Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016

Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 is a complete, detailed reference and tutorial for Autodesk's extremely popular and robust civil engineering software. With straightforward explanations, real-world examples, and practical tutorials, this invaluable guide walks you through everything you need to know to be productive. The focus is on real-world applications in professional environments, with all datasets available for download, and thorough coverage helps you prepare for the AutoCAD Civil 3D certification exam with over an hour's worth of video on crucial tips and techniques. You'll learn how to navigate the software and use essential tools, and how to put it all together in the context of a real-world project. In-depth discussion covers surveying, alignments, surface, grading, cross sections and more, and instructor support materials provide an ideal resource for training and education.

This book will take you from beginner to pro, so you can get the most out of AutoCAD Civil 3D every step of the way.

• Understand key concepts and get acquainted with the interface
• Create, edit, and display all elements of a project
• Learn everything you need to know for the certification exam
• Download the datasets and start designing right away

With expert insight, tips, and techniques, Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 helps you become productive from the very beginning.

Cyndy Davenport has been working in the land development industry for 28 years. A veteran of design technology management, implementation, training, and support, she has earned numerous certifications in various Autodesk products over the years. Cyndy has spoken several times at Autodesk University and blogs occasionally at c3dcougar.typepad.com. Ishka Voiculescu is an engineer with the City of Austin Public Works. He has extensive experience using Autodesk Suite products for planning, design, and visualization. Ishka belongs to various engineering groups, is active both in the social networks and community forums, and blogs at civildigest.com.

Introduction xxiii

Chapter 1 The Basics 1

The Interface 1

Toolspace 6

Panorama 34

Contextual Ribbon Tab 35

Civil 3D Templates 36

Starting New Projects 37

Importing Styles 40

Command Settings 43

Creating Lines 45

COGO Line Commands 46

Direction-Based Line Commands 48

Re-Creating a Deed Using Line Tools 54

Creating Curves 55

Standard Curves 56

Best-Fit Entities 62

Attaching Multiple Entities 65

Adding Line and Curve Labels 65

Using Transparent Commands 66

Standard Transparent Commands 67

Matching Transparent Commands 68

The Bottom Line 70

Chapter 2 Survey 73

Setting Up the Databases 73

Survey Database Defaults 74

The Equipment Database 77

The Figure Prefix Database 78

The Linework Code Set Database 80

Configuring Description Keys for Point Import 82

Creating a Description Key Set 84

Creating Description Keys 85

Activating a Description Key Set 88

Understanding the Survey Database 90

Working with Survey Networks 98

Other Methods of Manipulating Survey Data 104

Other Survey Features 108

The Astronomic Direction Calculator 108

The Geodetic Calculator 108

The Mapcheck Report 109

The Coordinate Geometry Editor 110

Using Inquiry Commands 114

The Bottom Line 117

Chapter 3 Points 119

Anatomy of a Point 119

COGO Points vs. Survey Points 120

Creating Basic Points 121

Point Settings 121

Importing Points from a Text File 125

Converting Points from Non–Civil 3D Sources 128

A Closer Look at the Create Points Toolbar 133

Basic Point Editing 141

Graphic Point Edits 141

Panorama and Prospector Point Edits 142

Point Groups: Don’t Skip This Section! 143

Changing Point Elevations 148

Point Tables 150

User-Defined Properties 151

The Bottom Line 155

Chapter 4 Surfaces 157

Understanding Surface Basics 157

Creating Surfaces 159

Creating a Surface with Point Groups 161

Adding Breaklines 162

Adding Boundaries 166

Additional Surface Creation Methods 173

Surface from LandXML Files 173

Surface from DEM Files 176

Surface from GIS Data 180

Surfaces from Polylines 184

Refining and Editing Surfaces 187

Surface Properties 188

Manual Surface Edits 195

Surface Analysis 204

Elevation Banding 204

Slopes and Slope Arrows 209

Visibility Checker 211

Comparing Surfaces 213

TIN Volume Surface 213

Labeling the Surface 218

Contour Labeling 218

Additional Surface Label Types 220

Point Cloud Surfaces 223

Importing a Point Cloud 224

Working with Point Clouds 227

Creating a Point Cloud Surface 227

The Bottom Line 229

Chapter 5 Parcels 231

Introduction to Sites 231

Think Outside of the Lot 231

Creating a New Site 238

Creating a Boundary Parcel 240

Using Parcel Creation Tools 242

Creating a Right-of-Way Parcel 245

Adding a Cul-de-Sac Parcel 247

Creating Subdivision Lot Parcels Using Precise Sizing Tools 250

Attached Parcel Segments 250

Parcel Sizing Settings 251

Parcel Sizing Tools 252

Editing Parcels by Deleting Parcel Segments 263

Best Practices for Parcel Creation 265

Forming Parcels from Segments 265

Parcels Reacting to Site Objects 266

Constructing Parcel Segments with the Appropriate Vertices 271

Labeling Parcel Areas 273

Labeling Parcel Segments 277

Labeling Multiple-Parcel Segments 278

Labeling Spanning Segments 280

Adding Curve Tags to Prepare for Table Creation 282

Creating a Table for Parcel Segments 284

The Bottom Line 286

Chapter 6 Alignments 287

Alignment Concepts 287

Alignments and Sites 287

Alignment Entities 287

Creating an Alignment 289

Creating from a Line, Arc, or Polyline 290

Creating by Layout 296

Best-Fit Alignments 302

Reverse and Compound Curve Creation 307

Creating with Design Constraints and Check Sets 309

Editing Alignment Geometry 313

Grip Editing 314

Tabular Design 315

Component-Level Editing 317

Understanding Alignment Constraints 318

Changing Alignment Components 322

Alignments as Objects 323

Alignment Properties 324

The Right Station 327

Assigning Design Speeds 330

Labeling Alignments 332

Alignment Tables 336

The Bottom Line 339

Chapter 7 Profiles and Profile Views 341

The Elevation Element 341

Surface Sampling 342

Layout Profiles 351

The Best-Fit Profile 363

Creating a Profile from a File 364

Editing Profiles 366

Grip-Editing Profiles 366

Editing Profiles Using Profile Layout Parameters 367

Editing Profiles Using Profile Grid View 369

Component-Level Editing 370

Other Profile Edits 372

Profile Views 375

Creating Profile Views during Sampling 376

Creating Profile Views Manually 376

Splitting Views 377

Editing Profile Views 386

Profile View Properties 386

Profile View Labeling Styles 399

Profile Labels 400

Applying Labels 401

Using Profile Label Sets 403

Profile Utilities 404

Superimposing Profiles 404

Projecting Objects in Profile View 405

Creating a Quick Profile 408

The Bottom Line 409

Chapter 8 Assemblies and Subassemblies 411

Subassemblies 411

The Tool Palettes 411

The Corridor Modeling Catalogs 413

Adding Subassemblies to a Tool Palette 413

Building Assemblies 414

Creating a Typical Road Assembly 415

Subassembly Components 423

Jumping into Help 424

Commonly Used Subassemblies 426

Editing an Assembly 429

Creating Assemblies for Non-road Uses 432

Specialized Subassemblies 437

Using Generic Links 438

Daylighting with Generic Links 441

Working with Daylight Subassemblies 442

Advanced Assemblies 448

Offset Assemblies 448

Marked Points Used with Partner Subassemblies 448

Organizing Your Assemblies 450

Storing a Customized Subassembly on a Tool Palette 450

Storing a Completed Assembly on a Tool Palette 452

The Bottom Line 453

Chapter 9 Basic Corridors 455

Understanding Corridors 455

Recognizing Corridor Components 456

Working with Corridor Feature Lines 470

Understanding Targets 476

Using Target Alignments and Profiles 476

Editing Sections 483

Creating a Corridor Surface 486

The Corridor Surface 486

Corridor Surface Creation Fundamentals 487

Adding a Surface Boundary 491

Performing a Volume Calculation 497

Building Nonroad Corridors 498

The Bottom Line 502

Chapter 10 Advanced Corridors, Intersections, and Roundabouts 505

Using Multiregion Baselines 505

Modeling a Cul-de-Sac 508

Using Multiple Baselines 508

Establishing EOP Design Profiles 510

Putting the Pieces Together 512

Troubleshooting Your Cul-de-Sac 516

Moving Up to Intersections 518

Using the Intersection Wizard 520

Creating Intersections Manually 532

Troubleshooting Your Intersection 539

Finishing Off Your Corridor 541

Using an Assembly Offset 543

Understanding Corridor Utilities 550

Using Corridor Utilities in Practice 551

Using a Feature Line as a Width and Elevation Target 554

Tackling Roundabouts: The Mount Everest of Corridors 561

Drainage First 561

Roundabout Alignments 562

Center Design 569

Profiles for All 570

Tie It All Together 571

Finishing Touches 572

The Bottom Line 575

Chapter 11 Superelevation 577

Preparing for Superelevation 577

Critical Stations 577

Design Criteria Files 579

Ready Your Alignment 583

Super Assemblies 583

Applying Superelevation to the Design 589

Start with the Alignment 589

Transition Station Overlap 593

Calculating Cants for Rail 597

Preparing for Cants 597

Creating a Rail Assembly 598

Applying Cant to the Alignment 600

Superelevation and Cant Views 601

Using a Superelevation View to Edit Data 602

The Bottom Line 605

Chapter 12 Cross Sections and Mass Haul 607

Section Workflow 607

Comparing Sample Lines and Frequency Lines 607

Creating Sample Lines 608

Editing the Swath Width of a Sample Line Group 612

Creating Section Views 615

Creating a Single-Section View 616

Creating Multiple Section Views 619

Section Views and Annotation Scale 621

Calculating and Reporting Volumes 626

Computing Materials 628

Creating a Volume Table in the Drawing 629

Adding Soil Factors to a Materials List 630

Generating a Volume Report 632

Adding Section View Final Touches 632

Adding Data with Sample More Sources 632

Adding Cross-Section Labels 633

Using Mass Haul Diagrams 636

Taking a Closer Look at the Mass Haul Diagram 636

Creating a Mass Haul Diagram 637

Editing a Mass Haul Diagram 639

The Bottom Line 640

Chapter 13 Pipe Networks 643

Setting Up a Pipe Network 643

Understanding Parts List—Waste Water Systems 644

Planning a Typical Pipe Network 645

Using Part Rules 646

Putting Your Parts List Together 654

Creating a Waste Water Network 658

Establishing Pipe Network Parameters 659

Using the Network Layout Creation Tools 660

Creating a Storm Drainage Pipe Network from a Feature Line 669

Editing a Pipe Network 671

Changing Flow Direction 672

Editing Your Network in Plan View 673

Using the Pipe Network Vista Effectively 675

Editing Using the Pipe Networks Contextual Tab 676

Editing with the Network Layout Tools Toolbar 681

Creating an Alignment from Network Parts 684

Drawing Parts in Profile View 686

Editing Pipe Networks in Profile View Using Grips 688

Removing a Part from Profile View 690

Showing Pipes That Cross the Profile View 691

Adding Pipe Network Labels 693

Creating a Labeled Pipe Network Profile with Crossings 694

Using Pipe and Structure Labels 696

Creating an Interference Check 697

Creating Pipe Tables 700

Exploring the Table Creation Dialog 700

The Table Panel Tools 704

Setting and Using a Pressure Pipes Network 705

Pressure Network Parts List 705

Creating a Pressure Network 710

Using Design Checks 720

Understanding Part Builder 722

Part Builder Orientation 724

Understanding the Organization of Part Builder 724

Exploring Part Families 727

Adding a Part Size Using Part Builder 728

Sharing a Custom Part 731

Adding an Arch Pipe to Your Part Catalog 731

The Bottom Line 732

Chapter 14 Grading 735

Working with Grading Feature Lines 735

Accessing Grading Feature-Line Tools 735

Creating Grading Feature Lines 737

Editing Feature Line Information 743

Labeling Feature Lines 767

Grading Objects 768

Creating Gradings 769

Using Gradings for Interim Surfaces 775

Finishing Touches 778

The Bottom Line 782

Chapter 15 Plan Production 785

Preparing for Plan Sets 785

Prerequisite Components 785

Using View Frames and Match Lines 786

The Create View Frames Wizard 787

Creating View Frames 795

Editing View Frames and Match Lines 797

Creating Plan and Profile Sheets 801

The Create Sheets Wizard 801

Managing Sheets 807

Creating Section Sheets 813

Creating Multiple Section Views 813

Creating Section Sheets 818

Drawing Templates 819

The Bottom Line 822

Chapter 16 Advanced Workflows 825

Data Shortcuts 825

Getting Started 827

Setting a Working Folder and Data Shortcut Folder 827

Creating Data Shortcuts 830

Creating a Data Reference 832

Updating References 839

Sharing Data with a Non–Civil 3D World 849

Delivering DWG Formats 849

Using LandXML 851

The Bottom Line 853

Chapter 17 Quantity Takeoff 855

Employing Pay Item Files 855

Pay Item Favorites 856

Searching for Pay Items 859

Keeping Tabs on the Model 863

AutoCAD Objects as Pay Items 863

Pricing Your Corridor 865

Pipes and Structures as Pay Items 870

Highlighting Pay Items 876

Inventorying Your Pay Items 878

The Bottom Line 881

Chapter 18 Label Styles 883

Label Styles 883

General Labels 883

Frequently Seen Tabs 884

General Note Labels 899

Point Label Styles 902

Line and Curve Labels 906

Single Segment Labels 906

Spanning Segment Labels 907

Curve Labels 908

Pipe and Structure Labels 911

Pipe Labels 911

Structure Labels 913

Profile and Alignment Labels 917

Label Sets 917

Alignment Labels 918

Advanced Style Types 935

Table Styles 936

Code Set Styles 938

The Bottom Line 950

Chapter 19 Object Styles 951

Getting Started with Object Styles 951

Frequently Seen Tabs 954

General Settings 957

Point and Marker Object Styles 958

Creating Linear Object Styles 962

Alignment Styles 964

Parcel Styles 966

Feature Line Styles 966

Creating Surface Styles 967

Contour Styles 968

Triangles and Points Surface Styles 972

Analysis Styles 975

Creating Pipe and Structure Styles 979

Pipe Styles 979

Structure Styles 986

Creating Profile View Styles 990

Profile View Bands 998

Creating Section View Styles 1001

Group Plot Styles 1003

The Bottom Line 1007

Appendix A The Bottom Line 1009

Chapter 1: The Basics 1009

Chapter 2: Survey 1011

Chapter 3: Points 1014

Chapter 4: Surfaces 1017

Chapter 5: Parcels 1020

Chapter 6: Alignments 1023

Chapter 7: Profiles and Profile Views 1026

Chapter 8: Assemblies and Subassemblies 1030

Chapter 9: Basic Corridors 1031

Chapter 10: Advanced Corridors, Intersections, and Roundabouts 1034

Chapter 11: Superelevation 1035

Chapter 12: Cross Sections and Mass Haul 1038

Chapter 13: Pipe Networks 1040

Chapter 14: Grading 1043

Chapter 15: Plan Production 1046

Chapter 16: Advanced Workflows 1049

Chapter 17: Quantity Takeoff 1050

Chapter 18: Label Styles 1052

Chapter 19: Object Styles 1055

Appendix B Certification 1059

Index 1063

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