Civil 3D and Microdrainage

[craig_robertson]

I'm looking for some information on how well Civil 3D deals with taking information to and from Microdrainage, I've never used Microdrainage and I am only aware that there is a Civil 3D add-on to import export pipes. What I really need to understand is how well it interfaces with Microdrainage, I have a colleague who has been advised to purchase PDS as it incorporates Microdrainage well, if possible I would like to be consistent with the software we are using.

Thanks

Craig

[MikeEvansUK]

The windes import tool works really well back and forth from civil3d so long as they have the easting / northing data attached.

Obviously some things wil be displayed / sized differently (culverts etc) but this is a small edit in civil 3d.

You need to have the styles and sizes in the catalogue ready otherwise it will match to the next avaliable size up.

I'm not sure if it still does but after import you may need to re-superimpose any pipework onto profile views.

You can also export a designed system to windes, you need to ensure the pipe numbers are correct to the branch logic (1.000, 1.001 etc)

Issue's you may encounter are keeping the levels correct to a Civil3d design in Microdrainage. The workaround seems to be to create the network as an existing system.

On export no area or microdrainage modelling data is sent to the SWS file or imported from it. A updated sws file imported will need all areas and other windes items added manually again but as the original model has these it won't take long (Size dependant).

M

[ScotBIM]

I've just seen this post (whilst searching for somehting else), and could add that it is important that prior to your WinDes user exporting to SWS or FWS, that they "renumber" the network - else some odd things happen.

Also, diappointingly, when importing a revised WinDes file, SWS or FWS, if you have attached lables in Civil3D and then repositioned them by dragging etc, all the labels are set back to the default position.

Otherwise - it works very well !!!!!!