Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015

Cyndy Davenport has been working in the land development industry for 27 years in the capacity of design, technology management, implementation, training, and support. Cyndy is a regular speaker at Autodesk University and blogs at c3dcougar.typepad.com. Ishka Voiculescu is an engineer at the City of Austin Public works and has extensive experience using the Autodesk Suite products for planning, design, and visualization. He is a member of various engineering groups, an active forum contributor, and blogs at civildigest.com.

Introduction xxiii Chapter 1 The Basics 1 The Interface 1 Toolspace 7 Panorama 35 Contextual Ribbon Tab 36 Civil 3D Templates 37 Starting New Projects 38 Importing Styles 41 Command Settings 44 Creating Lines 46 COGO Line Commands 46 Direction-Based Line Commands 49 Re-creating a Deed Using Line Tools 54 Creating Curves 55 Standard Curves 56 Best Fit Entities 62 Attach Multiple Entities 64 Adding Line and Curve Labels 65 Using Transparent Commands 66 Standard Transparent Commands 67 Matching Transparent Commands 68 The Bottom Line 69 Chapter 2 Survey 71 Setting Up the Databases 71 Survey Database Defaults 72 The Equipment Database 75 The Figure Prefi x Database 76 The Linework Code Set Database 78 Configuring Description Keys for Point Import 79 Creating a Description Key Set 82 Creating Description Keys 82 Activating a Description Key Set 86 Understanding the Survey Database 87 Working with Survey Networks 95 Other Methods of Manipulating Survey Data 103 Other Survey Features 106 The Astronomic Direction Calculator 106 The Geodetic Calculator 106 The Mapcheck Report 107 The Coordinate Geometry Editor 108 Using Inquiry Commands 112 The Bottom Line 115 Chapter 3 Points 117 Anatomy of a Point 117 COGO Points vs Survey Points 118 Creating Basic Points 119 Point Settings 119 Importing Points from a Text File 123 Converting Points from Non-Civil 3D Sources 127 A Closer Look at the Create Points Toolbar 131 Basic Point Editing 139 Graphic Point Edits 139 Panorama and Prospector Point Edits 140 Point Groups: Don t Skip This Section! 141 Changing Point Elevations 147 Point Tables 148 User-Defined Properties 149 The Bottom Line 153 Chapter 4 Surfaces 155 Understanding Surface Basics 155 Creating Surfaces 157 Creating a Surface with Point Groups 159 Adding Breaklines 160 Adding Boundaries 164 Additional Surface Creation Methods 172 Surface from LandXML Files 172 Surface from DEM Files 175 Surface from GIS Data 179 Surfaces from Polylines 182 Refining and Editing Surfaces 186 Surface Properties 186 Manual Surface Edits 192 Surface Analysis 201 Elevation Banding 201 Slopes and Slope Arrows 206 Visibility Checker 208 Comparing Surfaces 209 TIN Volume Surface 210 Labeling the Surface 214 Contour Labeling 214 Additional Surface Label Types 217 Point Cloud Surfaces 220 Importing a Point Cloud 220 Working with Point Clouds 223 Creating a Point Cloud Surface 224 The Bottom Line 226 Chapter 5 Parcels 227 Introduction to Sites 227 Think outside of the Lot 227 Creating a New Site 232 Creating a Boundary Parcel 234 Using Parcel Creation Tools 236 Creating a Right-of-Way Parcel 240 Adding a Cul-de-Sac Parcel 242 Creating Subdivision Lot Parcels Using Precise Sizing Tools 245 Attached Parcel Segments 245 Parcel Sizing Settings 246 Parcel Sizing Tools 248 Editing Parcels by Deleting Parcel Segments 258 Best Practices for Parcel Creation 260 Forming Parcels from Segments 260 Parcels Reacting to Site Objects 261 Constructing Parcel Segments with the Appropriate Vertices 266 Labeling Parcel Areas 268 Labeling Parcel Segments 272 Labeling Multiple-Parcel Segments 272 Labeling Spanning Segments 275 Adding Curve Tags to Prepare for Table Creation 276 Creating a Table for Parcel Segments 278 The Bottom Line 280 Chapter 6 Alignments 281 Alignment Concepts 281 Alignments and Sites 281 Alignment Entities 282 Creating an Alignment 283 Creating from a Line, Arc, or Polyline 284 Creating by Layout 291 Best Fit Alignments 296 Reverse and Compound Curve Creation 302 Creating with Design Constraints and Check Sets 304 Editing Alignment Geometry 308 Grip Editing 309 Tabular Design 310 Component-Level Editing 311 Understanding Alignment Constraints 313 Changing Alignment Components 317 Alignments as Objects 318 Alignment Properties 318 The Right Station 322 Assigning Design Speeds 325 Labeling Alignments 327 Alignment Tables 331 The Bottom Line 335 Chapter 7 Profiles and Profile Views 337 The Elevation Element 337 Surface Sampling 338 Layout Profiles 347 The Best Fit Profile 360 Creating a Profile from a File 361 Editing Profiles 362 Grip-Editing Profiles 362 Editing Profiles Using Profile Layout Parameters 363 Editing Profiles Using Profile Grid View 365 Component-Level Editing 367 Other Profile Edits 368 Profile Views 372 Creating Profile Views during Sampling 372 Creating Profile Views Manually 372 Splitting Views 373 Editing Profile Views 383 Profile View Properties 383 Profile View Labeling Styles 396 Profile Labels 398 Applying Labels 398 Using Profile Label Sets 401 Profile Utilities 402 Superimposing Profiles 402 Projecting Objects in Profile View 403 Creating a Quick Profile 406 The Bottom Line 407 Chapter 8 Assemblies and Subassemblies 409 Subassemblies 409 The Tool Palettes 409 The Corridor Modeling Catalogs 411 Adding Subassemblies to a Tool Palette 411 Building Assemblies 412 Creating a Typical Road Assembly 413 Subassembly Components 422 Jumping into Help 423 Commonly Used Subassemblies 425 Editing an Assembly 428 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 449 Organizing Your Assemblies 451 Storing a Customized Subassembly on a Tool Palette 451 Storing a Completed Assembly on a Tool Palette 452 The Bottom Line 453 Chapter 9 Basic Corridors 455 Understanding Corridors 455 Recognizing Corridor Components 457 Baseline 457 Region 457 Assembly 457 Frequency 457 Target 458 Corridor Feature Lines 458 Rebuilding Your Corridor 466 Tweaking Corridors 467 Working with Corridor Feature Lines 470 Understanding Targets 477 Using Target Alignments and Profiles 477 Editing Sections 483 Creating a Corridor Surface 487 The Corridor Surface 487 Corridor Surface Creation Fundamentals 488 Adding a Surface Boundary 491 Performing a Volume Calculation 498 Building Non-Road Corridors 499 The Bottom Line 503 Chapter 10 Advanced Corridors, Intersections, and Roundabouts 505 Using Multiregion Baselines 505 Modeling a Cul-de-Sac 508 Using Multiple Baselines 509 Establishing EOP Design Profiles 510 Putting the Pieces Together 512 Troubleshooting Your Cul-de-Sac 515 Moving Up to Intersections 518 Using the Intersection Wizard 520 Creating Intersections Manually 531 Troubleshooting Your Intersection 538 Finishing Off Your Corridor 540 Using an Assembly Offset 543 Understanding Corridor Utilities 551 Using Corridor Utilities in Practice 552 Using a Feature Line as a Width and Elevation Target 554 Tackling Roundabouts: the Mount Everest of Corridors 560 Drainage First 561 Roundabout Alignments 561 Center Design 569 Profiles for All 570 Tie It All Together 572 Finishing Touches 572 The Bottom Line 576 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 591 Calculating Cants for Rail 596 Preparing for Cants 596 Creating a Rail Assembly 597 Applying Cant to the Alignment 599 Superelevation and Cant Views 600 Using a Superelevation View to Edit Data 602 The Bottom Line 604 Chapter 12 Cross Sections and Mass Haul 605 Section Workflow 605 Comparing Sample Lines and Frequency Lines 605 Creating Sample Lines 606 Editing the Swath Width of a Sample Line Group 610 Creating Section Views 613 Creating a Single-Section View 614 Creating Multiple Section Views 618 Section Views and Annotation Scale 621 Calculating and Reporting Volumes 625 Computing Materials 625 Creating a Volume Table in the Drawing 627 Adding Soil Factors to a Materials List 628 Generating a Volume Report 630 Adding Section View Final Touches 631 Adding Data with Sample More Sources 631 Adding Cross-Section Labels 632 Using Mass Haul Diagrams 635 Taking a Closer Look at the Mass Haul Diagram 635 Create a Mass Haul Diagram 636 Editing a Mass Haul Diagram 638 The Bottom Line 639 Chapter 13 Pipe Networks 641 Setting Up a Pipe Network 641 Understanding Parts List Waste Water Systems 642 Planning a Typical Pipe Network 643 Using Part Rules 645 Putting Your Parts List Together 652 Creating a Waste Water Network 656 Establishing Pipe Network Parameters 657 Using the Network Layout Creation Tools 658 Creating a Storm Drainage Pipe Network from a Feature Line 667 Editing a Pipe Network 669 Changing Flow Direction 670 Editing Your Network in Plan View 671 Using the Pipe Network Vista Effectively 673 Editing Using the Pipe Networks Contextual Tab 674 Editing with the Network Layout Tools Toolbar 679 Creating an Alignment from Network Parts 682 Drawing Parts in Profile View 684 Editing Pipe Networks in Profile View Using Grips 685 Removing a Part from Profi le View 687 Showing Pipes That Cross the Profile View 688 Adding Pipe Network Labels 690 Creating a Labeled Pipe Network Profile with Crossings 691 Using Pipe and Structure Labels 694 Creating an Interference Check 694 Creating Pipe Tables 697 Exploring the Table Creation Dialog 698 The Table Panel Tools 701 Setting and Using a Pressure Pipes Network 702 Pressure Network Parts List 702 Creating a Pressure Network 707 Using Design Checks 717 Understanding Part Builder 719 Part Builder Orientation 721 Understanding the Organization of Part Builder 721 Exploring Part Families 723 Adding a Part Size Using Part Builder 724 Sharing a Custom Part 728 Adding an Arch Pipe to Your Part Catalog 728 The Bottom Line 729 Chapter 14 Grading 731 Working with Grading Feature Lines 731 Accessing Grading Feature Line Tools 731 Creating Grading Feature Lines 733 Editing Feature Line Information 738 Labeling Feature Lines 763 Grading Objects 765 Creating Gradings 765 Using Gradings for Interim Surfaces 772 Finishing Touches 774 The Bottom Line 779 Chapter 15 Plan Production 781 Preparing for Plan Sets 781 Prerequisite Components 781 Using View Frames and Match Lines 782 The Create View Frames Wizard 783 Creating View Frames 791 Editing View Frames and Match Lines 794 Creating Plan and Profi le Sheets 797 The Create Sheets Wizard 797 Managing Sheets 804 Creating Section Sheets 809 Creating Multiple Section Views 809 Creating Section Sheets 814 Drawing Templates 815 The Bottom Line 818 Chapter 16 Advanced Workflows 821 Data Shortcuts 821 Getting Started 823 Setting a Working Folder and Data Shortcut Folder 823 Creating Data Shortcuts 826 Creating a Data Reference 828 Updating References 835 Sharing Data with a Non-Civil 3D World 844 Delivering DWG Formats 844 Using LandXML 846 The Bottom Line 849 Chapter 17 Quantity Takeoff 851 Employing Pay Item Files 851 Pay Item Favorites 852 Searching for Pay Items 855 Keeping Tabs on the Model 859 AutoCAD Objects as Pay Items 860 Pricing Your Corridor 862 Pipes and Structures as Pay Items 867 Highlighting Pay Items 873 Inventorying Your Pay Items 875 The Bottom Line 878 Chapter 18 Label Styles 879 Label Styles 879 General Labels 879 Frequently Seen Tabs 880 General Note Labels 895 Point Label Styles 898 Line and Curve Labels 902 Single Segment Labels 902 Spanning Segment Labels 903 Curve Labels 905 Pipe and Structure Labels 907 Pipe Labels 907 Structure Labels 909 Profi le and Alignment Labels 913 Label Sets 913 Alignment Labels 915 Advanced Style Types 931 Table Styles 932 Code Set Styles 934 The Bottom Line 944 Chapter 19 Object Styles 947 Getting Started with Object Styles 947 Frequently Seen Tabs 950 General Settings 952 Point and Marker Object Styles 954 Creating Linear Object Styles 958 Alignment Styles 960 Parcel Styles 962 Feature Line Styles 963 Creating Surface Styles 963 Contour Styles 964 Triangles and Points Surface Styles 968 Analysis Styles 971 Creating Pipe and Structure Styles 975 Pipe Styles 975 Structure Styles 983 Creating Profile View Styles 987 Profile View Bands 994 Creating Section View Styles 998 Group Plot Styles 999 The Bottom Line 1004 Appendix A The Bottom Line 1005 Chapter 1: The Basics 1005 Chapter 2: Survey 1007 Chapter 3: Points 1010 Chapter 4: Surfaces 1013 Chapter 5: Parcels 1016 Chapter 6: Alignments 1019 Chapter 7: Profiles and Profile Views 1023 Chapter 8: Assemblies and Subassemblies 1026 Chapter 9: Basic Corridors 1027 Chapter 10: Advanced Corridors, Intersections, and Roundabouts 1030 Chapter 11: Superelevation 1032 Chapter 12: Cross Sections and Mass Haul 1034 Chapter 13: Pipe Networks 1036 Chapter 14: Grading 1039 Chapter 15: Plan Production 1041 Chapter 16: Advanced Workflows 1045 Chapter 17: Quantity Takeoff 1046 Chapter 18: Label Styles 1048 Chapter 19: Object Styles 1051 Appendix B Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015 Certification 1055 Index 1059