

Understanding the 3D Chain 156

Understanding the Assembly 156

Understanding Assembly Insertions 157

Understanding Corridor Feature Lines 158

Understanding the Corridor Surface  158

Creating an Assembly 159

Creating a Corridor 162

Applying Corridor Targets  163

Understanding Surface Targets 163

Understanding Width or Offset Targets  163

Understanding Slope or Elevation Targets 165

Applying Subassemblies That Can Use Targets  165

Assigning Targets 168

Creating Corridor Surfaces  170

The Essentials and Beyond 175

Chapter 10 Creating Cross Sections of the Design 177

Using the Section Editor  177

Creating Sample Lines 181

Creating Section Views 184

Creating Single-Section Views  184

Creating Multiple-Section Views 186

Sampling More Sources  187

The Essentials and Beyond 191

Chapter 11 Displaying and Annotating Sections 193

Applying Section Styles  194

Applying Section Labels 196

Controlling Section Display with Code Set Styles  198

Applying Labels with Code Set Styles  200

Applying Section View Styles 202

Applying Section View Bands 204

Applying Group Plot Styles 207

Creating Section View Labels 209

The Essentials and Beyond 212

Chapter 12 Designing and Analyzing Boundaries Using Parcels 213

Understanding Parcels  214

Understanding Parcel Objects 214

Understanding Sites 214

Creating Parcels from Objects 216

Creating Parcels by Layout 219

Using the Lot Line Tools  220

Using the Parcel Sizing Tools  222

Using Parcel Sizing and Layout Parameters 226

Editing Parcels  230

Editing Parcels Using Grips 230

Editing Parcels Using the Edit Geometry Commands 231

Editing Parcels Using the Parcel Layout Tools 234

The Essentials and Beyond 235

Chapter 13 Displaying and Annotating Parcels 237

Applying Parcel Styles  238

Using Parcel Styles to Control Appearance  238

Applying Parcel Style Display Order 240

Applying Parcel Area Labels 242

Creating Parcel Segment Labels  244

Editing Parcel Segment Labels  247

Applying Segment Label Styles 247

Editing Parcel Segment Labels Graphically 248

Creating Parcel Tables  250

Creating Area Tables  250

Creating Parcel Segment Tables 252

The Essentials and Beyond 254

Chapter 14 Designing Gravity Pipe Networks 255

Understanding Gravity Pipe Networks 255

Understanding Structures 256

Understanding Pipes  256

Exploring the Pipe Network  257

Creating Gravity Pipe Networks 258

Creating a Pipe Network from Objects 259

Creating a Pipe Network by Layout 261

Drawing a Pipe Network in a Profile View  265

Editing Gravity Pipe Networks 265

Editing Pipe Networks Using Grips 266

Editing Pipe Networks Using Editing Tools 270

Editing Pipe Networks Using Properties  273

Editing Pipe Networks Using the Pipe Network Vistas  275

The Essentials and Beyond 277

Chapter 15 Designing Pressure Pipe Networks 279

Understanding Pressure Pipe Networks  279

Understanding Fittings, Angles, and Appurtenances  280

Understanding Pressure Pipes  281

Exploring the Pressure Network 281

Creating Pressure Pipe Networks 282

Creating a Pressure Network from Objects  282

Creating a Pressure Network by Layout 284

Editing Pressure Pipe Networks 287

Editing Pressure Networks Using Grips 287

Checking Design and Depth  291

Editing Pressure Networks Using the Plan Layout Tools  292

Editing Pressure Networks Using the Profile Layout Tools 294

The Essentials and Beyond 297

Chapter 16 Displaying and Annotating Pipe Networks 299

Displaying Pipe Networks Using Styles  300

Applying Structure, Fitting, and Appurtenance Styles 300

Applying Pipe Styles  304

Annotating Pipe Networks in Plan View  307

Renaming Pipes and Structures 308

Creating Labels in Plan View  309

Editing Labels in Plan View  310

Annotating Pipe Networks in Profile View  312

Creating Labels in Profile View 312

Editing Labels in Profile View 314

Creating Pipe Network Tables  316

The Essentials and Beyond 318

Chapter 17 Designing New Terrain 319

Understanding Grading  319

Understanding Feature Lines 320

Understanding Sites 321

Understanding Feature Line Geometry  321

Creating Feature Lines 322

Editing Feature Lines 324

Using Edit Geometry Commands 325

Using Edit Elevation Commands  327

Understanding Grading Objects 331

Understanding Grading Criteria 332

Understanding Grading Groups  333

Understanding Grading Objects and Sites  333

Creating Grading Objects 333

Editing Grading Objects 336

The Essentials and Beyond 338

Chapter 18 Analyzing, Displaying, and Annotating Surfaces 339

Combining Design Surfaces 339

Analyzing Design Surfaces 347

Using Surface Analysis  347

Using Hydrology Tools 350

Using a Quick Profile 351

Calculating Earthwork Volumes  353

Understanding Earthwork Volumes  354

Using the Volumes Dashboard  354

Labeling Design Surfaces 357

The Essentials and Beyond 360

Chapter 19 From Design to Construction 361

Calculating Quantities 361

Calculating Quantities Using QTO Manager  361

Calculating Quantities Using Sectional Volumes  366

Creating Individual Sheets 369

Creating Multiple Sheets Using Plan Production  373

Creating View Frames 373

Creating Sheets  375

The Essentials and Beyond 379

Appendix AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014 Certification 381

Index 385

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