From the Ground Up
A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.
About Jack About OveLatest Post
- posted 03/06/09 by Jack Strongitharm 'GENIO Import' and now 'Export Tool'
- For a little while we have had the ability to import GENIO files which are generally a file exchange for Bentley MX.
We have just released an updated tool on the subscription center which includes now Export functionality to convert your alignments, profiles, corridors and surfaces to be able to be read by MX and other software that support the format.
This will be very useful for those using Civil 3D to do parts of a project which has potentially already started on the other product.
Also for those who are required to supply a GENIO file as a deliverable.
Many of my clients in the UK and Ireland have been using Civil 3D as a complimentary product to support other project teams and also work out quick alternatives, volumes and drawing production aswell as using it as the complete solution for their projects as their skills increase.
For Import, I have included a layer table to assign 3D strings to some common layer names.
Export, will convert our potentially larger object names down to the four character names that MX can only support.
To get hold of the tool you need to log into the subscription center.
So you may need to contact your IT department and or reseller if you don't have your own access.
If you already have the previous Import tool, you will need to remove that first as this is a replacement for that.
This new tool is only available for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009.
Jack Strongitharm
0 comments In From the Ground Up > Plug ins
Add to Bookmarks
Previous Posts
-
Stage Storage - a sample
Posted 10/08/08 by Ove Cervin
Yes!
Finally, yesterday, I was able to call a person who 6 month ago called me and asked about if it was easy to calculate the volumes up to a certain level in a Pond. I then told him that this was possible, but not, at that time, fully automatic.
Now, today, all Subscription customers are able to download and use the new Stage Storage extension. This easy tool directly gives the volumes of a pond to all levels of interest. Subscription center is the place where to find it.
Below is a sample pond.
Bottom is at elevation +73m
To get the volumes we start the extension in the Toolbox.
Give it a name (optional) and then choose calculation method. There are, as you see, also other settings.
Choose the "Define Basin" button.
In my case I use the "Define basin from contours" in this dialog.
When we select a contour line on the pond/basin Surface we get a number of white Contours presented.
Then we get the report - smooooooth...
We get the areas for each contour line, the volumes between each level, incremental, of contours and the total, cumulative volume up to that level.
If you need the volumes up to, let's say, +77.25m - just change the Style for your Surface to match that interval and do the calculation here again! Eeeeeeasy... ;-)
Note: As all units are at the moment in imperial. The easiest way to get them metric is using the resulting ASCII-file and put it in to Excel.
We also get a ASCII-report that can be saved.
Go try it out!
Cheers / Ove C -
Updated Dynamite VSP 3.6
Posted 09/08/08 by Ove Cervin
Hello everybody,
Just before summer vacation I had the opportunity to meet, discuss and get trained on the topic of visualization - this time using Dynamite VSP from 3AM-Solutions.
We usually try to find useful "add ons" to C3D that really make use of the C3D functionality and this is one example.
Dynamite has now been released in a new version, called 3.6. This has several enhancements and the rendering is better than ever.
Dynamite now uses a new "easy-to-use mental ray® based materials and lighting workflow".
Sample:
It has always been a hazzle to get road markings correct. This is easily done in Dynamite - and it is still connected to the Corridor Code Set using the same codes.
For more information on Dynamite - see this link:
http://www.3am-solutions.com/products/dvsp3/
And finally - if YOU have a great example of a third party application that is using Civil 3D technology in a good and outstanding way - let me know and I will inform everyone here. We can all benefit from great software.
Cheers / Ove Cervin
-
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
-
Another little plug
Posted 12/10/07 by Jack Strongitharm
So you will have seen that I have plugged the Dynamite VSP Plugin to Civil 3D a couple of times. This is for high end visualisation and animation using 3DS Max.
But there is another plugin to Civil 3D that has been available from the start.
For that daily quick and easy way to visualise your project but also for checking your design for sight lines.
At AU this year they annouced a new application that takes this checking to a new level.
Below is some information about it and also two webinars that are planned for the next two days.
Through 3D analysis the Rapid Road Safety Analyzer will help customers make informed decisions regarding road safety based on a complete picture and full understanding of the roadway environment.
Project planners face daily critical design issues relating to budgets, cost, and deadlines. Traditionally geometric road design has been based upon mathematic equations where site distance is a key factor driving design parameters. In the real world, things are much more complex. With over 1.2 million fatalities worldwide annually in road crashes - it is clear that more can be done from a design and analysis perspective to improve roadway safety.
Learn more about this amazing new tool by participating in the webinar on the Rapid Road Safety Analyzer on:
Tuesday December 11th at 16:00 GMT, 11:00 Eastern Time, 8:00 Pacific Time.
Wednesday December 12th at 19:00 New ZealandTime, 17:00 Sydney Time.
The 45 minute live webinar sessions take a task oriented approach aimed at solving everyday real-life visualization challenges that face civil engineers, designers and land planners. The series will provide a broad base of information for all interested parties regardless of the design and visualization software they are using today. Civil 3D users will find extra value in the online seminars as the concepts are both optimized and will be demonstrated in the Civil 3D platform.
www.rdvsystems.com/wcr.php
Until next time
Jack Strongitharm