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Distributing Infrastructure and Civil 3D Models in 3D PDF format

16 REPLIES 16
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Message 1 of 17
Neilw_05
1025 Views, 16 Replies

Distributing Infrastructure and Civil 3D Models in 3D PDF format

Infrastructure Modeler is a handy tool for creating nice 3D models for presentation. But how can we distribute these models for stake holders to review? Sure we can create nice video presentations but we want them to be able to nagivate the model freely. Is there any way to get the models into 3D PDF format?

 

The same issue arises with Civil 3D. Apparently it does not support output to 3D PDF. Do we have to purchase a driver for this?

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
16 REPLIES 16
Message 2 of 17
DarrenP
in reply to: Neilw_05

for infrastructure modeler 2013 there is this: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=20605241&siteID=123112&linkID=17838076

also there is a ipad app

you will need to download & install utodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 R2 from the subscription website

to export your models to the web

DarrenP
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Message 3 of 17
Alfred.NESWADBA
in reply to: Neilw_05

Hi,

 

... or you can use the export to FBX or the "Send to" to 3DS-Max where you can use an area of the whole modell.

Not tried it (even currently I have no R2), but sounds like useable for you?

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at ... blog.hollaus.at ... CDay 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 4 of 17
gccdaemon
in reply to: Alfred.NESWADBA

Or you could import it into Google Earth. You should be able to send those files to clients.

Andrew Ingram
Civil 3D x64 2019
Win 10 x64 Pro
Intel Xeon E5-1620
32 GB Ram
Message 5 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: gccdaemon

What is the workflow to show the models in Google Earth?

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 6 of 17
gccdaemon
in reply to: Neilw_05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80dGXKmr6Do

Andrew Ingram
Civil 3D x64 2019
Win 10 x64 Pro
Intel Xeon E5-1620
32 GB Ram
Message 7 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: gccdaemon

How do you show an Infrastructure model in GE?

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 8 of 17
gccdaemon
in reply to: gccdaemon

There is another way to do this from Civil3d 2010, but i'll have to re-reserch it. It has something to do with rendering the drawing. I'll repost when i find that info.

Andrew Ingram
Civil 3D x64 2019
Win 10 x64 Pro
Intel Xeon E5-1620
32 GB Ram
Message 9 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: gccdaemon

I don't want to resort to 3DS max for this. It just adds another layer to the whole process. All I need is a way export my already created models.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 10 of 17
Alfred.NESWADBA
in reply to: Neilw_05

Hi,

 

>> I don't want to resort to 3DS max for this

To export it to 3DS-Max is only one option, to use the FBX-format gives you a lot of options as you can import FBX in a lot of different applications (e.g. to AutoCAD and create there a DWF then).

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at ... blog.hollaus.at ... CDay 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 11 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: Alfred.NESWADBA

So let me get this workflow straight. I import my C3D stuff into IM, create my model, then export to FBX, then import into some other app. then hopefully from there I can export to PDF.

 

Frankly this is rediculous.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 12 of 17
Alfred.NESWADBA
in reply to: Neilw_05

Hi,

 

>> Frankly this is rediculous.

Yep, as long as Infrastructure Modeler does not hold real 3D-data (it just displaying some data like 3D but it's more a GIS-product than a 3D-geometry editor) the export is not trivial.

 

Even DWF (as Autodesk internal prefered 3D-viewing format) is not supported by AIM (afaik) and that makes me thinking that FBX is at least one way to get geometry converted to other 3D-vector based products, working with 3D-CAD or 3D-visualisation-objects.

 

You are right that this is not the easiest workflow, but at least it is one 😉

 

Sorry not to have more, - alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at ... blog.hollaus.at ... CDay 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 13 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: Alfred.NESWADBA

I'm thinking it would be better to just use C3D for generating the visualizations. We don't need the sophistication of 3DS and it doesn't make sense to have to learn 2 more applications (IM and 3DS) to get our models out.

 

That still leaves us with the problem of how to get those models out to clients. 360 looks like a good solution but it requires setting up accounts and managing another portal. We already have a portal for our projects so it would be best if we could make our models available there.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 14 of 17
Alfred.NESWADBA
in reply to: Neilw_05

Hi,

 

>> I'm thinking it would be better to just use C3D for generating the visualizations

>> We don't need the sophistication of 3DS

To export as FBX from AIM does not mean you have then to use 3DS, you can also import the FBX file into Civil3D.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at ... blog.hollaus.at ... CDay 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 15 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: Alfred.NESWADBA

So what is the advantage of IM? Can we not do all of those things in C3D?

 

And again, how do we get those models out of C3D?

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 16 of 17
Alfred.NESWADBA
in reply to: Neilw_05

Hi,

 

>> So what is the advantage of IM?

I see AIM as GIS-engine for displaying infrastructure with easy tools with a real mass of objects.

I see AIM as tool to draft (not design, just fast draft), create easy buildings, some small water basins, simplified streets (without any thinking about exact elevation/slopes/materials of subassembly-parts/.... draft multiple revisions and present them before you start your more detailed planing. So I would use this product before I start to setup my Civil3D-environment for a project.

That's my understanding of what is AIM for. But I'm sure there are a lot more ideas for how it's useable from others too.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at ... blog.hollaus.at ... CDay 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 17 of 17
Neilw_05
in reply to: Alfred.NESWADBA

Valid points. I suppose if we were doing large scale planning it would be useful in that regard. For the type of projects we do I don't see that as an advantage since our designs are highly dependent on the grading, so we have to evaluate the grading more precisely before presenting a scenario.

 

I'm now glad I didn't invest too much time into learning the product as I don't think it is a good solution for us..

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com

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