From the Ground Up
A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.
About Jack About OveLatest Post
- posted 05/05/08 by Ove Cervin Drawing overviews
- Hello everyone
Hope all has seen some sun by now, even Sweden has... ;-)
We are working on several Blog posts, me and Jack, that will cover a lot of the new functionality in the 2009 version.
To get something up here during this "working period" I thought of this nice tool to get an overview of all drawings open on you computer.
As all users of AutoCAD knows, there are several tools at the very bottom of the screen, OSnap, Ohrto etc etc. Now we have a few new ones again.
Check this one out;
If you have some drawings open like this (three in this case),
Check the bottom of the screen, to the right side. There is an icon showing a symbol like a "book".
When you click it you will get an fast overview of all drawings currently open, and also their Layouts etc shows above the drawing.
Hoover over the Layouts for the drawing and you will get it magnified - select it by clicking on it - or use the direct "Print" as seen by the icon in the image below. Nice tool.
Promise to be back soon with some more "Civil related" stuff here... ;-)
Cheers / Ove
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Previous Posts
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Just when you thought I am finished with 2008
Posted 04/18/08 by Jack Strongitharm
Most of the things you will hear from us from now on will be of course based around our new release 2009.
However we recognise that it may take some time until you all can follow.
So to keep my friends in the UK and Ireland going we have just released an update to the Country Kit for Civil 3D 2008.
So whats in it?
Pipes and Structures and plenty of them !
We now support Sewers for Adoption 6th Edition and manufacturers pipes and manholes types. Also including CAD linetypes, styles and colours.
Also to accompany the Microdrainage WinDES Link Tool a generic pipes and structures catalog, which is material independent and supports all the sizes required.
Finally to complete the set a collection of underground pipes and styles for underground utilities for gas, electric, telecomms etc
An example from Ramboll Sweden by Mats Ericsson of what can be done.
Next a new template file for Ireland for the local authorities that gives them familiar look and feel to what they are used to, all set as defaults and including the above pipe catalogs.
Finally for the UK, Ordnance Survey Mastermap template to assist in theming this newer mapping format to create maps as they were intended.
Download it from here
Jack Strongitharm
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AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009
Posted 04/04/08 by Jack Strongitharm
Probably wondering where we have been on this for the last couple of weeks as our Civil 3D blogging friends have been revealing some of the new key features.
As Autodesk staff we have a different date we have to work to, but never mind.
So rather than just talk about the same features here is something cool and not obvious to your first glances. (i like these ones the most!)
Those that saw me at AU last year got an early look at these as we now have 3D content to aid visualisation in your 3D models.
They are designed as Multiview blocks (i.e. have a 2D display and a 3D display, similar to our Civil 3D styles)
This is so when plotting a drawing in plan you get a nice simple appearance, but when viewed in 3D you have a model.
2D
3D
Where do I find them?
Right click on the toolpalettes grey bar on the side and you can see the selection of 'MV Blocks'
There is four catagories
Highways, External Works and Landscaping
Also there are some simple Building footprints
These are all really a sample of what is possible as we could never give every single content type. But use them to create more realism and also copy what is there to change colours, image types for sign faces and even add a little model of yourself on a billboard to place in the scene!
There are plenty of hidden gems that are in this release and myself and Ove will help you explore these as you start with this great new version.
Jack Strongitharm
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Corridors and Sections in separate DWGs
Posted 03/14/08 by Ove Cervin
Yo!
This week we are in Vegas - trying our very best to spend every $ we have... No! ;-)
The event in Vegas is a great way to meet all partners, some customers and also colleagues from everywhere. Looking forward to a meeting on the Survey Topic. (Will be back here on that topic)
Some people asked about how to get the Corridor Cross Sections (Multiple Views) stored in a separate DWG. It is very common that users have all data in the same DWG, although we have Vault and Data Shortcuts.
Anyway - here is the way to do it:
Below is my design drawing, a lot of things in it.
Create a Data Shortcut (.xml-file) with at least the Alignment you need for your sections.
Open a new DWG and set the proper Scale in it.
Use the UI for Data Shortcuts again to bring in the Alignment as a Reference.
(Here is a Blog Post on Data Shortcuts in general)
Once the Alignment is in you will also have to XREF the DWG that has the Corridor in it.
Use normal XREF to bring it in (also works from Vault) and set it placed on origo 0,0,0
This looks a bit much in terms of needed graphics and I'll tell you how to make it a bit better here, on another blog post. (Fading Layers)
Well, once you have the Corridor DWG in - Create Sample Lines the normal way. If needed - use "Send to back" on the XREF to be able to select the Alignment more easily (or use right click).
Sample lines created!
Now you can create the Multiple Views - on a scale that is normal for those Sections.
Now all is fine - but to avoid having all graphics presented like this - see this solution.
There might be other ways as well to hide the Xref with the Corridor.
Hope is explains how easy it actually is... ;-)
// Ove
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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Posted 03/12/08 by Jack Strongitharm
So here we are myself and Ove back in Vegas in the sunshine and away from dark days and rain!!
This week is the annual Autodesk conference OTC.
So while we are all in one place we tried to gather all the Autodesk Civil AEs together and some of the US resellers such as Mark Scacco of Engineered Efficiency from Chicago.
The great thing about Civil as I am sure as you as users/readers are finding is that we are all acting as one big worldwide club. Its great to share experiences and knowledge and it really pushes us all to a higher level.
There is so much in Civil 3D, we have not even started even one year on with this blog site.
The Civil 3D team from around the world
The godfather of Civil 3D, good job his wife does not read our blog as he will get in trouble, Dirty big cigars!!
More useful posts on their way!
Jack Strongitharm/Ove Cervin -
Share Now - Civil3D on Autodesk Labs
Posted 03/07/08 by Ove Cervin
Greetings everyone!
Back now from an internal trip at the ski resort Hemsedal, Norway. (Yes - I'm going to Zermatt as well, over Easter)
Hemsedal is a nice place. Go there on a vacation! ;-)
60°51'51.91"N
8°33'10.94"E
We rented a few motorized things and raced for while. I got cramp in my arms...
But the most fun machine was this one!! Not for rent, but I was allowed to try it out ;-) GREAT FUN!
Anyway - this night I got an e-mail from Autodesk Labs saying they have enhanced the "ShareNow" technology a bit.
It now supports all AutoCAD based products - also Civil 3D.
I tried it out (on my own risk of course...)
You have to log on to this page to get an free account,
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ShareNow/
Once downloaded and installed you get a small Toolbar in C3D.
Use it and it creates a DWF to be shared automatically.
It will also automatically bring up an web browser with a session that loads you design file.
You can zoom, pan etc
You can then Share the Session with others.
Set a Session name
An e-mail gets created...
Someone get an invite - and, yes I got it myself ;-)
Join the Session and you will see a list of participants (Graphics gets better than shown below)
All participants can zoom etc and also use the tools for Markup.
Some notes...
The markups gets saved in a list and if you "hover" over them you get "zoom to".
Give it a try - it's free... Just remember - it is a Lab thing...
Tomorrow I go to Las Vegas. It's "only" a 22 hour trip over three flight legs... I wonder how Sweden can be so "close" to all places...?
Cheers / Ove
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Sorting Point Groups
Posted 02/22/08 by Ove Cervin
Hello again,
Sorry I have been a bit quite... There is a lot coming up soon, which has been my focus for some time ;-)
Here in Sweden I can actually say now that it is not "pitch black" anymore in the morning when I head for office or airport. Nice! Spring will be here within a month, finally... one day with snow this "winter" in Gothenburg. Too bad.
Below I want to mention a way to handle Survey Points stored in Point Groups.
When I import a Survey .FBK and sort the Points in to several Point Groups I might want to use some Point Groups for my creation of a TIN, but not all.
As I have several Point Groups in the drawing I have to pick which one to be used for my Surface.
Include Point Groups for the Surface.
Selecting which Groups to get there. Imagine selecting ten, thirty or more Point Groups - not great...
Instead - create a separate Point Group first.
Call it "TIN", "TIN data" or something.
Under the Tab "Point Groups" you can select the Point Groups that will go in to this "major" Point Group.
Then it is much easier to select only one Point Group for the Surface.
Have a nice weekend! Cheers / Ove -
Microdrainage WinDES Link for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008
Posted 02/15/08 by Jack Strongitharm
This one is for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 and Microdrainage users in the UK and Ireland.
We have just realised an update to the Microdrainage WinDES Link tool that is part of the UK and Ireland Country Kit.
This update now has the ability to now import the .SWS or .FWS file back from WinDES and automatically updating all the pipe and structure properties in your AutoCAD Civil 3D model drawing.
Download this file from
www.autodesk.co.uk/civil3d-downloads
The installation will update the toolbox from the general menu with this functionality
Jack Strongitharm
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Autodesk 2009 product range is coming!
Posted 02/13/08 by Jack Strongitharm
Just in case you are not reading some of the other blogs.
Our AutoCAD bloggers are now at a point of been able to release some information on what is new in AutoCAD.
As CIvil 3D is based on AutoCAD, we all need to keep up with the new things that are coming our way.
Shann Hurley - Between the Lines
and of course
Lynn Allen
It won't be long until AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 is coming this way and the Dave and Dan Show Webcast with thousands of you clogging the internet around the world.
Fun!!
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User Contours
Posted 02/01/08 by Ove Cervin
Hello again,
Now back again from the Gunslinger Jack mentioned. That WAS an exiting week. I'm REALLY looking forward to all new things coming up... ;-)
I'm also looking forward to the Easter Holiday as I am a big fan of skiing downhill. I will go to my brothers place in Zermatt in Switzerland.
Anyway - here's a tip on something I didn't find myself. There's always tools and settings in C3D which is a little more hidden than others... A colleague mentioned where to find this. Thanks Peter Funk ;-)
If you have a Volume Surface (or general Surface as well) where you want to present custom/user defined contours to use for area calculations etc, here's a way to do that.
In this case the customer wanted to calculate the area for some volumes within a range.
Sample below shows a Volume TIN Surface.
As you can see this is presented with a Surface Style for Color analysis with a range.
To show also the contours for the very same range/interval you can do like this.
Go to the Surface Style for this Surface and turn on "User Contours" under the Tab "Display".
Then go to the Surface Properties and the Tab "Analysis".
Choose Analysis type "Elevations" - set color range.
Then select the Analysis type "User-defined contours" and set the interval where you want the contours to display.
Set range/interval
This will present your Volume Surface with also a Contour between the color ranges in the analysis.
Then you can use (Surface menu - Utilities), Extract Objects from Surface.
All Contours are now available for area calculation.
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers / Ove Cervin
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Setting Out? (Stake out) - Part 1
Posted 01/22/08 by Jack Strongitharm
Had some discussions with a user recently on how best to create setting out (stakeout) from their models.
So this next series of posts I will try to enlighten you to what is possible from the box as standard.
Corridor - Points and tables
So you have this lovely model and want to build it.
Contractor wants levels and coordinates every 10m on a straight and every 2m on curves on the junction.(yes junctions!)
You want to have the setting out information on the drawing.
Step one.
Temporarily adjust your corridor frequency to suit this criteria
Original
Set frequency
Main road adjusted
Junction area adjusted
Step two.
Go to Corridor menu and utilities
Export COGO
COGO Points are created in the point group with your default style
As the points are stored in a point group you can now change the style easy to just show a point number
Change the point style to display what you want or numbers in this case
Step three.
From the Points menu, select tables and select the point label style and also the point group that you saved your points to.
Result is a table for that feature line at the interval required.
Next you may want to have a specific table title so to link it with the feature line
Right click on the table and go to it properties. Copy the original table style with a new name
Click on the table title (POINT DATA) and enter a new table title.
Resulting table now has the new title
Next repeat the export for the kerb return alignments
For the junction area, when you export COGO, remember that the corridor creation is from the kerb return alignments, so the corridor feature line is actually the CROWN. Also here you can see that you can isolate a specific baseline alignment, rather than the whole corridor.
Step four.
Repeat the exercise for all the feature lines you want to create setting out for.
NOTE
This method creates points from your corridor, however these points are static, i.e. if your corridor is adjusted, your points and tables will not be updated
Therefore do this output when you need to and also name groups etc to suit the design state as a reminder.
Hope this helps.
I will show some other methods in future posts.
Jack Strongitharm
