AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Essentials: Autodesk Official Press

418 Pages·2015·21.93 MB·English

by  Eric Chappell

AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2016
EssEntials
Eric Chappell
Acquisitions Editor: Stephanie McComb
Development Editor: Kathi Duggan
Technical Editor: Josh Modglin
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Copyright © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
ISBN: 978-1-119-05959-2
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ISBN: 978-1-119-05975-2 (ebk.)
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To Logan

Acknowledgments
What an amazing year it has been! I get to continue writing this series and
updating it for yet another great release of Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® soft-
ware. And after a wonderful 16 months on the Premium Support Services team
at Autodesk, I have changed roles and I’m now serving as Community Evangelist
for InfraWorks® 360. This new role gives me the opportunity to focus on reach-
ing the Autodesk infrastructure software (including InfraWorks, Civil 3D, and
others) community and try to be a positive force to inform and enable this great
group of people.
In addition, I will be updating the entire InfraWorks 360 series of books to
address all the exciting changes there. These are certainly exciting times to be
involved in the civil/infrastructure design industry and to be using Autodesk
products. I’m blessed to be in such a wonderful position to observe and participate
in the transformation that is taking place. For years, we have been talking about
3D and BIM in the civil/infrastructure industry and now we’re finally putting our
money where our mouths are. There will be big changes over the next few years, so
invest in yourself through training and learning, and hold on and enjoy the ride!
I’ve said it before on past books and I’ll say it again on this one: This book was a
team effort. Kudos to Stephanie McComb for getting the book off the ground and
for keeping it moving along throughout the process. Thanks to the wonderful
editors, Christine O’Connor and Kathryn Duggan, for correcting all my mistakes
(there were many) and making the book hold up to the high standard of quality
that is characteristic of Wiley/Sybex. It was an honor to once again work with
my good friend Joshua Modglin and to know that, as technical editor, he had my
back on the technical aspects of the book.
And as always, thanks to my wife, Dixie, and my four children for enduring yet
another “book season” and all of the not-so-fun stuff that comes with it. I love
you all, and I do it all for you.
About the Author
Eric Chappell has been working, teaching, writing, and consulting in the
world of civil engineering software for more than 20 years, and he is a rec-
ognized expert in the world of Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software. Eric
joined the Autodesk family in September 2013 as a Premium Services Specialist
and has recently taken on the role of Community Evangelist for InfraWorks®
360. In the 12 years prior to working for Autodesk, he wrote training materi-
als and performed training for end users, trainers, and Autodesk employees
around the globe. For several years, he has worked with Autodesk in author-
ing and developing two Autodesk certification exams. He also served as design
systems manager for Timmons Group, a civil engineering and surveying firm
based in Richmond, Virginia, where he managed software, standards, and train-
ing for more than 200 users. Eric is also a highly rated instructor at Autodesk
University, where he has taught for the past 10 years.
Prior to writing and consulting, Eric spent nearly 10 years in the civil engi-
neering and surveying fields while working for the H.F. Lenz Company in
Johnstown, Pennsylvania. During his time at H.F. Lenz, he gained considerable
practical experience as a survey crewman, designer, engineer, and CAD super-
visor. Eric also holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering Technology from the
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and is certified in Pennsylvania as an EIT.
Eric is originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, but he has lived in the
Richmond, Virginia, area for the past 13 years with his wife and four children.
He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. He can sometimes
be seen playing drums for the band Sons of Zebedee, which performs at a variety
of events in the Central Virginia area.
Eric is also the author of a series of Wiley/Sybex titles for Autodesk InfraWorks 360
and InfraWorks 360 LT. Be sure to check out Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Essentials
along with Autodesk Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360 Essentials, Autodesk
Bridge Design for InfraWorks 360 Essentials, and Autodesk Drainage Design for
Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Essentials. Other titles may also be available throughout
the year based on the release of more InfraWorks 360 modules.
If you would like to contact the author with comments or suggestions, please
email [email protected]. You’re also welcome to visit Eric’s blog at
http://ericchappell.blogspot.com.
Contents at a Glance
Introduction xii
ChApter 1 Navigating the User Interface 1
ChApter 2 Leveraging a Dynamic Environment 17
ChApter 3 Establishing Existing Conditions Using Survey Data 37
ChApter 4 Modeling the Existing Terrain Using Surfaces 65
ChApter 5 Designing in 2-D Using Alignments 91
ChApter 6 Displaying and Annotating Alignments 113
ChApter 7 Designing Vertically Using Profiles 131
ChApter 8 Displaying and Annotating Profiles 149
ChApter 9 Designing in 3D Using Corridors 169
ChApter 10 Creating Cross Sections of the Design 191
ChApter 11 Displaying and Annotating Sections 207
ChApter 12 Designing and Analyzing Boundaries Using Parcels 229
ChApter 13 Displaying and Annotating Parcels 253
ChApter 14 Designing Gravity Pipe Networks 273
ChApter 15 Designing Pressure Pipe Networks 297
ChApter 16 Displaying and Annotating Pipe Networks 317
ChApter 17 Designing New Terrain 339
ChApter 18 Analyzing, Displaying, and Annotating Surfaces 361
Appendix AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Certification 385
Index 389
Contents
Contents
Introduction xii
Chapter 1 Navigating the user interface 1
Getting to Know the Civil 3D User Interface................................ 2
Working with the Application Menu ...................................... 3
Working with the Ribbon............................................... 5
Working with the Toolspace............................................. 8
Using the Drawing Area ............................................... 11
Using the Command Line.............................................. 12
Using Panorama ..................................................... 12
Using the Transparent Commands Toolbar................................ 13
Using the Inquiry Tool ................................................ 14
Chapter 2 leveraging a Dynamic Environment 17
Connecting Objects and Styles.......................................... 18
Connecting Labels and Label Styles ..................................... 23
Connecting Objects to Objects.......................................... 27
Connecting Objects to Labels........................................... 29
Appreciating the Richness of the 3-D Model............................... 31
Sharing Data in a Dynamic Environment................................. 33
Chapter 3 Establishing Existing Conditions using Survey Data 37
What Is Survey Data? ................................................. 38
Creating a Survey Database ............................................ 39
Importing Survey Data................................................ 41
Automating Field-to-Finish ............................................ 45
Editing Survey Points................................................. 57
Editing Survey Figures................................................ 59
Creating Additional Points............................................. 61