Hello,
I currently work for a construction company, we mostly focus on roadway rehabilitaion. We recieve DOT paper plans containing the construction plans and cross sections. I have been till now using the cross sections to build the roadway in Agtek, which is the software we use, then from there I can do my takeoff for excavation, utlites and areas. We have the 2012 BIM software and i'm very intersted in using that to rebuild the plans so I can preform the takeoff just as the DOT does as well as to model the utilities. Also i'm intersted in creating the model to show the estimators and the higher ups, so we can create a phasing plans, traffic plans or how we would want to handle the roadway rehab in general. I'm a novice in terms of Civil 3D, so this would be something i'd be practicing at home first. My question is does anyone else do this, taking premade plans and recreating them? Is it worth and helpful? How do I even begin to do it. If so which other programs would you suggest other than Civil 3d?
-Dan
Sounds like a job for InfraWorks. Have you seen what it can do? You can do conceptual design and rough cost estimates with a "realistic" environment.
You may be intrested in the xsectosrf plugin.
http://autodesk.typepad.com/transportation/2012/10/x-section-to-surface.html
John Mayo
Looing at the video for that add-on, it is essentially what I do with the Agtek program we use, just a little more involved and seems like in Civil it produces a nicer model. Do you use this add-on at all or often?
Trodgers,
I'll check out infraworks, it seems like what I'm looking for as far as presentation goes. But as we are a contractor who doesn't design the roadway more of just taking what the DOT has designed and estimating the coast to do that job, ill have to see how I can use it.
neilyj (No connection with Autodesk other than using the products in the real world)
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There is another product called Autodesk Quantity Takeoff which might be worth looking at. I believe that it is intended for what you're trying to do. I recall seeing a session on it at AU, either last year or in 2011.
Steve
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I don't think so; it seems to be a separate product. I just discovered that it has its own forum. I've been scanning it to see if anyone is using this software for estimating Civil works. If I recall correctly the AU session I attended was being taught by a paving and roadworks contractor.
Steve
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This is all very helpful, I'll check out the QTO program sboon. I'm mostly trying to reverse engineer the construction plans which looks like I can do via the cross section add-on. My next issue is doing quantity take off based on that road way created.
neilyj (No connection with Autodesk other than using the products in the real world)
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Yeah we never get and 3D or CAD info prior to the job being awarded. We are lucky if we get smart PDF's in which I can use to convert to CAD format. I assume it is for litigation/liabality as to not temper with the orginal plans. We only recieve CAD data after we win the job
So far it seems the BIM is going to be proven usless until data and models can be provided for everyone. I'd like it seen more useful for contractor's and not just egineering firms.
Mark Green
Working on Civil 3D in Canada
@dan2463 wrote:
... if the plans are stamped you'd assume the CAD file used to print it is right...
Quite the assumption! You don't know what's x-reffed, broken data shortcuts, drawn in paperspace or otherwise fudged in the digital. It should be right, but I wouldn't go assuming! Like I say, the paper is what is checked and certified, not the model.
We do send out digital (and I'm sure if you could get it you would find it much better than what you're doing right now), but it's up to the contractor to figure out how useful it is. They must check that it agrees with what they see on paper.
(I'm not saying this is the best system, but it's the current system.)
Mark Green
Working on Civil 3D in Canada