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Introduction to Civil 3D

04/02/2019 1 comment

Introduction

Upon arrival at my Ph3 Design Office my Line Manager had me complete a Civil 3D AUTOCAD course.  I am sure that many of the Civils are most likely using this or a similar software package in their design offices.  However, if any of you aren’t or are only just beginning to use it then I felt this would a useful opportunity to share my experiences with you.  Additionally the course deliver has permitted me to share my electronic course notes, which are a useful handrail for using Civil 3D’s specialist features.

Recommendations

 The Professional Engineer Wing are invited to note the following recommendations:

  • PEW should become an AUTOCAD approved course deliverer. This would formalize the CAD lectures on the course and enable students to achieve recognized AUTOCAD qualifications, which would aid them during Ph2 and Ph3.
  • Civil 3D should be taught, to the Civils, as part of the PET course. As AUTOCAD is already taught as part of the course, it would be useful for students to know and understand how to use the specialist plugins available to civil engineers.

Civil 3D Specialist Features

 The following is a brief summary of the specialist features that are incorporated as part of the Civil 3D software program:

  • Digital Terrain Modelling. Civil 3D allows you to directly input survey data and from that data build a topographical surface.  It will also reference the nomenclature of those points to input terrain features like trees, manholes etc. automatically.
  • Road Design. Civil 3D has specialist features for designing alignments, profiles and corridors.  Additionally it has many roadway features such as junctions, roundabouts etc. preloaded.  It references data from legislative safety standards and will adjust the design to ensure they’re met.
  • Grading and Earthwork Volume. Civil 3D enables you to grade with ease, this can be used for road design or simple surface manipulation for drainage etc.  Additionally, it is able to use the data from grading to determine earthwork volumes.
  • Gravity & Pressure Pipe Networks. Civil 3D is preloaded with the vast majority of conceivable pipe network fixtures and fittings.  This makes designing and understanding the flow in pipe networks as simple as drawing polylines.

For more detailed information on how to use the various specialist features in Civil 3D, please refer to the course notes below.

Summary

So far in Ph3 I have been responsible for designing surfaces using Civil 3D to ensure that storm water on a new development will drain in accordance with the Maryland Department of Environment’s state legislation.  Additionally, I will soon assume the design responsibility for foul water drainage system as part of a new military facility.

I have found the specialist tools in Civil 3D to be highly effective and huge time saver, in creating the designs for the aforementioned projects.  I wholeheartedly recommend the software to my peers and hopefully you will all find it as useful as I have.

Course Notes

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