Feature Request – Automatic Material Legend Generation for Section Views (Civil 3D)

[SoaresASBCAD]

Autodesk Civil 3D already provides the ability to define section styles and apply different hatch patterns based on cut and fill materials. However, when generating construction documents, the current workflow requires users to manually create and manage legends in the sheet layout to explain the materials represented in the section views.

I would like to suggest an improvement for future versions, such as Civil 3D 2028: the ability to automatically generate a dynamic material legend linked to the section views.

The proposed functionality could:

Read the materials and hatch patterns already defined in the section styles;
Automatically create a legend in the layout showing the corresponding materials and hatch representations;
Keep the legend synchronized when section styles, materials, or design information are updated;
Allow users to select which materials should be included in the legend.

Currently, even though Civil 3D can display different hatch patterns for excavation and fill materials within the sections, the documentation process still requires manual legend creation. For large projects with many section views, this becomes repetitive and increases the possibility of inconsistencies between the drawings and the design data.

Adding a dynamic material legend connected to section views would improve productivity, maintain BIM data consistency, and make Civil 3D documentation workflows more efficient for civil engineering projects.

Thank you for considering this enhancement for future releases.

[jmserra8LTEY]

I think the best way would be a dynamic table (like elevations table of a surface), linked to a Code Set Style.

Your idea is also valid to get a legend of hatches in plan view. So when we add the table we could say if we want the plan or section settings of the code set style.

This way if you remove the corridor or removes corridor sections, table remains in the drawing. We could import/export that table style between drawings.

Or table integrated inside the Code Set Style.