Surveying Issue with dimensions and distances - AutoCAD Civil 3D

[Brandon1865]

Hi there.  First off I'd like to say that I'm in the land surveying field, so I'm new to the layout of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013.  Previously I have used AutoCAD Land Desktop.

I work primarily in 2d space and have set up my templates and settings to reflect those I used in Land Desktop.  Working on a few drawings today, I noticed when I went to dimension a building to the boundary line, the perpendicular command would become skewed and snap to a point far down the line.  When pulling the lengths with the distance command, the same thing would happen.  When I pulled the lengths and checked my math, I noticed the dimensions were utilizing delta-z dimensions rather than the delta-x or delta-y.

I know these two are related and I have searched the web for an answer, but I couldn't find anything related to surveying.  Thank you in advance for any help.

[Brandon1865]

I don't have it on there since it is incorrect.  I have been having to do a combo of linework and the NEA snap to get as close to perpendicular as I can.

[jmayo-EE]

Give me a start and end point.

[Brandon1865]

I apologize.  For reference I was dimensioning Point 43 (Brick Column) and pulling a dimension perpendicular to the purple line.

[jmayo-EE · Accepted solution]

Ok point num 43 is off the parcel and it has a desc of CHK. I do not see any point marked as a brick column and I see only magenta lines and arcs.

Note that your prop lines all have varying Z values as do your points and blocks. Acad snaps perpindicular in 3 dimensions so if your start and end points do not have the same Z value the perpindiclar will not be correct for plan measurements.

The best way to get a perpindicular to your prop lines is to FLATTEN the prop lines to elv zero and set osnapz to 1.

[Brandon1865]

Huh, that's strange.  AutoCAD is at it again!  haha

Thank you for letting me know that.  I'm not used to the z-axis being an active part of dimensioning, so I was clueless as to how to fix it.  I will try the FLATTEN command and setting OSNAPZ to 1.  I will let you know here shortly.  Thanks for your patience.

Brandon

[Brandon1865]

Alright, everything is working perfect now!  Thank you guys for your help, really got me out of a hole on this one.

Brandon