From the Ground Up
A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.
About Jack About OveLatest Post
- posted 06/26/08 by Jack Strongitharm A tool for the job - 2D to 3D
- No a 2D flat drawing again!!!!
Yes I am sure you hate when this happens.
You are given a job to design and the data for the survey is 2D. There is nothing you can do as this is what the client has provided and to them, that is a survey has it has spot levels etc.
As we know there are some tools in Civil 3D to deal with the problem such as
Surface menu, Utilities and 'Move Text to Level'
This does simply read the text string and move it to that level. When you create a surface the point is the grip point of the text string.
Ok, so in the Map tools we can do a query on the drawing and aswell as doing the same task you can also move the text a specific distance.
But problem is that the survey drawing has had a number of manual edits such as moved text and rotation so that the drawing looks better.
This could be hours of going through the drawing trying to sort out the problem.
Luckily, as you know AutoCAD Civil 3D can be programmed by everyone and a large number of you make little macros and tools to deal with tasks like these.
A fellow user Will Forty has done such a task and has kindly given this tool to everyone on the Civil Community.
So I have loaded it up and here is the link
Link to the Utility
How does it work
Download the file from the link above 'NewExportPoints.dvb' to a location of your choosing
You can only do one type of block at the same time, so select a block and a text string near to it, right click and hit select similar, then go to Isolate and isolate selection
Type VBAMAN and click on load and find the file
Once loaded, highlight the tool in the list and click on VB Editor
This loads the VB editor and all you need to do is click on the play button
Select the block and hit 'Auto Associate'
You will see that is will draw a simple line in graphics to show which text string will be associated with each block.
You then need to confirm which ones you are happy with. Generally you will accept them all, so you can just select everything in display.
From this you will get a message to say that AutoCAD points have been generated.
So you now will have AutoCAD points in the position of the shot at the correct level.
Create your surface then from drawing objects and AutoCAD points!
Could be a huge time saver and ease the pain of poor survey files that are thrown on your desk (digitally of course!)
Have a good week
Jack Strongitharm1 comments In From the Ground Up > Survey
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Previous Posts
-
Trimble TPS data import
Posted 02/25/07 by Chris Berends
This week I want to start a discussion about the best way to get your surveyed linework as automatically on your screen importing a Trimble TPS job file
feel free to ad a comment if you know a better/ easier way to do it...
as extra tool i've used TrimbleLinkforAutodeskCivil3D2007.exe (downloadable from or Autodesk/civil or Trimble website... the tool results in a pulldown menu directly in Civil3D
Pull down menu Trimble import job
Because the current version of civil3d CAN’T work with alphanumeric point numbers you have to make a view small pointnumber changes if the surveyor used alphanumeric ones.
View image
in this sample you have to change the name A en B in 99999 and 88888
And change the rest of the alphanumeric numbers automatically by selecting the invalid numbers option
As result you don’t see any alphanumeric numbers
Create a new network using the Trimble UI or select a existing network from the pull down list
While importing all alphanumeric point numbers are converted to numeric point numbers
View image
till now only pointdata is displayed.... what is the best way to draw the linework directly from the job file????
my proposal
All imported Trimble survey Job data can be exported to a .fbk file to ad figure/line work commands
use your text editor to make additional changes like the ditto command as described in previous posts to begin and close a figure and delete all spot level points because you don't need them twice.
save the text file as a .fbk file
re-import the changed fieldbook file.
as a result all surveyed linework is displayed
you can easily combine the inserted fieldbook together with the earlier used job file
View image
again, any better idea how to insert the linework directly from the used job file (points are surveyed with description keys, VEB for begin figure, VE for figure point and VEE for figure end)
more to come....Chris Berends
-
Huge field book creation time saver
Posted 02/12/07 by Chris Berends
Thanks to Lucy Kuhns, Civil and Survey specialist USA, responsible for a survey class at AU 2006.
The language ref command DITTO
How many times do you have an ASCII file with point number, coordinates and description key’s ?
1001000 150481.179 500553.687 50.659 "etw"
1234501 150481.717 500553.092 50.624 " etw "
1234502 150481.657 500555.331 50.570 " etw "
1234503 150482.922 500558.033 50.390 " etw "
1234504 150481.495 500554.836 50.580 " etw "
1001001 150543.456 500656.930 55.383 " etw "
1234505 150541.419 500654.317 55.248 " etw "
1234506 150541.549 500654.390 55.251 " etw "
1234507 150541.596 500654.409 55.265 " etw "
1234508 150534.932 500647.897 54.781 " etw "
.....
.....
How many times have you imported the ASCII file using the points import commands ?
How many times do you need (3d)lines between the surveyed points ?
Off course it is possible to use the transparent command after the 3dpoly command
command:3dpoly
specify start point of polyline:‘pn
>>enter pointnumber: (first point number – last point number)
The 3dpolyline will follow the point numbers range as input, even if one of the numbers in that range is missing
BUT
Using the DITTO command as a toggle
The first instance toggles the command on the second instance off
Just type figure begin and figure name
Ditto command
Ones NE SS
as extra lines in the .txt point file
As the bold text shows in this sample
BEGIN etw
DITTO
NE SS 1001000 150481.179 500553.687 50.659 "etw"
1234501 150481.717 500553.092 50.624 " etw "
1234502 150481.657 500555.331 50.570 " etw "
1234503 150482.922 500558.033 50.390 " etw "
1234504 150481.495 500554.836 50.580 " etw "
1001001 150543.456 500656.930 55.383 " etw "
1234505 150541.419 500654.317 55.248 " etw "
1234506 150541.549 500654.390 55.251 " etw "
1234507 150541.596 500654.409 55.265 " etw "
1234508 150534.932 500647.897 54.781 " etw "
.....
DITTO
Save the ASCII file as .fbk and ready for use
the result is a automatic figure called etw
was survey always as simple as this sample :-)
more to come ...Chris Berends
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Trimble GPS data import
Posted 02/05/07 by Chris Berends
Hi, this week i'll focus on the gps Trimble data import as we have done during our Northern Europe Survey bootcamp 2nd week of December
as extra tool i've used TrimbleLinkforAutodeskCivil3D2007.exe (downloadable from or Autodesk/civil or Trimble website... the tool results in a pulldown menu directly in Civil3D
Create a new local survey database
Pull down menu Trimble import job
Browse to job location and select ..........(v11.2) job
Because the current version of civil3d CAN’T work with alphanumeric point numbers we have to make a view small changes.
View image
As result you don’t see any alphanumeric numbers
View image
Changed point numbers in the job file
View image
Trimble creates automatically a local survey network.
View image
Or select a network from a existing list called Trimble
Result
View image
Raw GPS data directly imported from a Job file
More to come....Chris Berends
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fieldbook commands
Posted 01/29/07 by Chris Berends
Today more focus on fieldbook survey commands
As described in the language.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) we have 257 command possibilities to use
1,AD,ANG-DIST
……..
……..
257,RADIANS,RADS
As sample a fieldbook file with most used commands
JOB Chris
BEG ELEC begin figure ELEC
NE SS 1 399.84 373.57 19.87 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
NE SS 2 334.94 401.27 17.27 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
C3 straight line from point 1 till point 2, start 3 points curve from point 2 till point 19
NE SS 3 263.51 446.20 15.52 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
NE SS 19 319.19 288.12 19.26 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
NE SS 20 374.55 274.61 20.63 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
NE SS 21 386.74 266.77 21.41 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
END Stop figure ELEC ad point 21
OFFSET ELEC 0.8 complete figure ELEC offset 0.8 (right side seen from the line direction)
OFFSET ELEC -1.8 complete figure ELEC offset -1.8 (left side seen from the line direction)
View image
BEGIN FWS
NE SS 22 391.89 292.21 20.75 "FWS Depth 1.75"
NE SS 23 215.14 260.07 14.25 "FWS Depth 1.40"
CLOSE RECT -4.5 baseline from point 22 till point 23 will be rectangelar offset to the left site (seen from the line direction) and automatically closed till the firts point 22
View image
END stops figure ELEC creation
BEGIN FWS Begin new figure called FWS
recall 23 start new figure with earlier surveyed point 23
MCS multi curve (more than 3 points)
NE SS 24 191.82 219.85 13.77 "FWS Depth 1.80" first fpoint of the multi curve FWS figure
BEGIN SWS begin new figure called SWS
NE SS 25 175.22 237.04 15.78 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 26 150.82 290.62 14.33 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 27 116.63 305.15 14.12 "SWS Depth 0.60"
CONT FWS continue figure FWS with previous (MCS) command
NE SS 31 141.60 272.76 13.18 "FWS Depth 2.30" 2nd multi curve point
NE SS 32 183.93 181.19 13.63 "FWS Depth 2.30" 3rd multi curve point
NE SS 33 284.88 172.90 16.95 "FWS Depth 2.30" 4th mult curve point
MCE Multi curve end
BEGIN BT Begin figure called BT
NE SS 1001 255.52 73.41 19.27 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1002 254.66 72.00 19.21 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1003 253.42 69.90 19.13 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1004 252.93 70.11 19.10 "BT Depth 0.9"
CONT FWS continue figure FWS with previous straight line command
NE SS 1005 247.62 73.09 17.97 "FWS Depth 1.00"
MCS multi curve (more than 3 points)
NE SS 1006 242.15 76.24 18.02 "FWS Depth 0.90"
NE SS 1007 238.00 78.59 17.79 "FWS Depth 1.10"
NE SS 1008 233.90 81.05 18.26 "FWS Depth 0.60"
NE SS 1009 230.53 82.99 18.35 "FWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 1010 227.43 84.45 18.38 "FWS Depth 0.50"
MCE Multi curve end
END stops figure FWS creation
CONT BT continue figure BT with previous straight line command
NE SS 1011 225.14 86.08 19.11 "BT Depth 1.5"
NE SS 1012 223.95 86.99 19.10 "BT Depth 1.6"
NE SS 1013 221.93 87.52 18.76 "BT Depth 1.7"
NE SS 1014 229.54 81.95 18.86 "BT Depth 1.5"
END stops figure BT creation
View image
more to come...Chris Berends
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point label styles and prefix figure libary
Posted 01/22/07 by Chris Berends
Today focusing on point label style and prefix figure library
As a sample we work with a field book dataset containing pointnumber,x,y,z data and a raw description key containing object type and depth below surveyed surface point
UNIT METER DMS
HORZ ANGLE RIGHT
PRISM CONSTANT 0
EDM OFFSET 0
CR OFF
ATMOS OFF
COLLIMATION OFF
JOB Chris
BEG ELEC
NE SS 1277 231.53 339.24 15.27 "ELEC Depth 0.60"
NE SS 100 336.21 221.86 19.38 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 1 399.84 373.57 19.87 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 2 334.94 401.27 17.27 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 3 263.51 446.20 15.52 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 4 324.13 375.37 17.77 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 5 359.65 355.86 19.97 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 6 410.16 334.15 22.26 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 7 241.35 378.41 14.69 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 8 215.24 390.36 14.86 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 9 181.85 402.80 14.41 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 10 169.93 382.49 14.66 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 11 138.37 364.10 14.42 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 12 163.83 326.39 14.46 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 13 199.69 351.63 14.47 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 14 224.08 348.88 15.14 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 15 206.44 334.05 14.54 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 16 204.39 305.29 14.63 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 17 248.33 260.51 17.06 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 18 254.22 329.37 16.95 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 19 319.19 288.12 19.26 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 20 374.55 274.61 20.63 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 21 386.74 266.77 21.41 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
END
BEGIN FWS
NE SS 22 391.89 292.21 20.75 "FWS Depth 1.75"
NE SS 23 215.14 260.07 14.25 "FWS Depth 1.40"
NE SS 24 191.82 219.85 13.77 "FWS Depth 1.80"
BEGIN SWS
NE SS 25 175.22 237.04 15.78 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 26 150.82 290.62 14.33 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 27 116.63 305.15 14.12 "SWS Depth 0.60"
NE SS 28 102.18 288.38 15.34 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 29 83.36 307.86 14.74 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 30 102.48 356.70 14.42 "SWS Depth 0.50"
END
CONT FWS
NE SS 31 141.60 272.76 13.18 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 32 183.93 181.19 13.63 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 33 284.88 172.90 16.95 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 34 257.17 97.54 16.75 "FWS Depth 2.25"
NE SS 35 302.86 104.20 20.50 "FWS Depth "
NE SS 1000 258.14 71.93 17.87 "FWS Depth 1.50"
First thing is to setup a point description key set (or extend a existing one) so we can automatically insert different blocks to different surveyed points and make sure we manage the label description the way we like and if necessary scale the blocks accordantly one of the description parameters.
(point description key set saved in the template and managed in the prospector survey tab)
View image
Second thing we need to setup a (or extend a existing one) prefix figure library so we can automatically link the new surveyed figure to a survey figure style. (Prefix Figure library is save outside the drawing as a .fdb file , managed by the survey user settings)
View image
Third thing we need to setup is a survey figure style to draw the line work (figures) on the predefined layers/colours/line width.
(The survey figure style is saved in the drawing file and managed with the prospector settings tab)
View image
As you can see in the different screenshots the surveyed ELEC,FWS and SWS points are displayed according the parameter (points description key) setup
ELEC
View image
FWS
View image
SWS
View image
As we use linework commands in the fieldbook and we’ve set a prefix library as current and surevey linework styles we can draw the surveyed lines in the predefined layer/colours/line width
View image
more to come, Chris Berends -
fieldbook formats and label description key set
Posted 01/15/07 by Chris Berends
Fieldbook formats
.fbk is the default internal file format for raw survey data. we can use 2 different dataformats as raw data
1: Raw data based on horizontal angle, vertical angle ,vertical distance and description code
JOB (start header)
UNITS METER DMS
TEMP 15.0 C
PRESS 1000.0 MBAR
ATMOS ON
CR ON (end header)
NEZ 21000 307279.704 301705.953 314.799 "CONTROL" (cmdhelp.ref/ NEZ (point) [North] [East] (elev) (descript))
STN 21000 0.000 "CONTROL"
ZD VD 2 46.325996 59.634 -5.371 (cmdhelp.ref/ ZD [VD] (point) [azimuth] [distance] [vert distance] (descript))
ZD VD 3 86.561764 71.631 3.345
ZD VD 4 62.422796 86.618 -0.349
STN 3 (station number)
AZ 3 2 0.0000 (cmdhelp.ref/ AZ [point 1] [point 2] [azimuth])
BS 2 322.4719 (cmdhelp.ref/ BS [point] (orientation))
PRISM 1.363
F1 VA 2 322.4719 47.509 100.3931 ""
PRISM 2.000
BEGIN FL
F1 VA 10000 117.1816 8.742 81.2807 "FL" (cmdhelp.ref / F1/F2 [VA] (point) [angle] [distance] [vert angle] (descript))
F1 VA 10001 92.3533 10.003 89.5111 "FL"
F1 VA 10002 83.1019 11.541 96.4908 "FL"
BEGIN BKT (begin figure BKT)
F1 VA 10003 99.2819 7.634 88.3602 "BKT"
F1 VA 10004 79.3624 4.430 89.2145 "BKT" (straight line from 10003 -10004)
C3
F1 VA 10005 351.2621 6.644 101.0929 "BKT" (start 3 point curve)
F1 VA 10006 339.1342 9.853 101.1236 "BKT"
F1 VA 10007 314.1635 10.928 98.2542 "BKT" (last curve point)
F1 VA 10008 305.5510 12.102 97.3135 "BKT" (straight line from 10007-10008)
MCS
F1 VA 10009 316.4125 15.860 99.3755 "BKT" (start multi curve)
F1 VA 10010 329.4226 20.312 102.0915 "BKT"
F1 VA 10011 327.1403 25.092 101.3553 "BKT"
F1 VA 10012 325.5315 31.432 101.0847 "BKT"
F1 VA 10013 327.4305 37.985 101.1256 "BKT" (last point multi curve)
MCE
F1 VA 10014 328.4602 46.211 101.0120 "BKT"
END (end figure BKT)
F1 VA 10015 333.3447 29.797 104.0954 "SPOT" ( create spot point)
F1 VA 10016 335.2045 25.175 105.0050 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10017 337.5754 20.125 104.4122 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10018 330.0334 15.576 104.0144 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10019 320.2449 14.279 102.0026 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10020 351.0158 11.315 105.3449 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10021 3.1946 11.083 110.0029 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10022 18.2237 10.193 112.0508 "SPOT"
PRISM 1.800 (cmdhelp.ref/PRISM [height])
CONT FL (continue FL from the last surveyed point 10002)
…….
…….
…….
2: Raw data based on nording, easting, elevation and description code
UNIT METER DMS (start header)
HORZ ANGLE RIGHT
PRISM CONSTANT 0
EDM OFFSET 0
CR OFF
ATMOS OFF
COLLIMATION OFF
JOB Day1 (end header)
NE SS 1 346101.5705 417557.6161 119.8920 stn8 (cmdhelp.ref /NE SS (point) [North] [East] (elev) (descript))
NE SS 2 345917.7197 417444.8098 122.0350 stn6
NE SS 3 345749.8118 417248.8810 121.0600 stn4
BEGIN bob (start figure bob)
NE SS 4 345854.2218 417210.2085 116.5590 bob (only straight lines from point 4-12)
NE SS 5 345853.4216 417206.2570 116.3640 bob
NE SS 6 345846.6071 417199.2594 116.2860 bob
NE SS 7 345840.8412 417194.6803 116.0980 bob
NE SS 8 345836.0342 417192.7604 116.0740 bob
NE SS 9 345832.5840 417191.8065 116.2500 bob
NE SS 10 345820.5225 417185.9122 116.4060 bob
NE SS 11 345813.1636 417182.7679 116.4760 bob
NE SS 12 345811.5910 417180.0727 116.5560 bob
END (end figure bob)
NE SS 13 345808.9496 417178.1754 116.7230 bob (create point bob)
NE SS 14 345803.1798 417180.3094 117.5670 bob
NE SS 15 345799.6180 417182.3898 117.2530 bob
NE SS 16 345792.5485 417188.2123 116.6870 bob
NE SS 17 345790.5815 417190.3507 116.8270 bob
…….
…….
If you don’t use any figure command the software recognizes the surveyed point as a point,
If you use only the figure start command all the surveyed points are recognized as straight lines till the figure end command.
Trimble can save the raw data directly into .fbk file format from the datalogger
Leica can save the raw data directly into .fbk format form Leica Geo office as desktop solution
Stringer connect can convert from a variety of raw data formats into .fbk as a desktop solution
Carlson connect can convert form a variety of raw data formats info .fbk as a pulldown menu in Civil3D
Point label description key set
When you import the .fbk file in your survey database Civil3d recognizes the survey points as cogopoints. The representation of the cogopoints are manageable in the description key set
Just a little knowledge update
We can use the key set as a hard coded point label
View image
The label manageable by the point label style gives always the value set by the description key format tab
The point graphical representation is manageable by the point style
Or as flexible coded point label
View image
The label manageable by the point label style gives always the value set by the description key format tab
$* is the complete raw description key, $1 the first part of the description key, $2 the second… the rest of the $ options is findable in the well documented help file.
The flexible coded point label makes it possible to fulfil any customer point label demand
more to come.... Chris Berends -
survey basics
Posted 01/08/07 by Chris Berends
As the title of the blog site is fromthegroundup we start from scratch.
5 important survey topics:
1: Cmdhelp.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) gives you a very good overview of all different RAW surveyed data types all recognized as .fbk
2: As we use fbk as survey file format we can use different commands for start, end, curves, offset for your surveyed line work.
Language.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) gives you a very good impression what commands you can use.
By default to start line work we can use
13,BEG,BEGIN,BEGINS if you want to use your own command…. Like Chris to start your linework….. ad ,Chris just after BEGINS in the language.ref… save the file and restart civil3d.
so it is possible to ad your own coding list to Civil3D survey
3: Prospector/survey tab has a user settings icon
Or use the survey pulldown menu
View image
4: Prospector/survey right click on the survey database and create a new local survey database
Right click on the local survey database and open it
Right click on the local database and select edit survey database settings or use the survey pulldown menu
You can manage settings like units
View image
5: Prospector/survey right click on the Figure Prefix database and create a new Figure Prefix database
The database is stored, in the user settings defined path, as a .fdb file… so you can change the file content very easily using Microsoft Access.
View image
more to come..Chris Berends
-
Survey
Posted 01/01/07 by Chris Berends
Have you ever tried to use the survey functionality in Civil3D
From now on I would like to give you guidelines how to use Survey functionality to increase your design efficiency as much as possible
The survey tab is available in the workspace to modify all survey aspects.
Till now civil3d survey uses the internal fieldbook file format as file standard. As the .fbk file format ascii oriented you easily modify the file content using any text editor.
BUT
we have a dynamic Trimble-link and Leica-exchange menu available in the current release to exchange the survey data directly.
OR
Use external converters to get external data formats directly into our field book file format….with or without direct line work creation
more details to come....Chris Berends