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Creating a surface in Civil 3D

13 REPLIES 13
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Message 1 of 14
mcgi5tb2
13414 Views, 13 Replies

Creating a surface in Civil 3D

Hi,

 

I am looking for a step by step guide on how to create a surface in Civil 3D. I have no prior knowledge of using civil 3D therefore I am unlikely to know of any ancormyms or file extentions.

 

I have previously used MX to carry out all my 3D modelling (road design). However, I'm looking to make the switch to Civil 3D. When using MX I never actually created a surface, I was just given one. Therefore I have no knowledge of creating 3D surfaces in either MX or Civil 3D.

 

The only information I have is in 3D CAD format. I have 3D survey data that includes point data, 3D polylines and contours etc.. How can I convert this CAD data into a Civil 3D surface?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Tom

13 REPLIES 13
Message 2 of 14
AllenJessup
in reply to: mcgi5tb2

If you have no experience you should start with the tutorials provided with the program. Start with the points tutorial so you know what kind of points your working with. Then try the surface one. You will probably also need to learn about featurelines.

 

tut.PNG

 

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 3 of 14
mcgi5tb2
in reply to: AllenJessup

Thanks for that but I have run through all the tutorials. However, in relation to creating a surface, the tutorial simply inputs existing .txt files or .las files etc. Problem is I have no idea how to create these files from my 3D CAD data which was obtained through a LIDAR survey?

 

Is there no way to simply triangulate the levels of points/polylines etc from my CAD model to create a surface?

 

Thanks

Message 4 of 14
AllenJessup
in reply to: mcgi5tb2


@mcgi5tb2 wrote:

Is there no way to simply triangulate the levels of points/polylines etc from my CAD model to create a surface? 


 

I don't know if anything in Civil 3D could be called simple. But. Yes. There are many ways.

 

If you points are Civil Points you can add them to a point group. Then after you create a blank surface you can add that point group by right clicking on Point Groups under Definition in the Surface on the Prospector tab. Then add the 3D polylines as breaklines in the same manor .

 

qq.PNG

 

Allen

 



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 5 of 14
Anonymous
in reply to: mcgi5tb2

You could also try an internet search on this subject and try to find a video to help you on this matter.  If you have the point file and breaklines, then I would just add them in the defintion portion of the surface creation but you need to know how to get there to do it.  Depending on the format of the points, you will need to import them first and create a point group.  Several ways to do things and hard to explain some times.  I would look into training or a book to assist you, I know this doesn't help your present situation if you are on a time crunch.

Message 6 of 14
sboon
in reply to: mcgi5tb2

Welcome to the world of C3D Tom.

 

If your existing CAD drawing includes 3D polylines then they can be used to create breaklines.  Expand the Definition area of your new surface, and right-click on Breaklines to add data.  If you have contours then you can also add that data using almost the same process.

 

You also mentioned having points but I'm not sure if you meant C3D point objects or ACad points.  Someone else has described how to add C3D points using a point group.  If you just have ACad points then you can right-click on the Drawing Objects section in the surface definition to add those.

Steve
Expert Elite Alumnus
Message 7 of 14
Neilw_05
in reply to: sboon

Note in the surface definition there is a tool to add Drawing Objects. Drawing objects can be 3D triangles, ACAD points, blocks, polylines and more.

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 14
ajdolby
in reply to: mcgi5tb2

I would also like some tips on how to create a surface out of polylines.

I know how to do this on pre-ribbon versions of autocad but I cannot begin to figure it out on v. 2014.

Would be helpful if someone could provide me with Command line prompts to do it. I try to only use command line promts since they are so simple to remember, elegent and logical unlike glowing buttons that move and change every year so that you can never become proficient at the software ever under any circumstances- who thinks the ribbon is a good idea? that is one of the mysteries of the ages. I mean Word and Excel are almost 100% unusable now and AutoCAD is quickly getting there. Thank GOD for the Command line!!!!!!!!!

Message 9 of 14
sboon
in reply to: ajdolby

It would not be possible to build a surface using only the command line.  Just to make you even less happy - some of the newer functions of Civil3d are ONLY available from the Ribbon, so you might as well get used to it.

 

You say that you have polylines, is there any other data to build from?

 

Steve
Please use the Accept as Solution or Kudo buttons when appropriate

Steve
Expert Elite Alumnus
Message 10 of 14
ajdolby
in reply to: sboon

Sboon,

I work on civil and architectural projects. I often get drawings from surveyors that have been created using wildly different techniques. In order to not make my drawing crash when I bring this data in, I have learned to always explode everything that comes from a surveyor then purge the hell out of the drawing.

When I do this, I bring in the polylines and then convert them to my topo layer. Now, back in 2006 I used to do this a lot. I have not had occasion to do it since the construction boom though. So I have lost the skill.

Basically, I want to be able to be able to either, 1) take polylines with elevation data from another drawing and convert them to contour lines in my drawing and lablel them or 2) scan in a JPG of a survey where there is no digital file available and then trace over those lines with polylines, assign them elevation data and convert them to contours so I can automatically label them and create a TIN if i needed to.

Thanks.

Message 11 of 14
antoniovinci
in reply to: sboon


sboon wrote:

It would not be possible to build a surface using only the command line


I have no Civil, sir, but I can't believe you're not able to build a surface only by manual commands.
I guess every ribbon C3D icon "contains" a true command, typable by hand.

Message 12 of 14
AllenJessup
in reply to: antoniovinci

Any command that would work can be viewed and modified in the Toolpallete.

 

cs.PNG

 

The problem comes with the fact that these commands often open complex dialog boxes that can't be accessed from the command line. You can tab through the options and not use a pointing device. But I don't consider that as running the whole thing from the command line.

 

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 13 of 14
sboon
in reply to: antoniovinci


@antoniovinci wrote:

I have no Civil, sir, but I can't believe you're not able to build a surface only by manual commands.
I guess every ribbon C3D icon "contains" a true command, typable by hand.


True - but you cannot add data to build a surface using only the ribbon.  Allen has the better answer - it might be possible but it's really not worth the effort.

 

For the OP - it sounds like your previous experience was with Land Desktop, or possibly a very early version of Civil 3d.  The software has changed quite a bit since then.  You might want to reconsider some of your old workflows.

 

Steve
Please use the Accept as Solution or Kudo buttons when appropriate

Steve
Expert Elite Alumnus
Message 14 of 14
troma
in reply to: ajdolby

If all you need to do is label the elevations, you should use line labels, which can be formatted to look like contour labels.

Mark Green

Working on Civil 3D in Canada

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