Why do I want to learn Infraworks?

[Joe-Bouza]

I don't know why I want to learn it.

I am fairly comfortable with Civil3d , and when I go through the Infraworks tutorials I am left asking the question: Why am I doing this? I have no answer other than so I can speak intelligently with other users that are somehow using this to some deliverable end (what that is has never been made clear to me). Is there something I can leverage here that I maybe missing?

I know there is some great tool in here to make parts for civil3d ...what else? 

[Joe-Bouza]

I think I messed something up 

[Neilw_05]

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@bforr wrote:

It does a good most creating watersheds (thanks for that adesk) even in flat areas.

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So why can't C3D do that? Isn't that what it's supposed to do?

[ChrisRS]

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@Neilw_05 wrote:
So why can't C3D do that? Isn't that what it's supposed to do?

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Yes, @Neilw_05, that is what Civil 3D (C3D) is supposed to do. You will aggravate yourself if you rely on Civil 3D to do what it is supposed to do consistently,  or to always do it well.

Watershed analysis in Infraworks (IWX) is cloud based. It is currently free if you are just doing a watershed, but costs cloud credits if you are draining up to a roadway.

IWX is new and bright and shiny. C3D is not.  

[Neilw_05]

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IWX is new and bright and shiny. C3D is not.  

And a distraction of resources to the current product (C3D), no? Anyway, I guess we have to trust ADESK knows what they are doing for future development. Just wish we were in the loop.

[Anonymous]

Same question, why Infraworks, when C3D 2019 can no longer import an Infraworks fbx model? Is there another way to get the preliminary/conceptual design into C3D or has Infraworks been relegated to making pretty pictures only?

[neilyj666]

Export an IMX file from Infraworks and import to Civil.

I think you can also connect direct to the .sqlite file via Mapconnect (limited use IIRC)

[Joe-Bouza]

Thats STUPIFYING.  my gosh

[jmayo-EE]

FYI, The Open Infraworks Model command located on the Ribbon's Insert tab will open both and exported imx and the IWK's SQLite file directly so like the fbx export option, the imx export isn't really required to move the data to C3D..

[Anonymous]

I noticed that the imx export is rudimentary. It creates a whole lot of alignments from road edges or something, and a surface under them. The fbx export allowed you to select which features, like buildings that don't show up in the imx at all, are to be exported.

I'm not exactly complaining (since I don't and won't use IW that much), just observing.

[ChrisRS]

Yes, IWX is a distraction of resources from C3D. So is A360. Autodesk same to be prioritizing INTEROPERABILTY over operability and INFRAWORKS over Civil 3D. I do not think that these decisions and priorities are set by the Civil 3D team.

The Civil 3D team is doing good things that there is a need/market for. They will not be of direct benefit to all Civil 3D users. For me, it still makes sense to stick with C3D and settle for crumbs. 

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@Neilw_05 wrote:
…  I guess we have to trust ADESK knows what they are doing for future development. Just wish we were in the loop.

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I agree that it would be nice if we users were more in the loop as to future development. As a publicly traded company Autodesk is limited in what they communicate to us. That said, the Civil 3D team publicly seems to be much less more communicative than the Infraworks team. 

I would say that we have to acknowledge that ADESK determines future development of their product, and hope that said development is beneficial to the end user.

I trust that ADESK will do what is in the best interest of their shareholders; any benefit to us end users is a just a strategy for achieving that goal. As a publicly held company, that is their obligation.

As an end user/consumer I need to maintain a defensive posture in dealing with ADESK. We may be allies, but we are not partners.

I am reminded of Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper (Perry index 176) or the more modern allegory The Scorpion and the frog.