Tag Archives: Autocad

Cad News

Civil 3D 2017 new features… Finally some core functionality improvements

It’s been almost four years since Autodesk bothered to do anything with Civil 3D. However I am very pleased to see a host of new core functionality improvements that will make everyone’s life easier back in the 2017 version. Even if most of the features are somewhat half-baked.

So what’s changed in Civil 3D 2017 and how can you use it? Fortunately for you, I have made a series of videos for you to see how you can use the new features. I will also highlight some of the limitations in them so you don’t spend hours beating your head against the wall wondering why they don’t work as you expected!

In a nutshell, here are the new improvements

  • Civil 3D Object version has changed,
  • New Corridor Feature Line Extraction workflow
  • A host of Data Shortcut Improvements (Create Folders, Surface Caching, Import Multiple DREFS)
  • Data shortcut corridors (Probably my favourite new feature)
  • Use a feature line as corridor centreline (Very useful!)
  • Corridor Curve Cleanup (Automatically remove bowties… not as good as you think it is and only really good for basic situations, but still a step in the right direction)
  • Corridor Solid Extraction Improvements (Now Dynamic, with property sets for meta data)
  • Civil 3D “property sets” to improve downstream data workflows (attach subassembly data to solids etc.).
  • Feature Line Enhancements (‘No Site’ options, crossing centreline join (median problem fixed),
  • Style Management with Reference Styles (Create a style then “link it” to other drawings, incredibly useful)

Haven’t made all the videos yet. Here are some first passes below.

New Corridor Feature Line Extraction Workflow

Data Shortcut Improvements (Including Corridor Data Shortcuts)

Featurelines as Centerlines for Corridor / Corridor Curve Cleanup

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Bugs, General, Profile Views, Section Views

Autocad Loses Focus when selecting civil 3d objects

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UPDATE: Autodesk is aware of this issue and can reproduce the problem CaseNo:10466148, This only happens when you ahve your properties palette open.

This is a difficult one to explain. So I have made a screencast to show you here

But basically when selecting something that is a civil 3d object with a “Left-Right” or “right-left” selection and you drag your mouse outside the autocad window (say the start menu). Autocad no longer is the current program. Requiring the user to select the autocad icon on start menu. Or click on the top bar to regain focus..

Very frustrating as my commands often have to be done twice as a result. OR more often then not a complicated selection during a command that may have taken a little while is lost.

Additionally once this has occurred once. A left-right selection on the object without even dragging outside will continue to allow the program to lose focus!

See example file and explanation below so you can recreate problem for yourselves.

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Drawing Management

Google/Bing etc. Imagery into CAD using Quantum GIS (QGIS)

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This is the free option for those of you looking to get some public imagery into cad. Although I imagine if you are using Civil 3D 2015 with the new bing maps functionality. This method is a little defunct. If your using Vanilla Autocad you will need to download the GEOREFIMG lisp from CAD Studio to import

Feeling Lazy… Watch the video


QGIS or Quantum GIS has much more functionality than just saving Aerial Imagery. It’s a very comprehensive and powerful free GIS tool that should be in every designers arsenal.

Firstly install the latest version from https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html

1. Next open up QGIS from the desktop shortcut (im using 2.8.3 Wien when writing this)

2. Go to Plugins – > Manage and Install Plugins

3. Search for the OpenLayers Plugin and Install

4. Next we need some data to quickly get your location correct. Export either a 2007 DXF or MAPEXPORT a SHP file that contains some line work of your area that’s in a known coordinate system.

5. You can either drag drop it into QGIS or just press the “Import Vector Data button”

6. QGIS should prompt you for a coordinate system for your data. If it doesnt, right Click on the layer in the layers window on the left and select “Set Layer CRS”

7. Im in Australia so I select MGA zone 56. QGIS’s coordinate system library is incredibly comprehensive so you shouldn’t have any problems finding yours here.

8. Now the imagery, go to Web -> OpenLayers plugin -> pick a imagery source. Google/Bing/Yahoo/OSM/Apple street and aerial/hybrid sources are available

9. You should now have imagery in. You might need to change the draw order to check that your line work matches up, drag drop them so that your line work is on top.
image009
Imagery in
imagery2

10. Now just get your viewport to the imagery extents you want, then turn off the linework. The image will save whatever you are looking at, in whatever coordinate system you have specified for the project.

The resolution will be what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) so if you want a better resolution you will need to save multiple images at a closer view. See my post here on how to do that, or watch the video above.
imagery1

11. Now save your image. Go to Project -> “Save As Image” and call it “Google-PSY” the PSY indicates it is in the WGS84 Pseudo Mercator Coordinate system.

12. We now need to read the saved image back in and convert it to the correct coordinate system been – MGA zone 55. Using the Warp (Reproject) from the Raster-> Projections menu.
imagery3

13. Specify the “Google-PSY.png” we saved, choose the output file, Make sure you specify the source coordinate system (WGS84 – Psuedo Mercator) and the target coord system (mine is MGA zone 55)
imagery4

14. Export it as a “Geotiff” and call it Google-MGA55 or whatever your coordinate system is. The Geotiff format will contain all the georeferencing information inside the file.
imagery5

15. Now just use MAPIINSERT command (GEOREFIMG lisp for vanilla cad users) to import into CAD. Pow! Imagery. This also works well for stitching bits of imagery together.

Any questions just ask below.

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Drawing Management

Using Sheet Views Creatively – Managing Material Lists in Autocad

If you not using any dynamic referencing for your materials. or having problems managing repeating items in your drawings. Read on

See the screen shot below of my sheet views list from one of the jobs I am working on.

Whenever you have a bunch of materials been called out. Unit 1,2 etc… I have been using sheetviews to link them back to my drawings. Saves a whole bunch of time when it comes to fixing it all up later!

All I do is create an empty layout view under the category “materials”.

I also posted a screen shot to show you how much of the drawing can be controlled from this magical little list.

All you need is a Sheet Set… and comment below if you want to know more

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Modelling

Alternative Stage Storage Technique – Civil 3D Tables

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UPDATE 2: My new tool completely obsoletes this process.. Stage storage basin tool is available in my free tools package here. But read on if you want to be a dinosaur..
https://ceethreedee.com/ceethreedee-tools

UPDATE: Feeling Lazy. Watch the Video.

This deals with basic “basin” stage storage calculations. For more complex stockpiles etc. Read this post here

Download lisp file from this link download COT

UPDATE: instead of using COT.lsp. Try the free “Table Exporter” App from the autodesk exchange from here. Only works in 2015 unfortunately 🙁

It will dump what ever table you select straight to excel though..
exporttable1exporttable3

I see a lot of people still using this outdated tool in Civil 3D for calculating stage storage! For those who calculate stage storages read below!

Please stop using it! Although it is possible to get a relatively accurate result from it. There are a number of problems that I will merely bullet point below.

  • Can only have one contour at each level to get stage storage curve. (although you can sum them together in excel)
  • If contours are not closed this can create errors in the calculation.
  • Multiple islands and “flat areas” (i.e benching) can be easily miscalculated. Who has benching in their designs! :p
  • Higher Intervals reduces accuracy!
  • Not to mention it is cumbersome!

Civil 3D has always had the ability to do accurate stage storages, I will demonstrate below. (*with the assistance of a lisp!)

Download lisp file from this link download COT

1. Create a Volume Surface comparing Water Level or Final Tailings level etc. and your completed design. (Yes you can calculate tailings stages as well!)

2. Drop down elevations in the analysis tab at the intervals you wish to calculate your volumes at. (use Range Interval with Datum)

3. Create a surface legend table that includes “Surface Range volume” and Surface Range 2d area)
SurfaceAreaVolume

4. Copy table to left or right and explode twice, then use the attached lisp routine to convert to an autocad table.

5. Export Table to CSV as shown above and then open in excel. You will need to sum the areas and volumes from the bottom up to get the correct results.

Finished Result, sum up the volumes from the lowest elevation, (so the bottom up). or reverse the order and sum them from the top down..

Elevation (m) Plan Area (m²) Cum. Area (m²) Volume (m³) Cum. Volume (m³)
102 5,872 143,202 280,514 1,432,735
100 5,751 137,330 268,936 1,152,221
98 5,969 131,578 257,244 883,285
96 13,903 125,609 240,933 626,041
94 26,862 111,706 200,242 385,108
92 42,463 84,845 126,689 184,866
90 31,232 42,382 51,424 58,177
88 11,149 11,150 6,752 6,753
86 1 1 1 1

You will notice that unlike the old stage storage tool that can vary in accuracy especially with larger intervals. This method is exactly right down to the triangle.

Comment below if you want to know more

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Legal

Should I be using Google Imagery In My Drawings?

It seems to be bubbling up as a hot topic lately. A lot of companies are tightening up and saying no to using Google Earth imagery in drawings and reports.

It is quite a inconvenience for us as drafters, to not have access to this useful capability. Especially with fantastic tools like PlexEarth out there. If you havent seen it check it out here, they offer a free trial.
I believe companies may be disadvantaging themselves for no reason. Google has a online guide to provide users and companies with some basic information on when and how to use content they make available. Its briefly discussed below.
The guide
The simple to follow “content restriction” guide allows users to determine if you can use imagery for any particular purpose. If you can use imagery for the selected purpose, it imposes several small requirements that must be met when doing so, such as attributing sources and restrictions on tiling etc.
The guide can be found here.
Interpretation of the Guide
My menu selections from the guide were…
“Google Earth… Print Distribution … Professional Use”
The first statement made under the section “Using Content for Professional Documents” is…
“You may use Google Maps and Google Earth for reports, presentations, proposals, and related items professional documents. We request you still retain attribution and follow the other guidelines.”
Clearly indicating that it is possible to use Google Imagery in our reports and presentations. However the real issue here is whether we are allowed to use imagery as a background for linework and contours etc.
 
Restriction on using imagery as an underlay
I’m assuming the restriction is based on the section entitled “Ensuring Print Reflects Online”. The section states…
”When using Maps/Earth Content in print, any images used must reflect how they would look on online. For example, you are not allowed to make any changes (e.g. delete, blur, etc.) to our products that would make them look genuinely different. This includes, but is not limited to, adding clouds or other natural elements, altered user-interfaces, and modification that do not appear in the actual product.
However, Google offers a Styled Maps API which allows you to edit the colors of individual map components as well as toggle visibility for each component (i.e. change water to purple and make roads invisible).”
I believe what is trying to be stated here is that the imagery, as an object, should not be modified to appear as if it is genuine. In other words, we should not be fudging the image to look like it has no trees or place fake cloud cover over a tributary.
“not allowed to make changes… that are genuinely different”.
Adding linework and contours on top of Google imagery is not modifying the imagery object. Linework is not only separate from the imagery electronically as an object, but clearly on plan it is not part of the imagery. In no way does it intend to distort the imagery or make it appear as if the imagery genuinely contained the linework.
Google allows a user to import all sorts of linework and shapes as KMZ to be placed on to their imagery. Why would it suddenly be restricted going the other way?
 
Restriction on tiling imagery using PlexScape
Those users of PlexScape out there that are “tiling” or “stitching” images together to make high resolution photos may find themselves in trouble. The guide has a very specific clause against it.
A solution
I believe we can continue to use Google imagery legally. Although we do need to make a few changes to ensure we comply with their content use guide.
I would like to discuss this further so we can potentially remove the restriction on Google imagery use. Please leave your comments.

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