I have only begun to use the sewer layout tools in PC. I have yet to work
with the drainage tools though I have seen comments that they are easy to
use. Power Civil's sewer tools can automatically create sewer services to
lots based on location cirtieria and will provide feedback when the services
do not meet certain criteria that you specify such as minimum cover or
slope. It also can size the pipe network based on basic loading criteria.
The services are dynamically shown in the profiles along with any crossings
by other pipes. Intereference checks can be run and the problems can be
marked. Pipe runs can be shown in their own profiles or applied to an
alignment profile. Independent pipe profiles are dynamic so if you move or
add nodes the alignment and profiles update. In C3D you have to create an
independent alignment for the pipe runs and they are not linked to the pipes
so you have to keep then synchronized manually. Power Civil also calculates
trench volumes that are based on trench parameters applied to each pipe
size. Thus you aways have trench vlumes available at any time. In C3D you
have to create an assembly to calculate trench volumes. I haven't been
through the process yet so I'm not sure whether C3D can use the pipe invert
as a FG profile for the trench assembly nor do I know if it could vary
according to pipe size. If it is to be done like a corridor then it would
require allot of work to model the trenches accurately.
Where Power Civil falls short in the sewer tools is that you can only have
one type of structure symbol for your profiles.The software can use any
symbol for plan view but profile structure is hard coded into the
preferences for the project and only allows for 3 types of structure
(manhole) symbols: triangle, rectangle and cone. You can change the
dimensions and line symblogy but not the type. The plan and profile
annotation can reflect whether the node is a lift station, cleanout or
whatever you define, but the profile symbols will all look the same. The
symbols could be insertged as graphics and manually edited if necessay but
they would not be dynamic.
As for posting a DGN, I would rather not, but you may fnd one included in
the examples for C3D. When you reference a DGN it does not funtion like an
XREF. It is called an overlay. You can fade it, load and unload and snap to
it but there are no layeers available in layer manager so you can't control
the layer settings. That is to the best of my knowlege at this point as I
have only tried it once.
I'm not familiar with Parkcad. I assume you are referring to parcel layout
when you say site layout. Otherwise what C3D tools are you referring to?
Power Civil has automated parcel/subdivision layout tools although I have
not worked with them yet. I do know it has a comprehensive COGO system that
has way more stuff than I would ever use. Part of it seems to come frorm
Bentely's road design software because I see tools for staking out bridges,
all kinds of complicated curve combinations and such that you would find in
road construction. As you know Bentley owns highway design so you can
appreciate they would have an extensive tool set.
So far from whay I have seen C3D is much nicer for creating profile
graphics. Power civil has dynamic profile editing, meaning you can drag
VPI's graphically use parameter for tangents and vertical curves but they
must then be applied to the road network and it must be re-processed to
update the road models and grading. It goes pretty fast though and as I
mentioned, it automatically updates the curb returns and cul de sacs when
necessary. I have not yet learned how to create a finished fully annotated
profile in Power Civil. It is allot more complicated than Civil 3D. You can
manaully apply custom labels that will update when the design changes, but
you have to manually re-synch them as they are not dynamic.C3D excels in
it's many dynamic relationships but it also adds to processing overhead
which slows it down. One thing that really frustrates me about Civil 3D is
having to wait for everything to update when you make little changes. This
is especially true when working with projection grading. Powerr Civil on the
other hand responds almost instantly to any grading changes even when
working with large data sets.
Well I have spent allot of time rambling. I'll need to get some things done.
Feel free to write to my email if you wish.
nwilsonATsec-landmgtDOTcom
007> wrote in message news:5818276@discussion.autodesk.com...
Hey, could you post a dwg that you have done in PC? I am curious how it
opens with c3d.
I still think PC is a good conceptual site design tool with drainage pipes
and grading.
As for site layout, like Parkcad, C3D is the way to go. tweak the rest of
the design.
For me, the hardest part of C3D is grading, b/c it crashes alot. and getting
the obejcts to interact with eachother. Drainage and pipes are good, but you
do not know if they are right, until you do drainage on it with pipe calcs,
like PC already does. but profiles and pipes in C3D have better potential
than PC.
What do you think about that?
![Autodesk Design & Make Report](https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/1350519iCB55845EBFC43016/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999" "Autodesk Design & Make Report")