From the Ground Up
A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.
About Jack About OveLatest Post
- posted 12/15/08 by Ove Cervin How to Create Civil 3D COGO Points in each TIN vertex
- Hello all,
Today I'll share a tip from my colleague - Tomas Lendvorsky in EMIA
// Ove
How to Create Civil 3D COGO Points in each Surface triangulation vertex
Objectives: We need to create COGO Points from TIN vertexes for stake-out
- Create a new Surface and copy the Surface to a new one using Definition-Edits-Paste Surface
- Create a new Style where only points will be displayed, and points will be displayed as dots (Points-Point Display-Data Point Symbol)
- Explode new Surface. (You will get ACAD Points)
- Set-up Create points Dialog
Prompt for Elevation Automatic
Prompt for Description Automatic
Default Description Something you want. (It will allow you to create Point Group later on.)
- Create Points-Convert AutoCAD points
- Create point Group etc
2 comments In From the Ground Up > Workflows
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Previous Posts
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Widening Part 1
Posted 08/14/08 by Jack Strongitharm
Got a scheme like this and wondering how to go about it.
Scenario
Creation of a ‘Ghost Island’ to enable safe turning into side road
What we want to do is
simply extend road surface levels to the new widened channel line and
new kerbline,
new footway and
tie into existing ground with earthwork slopes.
We have a 3D survey drawing.
You need two reference lines from the survey, so you made need to string them together, or in this case I copied them out of the drawing, joined them up and brought them back.
You need two alignments, one is the inside channel line, so the line you copied and joined together, covert to 2D
The second alignment for the widening.
Convert the existing channel 3dpolyline to a Civil 3D alignment and ensure you don’t tick ‘add curves between straights’.
Next with the existing channel edge alignment, create a profile from your ground surface, (you can just click OK rather than draw it)
Next we create an assembly, for this we need a subassembly that probably won’t be in your toolpalette, there are a lot more than you think!
So goto the catalog icon
Select Metric or Imperial and then ‘C3D Rehab’
The subassembly we will use is the ‘OverlayWidenMatchSlope1’
This is written slightly different as it does not have a left or right option, so set the ‘Insert Point Offset’ to a negative value for ‘LEFT’ and a positive value for ‘RIGHT’.
The value does not matter as we will be targeting our widening alignment for the width, so just enter a value so it shows in the assembly view. Also set the overlay to 0, for no overlay to be applied.
Then add the next features you need such as a kerb, footpath and earthwork slopes to the assembly.
Create the corridor using the Existing Left Channel Edge – Alignment as the baseline for the corridor. Start and finish the corridor distance to the limits of your widening alignment.
Set the frequency similar to the image below and include any critical chainage points as required.
An option is only calculate at a regular chainage interval rather than at the surface profile geometry points, if desired.
Next go to the targets of the corridor, and you will see that you can target the overlay subassembly to the ground surface as this will check the levels along the corridor.
From the help file, you can see that the ‘Sample Point’ is what we target for the centreline (in this case our centreline is a 3dpolyline (2009 only) and the insert point is actually our existing left edge alignment that we based our corridor on.
The width is what we will target to our widening alignment.
Result!
Much easier than working out levels and drawing profiles manually!
You can now see the potential of subassemblies much more than just standard widths and slopes.
Try moving your alignment grips around with the corridor on ‘automatic rebuild’.
Also if you want the nice colour scheme to your corridor, that is applied from the code set style as material area fill, where the users of the UK and Ireland country kit template have it already setup.
A day’s work down to minutes, with flexibility for change!
In the next part I will go through how to overlay and refine the profile level design as maybe the existing crossfall of the road is deformed from heavy vehicles etc.
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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Enhanced Cross Sections
Posted 09/04/07 by Jack Strongitharm
Ok, I left it a little while until this post, but I am sure you will appreciate what I am delivering this week.
I dropped a couple of themes last time to what I would be covering over the next couple of posts and this week it is 'Enhanced Cross Sections'.
Nick Zeeben on Wicked Cool Stuff Blog (Link to pages) a couple of weeks ago went through some of the basics, but here is it all packed up and ready to go!
For the UK and Ireland and a lot of other countries out there we need more in our cross sections and also in the bands.
The document below is a step by step workflow on how to get setup.
Autodesk Civil 3D 2008 Enhanced Cross Sections.pdf
You will need the UK template file, so either use the Official Country Kit at this location
or if you are not from the UK and Ireland, here is my template.
_Autodesk Civil 3D 2008 UK_IE.dwt
Within the document it tells you which styles you will require, so you can drag them across from this template and into your own. (If you are not sure on how to do this please let me know on the comment log below and I can post that next)
Also required is a toolpallete, this we could not include in the Country Kit this time, but is an essential part of this workflow.
UK_IE Drafting Tools Pallete
Installation instructions are provided in the document.
Have fun.!!!
Thanks to Joerg Pipo and Peter Funk for the original concept and clever stuff!!
Until next time
Jack Strongitharm -
Using Data Shortcuts
Posted 06/13/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi all,
After what I've heard more and more people are getting interested in how to share data. Most of the same people are not really in line with the thought of getting in to the Vault stuff yet (I'll get you there... ;-) )
Here's the short and simple way to handle your shared data through Data shortcuts.
If you have a project drawing like this one, with a road, some surfaces and a pipe network, you might want to reference some of it in to another drawing.
First - go to the menu "General" at the top.
Select "Data Shortcuts" and "Edit Data Shortcuts..." in the menu.
This will bring up the "Data Shortcuts Vista". At the top you'll find some buttons where you can import, export, create, validate etc all shortcuts in the actual drawing.
Below I have created a few Data Shortcuts to my Surfaces, an Alignment and a Pipe Network using the button "Create data shortcut by selection". Pick the object on screen.
This will get you a list/set of Data Shortcuts.
Then use the button "Export data shortcuts to file", or rightclick on data shortcut and select "Export to file..."
When saving the XML-file with information on the data shortcuts, make sure you give it a good name. A suggestion is using something containing a project number, a site name or something to understand.
Then open your new drawing where you want your data.
Open the Data Shortcuts Vista through the General menu.
Use the button "Import data shortcuts from file".
When you have the shortcuts in the Vista window - rightclick on the object you want to reference. Select "Create reference...". (or use the button "Create reference")
Now we have the referenced data in the drawing. Of course you can have what ever style you want on the data - it IS Civil 3D after all... ;-)
Best regards / Ove C
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Disclaimer: The opinions and material on this Blog are my own and do not necessarily represent Autodesk’s positions or opinions.
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Regression Analysis
Posted 06/05/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi again,
It was a long time ago - sorry ;-)
I've been doing a lot (in my garden...) but finally I have now went through the new feature "Regression Analysis", or at least a bit of it...
Below I'll try to explain how to use it when designing an Alignment.
It's a lot of pictures below, but as they say, a pitures tells more than...
If you for example have a bunch of measured points, like on a centerline, this is a good way to find the most correct approximation of where the line really is.
Here's a set of Points, ordinary ACAD Points.
The new command is found under the menu "Lines/Curves".
I'll start of by creating the line our of the Points.
Select "From AutoCAD points"
When selecting - don't say you have missed the Selection method "WP" for Window Polygon, or "CP" for Crossing Polygon.
They have been here for ages... an excellent way to select the Points. It also gives you an idea of which points that are "in a line" when you draw the Polygon.
When you have done that - hit Enter. Then you'll see a red line presenting the approximation of the Centerline. Also a bunch of black/white crosses presenting which Point that have been used.
In the Panorama window (make sure you have it open) you get all data and also a graph presenting how the line is drawn and how far from each selected Point it is.
Here in the Panorama window you also have the option to mark a specific point (3) where the Line actually have to pass through.
When you select a Point to pass through the grapichs in the drawing presents the new position.
From the Panorama window you can also export the data to an ASCII-file or to Clipboard.
You can also Add or Remove Points from the Analysis.
When you close the Panorama window Vista the Line is drawn as an AutoCAD Line.
Do the same for the rest of the Points.
...and also for the ARC Points...
This gives you an ARC
Open the command "Create Alignment by Layout".
Use the command "Convert AutoCAD Line and Arc" to create the first Subentities of the Alignment. Use "Reverse subentity direction", if necessary, on some of the Subentities.
Now they are almost in place
Finally - add an Curve - done!
I'm pretty sure you find it useful also when doing design in other kind of projects - not only roads. As you saw there are more ways to do this, not only from Points.
Try it out! Cheers! / Ove C
Here are the sample files;
one to start with and one complete
Start:
Download file
Done:
Download file
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Tunnel - post 3 (last)
Posted 03/14/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi all,
Tunneling time again... ;-)
Sorry it has been two weeks since last time. We've had a full calender including an interesting trip to Las Vegas for a week. Travelling that far from Sweden is a 20+ hour trip with two connections.
This will be the last (for now) post on the creation of a tunnel.
I might pick up on this issue later on when I find another way to do it or to point on some advancements etc.
Last post was about how to create the Assembly from a Polyline. Today I'll present what I have done to get it as a Corridor.
Below you can see that I have used only one Region and a 5m c/c (frequency)
For my Corridor and Assembly I have created a new Code set style called "Tunnel1"
Under Corridor properties I have set up the creation of Surfaces using the Links with their codes.
All Surfaces will be rendered with a Render Material Style. In my case limited to Concrete and Asphalt ("Betong" and "asfalt" in swedish, as you see in the picture)
I have attached the Render Material Style to a Material Name from the AutoCAD rendering function. In this case "Betong/concrete" is pointed to "Concrete,Cast-In-Place.Flat.Grey.1" See below.
That material is set up in the Material Editor.
When those Corridor Surfaces are set and are using materials the tunnel will be like this.
Hope this helps or gives ideas.
Have a great week!
Best regards / Ove Cervin
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Tunnel - post 2
Posted 02/21/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi again,
Still winter in Sweden - I DO need some warmth really soon... ,-)
Last week I started this Tunnel post serie. Today I'm continuing on how to create a Tunnel Subassembly from Polylines. Hang on!
Below is a "complete" Assembly. This is what we're gonna achieve in this post.
For those of you who look really deep into the screen you might see that the ToolTip in the picture tells " Link #1, with codes, rb- l1 (right_bottom_tunnel_outer) "
I have created this Assembly from a total of eight Subassemblys.
Each one of the Subassemblys are created from their own Polyline (mentioned in last weeks post)
They are all named in a consistent way - good or bad...
If I move the cursor over one of the Links in the Subassembly we get a ToolTip presenting the name of the Link and that it has codes.
To get that far you start with the Polyline, like below.
Make sure that each Polyline has an increasing X-value coordinate for each and every vertex. If neccesary, move a vertex one mm in either way.
Use "Create Subassembly from Polyline" in the menu.
Give the new Subassembly a name that you can recognize later on.
Choose CodeSetStyle and make sure you have "Link creation" set to "Multiple".
I also prefer to "Erase existing entities". Otherwise they frequently get selected by mistake...
After doing that you get this. The ToolTip says there is no codes on the Subassembly yet.
If the curser is moved over a Link or a Point we get the code information (or lack of it - uncoded)
Select the Subassembly part and right click. Choose "Add code".
Enter a code. Make sure you have thought about a really good naming convention before proceeding.
Select the Subassembly Link or Point.
After doing that you can check the ToolTip again over the actual Point/Link. In this case the code is "rb2" (right bottom, point nr 2)
Do the same with ALL Points and Links on that first Subassembly.
Then we must tell where the connection origin is on the Subassembly. That is the point wich gets hooked up to the Assembly.
Select the Subassembly - right click and choose "Modify Origin". Select Origin point.
If neccesary you can create a temporary ACAD Line or Point to be able to select a proper Origin point for the Subassembly.
Under the Corridor menu - create an Assembly. Place it where you want your connection point for Alignment/Profile.
When the Assembly line is in place, the Subassembly is created and has Links and Points with codes - select the Subassembly and right click. "Add to Assembly".
Later on I will post more info on how to proceed on this Tunnel creation.
Have a great week!
Best regards / Ove Cervin -
Tunnel pre-study
Posted 02/14/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi again,
Today I'm going to start a series of posts for the upcoming Wednesdays - How to make a study of a tunnel in C3D!
These pictures will get you an idea of what to expect during the coming posts!
The original design of this cross section is grabbed from the project "Citytunneln" in Malmö - Sweden. It's a large tunnel for trains going under the City of Malmö. (Project link)
As a start of this design I re-created the lines in the cross section that I wanted to use as links in the C3D Subassembly. The result of that is the magenta lines below.
After doing that I made sure all "vertical" links were adjusted slightly to not be straight up/down. They are moved some 1 or 2mm (part of an inch) to avoid problems with different Z-values in the same XY- coordinate.
Then I created a Subassembly using the "Create Subassembly from Polyline"-command. (Will present exactly how in next weeks post)
We need an Alignment of course...
We also need a Profile
In the end of this Tunnel-blog series we will have something like this (seen from the tunnel and out). All done in C3D without additional software.
Don't forget to check next weeks progress on this one! ;-)
Until next week - Drive safe!
Cheers! / Ove C