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AutoCAD Civil 3D

Survey
Practical Applications

John Cooke
CivilTraining, LLC
a division of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

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Training presentations and materials by CivilTraining, LLC are


copyrighted and licensed for each exclusive engagement.
Any recording, reuse or redistribution without prior written consent is prohibited.

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AutoCADCivil3DPracticalApplicationsSurveyProjectWorkflow

ThisdocumentsummarizestheworkflowthroughatypicalCivil3DSurveydrawingandproject,
includingassignmenttoaCivil3DDataShortcutsprojectthatwouldreceivesurfacedatafromtopoand
theCivil3DSurveyprojectwithitsSurveydatabase.ThisexampleillustratestheimportofFieldbook
datatypicalofmostdatacollectionsystemsandtheprocessingoftraversedatausingCompassRuleand
LengthWeightedVerticaladjustment.Otheradjustmentandanalysisoptionscouldbesubstitutedin
thisprocess,orsimplesideshotortopographicdatacouldbeusedwithoutadjustmentfollowingthe
sameprocess.Optional workflow steps utilizing SmartDraft are shown in Times New Roman italics, like
this.

VerifyDrawingSettingsandUnits
Inadrawingstartedfromthedesiredtemplate,useEdit Drawing SettingsfromtheSettings
taboftheToolspace.OntheUnitsandZonetaboftheDrawingSettingsdialogverifythatthe
Imperial to Metric ConversionandCoordinate settingsarecorrect.OntheAmbient
SettingstaboftheDrawingSettingsdialogverifythattheAngle andDirection Formats are
settoDecimal DMS.

CreateorSelectCivil3DDataShortcutsProjectFolderandAssociateDrawing
OntheToolspacesProspectortab,Right-ClickonData ShortcutsanduseSet Working
Folder,browsingtothetopleveljobfolderbelowwhichtheDataShortcutsfolderwillreside.Ifthe
datashortcutsprojectdisplaystheprojectisalreadycreated;ifnot,Right-ClickonData
ShortcutsanduseNew Data Shortcuts Project Foldertocreateit.Right-Click
againonData ShortcutsanduseAssociate Project to Current Drawing,
associatingCivil3Dprojecttothedrawing.Savethedrawing.

SetSurveyWorkingFolder
OntheToolspacesSurveytab,Right-ClickonSurvey DatabasesanduseSet Working
Folder.BrowsetoandselectthedesiredCivil3Dprojectlevelforthejob,belowwhichtheSurvey
database(s)fortheprojectwillreside,pressingOKfromthedialog.Ifasurveydatabasedisplaysinthe
topoftheSurveytabuponpressingOKtheSurveydatabasefortheprojecthasalreadybeencreated
andneedstobeopened.IfnoSurveydatabaseisdisplayeduponpressingOKfromthedialoganew
surveydatabaseneedstobecreated.

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IftheSurveyDatabaseDisplaysToOpentheSurveyDatabase

ToopenaSurveydatabasethatalreadyexistsina
Surveyproject,Right-Clickonthedesired
SurveyDatabaseanduseOpen for Edit.

Figure1OpenforEditonSurveyTab

OnlyonepersoncanhavetheSurveydatabaseopenforeditatatime.
IfNoSurveyDatabaseDisplaysToCreatetheSurveyDatabase

TocreateanewSurveydatabaseinaSurveyproject,RightClickonSurvey DatabasesanduseNew Local


Survey Database.EnterthedesiredSurveydatabase
nameintheNewLocalSurveyDatabasedialogandpress
OK.

ItisrecommendedthatthenameoftheSurvey
databaseincludeareferencetothejobnumberornameas
wellasthecoordinatesysteminuse.Figure2SurveyDatabaseName

EditSurveyDatabaseSettings
ThenewlycreatedSurveydatabasewilldefaultto
InternationalFeet,andmustbechangedto
correctunitsandsettings.
Right-ClickontheSurveydatabase,anduse
Edit Survey Database Settings.

Figure3EditSurveyDatabaseSettings

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IntheSurveyDatabaseSettingsdialog,
adjustsettingsasdesired,paying
particularattentiontoUnits,
Coordinate Zoneand
Distance,Error Tolerance
andChange Reporting.
TheDistancesettingsmustbesettoUS
Feettoavoidinadvertentlyconverting
toInternationalFeet.TheCoordinate
Zonecanbeusedtotransformdata
fromonezoneandprojectionto
anotherifotherenablingsettingsare
madeinCivil3D.TheErrorTolerance
settingsareusedtodisplay
notificationswhenobservationsfall
outsideuserdefinedcriteriaasset.
TheChangeReportingsettingenablesa
changelogfortheSurveyprojectwhich
recordseverythingdonewithinit.

Do not overlook the Units


settings!

Figure4SurveyDatabaseSettingsforthisProject

Whenavailable,presetSurveyDatabasesettingscanbeimportedfromafileusingthe iconat
thetopoftheSurveyDatabaseSettingsdialog.Thesesettingsshouldstillbecheckedhowever,assome
importedsettingssuchaserrortolerancesarenotreliablyimported.

Associate the Drawing to the Survey Working Folder


Civil 3D provides the ability to associate the drawing to the Data Shortcuts project, insuring that the
current project is changed when opening drawings in different projects; unfortunately this capability is
not provided by Civil 3D for the Survey project. This can entail substantial risk when working with
different survey projects in Civil 3D. SmartDraft overcomes this limitation by providing the same ability
to reset the Survey Working Folder when changing between drawings

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To associate the drawing to the current Survey


Working Folder, use the
icon from the
Points Panel on the SmartDraft tab of the ribbon,
or type SVF. In the Associate Civil 3D Survey
Working Folder dialog verify the current Survey
Working Folder and press the Associate button.
Save the drawing.Figure5AssociateSurveyWorkingFolderButtononSmartDraftTab

SetAutoUpdateonSurveyPoints
Civil3DSurveyusesastrategysimilartotheone
usedinLandDesktopforyears;pointsarestoredin
anexternaldatabaseandcanoptionallybeinserted
intothecurrentdrawing.Bydefault,editstosurvey
datainCivil3Dupdatethedatabaseinformation,but
thesechangesmaynotautomaticallyupdatepoints
inthedrawing.Toinsurethatpointsinthedrawing
willbeupdated,Right-ClickontheSurvey
Pointslevel.Fromthemenudisplayed,LeftClickonAutomatic Update,togglingiton
andplacingacheckbeforethesettingonthemenu.
Figure6AutomaticUpdateSettingonSurveyPoints

CreateaSurveyNetwork
Civil3DSurveyusestheconceptofanetwork,a
groupofrelatedcoordinateandobservationdata.In
ordertobeavailablefortraverseorclosureanalysis,
observationsanddatamustbecontainedwithinone
network.Right-clickonNetworksunder
theSurveyprojectanduseNew.Supplya
meaningfulnetworknamewhichcharacterizesthe
worktobeincluded.
Figure7NewNetworkCreation

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SetAutoUpdateonNetwork
Civil3DalsousesatoggleontheSurveyNetwork
todeterminewhetherornotthenetworkwillbe
updatedwithchangesmadetosetups,prism
heights,etc.Usuallytogglingthisautoupdate
settingonisalsodesirable.Right-Clickon
thenetworklevel.Fromthemenudisplayed,
Left-ClickonAutomatic Update,
togglingitonandplacingacheckbeforethe
settingonthemenu.

Figure8AutomaticUpdateSettingonNetwork

EditFieldbookCheckFieldbookSettings
AutodeskSoftdeskFieldbookfilescanbeproduceddirectlyfromcurrentgenerationdatacollection
systemssuchastheLeicaVivacollectors,fromconversionprogramssuchasLeicaExchange,orfrom
theTDSSurveyLinkprogramwhichinstalls
withCivil3D.
Fieldbooksproducedfromolderdatacollectors
willtypicallynotincludetheunitinformation
requiredforCivil3D,asolderequipmentand
softwaredidnotdistinguishbetweenUSSurvey
andInternationalFeet.Thissettingshouldbe
checkedandeditedinthefieldbookbefore
importing.Additionally,itisoftendesirableto
commentoutcoordinateswhicharesetinor
uploadedtothefieldbooktopreventduplicate
coordinatesonimport.
Toeditthefieldbook,Right-Clickonthe
networkintowhichitwillbeimported,anduse
Edit Fieldbook.Browsetothefieldbook
file,anditwillopenintheconfiguredtext
editor.

Figure9EditFieldbook

Inthefieldbookeditor,lookforalineatthetopofthefieldbookbeginningwithUNIT.Ifthislinereads
UNITFOOTDMS,editittoreadUNITUSFOOTDMS.ThisinstructionisnecessarytotellCivil3Dthatthe
fieldbookisinUSsurveyFeet;ifthisinstructionisnotmadeCivil3Dassumesthefieldbookisin
InternationalFeetandwillperformaconversiononitsunitswhenimported.Anyothereditsneeded,

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includingprismheightchangesnotedinthefieldbookbutnotenteredcorrectlyshouldbemadeatthis
time.SaveandExit fromthefieldbookeditor.

Figure10FieldbookEditorwithCorrectUNITLine

Do not overlook the Units settings in the fieldbook either!

ImportFieldbook
Civil3DorganizesdataimportsintotheSurveyprojectusingImportEvents.Eachimporteventcaptures
thedatabroughtintotheprojectandprovidesaneasymechanismbywhichtoremove,editandre
importdata.
CapturingpointsimportedbyafieldbookinaCivil3DPointGroupisfacilitatedifnopointsaredisplayed
inthedrawingwhenthefieldbookisimported.Ifpointsarepresentlyinthedrawing,usePointGroup
PropertiesinCivil3Dtohidethembeforeimporting,usinga_No Display group.
Toimportthefieldbook,Right-Clickon
ImportEventsatthetopoftheSurveytaband
useImport Survey Data.Theprogram
triggersawizardwhichstepsthroughthe
processofimportingdatafromfieldbooks,
LandXMLfiles,ASCIIfilesordatafromthe
drawing.Stepthroughthepagesofthewizard,
selectingthefieldbookfileandnetworkinto
whichtoimport.Onthelastpageofthewizard
supplyanImport Event Name.Make
sureInsert Network Objectison,
Insert Survey Pointsison and
Display Tolerance Errorsin
Event Viewerison.
Figure11ImportOptionsPageinImportWizard

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Astheimportcompletesthepointsaredisplayedinthedrawing,andanytoleranceerrorsaredisplayed
intheEventViewer.Thetoleranceerrorinformationisrecordedwiththenetworkandcanbe
redisplayedusinganoptionfromtherightclickmenuonthenetwork,sotheEventViewercanbe
clearedandclosed.

Figure12PointsinDrawingandToleranceErrorsinEventViewer

AssignImportedPointstoaPointGroup
CapturingpointsimportedbyafieldbookinaCivil3DPointGroupisvery
desirable,butselectingthepointstobeincludedisdifficult.Ananomalyof
PointGroupmanagementinCivil3Dmakesthiseasier.Pointsimportedinto
Civil3Darenotautomaticallyaddedtopointgroupswithinthedrawing;point
groupsmustbeupdatedtoincludethem.Sincethepointsinthedrawing
werehiddenbymakinga_No Display groupcurrentbeforeimportingthe
fieldbook,theonlypointscurrentlydisplayedandselectablearethosefrom
thefieldbookimportitself.Additionally,thePointGroupscollectioninthe
Prospectordisplays warningshields,indicatingthatthegroupshavetobe
updated.Thisistheoneinstancewherethegroupsshouldnotbeupdated,
asdoingsowillhidethenewpointsfromthedrawingaswell.Thereisaone
timeopportunitytoaddthesenewpointstotheirowngroupbeforeupdating
thepresentgroups.Figure13PointGroupsAfterImporting

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CreateanewpointgroupintheProspector,addingtheimportedpointsbyusingtheSelection Set
in DrawingoptionontheIncludetab.Oncethisnewgroupiscreated,Right-Clickonthe
Point Groups levelintheProspectoranduseUpdatetoupdateallgroupsandclearthe
warnings.ThenewpointswillthenbeincludedinallCivil3DPointgroupsinthedrawing,andtheir
displaycanbecontrolledbythegroupswiththeirsettingsandoverrides.

ExaminingSurveyNetworkDataintheDrawing
OnceCivil3DSurveydataareimportedtheycanbeexaminedandcheckedforerrorsbyexploringthe
surveynetworkin3D.Ifthenetworktopologyisnotdisplayedautomatically,Right-Clickonthe
networkintheProspector,useProperties,andchangethenetworkObject Styleonthe
Information tab.
Thenetworkobjectshowsthedataandspatialconnectivityofsetupsandsideshots.Errorscanoften
beidentifiedbydetectingsideshotvectorstoohighortoolow,oftenidentifyingrodheighterrors.In
Figure14twoviewportsarebeutilized,examiningthesamesetupinplanandelevationview.

Figure14SurveyNetworkinPlanandElevationView

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EditingObservedData
Anexaminationofthenetworkdatawilloftenrevealsetupandobservationdetailsthatneedtobe
corrected.Theseeditscanbeperformedatseverallevels:editingandcorrectingthefieldbook,editing
individualsetupsoreditingindividualobservationsorshots.

EditingtheFieldbook

Makingeditsandcorrectionswithinthefieldbook
itselfissimplifiedinCivil3DbytheImportEvent
thatcaptureditsimport.Toeditthefieldbook,
usetheEdit Fieldbookoptionfromthe
menubelowthenetworkasdescribedabove.
Save thefieldbookandexit fromtheeditor.
Toimportthechanges,returntotheImport
Eventcreatedwhenitwasfirstimported,RightClickontheImport Event,anduseReImport fromthemenu.Allpointsand
observationsassociatedwiththeeventare
removed,andtheeditedfieldbookisreimported
intothedatabaseanddrawing.
Figure14ReImportImportEvent

EditinganIndividualSetup

Civil3Dsurveycapturesandorganizeseachsetuptransferredfromthefieldbook,includingobservations
recordedfromit.Editinganindividualsetupexposestheinstrumentheight,whichcanbechanged,but
theSetupsEditoralsoservesasavehicletogettoallobservationsturnedfromthesetup.Toaccessthe
SetupsEditor,Double-ClickontheSetups levelunderthenetworkontheSurveytab.Asthe
SetupsEditoropensinthePanorama,scrolltothedesiredsetup.Right-clickonthesetupanduse
Zoom Totoshiftthedisplayinthecurrentviewport(occupying10,backsighting11infigure15).

Figure15SetupsEditor

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Mostfieldsinthesetuparenoteditable,buttheinstrumentheightcanbechanged.
AftermakingchangesintheSetupsEditorsavethechangeswiththe iconintheupperrightcorner.
Sinceboththenetworkandsurveypointsaresettoupdateautomaticallythesurveydatabaseand
drawingwillupdatetoreflectthechange.

If the automatic updates are not turned on be sure to update the network and
survey points levels manually.

EditingIndividualObservationsFromSetupsEditor

ToeditobservationsfromtheSetupsEditorRight-ClickonthedesiredsetupanduseEdit
Observationsfromthemenu.Civil3DopensasecondtabinthePanoramafortheObservation
Editor,andhighlightsallobservationsfromthesetupinthecurrentviewport.Clickingonanindividual
observationhighlightsitsdatainthedrawing,andindividualelementsoftheobservationcanbeedited,
includingtheprismheight.

Figure16ObservationEditor

AswiththeSetupsEditor,savethechangesintheobservationeditorwiththe iconintheupper
rightcorner.Sinceboththenetworkandsurveypointsaresettoupdateautomaticallythesurvey
databaseanddrawingwillupdatetoreflectthechange.

If the automatic updates are not turned on be sure to update the network and
survey points levels manually.

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EditingIndividualObservationsFromDrawing

AnalternativemethodforaccessingtheobservationdataforanindividualpointistoRight-Clickon
thepointinthedrawinganduseBrowse to Survey Datafromthemenu.Thismethodopens
theObservationEditorasdescribedabove,andhighlightsthecurrentobservationinthedrawinginthe
samefashion.TheobservationdatafortheselectedpointwillbemadecurrentintheObservation
Editorautomatically.UsethesameproceduredescribedaboveforsavingchangesintheObservation
Editor.

Civil3DTraverseConcepts
Civil3Dmanagesdatafortraverseanalysisbystoringobservationinformationoneachpoint.Shots
returningtoapreviouslystoredpoint,eitherasacheckshotortocloseatraverse,shouldusethesame
pointnumberasoriginallystored.Civil3Dusesthecoordinateofthefirstshottosetthepoint
temporarilyinthedrawing,butallsetupdataarecapturedandcanbeseeninthesurveynetwork
object.InFigure17point11isrepresentedinthedrawingbythetraversesymbolshown(setby
descriptionkeys).Inaddition,tworedcirclescanbeseen.Thefirstcircle,concentricwiththeinsertion
pointofthesymbol,representsthecoordinateofthefirstobservationtopoint11.Thesecondredcircle
representsthecoordinateofthesecondobservationtopoint11,takenlater.Thedistancebetweenthe
twois14hundredths,whichresultedinoneofthetoleranceerrorsdisplayedearlierintheEvent
Viewer.WhentraverseanalysisiscompleteinCivil3Dthefinalcoordinateofpoint11willbe
determinedbythemethodchosen,andthecoordinateofpoint11willbeupdatedintheSurvey
Database.AtthattimeitiscriticalthatSurveyPointsbesettoUpdateAutomaticallyasdescribedabove
toinsurethatthedrawingupdatesaswell.

Figure17MultipleObservationstoPointinSurveyNetwork

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OperatorsusingCivil3DSurveymustalwaysconsiderthedefinitionofaclosedtraverseintheprogram,
whichrequiresestablishingaclosingangle(orangletoknowndata).
IntheexampleinFigure18below,1001representsthefirstoccupiedstationinatraverse.Anazimuth
isestablishedthrough1002,and1002isshotandrecordedestablishingdistance.Traversesetupsthen
advancetraditionallythroughasetupon1004,backsighting1003andshooting1001.Ifthefieldcrew
packsupatthispointthetraversecannotbeanalyzedbyCivil3D.therequiredfinalsetupison1001,
backsighting1004andturninginto1002toestablishclosingangle.

Figure18TraverseExampleforCivil3D

DefiningaTraverse
TodefineatraverseRight-ClickonTraverses
underthenetworklevelanduseNew.IntheNewTraverse
dialogenteraName,theinitial occupied station
pointnumber,initial backsight,remaining
occupied stationsandfinal foresight.Press
OK.

Figure18NewTraverse

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PerformingTraverseAnalysis
ToperformtraverseanalysisinCivil3DRight-ClickontheTraverse intheTraverselistinthe
bottompaneoftheSurveytabanduseTraverse Analysis.
IntheTraverseAnalysisdialogturnTraverse Analysis andBalance Angleson.Select
thedesiredHorizontal Adjustment MethodandVertical Adjustment Method.
Checktheclosure limitspassedinfromtheSurveydatabasesettings,adjustingthemifdesired.
TurnUpdate Survey Databaseon.PressOK.

Figure19TraverseAnalysis

Fourtextfilesarecreatedbythetraverseanalysisprocess,displayedautomaticallybyCivil3D.These
reportsarestoredbydefaultinthenetworkfolderudnerthesurveyprojectfolder,belowtheSurvey
WorkingFolder.
TheRawClosurereportcontainsclosureinformationforthetraversepriortoadjustment:

Angular error
Angular error/set
Elevation error :
Error North
:
Error East
:
Absolute error :
Error Direction :
Perimeter
:
Precision
:
Number of sides :
Area
:

= 0-00-15.04
= 0-00-01.07 Over
-0.0715
0.0721
-0.0225
0.0755
N 17-19-41.98 W
3104.8427
1 in 41097.1331
14
609309.9 sq. ft. , 13.9878 Acres

Closure at other Traverse Points ----Attention is called to maxima-minima separations


Point
Separation Distance
2
0.0755
3
0.0644
4
0.0554
5
0.0477
6
0.0433
7
0.0346

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13

8
0.0086
9
0.0049
10
0.0127
11
0.0305
12
0.0414
13
0.0572
14
0.0691
1
0.0674
2
0.0755
Possible distance error in leg : 9 - 10
Angular error (if any) most probable at point 9

TheBalancedAnglesreportcontainsclosureinformationforthetraversewithbalanceangles
adjustmentonly:
RAW
TRAVERSE
Coordinates
N
5000.0000
E
5000.0000
N 77-58-27.07 W Dist:180.6502
3
N
5037.6398
E
4823.3145
N 85-08-05.16 W Dist:143.0982
4
N
5049.7778
E
4680.7321
N 71-04-34.23 W Dist:173.2896
5
N
5105.9801
E
4516.8095
N 78-36-41.31 W Dist:103.3959
6
N
5126.3988
E
4415.4498
N 87-12-48.39 W Dist:244.5185
7
N
5138.2926
E
4171.2208
S 18-13-26.54 W Dist:357.2116
8
N
4799.0018
E
4059.4982
S 20-00-12.46 W Dist:183.9537
9
N
4626.1479
E
3996.5655
S 13-08-24.60 E Dist:111.6234
10
N
4517.4461
E
4021.9368
S 64-36-25.69 E Dist:304.9377
11
N
4386.6690
E
4297.4079
S 72-52-01.75 E Dist:164.8099
12
N
4338.1098
E
4454.9018
N 88-30-39.16 E Dist:259.5104
13
N
4344.8388
E
4714.3249
S 81-07-19.92 E Dist:170.2861
14
N
4318.5485
E
4882.5693
N 03-29-34.01 E Dist:556.2378
1
N
4873.7507
E
4916.4945
N 33-29-59.94 E Dist:151.3195
2
N
4999.9279
E
5000.0225
Angular error
= 0-00-00.00
Angular error/set = 0-00-00.00 Over
Elevation error : -0.0715
Error North
: 0.0354
Error East
: -0.0051
Absolute error : 0.0358
Error Direction : N 08-13-56.14 W
Perimeter
: 3104.8427
Precision
: 1 in 86796.3070
Point
2

No RULE - Balanced Angles


Coordinates
N
5000.0000
E
5000.0000

Delta
0.0000

N
E

5037.6389
4823.3143

0.0009

N
E

5049.7754
4680.7317

0.0024

N
E

5105.9751
4516.8083

0.0051

N
E

5126.3917
4415.4482

0.0073

N
E

5138.2791
4171.2189

0.0136

N
E

4798.9849
4059.5068

0.0190

N
E

4626.1287
3996.5805

0.0244

N
E

4517.4279
4021.9563

0.0267

N
E

4386.6638
4297.4335

0.0262

N
E

4338.1127
4454.9299

0.0283

N
E

4344.8566
4714.3527

0.0330

N
E

4318.5768
4882.5988

0.0408

N
E

4873.7813
4916.4863

0.0317

N
E

4999.9646
5000.0051

0.0406

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14

Number of sides : 14
Area
: 609290.8 sq. ft. , 13.9874 Acres

TheLoopreportcontainsclosureinformationforthetraversewithselectedadjustment:

Point
2
N 77-58-24.84 W
3
N 85-08-02.85 W
4
N 71-04-32.12 W
5
N 78-36-39.07 W
6
N 87-12-46.06 W
7
S 18-13-27.60 W
8
S 20-00-13.58 W
9
S 13-08-24.81 E
10
S 64-36-27.67 E
11
S 72-52-03.90 E
12
N 88-30-36.80 E
13
S 81-07-22.20 E
14
N 03-29-33.53 E
1
N 33-29-58.36 E
2
Area

RAW
TRAVERSE
COMPASS RULE - Balanced Angles
Coordinates
Coordinates
Delta
N
5000.0000
N
5000.0000
0.0000
E
5000.0000
E
5000.0000
Dist:180.6510
N
5037.6398
N
5037.6410
0.0012
E
4823.3145
E
4823.3140
Dist:143.0986
N
5049.7778
N
5049.7791
0.0015
E
4680.7321
E
4680.7312
Dist:173.2905
N
5105.9801
N
5105.9808
0.0021
E
4516.8095
E
4516.8075
Dist:103.3963
N
5126.3988
N
5126.3986
0.0026
E
4415.4498
E
4415.4472
Dist:244.5190
N
5138.2926
N
5138.2888
0.0051
E
4171.2208
E
4171.2175
Dist:357.2080
N
4799.0018
N
4798.9986
0.0074
E
4059.4982
E
4059.5048
Dist:183.9519
N
4626.1479
N
4626.1445
0.0131
E
3996.5655
E
3996.5782
Dist:111.6222
N
4517.4461
N
4517.4450
0.0171
E
4021.9368
E
4021.9538
Dist:304.9357
N
4386.6690
N
4386.6843
0.0273
E
4297.4079
E
4297.4306
Dist:164.8091
N
4338.1098
N
4338.1351
0.0356
E
4454.9018
E
4454.9267
Dist:259.5101
N
4344.8388
N
4344.8820
0.0495
E
4714.3249
E
4714.3490
Dist:170.2855
N
4318.5485
N
4318.6041
0.0612
E
4882.5693
E
4882.5948
Dist:556.2440
N
4873.7507
N
4873.8150
0.0656
E
4916.4945
E
4916.4814
Dist:151.3208
N
4999.9279
N
5000.0000
0.0755
E
5000.0225
E
5000.0000
: 609272.1 sq. ft. , 13.9870 Acres

TheVerticalAdjustmentreportcontainsadjustmentinformationforthetraversewithselectedvertical
adjustment:
Point
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

RAW
Elevation
1000.0000
990.6025
979.0493
960.9368
954.3999
952.9086
962.9272
965.1329
966.3297

LENGTH WEIGHTED DISTRIBUTION RULE


Elevation
1000.0000
990.5984
979.0419
960.9254
954.3861
952.8892
962.8995
965.1010
966.2952

Delta
0.0000
-0.0042
-0.0075
-0.0115
-0.0138
-0.0195
-0.0277
-0.0319
-0.0345

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15

11
12
13
14
1
2

971.4943
974.5624
983.3547
987.2983
995.3320
1000.0715

971.4527
974.5171
983.3034
987.2430
995.2639
1000.0000

-0.0415
-0.0453
-0.0513
-0.0552
-0.0681
-0.0715

Thedrawingwilldisplayawarningdialogif
userspecifiedtoleranceshavenotbeen
met.PressingOKfromthisdialog(if
present)advancesthroughtheprocessand
thesurveydatabaseisupdated.Sinceboth
thenetworkandsurveypointsaresetto
updateautomaticallythesurveynetwork
objectandpointsinthedrawingwillupdate
toreflectthechange.
VerifythattheSurveyPointsinthedrawing
aresettoupdateautomaticallybychecking
theAutomatic Updatesettingmade
earlier.IfthecheckmarkseeninFigure20
isnotpresent,forceanupdateoftheSurvey
pointsbyusingPoints Update as
seeninFigure20.

Figure20SurveyPointUpdate

Verifythatthepointsinthedrawinghaveupdatedtothechangeinthenetworkobjectasseenbythe
concentriccirclesonpoint11seeninFigure21.

Figure21SurveyPointUpdatedinDrawing

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16

AutoCAD Civil 3D Practical Applications Surface Modeling


ThischaptercontinuesthediscussionofsurfacemodelinginCivil3DfromChapter1111,andfocuseson
theproductionofasurfacefrompointsandbreaklinestypicaloftopographicsurveywork.Wewillalso
addressothersurfacerelatedtopicsnotcoveredinthepreviouschapterwhichfocusedonaerialdata,
includingcontouring,mergingsurfacesandsurfaceanalysis.Theemphasiscontinuestobeonsurface
modelingforexistingconditionsasstatedinthetitle,andthereareotherproceduresandconceptsin
proposedsurfacemodelingrelatedtogradingwhichwe'llexploreinlaterchapters.

Data Requirements
Thedrawingwe'reworkingwithhereistheExisting Basedrawingasitwasleftattheconclusionofthe
lastchapter.Thedrawingcontainsthepointsthatwillbeusedinthesurveysurface,andthepoints
themselvesarereallytheonlydatarequirementtomoveforward.ThepointscanbeCivil3DPoints,or
DrawingPoints,althoughtheoneshereareactuallySurveyPoints,havingbeenaddedtotheSurvey
PointDatabaseattheendofthelastchapter.Thereisnolineworkthroughthepointsforthe
centerline,edgesofpavement,shouldersorbottomsofbank;we'regoingtodevelopthelineworkhere
foruseasbreaklinesthroughthesefeatures.TheParcel1,2and3outboundpointsarealsodisplayed,
althoughtheywillnotbeusedinthesurface.

Figure 1112.01 - Existing Base Drawing at This Point

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11121

ThepointsintheExisting BasedrawingareorganizedinanumberofPointGroupsasseeninFigure
1112.01;thesePointGroupsprovideOverrideswhichspecifythePointStyleandPointObjectStyle
necessaryforreliablebreaklineconstructionaswe'llseeshortly.
TheExisting BasedrawingalsocontainstheEXISTING AERIALsurfaceproducedpreviouslyfromthe
aerialdrawing,andwe'llbemergingournewsurveysurfaceintoacopyofthissurfaceshortly.The
surfaceisnotvisibleinthedrawingatthemomentasitsSurfaceStyleissetto_No Display;the
contoursvisibleinthedrawingpresentlyaretheoriginalpolylinecontoursfromtheaerialdrawing.

Critical Civil 3D Surface Feature Settings


There'sonecriticalsettinginCivil3DsurfacecreationthatwealreadydiscussedinChapter1111,but
we'regoingtoreiterateithereforthefolkswhodon'treadmanualslikethisinorder.
OntheSettingstaboftheToolspace,expandtheSurfacecollection,expandCommands,
andRight-click onCreateSurface.FromthemenuselectEdit Command Settings.
Inthedialog,expandtheBuild OptionslevelandcheckthesettingforAllow Crossing
BreaklinesmakesureitissettoYes.Alsocheckthesettingonthenextline,Elevation to
Use,andmakesureitissettoUse first breakline elevation at intersection.
WegointoalotmoredetailonthisinChapter1111,andyoureallyshouldreaditifyouhaven't,butthe
shortversionisthissettingdoesnotreallymeanCrossingBreaklines,itmeansCrossingTINLines.Ifthis
settingisnotsetinthismanneryoucannotbuildasurfacefromtwopiecesofdatacorrectlypointsand
breaklinesinthiscase.Thesecondsetting,ElevationtoUse,makestheselectionofdataandtheir
processinginthesurfacereliableinCivil3D,althoughwe'regoingtoshowyouhowtocheckandchange
thatorderinthischapteraswell.
PressOK toclosethedialog,andwewontgohereagain.

Figure 1112.02 - Edit Command Settings Dialog

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11122

Creating Breaklines
Sincetheorderinwhichdataareselectedforthesurfaceisimportant,we'regoingtofocusonthe
breaklinesfirst.Thebreaklinesformthemoreimportantdataforthesurface,generatingtheoverall
shapeofthesurfaceasdefinedinthiscasebythecrown,edgesofpavementandshoulders,thenthe
individualpointsdeflectthesurfaceupordownwithinthisshapeinareaswheremanholes,watershut
offs,inletsorotherfeaturesarepresent.

The same points used to create the breaklines will also be added to the surface as points, leading
to some duplication of data. This doesnt create any issue, provided the breaklines are created the right
way. In fact, once these points are represented by the vertices of the breaklines they need not be added
to the surface as point data, but excluding them is usually more trouble than it's worth.

ThereareanumberofwaystocreatebreaklinesinCivil3D.Breaklinescanbecreateddirectlythrough
toolsintheProspectorfromdrawingentities,polylinesand3Dpolylines.Breaklinescanbegenerated
fromtheFigurescreatedbytheSurveysideofCivil3D,orindirectlyfromaddonproductssuchas
Smartdraft.ComparedwithLandDesktop,somebreaklinecreationtoolsseemtobeabsent,notably
CreatebyPointorCreatebyPointNumber.ThisisreflectiveofashiftinthinkinginCivil3Dawayfrom
databasesandtowarddrawingdata;whilebreaklinesresidedinadatabaseinLandDesktoptheyreside
inthedrawinginCivil3D.Assuch,theprimarytoolforcreatingabreaklineinCivil3DistheAutoCAD3D
polyline.

Civil 3D can create an AutoCAD 3D polyline by point number, using the 'PN Transparent
command.

MostmanualbreaklinecreationinCivil3DinvolvesthecreationofAutoCAD3Dpolylines.We'retalking
hereaboutthebasicconnectthedotstypeofprocessingofsurveyworkfrompoints,withoutanyField
toFinishautomationsuchassurveyfiguresorSmartdraft.Whilebreaklinescouldbecreatedthrough
aninterfacethroughtheTerrainModelExplorerinLandDesktop,theyaredrawnasAutoCAD3D
polylinesinCivil3D.
Weshouldtakeamomenttotalkaboutanexceptiontothisrule:Proximitybreaklines.Proximity
breaklinesarestillaroundinCivil3D,thoughwewishtheyweren't.TheProximitybreaklineistheonly
breaklinethatcanaccepta2Dpolylinewithoutelevationasitssource.TheproblemwithProximity
breaklinesismostpeopledontreallyunderstandhowtheywork.AProximitybreaklineisnotreallya
breaklinebypolyline,it'sabreaklinebypoints.WhenyouselectapolylinefordefinitionasaProximity
breaklinetheprogram(eitherCivil3DorLandDesktop)searchesforthenearestavailablepointselected
inthesurfacetoeachvertexofthepolyline.Ifthere'sarealgoodmatchtopointsselectedforthe
surfaceateveryvertexofthepolylineaProximitybreaklineworksgreat.Unfortunately,eithermanyof
thepointsinthedrawingaren'tselectedfortheTIN,orthereisntagoodcorrespondingpointforeach
vertexofthepolyline,andthebreaklinejustdoesntworkwell.We'vehadthisdiscussionmanytimesin
thepasttwentysomeyears,butProximitybreaklinesarenotthepanaceatheyappeartobe.It'smuch
bettertoconstruct3Dpolylinebreaklinesorconvertfigurestobreaklinesdirectly.

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11123

Point Data Requirements

Foruseincreatingconnectthedot3Dpolyline
breaklinesthepointsneedtobedisplayedinthe
drawingattheiractualelevation.Thisisamatterof
displayingthemthroughoneormorePointGroups
wherePointGroupOverridesspecifyaPointStyle
configuredtodisplaythePointDisplayModeasUse
Point Elevation,describedindetailinChapter
1211.TheBottom of Bank,Centerline,Edge of
PavementandShoulderPointGroupsintheExisting
Basedrawingallusethe0.05 X 3Dpointstyle,asshown
bythetooltipbyhoveringoverthegroupnameinthe
ProspectorasseeninFigure1112.03

The tooltip doesn't tell you that a Point Style

Figure 1112.03 - Tooltip Showing Point Style

Override is in place to suppress the Description Key


Style for each group, but it is.

Aneasywaytoseethedifferenceinpointdisplaymodes
istorockthedrawinguponitsedge.Whilethiscanbe
accomplishedanumberofways,we'regoingtogoold
schoolagainhere:typeDDVPointatthecommand
lineandpressEnter.
DDVPoint,whichstandsforDynamicDialogViewPoint,is
afastwaytoresetthepointfromwhichadrawingis
viewed,withoutthevertigothatcanaccompanythe
Orbit,SteeringWheelorViewCube.

Plus we tend not to use commands that weren't in


AutoCAD 11 - just look at our screen for heaven's sake.

IntheViewpointPresetsdialogclickinthe10position
abovethehorizontalinthehalfwheelontherightthis
willinstructAutoCADtolookdownonthedrawingfrom
10abovetheXYplane.PressOK.
Figure 1112.04 - DDVPoint Dialog

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11124

Lookingatthedrawingin3D,onecanseehowtheroadsectionpointsarefloatingupin3Dspacewith
thecontours;theyarethe3Ddatainthedrawingatthemoment.Theparcelpointsaredownin2D
spaceatelevation0inthedrawing,withtheroad,buildingsandwaterfeatures.

Figure 1112.05 - Drawing Viewed in 3D

A3Dviewlikethisisexcellentforevaluatingdatawhichshouldhaveelevationvalues,andforchecking
workwhiledrawingin3D.Inactualfact,theproductionofthe3Dpolylinebreaklinesrunsariskof
missingasnapandaccidentallydroppingpolylinevertexdowntoelevation0,andthatwouldbe
immediatelydetectedinthe3Dview.Theproblemisthatit'sprettydifficulttoworkina3Dviewlike
this,butAutoCADcansimultaneouslydisplaymultipledockedviewportsinModelSpacewejustdon't
tendtodothatmuchinCivildrawings.

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11125

Splitting the Screen to Work in 3D

Atthecommandline,typeVports and
pressEnter.
IntheViewportsdialogclickon
Two:HorizontalandpressOK.

Figure 1112.06 - Viewports Dialog

AutoCADsplitstheModelSpacescreenintotwoviewports,bothdisplayingthecurrent3Dview.
Click intotheupperviewporttomakeitcurrent,andtypePlanatthecommandlineandhit
Enter.WhenthecommandpromptsEnter an option [Current ucs/Ucs/World]
<Current>: pressEnterforthecurrentcoordinatesystem.
Zoomasdesiredintheplanviewport,thenclickbackintothe3Dviewportandzoomasdesired
there.
ClickbackintotheplanviewportandSavethedrawing.

Figure 1112.07 - Model Space Screen Split in Two Viewports

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11126


Thisestablishesanoptimalconfigurationforworkingin3D.Anythingdrawnintheplanviewportwill
showupinthe3Dviewportaswell;ifanerrantelevationisuseditwillbeimmediatelyapparent.In
Figure1112.08a3Dpolylinehasbeendrawnthroughafew
points,snappingtonodesonthefirstthreeverticesbut
missingthesnaponthefourth;noticehowitshowsup
immediatelyasanerrorinthe3Dview.

This not a novel concept in AutoCAD; designers who


model parts and widgets in AutoCAD always look at their
models in multiple views like this. We just dont tend to do
this in Civil much.

Figure 1112.08 - Errant 3D Polyline

Layer Considerations

Producingthebreaklineswillnecessitatedrawing3Dpolylines;thepolylinesshouldbeontheirown
layer.Again,thereisasignificantdifferencefromLandDesktophere,asthesepolylinesmustremainin
thedrawingsincethereisnobreaklinedatabaseinCivil3D:thebreaklinesinthesurfaceare
dynamicallylinkedtothepolylinesinthedrawing.Createalayerforthebreaklinesandmakeitcurrent;
we'veusedV-TOPO-BRKL-ROADShere.

Figure 1112.09 - Breakline Layer in Layer Properties

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11127

Isolating the Display of Points for Breaklines

3Dpolylinebreaklinesneedtobedrawnthroughthecenterlinepoints,edgeofpavementpoints,
shoulderpointsandbottomofbankpoints,workingwitheachindividualsetinturn.Itwillbealot
easiertoisolatethedisplayofonesetofdataatatimetoworkwith,andthereareacoupleofoptions
availableatthemoment.
OneoptionwouldbetousethePointGroup
DisplayOrdersetinPointGroupPropertiesas
describedearlier.ShufflingtheEdge of
Pavement,Shoulder andBottom of Bankgroups
below_No DisplayasseeninFigure1112.10will
workjustfine.
Theotheroptionistouselayermanagement.
TheDescriptionKeysinuseinthisdrawingdidFigure 1112.10 - Point Group Display Order
averygoodjobofroutingthepointsthatmatched
totheirownindividuallayers.AswesaidinChapter1211,relyingonlayermanagementasthesole
methodtosuppresspointdisplayisnotagoodidea,butitwillworkjustfinefortemporarydisplay
control.KnowingthelayersusedbytheDescriptionKeysobviouslyhelps,butthiscanbeafastwayto
isolatethepointsweneed.
IntheLayerPropertiesManagerFreezetheV-BOTBANK-P,V-EP-PandV-GRAVEL-Playersto
isolatethecenterlinepoints.Thelayersmustbefrozen;offingthemwillnotwork.Rememberthat
Civil3Dobjectshavethesamebehaviorasblocks,andyoumustfreezethelayerofinsertiontosuppress
thedisplayofablock.

Remember that we're from Jersey, where "to off" is a verb.

Interestingly, Spell Checker agreed.

Figure 1112.11 - Point Layers Frozen in Layer Properties

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11128

Drawing the Breaklines

DrawingthebreaklinesisanotheroneofthoserefreshinglyeasytasksinCivil3D.Turnonarunning
Osnap ofNode,takethephoneoffthehook,turnonsomesmoothjazzandtype3Dpolyatthe
commandline;it'sliterallyjustconnectthedotsfromthere.
IfyoudonotnormallyusethemiddlemousebuttonforaPaninAutoCAD,thisisagoodtimetohaveit
turnedontemporarilywithMButtonpan;it'saloteasiertomovealongthepoints.
Dontbephasedwhenthelastsegmentyou'vedrawndisappearsasyouPan;itwillcomerightbackas
youclickonthenextpoint.
Alwayskeepaneyeonthe3Dviewportbelow;whenyoufindyourselfdroppeddownto0justusethe
Undooptioninthecommandlineandbackupavertexatatimeuntilyou'rebackwhereyoubelong.
(Youcanalsogripsnapavertexuptothenodeofapointifnecessary.)
Ifyouignoredouradvicetotakethephoneoffthehookyoucanenteroutofthecommandand
resumeagainlaterfromthesamepoint.There'snoneedtojointhepolylines,whichisnteasytodo
witha3Dpolylineanyway.

Figure 1112.12 - Drawing 3D Polylines for Breaklines

Whenthecenterlinesaredone,freezetheirlayerandthawthenextone,continuingonuntilall
breaklinesaredrawn.

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11129

An Alternative for Creating Breaklines with Smartdraft


Aswesaidearlier,therearealotofoptionsforcreatingbreaklinesbesidesconnectthedotsinthe
office;byfarthebestwayistohavethefieldcrewscreatethemthroughlineworkcodes.Civil3Doffers
lineworkcapabilitiesthroughtheSurveysideoftheprogram,andtheCivil3DFieldtoFinishcapabilities
wererevampedinthe2009release.TheCivil3Dlineworksolutiondoesrequiresomeoperational
knowledgeoftheSurveyinterface,andthelineworkcodingisnotcompatiblewiththereplaceable
attributesonpointsusedbyDescriptionKeysforyears.
AnattractiveoptionforcreatingbreaklinesthroughfieldcodingisthePconnectprogramofferedby
Smartdraft,acompanyproducingaddonprogramsforCivil3D.InformationaboutPConnectand
Smartdraftisavailableatwww.smartdraft.com.
PConnectuseslinenumbersandcodeseasilyaddedtopointdescriptionsinthefield,andreadily
editableincivil3Dintheoffice.Additionally,PConnecthastheadvantageofbeingfullycompatiblewith
thereplaceableattributesonpointdescriptionsasoutlinedinChapter1211.
Thepointsshotfortheroadcrosssectionshavelineworkcodesthatwillsupportcreatingbreaklines.A
singlecrosssection'sworthofpointsareshowninthePointEditorinfigure1112.13noticethe
numbersfollowingtheCL,EP,GRVLandBBdescriptions.PConnectwilllookformatchingraw
descriptionsonthepoints,andwillconnecttheminincreasingpointnumberorder.
OurobjectiveisnotreallytosellSmartdrafthere,butwereallydothinkthisisasuperiorsolutionfor
fieldgenerationofbreaklines.We'llexaminePConnectinmoredetailinaFieldToFinishchapterlater,
butrightnowit'sgoingtosaveusfromalotofmanualconnectthedots.

Figure 1112.13 - Point Raw Descriptions with Linework Codes

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111210

ThePConnectcommandcanbepicked
fromtheSmartdrafttabintheCivil3D
ribbonifloaded,andthedialoginFigure
1112.14displays.
Thelibraryofdescriptionshasalreadybeen
createdinSmartdraft,anditisasimplematter
ofselectingtheDescriptions Keysto
use,togglingonthe3D Polylinesoption
andpressingOK.

There are a number of other options in


Pconnect, including the source, the ability to
read from a Survey Database, creation of both
2D and 3D polylines, and interpolation of
vertices along breaklines and more.

Figure 1112.14 - PConnect Options

CreatedeithermanuallyorthroughSmartdraft,theresulting3Dpolylinesshouldlooklikethis:

Figure 1112.15 - 3D Polyline Breaklines

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111211

Creating the Surface


Withthebreakline3Dpolylinesreadyit'stimetostartthesurface.
ReturntoasingleviewportbytypingVportsandpickingSinglefromthedialog.
Right-clickonSurfacesintheProspectorandclickCreate Surfacefromthemenu.
ThebaseSurface LayerofC-TOPOwillneedtobeoverriddenagainforthissurveysurface;
overridethelayerto V-TOPOasdescribedinChapter1111.TheNamecanbeenteredasROAD
SECTIONS,alongwithanappropriateDescription.TheStyleshouldbesettoTriangles Only.
PressOKtocreatethesurfacedefinitionintheProspector.

Figure 1112.16 - Create Surface Dialog

AddingBreaklineDatatotheSurface
ExpandthelevelbelowtheROAD SECTIONSsurfacein
theProspector,expandtheDefinitionlevel,and
right-clickonBreaklines.ClickAddfromthe
menu.

Figure 1112.17 - Add Breaklines

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111212

IntheAddBreaklinesdialogentera
Descriptiontoidentifythedata.

Adding the Description is very important to


identify the breakline data set in the overall surface
data later, should it become necessary to adjust the
surface build order.

TheTypeshouldbeleftatStandard,whichis
theselectionmethodfor3Dpolylines.
TheWeeding Factorsand
Supplementing Factorscanbeleftoff;
thesebehaveforbreaklinesexactlyasdescribed
forContourDatainChapter1111.
PressOK.
Figure 1112.18 - Add Breaklines Dialog

AttheSelect objects:promptthesamelayerhocuspocususedinChapter1111willberepeatedto
temporarilyisolatethe3Dpolylines:
AttheSelect objects:prompttype'LAandpressEnter;theLayerPropertiesManagerappears
inside,andwithoutinterrupting,theAutoCADselection.IntheLayerPropertiesManager,turnoffall
layersexceptthebreaklinelayerV-TOPO-BRKL-ROADSinthiscase.PressOK toexittheLayer
PropertiesManager,returningtotheSelect objects:prompt.
SelectallofthebreaklineswithaWindoworCrossingselection,butdonothitEntertoclose
theselection.
AutoCADisstillattheSelect objects:prompt;againtype'LAandpressEntertoredisplaythe
LayerPropertiesManager.Turnthelayersbackon(orrestorealayersnapshottobereallytricky),and
againpressOK toexittheLayerPropertiesManagerandreturntotheSelect objects:prompt.
Atthispoint,theselectionandlayerhocuspocusaredone;pressEnter toendtheselection,andCivil
3Daddsthebreaklinesandrebuildsthesurface.

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111213

Figure 1112.19 - Road Sections Surface As built to This Point

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111214

Breakline types in Civil 3D

ReturningforasecondtothebreaklinetypesdisplayedintheAddBreaklinesdialog,therewereseveral
otheroptions.
InadditiontoStandard,theotherbreaklinetypesare:
Proximityalreadydescribed,usestheselectionofa2Dpolyline,andcreatesabreaklinethroughthe
surfacepointsinnearestproximitytoeachpolylinevertex.
Wallcreatesasecondbreaklinefromaselected3Dpolyline;promptsforanoffsetdirectionandawall
heightfromtheverticesofthepolyline,eithergloballyorindividually.
FromFile:allowstheimportofa.FLTfilecreatedinanotherprogram,suchasCarlson.ABreakline
fromfilecanbeconfiguredtomaintainalinktothefilewithinthesurface,allowingthesurfaceto
updatewithchangesmadetothefaultfile,ortobreakthelink
NondestructiveaddsnewtrianglestoaTINwithoutchangingtheslopesofTINfacesalreadyinplace.
ANondestructivebreaklineistheonlytypethatdoesnotalterthedirectionofcontoursorchangeTIN
slopes.NondestructivebreaklinesarebestsuitedtoaddingfeaturessuchassidewalkstoTIN'sfor
renderingpurposes.

Figure 1112.20 - Breakline Types

Adding Point Data to the Surface

ThemechanismtoaddpointdatatothesurfaceistheselectionofoneormorePointGroups;whether
Civil3DPointsorSurveyPoints,pointsgetaddedtothesurfacethroughPointGroups.
InthisprojecttherearetwoPointGroupsthatcanbeusedinthesurface,theChestnut Ridge Road
SectionsandWeybridge Road Sectionsgroups.Bothofthesegroupscontainpointsalreadyusedin
thedevelopmentofthebreaklines,whichwillnotcauseanyproblems,aswellasotherdesirable
featurespickedupontheroadsurface.TheASCIIfilesimportedinthiscasewere"clean",inthatthey
didnotincludeanyshotsonthetopsoffirehydrantsortheinvertsofpipesininlets,butamechanismis
neededtofiltertheseshotsoutiftheydidexist.Inanyevent,thetwoPointgroupsalreadycreatedwill
sufficeinthiscase.

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111215

ToaddthesepointsRight-clickonPoint GroupsundertheDefinitionlevelbelowthe
ROAD SECTIONS surfaceintheProspector,andclickAdd fromthemenu.
InthePointGroupsdialogselect thedesiredgroupsandpressOK.Thesurfaceisrebuilttoinclude
thepoints.

Figure 1112.22 - Point Groups Dialog

Figure 1112.21 - Add Point Groups

Filtering Out Point Data

Aswedescribed,thetwoPointGroupscreatedastheASCIIpointfileswereimportedcouldbeusedin
thesurfaceherebecausethefieldworkcontainednoshotsthatshouldbeexcludedfromthesurface.
Thisisnotalwaysthecase;infactitrarelyis.Manyshotswillbetakeninthefieldthatshouldnotbe
includedinasurface:shotsonfirehydrantsandinvertsareexamplesalreadymentioned,butothers
includestumps,lightstandardbases,occasionallytrees;thelistisextensive.Thesepointsneedtobe
excludedfromPointGroupscreatedforthepurposeofaddingtosurfaces,andthebestmechanismfor
thisisDescriptionKeys.
AsdiscussedinChapter1211,thebasiclayerstandardintheCivilTraining.comtemplatedrawingplaces
pointsonlayersoftheformatV-DESC-P,whereVdenotessurveydataandPdenotesapoint.The
layersforthedataincludedherewereV-BOTBANK-P,V-CL-P,V-EP-PandV-GRAVEL-P.Thebestway
toexcludetheundesirablepointsistogetthemondifferentlayers,whichcanbefrozenbeforecreating
aPointGroupforthesurface.IftheDescriptionKeysforhydrants,inverts,stumpsandelectricutilities
routetheirpointstoV-HYDR-X,V-INV-X,V-STUMP-XandV-ELEC-Xthelayerscanbereadily
identifiedasExcludelayers.Whentheseshotsareinthedrawingonthe-X layers,Freezethe-X
layerstosuppressthedisplayoftheExcludepoints,thenbuildanewPointgroupforthesurfaceby
selectingtheremainingpointsfromthedrawing.
Thismethodworkswellwhenthefieldcrewsfollowthescriptandthingsgetcodedthewaytheyshould
be.Inrealitybadpointsslipintothesurface,andwe'llshowhowtodeletethemfromitshortly.

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111216

Adjusting the Surface Definition Build Order


Aswe'vesaid,datashouldbeaddedtothesurfacebasedontheaccuracyorreliabilityofthedata,with
thebestdataaddedfirstandmovingsequentiallythroughthedatatothoseofleastaccuracy.Whatif
somethinggetsaddedtothesurfaceoutoforder?Theorderinwhichthesurfacedatashouldbe
evaluatedcanbeadjusted,andthesurfacerebuilt.
IntheProspector,Right-clickontheROAD SECTIONSsurfaceandclickSurface
Properties fromthemenu.IntheSurfacePropertiesdialogclicktotheDefinitiontab.
ThebottompaneoftheSurfacePropertiesdialogshowsthedatapresentlyinthesurface.Thedatawill
beevaluatedfromthetopdownwhenthesurfaceisbuilt.Ifparticulargroupofdataisinthewrong
placeinthelistitcanbeshuffledup,downortothetoporbottomusingthebuttonsontheleftside.
AtthemomenttheBreaklinedataarewheretheybelong,atthetopoftheheap.Theorderinwhich
thetwoPointGroupsappeardoesnotreallymatter,buttheygiveussomethingtoplaywith.Shuffle
theorderofthetwoPointGroupsusingthebuttonsandpressOK.

Figure 1112.23 - Surface Properties Dialog, Definition tab, Before Changing Order

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111217

Thetwoaffectedpointgroupsimmediatelyget glyphs(aswouldanydatabelowthem),andanother
dialogappears,warningthatthesurfaceneedstoberebuilt.Therebuildcanbeperformednowor
queued;presstheRebuild the Surface"button"toexecutetherebuildnow.Hadtherebuild
beenpostponed,thesurfacewouldhavebeenmarkedwitha glyphintheProspectorindicatingthat
therebuildwasneeded.
AdjustingtheSurfaceDefinitionBuildOrdercanbeimportantwhendataareaddedoutofsequence,or
whensurfaceeditsneededtobeprocessedbeforeotherdataareaddedinthebuildprocess.

Figure 1112.24 - Surface Properties - Rebuild Surface Dialog

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111218

Creating a Boundary for the Surface


Thesurfacewouldrequiresomeprettysubstantialeditingasitsitsinthedrawingatthemoment,and
theDeleteLinecommanddiscussedinChapter1111wouldcertainlywork.Whatwouldbebetterwould
betodevelopaboundaryforthesurface,asaclosedpolyline.
TheROAD SECTIONSsurfacereallyshouldnotextendbeyondtheBottomofBankshotsinthe
drawing,andtherearealreadypolylinesdrawnthroughthesepointswheretheROAD SECTIONS
surfaceshouldendandeventuallymeettheEXISTING AERIALsurface.Theproblemisthatthe
BottomofBankbreaklinesdrawnare3Dpolylines,and3Dpolylinescannotbejoinedtocreateaclosed
polylineforaboundary.Someofyouarealreadyjumpingupanddownandshouting"Flatten,flatten!",
butflatteningthe3Dpolylineswouldalterthe3Dpolylinesdynamicallylinkedtothesurfaceandendup
flatteningthesurface.Whatisneededisatoolthatwillmakea2Dpolylinecopyofthe3Dpolylines
drawnthroughtheBottomsofBank,hopefullyonadifferentlayer.Whatcanaccomplishthat?Map.
GettheROAD SECTIONSsurfaceoutofthewayfornowbychangingitsSurface Style in
Surface Propertiesto_No Display.
ChangetotheTool-base Geospatial Workspaceusingthe Workspace Switchingin
theApplication Status Bar.
Sincewe'redonewiththepointsforawhileusethePointGroupDisplayOrdertosuppressthedisplayof
allofthepoints.

Notice how we're not telling you where all of these commands are anymore?

Mean, aren't we?

Zooming intotheintersectionoftheroads,theBottomofBank3Dpolylinesthatneedtobecopied
andconvertedto2DarehighlightedinFigure1112.25

Figure 1112.25 - Bottom of 3D Bank Polylines

FromtheToolstaboftheTool-base Geospatialribbon,Map Edit panel,selectClean


Up.
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111219

Figure 1112.26 - Clean Up in Ribbon

MapDrawingCleanupisastepbystepWizard;ontheSelectObjectspageclicktheoptiontoSelect
manually,andusethe
buttontoselecttheBottomofBank3Dpolylinesinthedrawing,
returningtotheWizard.
WhentheWizardreturns,donotpressNexttoadvancetothenextpage;thenextpageinthewizard
hastoolsforGeometricCleanupActionsthatarenotneededinthisapplication.Instead,jumpinthe
WizardtotheCleanupMethodspagebyclickingonCleanup Methods inthepaneontheleftside.

Figure 1112.27 - Drawing Cleanup Wizard, Select Objects Page

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OntheCleanupMethodspagetoggletheCleanup MethodtoRetain original objects


and create new objects.EnteranewlayerintheCreate on layer field:V-TOPOBNDY-ROADS.Underconvert Selected Objects,clickon 3D Polyline to
Polyline,andhittheFinishbutton.

Figure 1112.28 - Drawing Cleanup Wizard, Cleanup Methods Page

ChangebacktotheCivil 3D Workspace.

Figure 1112.29 - New Bottom of Bank 2D Polylines

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111221


IsolatetheV-TOPO-BNDY-ROADSlayertoworkonthepolylines.
Thepolylinescreatedareall2D,buttheyareeachatdifferentelevations.(Mapusestheelevationofthe
firstvertexofeach3Dpolylineastheconstantelevationofeach2Dpolylinecreated.)Changeallofthe
polylinestoelevation0inProperties.
Inordertobeusedasaboundary,thepolylinesneedtobeturnedintoaclosedpolyline,without
duplicatevertices.Drawclosingsegmentsacrosstwoofthethreeopenends,butnotthethird.Close
thewestendofWeybridgeRoadandthenorthendofChestnutRidgeRoad,butnottheeastendof
WeybridgeRoad.Useeitherpolylinesorlines,drawnendpointto endpoint.
TurnthewholeboundaryintoonepolylineusingthePedit command.
WhenPeditpromptsSelect polyline or [Multiple]: pickanyonepolyline.
AttheEnter an option [Close/Join/Width/Edit vertex/Fit/Spline/Decurve/Ltype
gen/Reverse/Undo]:prompttypeJtojoin,andselectallofthepolylinesdrawn.
WhenthepolylinesarejoinedandtheEnter an option [Close/Join/Width/Edit
vertex/Fit/Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Reverse/Undo]:promptreturnstypeCforcloseto
closetheeastendofWeybridgeroad,thenEnteroutofthecommand.

Figure 1112.30 - Completed Boundary Polyline

LeavetheV-TOPO-BNDY-ROADSlayerisolated;donotturntheotherlayerson.

Yes, we keep Layiso configured to turn layers off

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111222

Adding the Surface Boundary


ToaddtheBoundarytothesurfaceRight-click onBoundariesbelowDefinition underthe
ROAD SECTIONSsurfaceintheProspector,andclickAdd fromthemenu.
IntheAddBoundariesdialogenteraDescription.SettheBoundary typetoOuter.The
optionforNon-destructive breakline canbeoff,asthereisalreadyabreaklineinthesame
location.PressOK.

The boundary types are explained in Chapter 1111.


AttheSelectobject:promptpick theBoundarypolylineinthedrawing.Theboundaryisaddedtothe
surface,andthesurfaceisrebuilt.Thiscannotbeseen,ofcourse,asthelayersareoffandthesurface
styleis_No Display.

Figure 1112.32 - Add Boundaries Dialog

Figure 1112.31 - Add Boundaries

Whytheinstructionstokeeptheboundarylayerisolatedandthesurfaceoutofviewwhileaddingthe
boundary?Everyothertimewe'veaddeddatatoasurfacewe'vetakenpainstobeabletoshowyou
theresultimmediatelywhat'sdifferent?
WhenaddingBoundariestoasurfaceCivil3Dseemstobecome"confused"whenoneobjectisdirectly
ontopofanother.This"confusion"manifestsitselfinmeaninglesserrorsinthEventViewer.Ifthe
otherlayershadbeenturnedonandthesurfacedisplayedtherewouldhavebeenseveralobjects
presentwheretheboundarywasselected,the2Dpolyline,the3DpolylineandaTINlinefromthe
surface.EvenwithDisplayOrdersetcorrectlythiswouldhaveresultedin"confusion".Isolatingthe
layerandsuppressingthesurfacedisplaypreventedtheerrors,andtheappearanceoftheEventViewer.
Restorethepreviouslayerstate,andchangetheSurface Style inSurface Properties
backto_Triangles Only; theimpactoftheboundaryshouldbeimmediatelyevident.
Savethedrawingbeforecontinuing.

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Figure 1112.33 - Surface with Boundary Applied

Surface Editing
Therewillusuallybeinstanceswhenasurfaceneedstobeeditedoncebuilt;pointsgetincludedinthe
surfacethatshouldnotbe,TINlinesrunacrossslopesoffeaturesratherthanwithslopes,orpointsfail
tobeincludedthatshouldbe.Generally,themoreeffortisputintobreaklinesforasurfacetheless
editingwillberequired,butsomeminoramountusuallyis.Addingaboundaryaroundtheoutsideedge
eliminatestheneedforlaboriousdeletingoflinesthereprovidedtheboundaryworks.
TIN Line and Vertex Editing

InordertoedittheTINthesurfacemustbedisplayedusingaSurfaceStylethatshowsthetriangles.The
trianglescanbetheonlyelementshown,asisthecaseatthemoment,orthetrianglescanbeshown
alongwithotherelements,suchasthecontours.TheCivilTraining.Comtemplatedrawingincludestwo
Proposed Contours - Edit Surfacestylesthatdisplaycontoursandtrianglesforthispurpose.
TheEditSurfacecommandsthemselvescanbeaccessedeitheroftwoways:Right-clickingonthe
Edits levelbelowDefinitionbelowtheSurface NamerevealsanEdit Surface Menu,
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111224

andclicking onthesurfacetoselectitinthedrawingdisplaystheTIN SurfaceContextualTab


intheRibbon,whereEdit SurfaceisfoundontheModify Panel.Bothaccessmethodsare
showninfigure1112.34.

Figure 1112.34 - Edit Surface Commands

RememberthatCivil3DsuppressesAutoCAD'sSelectionSetAutomaticinEditSurfacecommandslike
DeleteLinepickinginblankspaceinthedrawingshouldstartanautomaticWindoworCrossing,but
doesn't.ACrossingselectioncanbestartedwithinthecommandbytypingC,oraFence
selectionbytypingF.Theadvancedselectionoptionswork,butwon'tstartautomatically.

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TheareanumberoflocationsaroundtheROAD SECTIONSsurfacewhereTINlinesrunacross,rather
thanwith,slopes.ThesearegoodcandidatesfortheSwapEdgecommand,whichchangesthedirection
oftriangulationinthesurface.PickingSwap Edge fromeithertheribbonormenushownabove,
pickindividualsubentityTINlinesinthesurfacetoflipthem.ThesurfacechangesasseeninFigure
1112.36.Iftherealotofthesetopotentiallychangeit'softenagoodideatoexaminethesurfaceinone
ofthetwoProposed Contours - Edit Surfacestylesthatdisplaycontoursandtriangles;sometimesit
lookslikefaceswillneedtobeflippedbutdoingsoreallywon'taffectacontour.

Figure 1112.35 - TIN Lines Before Swap Edge

Figure 1112.36 - TIN Lines After Swap Edge

ThesurfaceeditingcommandsinvolvingPoints,AddPoint,DeletePoint,ModifyPointandMovePoint,
necessitatethatSurfacePoints,oractuallysurfacevertices,bedisplayed.Todisplaythesurfacevertices
useSurface Properties,fromaRight-clickonthesurfaceineitherthedrawingorthe
Prospector.IntheSurfacePropertiesdialogclicktotheInformation tab,,andpressthe button
totherightoftheSurface styleselection,pickingEdit Current Selectionfromthe
menu.

Figure 1112.37 - Edit Current Selection on Surface Style

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IntheSurfaceStyledialogclicktotheDisplaytab.ClickOnthevisibilityofthePointsinthe
dialog,changingtheglyphintheVisiblecolumnfrom
dialogandOKfromtheSurfacePropertiesdialog.

to

.PressOKfromtheSurfaceStyle

Figure 1112.38 - Surface Style Dialog with Surface Points Visible

WiththesurfacePointsdisplayedasshowninFigure1112.40thesurfacepointeditcommandscanbe
used,indcludingDeletePoint;remembertoturnthedisplayofsurfacePointsbackoffbeforesavingthe
drawing.

Figure 1112.39 - Surface Without Points Displayed

Figure 1112.40 - Surface With Points Displayed

Dont try to save a drawing with surface Points displayed.

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Surface Edits and the Edit History

Thehistoryofsurfaceeditsperformedisaddedtothesurfacedefinitioninthesamedisplayasthe
additionofdataintheSurfacePropertiesdialog,andindividualeditscanbeturnedoff,deletedfromthe
processingofthesurface,ormovedupordownintheorder.Changesmadeareprocessedwhenthe
surfaceisrebuilt.
IntheProspector,Right-clickontheROAD SECTIONSsurfaceandclickSurface
Properties fromthemenu.IntheSurfacePropertiesdialogclicktotheDefinitiontab.
ThebottompaneoftheSurfacePropertiesdialogshowsthedatapresentlyinthesurface,includingthe
edits.Thecheckboxesinfrontofeachlineallowsanedittobeturnedoff,andarightclickonan
individualeditwouldallowittobedeletedfromthesurfaceprocessing.Itisfrequentlynecessaryto
processsomeeditsbeforeaddingadditionaldatatoasurface,sothemanipulationoftheordercan
becomeincreasinglyimportantasmoredataareaddedtothesurface.PressOKtoclosethedialog,
leavingtheeditsinplace.

Figure 1112.41 - Surface Edits in Surface Properties Dialog

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111228

Smoothing Surfaces

Contoursmootingisaconceptthatmostoperatorsarefamiliarwith,butCivil3Dcanalsosmooth
surfaces.Smoothingasurfaceactuallymodifiesthesurfaceitself,reducingitstendencytoproduce
contoursthatareextrememlyirregular.Theresultisacontourthathasmoreofahanddrawn
appearance.ExtremecareshouldbetakeninhowandwhereSurfaceSmoothingisapplied,asthe
processchangesthesurface,notthecontours.Ifsurfacesaretobethesourceofstakeoutpointdata,
accuracycouldbelost.Surfacesmoothingdoeslenditselfbettertoproposedsurfaceapplications,and
we'lldealwithitindetailinlaterchapters.
Briefly,theSmoothSurfacecommandfromeitherthemenuorribbondisplaysthedialogboxshownin
Figure1112.42.SurfaceSmoothinginCivil3Dcanuseeitheroftwomethods,Naturalneighbor
interpolation,orKriging.
Naturalneighborinterpolation,orNNI,effectivelyoverlaysthesurfacewithnewpointsatadesiredgrid
spacinganddensity.Theprogramthencalculatesnewelelvationsforeachgridpointbasedonexisting
TINverticesinclosestproximity.
Krigingisafarmoreintensivemathematicalanalysisthatusesanyoffivestatisticalmodelstoevaluate
datatrendsinthesurface,andcanevenextendasurfacebeyondtheoriginallimitsofthedata.Agood
understandingoftheKrigingprocessisimportantbeforeapplyingthemethod,andsomeresearchon
thewebintoKrigingisstronglyrecommendedbeforeventuringintoitsapplication.

If the phrase "model the covariance or semivariogram of the spatial process" isnt familiar, do
some Reading before doing some Kriging.

Figure 1112.42 - Smooth Surface Dialog, with NNI and Kriging Selections

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Simplifying Surfaces

SimplifyingSurfacescanbeusedtoreducetheoverallsizeanddrawingfootprintofasurface,witha
minimalamountofaccuracydegradation.SimplifyingSurfacescanbeespeciallyimportantwith
surfacespreparedfromLIDARdata,whichisbecomingmorecommonwithaerials.SimplifyingSurfaces
isalsoatopicaddressedindetailinlaterchapters,butagainanoverviewispresentedhere.
TheSimplifySurfacecommandfromthemenuorribbondisplaysthedialogshowninFigure1112.43,
andagaintherearetwomethods,EdgeContractionandPointRemoval.
EdgeContractionlooksatthetriangleswithinasurfaceandchangesmultipletriangleswiththesame
slopetoasinglepoint,reducingthenumberoffaces.
PointRemovalexaminesthenumberofactualverticesinthesurface,andthinsthesurfacebyreducing
thenumberofpoints.
SimplifyingaSurfacecanbehelpfulwhenasurfacehasexceeded2.5millionvertices,resultinginthe
creationofasurface .mmsfile(MemoryMapSurfacefile).Civil3Dwritesthesurfacetoa.mmsfile,
placingitinthesamelocationasthedrawing,ifthesurfaceexceedsthe2.5millionvertexlevel.Ifthe
surfaceisthenSimplified,andtheresultingsurfacefallsbelow2.5millionvertices,thesurfaceispulled
backintothedrawingfileandthe.mmsfileisdeleted.

Figure 1112.43 - Simplify Surface dialog, with Edge Contraction and Point Removal Selections

Pasting Surfaces

Pasting,ormergingsurfacesbringsdatafromonesmaller(child)surfaceintoandreplacesdataina
larger(parent)surface.Theprocedureresultsinacombinedsurface,andisoftenusedtocombine
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gradingwithexistingconditions,orhigheraccuracyexistingwithloweraccuracyexisting,aswewilldo
here.
Manyoperatorshavedifficultieswithpastingsurfaces,bothinCivil3Dandinpreviousproducts.In
orderforonesurfacetobepastedintoanotherthesmallerchildsurfacemusthavelogicalconnections
withtheparentsurfaceitmustactuallymeettheparentsurfacealongitsperimeterandcannotfloat
aboveorbelowit.Whenonesurfaceispastedintoanothertheprocessmustbeabletoform
reasonableTINtrianglesbetweenthetwo.Thesetrianglescannotbevertical,astheTINgeneratorin
Civil3Dcannothandleverticalfaces.Ifthechildsurfacesitsaboveorbelowtheparenttoany
significantdegreeverticalfaceswouldbeformedandtheprocesswillfail.Whatisa"significant
degree?"It'slargelyamatteroftrialanderror,butthebetterachildsurfacematchesintotheparent
alongitsouterboundarythebetteritwillpaste.

Pasting Surfaces to Create the Existing Combined


TheEXISTING AERIALsurfacepreparedearliercontainedphotogrammetricdataalongWeybridge
andChestnutRidgeroads.Thesedatahavenowbeensupplementedwithsurveyeddataintheformof
theROAD SECTIONSsurface.Inordertousethebestavailabledataforgradingandallworkthat
followsintheprojectthetwosurfacesneedtobebroughttogethertoformonecombinedsurface.
Whiletheroadsurfacecouldbemergeddirectlyintotheaerial,it'susuallydesirabletopreservethe
aerialsurfaceasitwasbuilt.Thisleadstothecreationofathirdsurface,EXISTING COMBINED,
whichbeginsasacopyofEXISTING AERIAL;theROAD SECTIONSsurfaceisthenpastedintothis
thirdsurface.

Copying the Aerial Surface

CopyingasurfaceinCivil3DactuallytakesplaceusingaregularAutoCADcopycommand,astheobject
beingcopiedisadrawingentity.Someconsiderationneedstobemadetothedestinationlayerofthe
newsurface,though,soavariationontheAutoCADcommandwillbeused.
Inordertobecopied,theEXISTING AERIALsurfaceneedstobeselectable,anditispresentinthe
drawinginthe_No Displaystyleatthemoment.
UseSurface PropertiesfromtheProspector tochangetheSurface Styleofthe
EXISTING AERIALsurfacetoBorder Only.Whileyou'rethere,changetheSurface Styleofthe
ROAD SECTIONSsurfaceto_No Display.
ThelayersusedfortheboundaryandbreaklinesfortheROAD SECTIONSsurfacearestilldisplayed;
freeze theV-TOPO-BNDY-ROADSandV-TOPO-BRKL-ROADSlayers,settinganyotherlayer
currentforthemoment.AlsofreezetheR-BOUNDARY,R-CONTOURS-10andR-CONTOURS-2
layers,whichweretheoriginalaerialdata.
Sincewewantthenewsurfacecreatedbythisprocesstobeonanewlayer,executethecopyofthe
surfacewiththeCopytolayercommand.ThiscommandcanbefoundontheCivil 3Dribbon's
Home tab,Layer panel,accessingthedropdownandpickingtheiconasshowninFigure1112.44.

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Figure 1112.44 - Copytolayer in Ribbon

AttheSelect objects to copy:promptpicktheEXISTING AERIALsurfaceborder.Press


Entertoendtheselection.
TheCopytoLayerdialogdisplays.TypethenewlayernameinthetopofthedialogasV-TOPOEXISTING COMBINED andpressOK.TheCreateLayer?dialogdisplays,pressYes.

Figure 1112.46 - Create Layer? Dialog

Figure 1112.45- Copy to Layer Dialog

Therewillbeanoticeablepauseasthesurfaceiscopied.Whenthepromptappears:
1 object(s) copied and placed on layer "V-TOPO-EXISTING COMBINED".
Specify base point or [Displacement/eXit] <eXit>:

PressEnter tokeepthecopyinthesamelocationastheoriginal.
ThenewsurfaceappearsintheProspectoras
EXISTING AERIAL (2),andislocked,astheoriginal
waslockedwhencopied.

Figure 1112.47 - New Surface in Prospector

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AtthispointitisimportanttochangetheSurfacestyleoftheEXISTING AERIALsurfacebackto_No
Displaytopreventaccidentallyselectingit.
Severalthingsneedtobedonewiththenewsurface.Right-click ontheEXISTING AERIAL (2)
surfaceintheProspector,andbringupSurface Properties.
Unlockthesurface;itcannotberenameduntilunlocked.
ChangethesurfaceName toEXISTING COMBINED. ChangetheDescriptionasappropriate.
ChangetheSurface Styleto Triangles Only.
PressOK.

Figure 1112.48 - Changes to Surface Properties for Existing Combined Surface

Zoomintotheareaoftheintersectionofthetworoadsinthedrawing,andSavethedrawing.

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Pasting the Road Sections Surface

PicktheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceinthedrawingtodisplayitscontextualTabintheribbon,or


expandtheDefinitionlevelbelowitsnameintheProspector.Fromeitherlocation,access
Edit Surface/Editsasshowninfigure1112.49,andpick Paste Surface.

Figure 1112.49 - Paste Surface in Prospector and Ribbon

TheSelectSurfacetoPastedialog
displays.PicktheROAD SECTIONS
surfaceandpressOK.
Theimpactisimmediateanddramatic.
Savethedrawing.

Figure 1112.50 - Select Surface to Paste Dialog

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Figure 1112.51 - Existing Combined Before Paste

Figure 1112.51 - Existing Combined After Paste

Surface Status Indications in the Prospector


AssoonastheROAD SECTIONSsurfaceispastedintotheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceanew
glyphappearsonROAD SECTIONSa orDependencyglyphwhichmeansitisusedsomewhere
elseintheEXISTING COMBINED surface.
AtthistimeboththeROAD SECTIONSandEXISTING COMBINED surfacesareunlocked;surfaces
shouldalwaysbelockedwhennotbeingedited.Right-click oneachintheProspectorand
selectLockfromthemenu.
ThefactthattheROAD SECTIONSsurfaceiscombinedintotheEXISTING COMBINED surface,and
botharelocked,willeventuallyresultinanannoyinganomalyinCivil3D;soonerorlaterawarningglyph
isgoingtoappearononeorbothofthesurfaces,tryingtoconvinceyouthataRebuildofthe
surfaceisneeded.Thiswilloccurinspiteofthefactthatnothinghaschangedinthedataineither
surface,anditpointsoutsomethingaboutglyphsincivil3Dtheysometimeslie.Arebuildofthe
surfaceswouldnotbenecessary,andwouldbetimeconsumingatbest.Itisimportantheretomake
surethatarebuilddoesnotoccurautomatically,andit'sagoodideatomakesuretheRebuild
Automatic settingonsurfacesiskeptoff,uncheckedintheProspector,asseeninFigure1112.54.

Figure 1112.52 - Dependency Glyph

Figure 1112.53 - Surfaces Locked

Figure 1112.54 - Rebuild Automatic Off

Contouring Surfaces

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Contouringthesurfaceincivil3DissimplyamatterofchangingtoaSurfacestylesettodisplay
contours.Right-click ontheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceintheProspectorordrawing,and
useSurface PropertiestochangetheStyletoExisting Contours 2' and 10'.Thedrawing
appearancechangestocontours,asseeninFigure1112.55.

Figure 1112.55 - Existing Contours 2' and 10'

That group of circular contours in Figure 1112.55 is an American Indian burial mound.

TheformatofthecontoursinaSurfaceStyleiscontrolledwithinthepropertiesofthestyle.Toexamine
theproperties,Right-click againontheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceintheProspectoror
drawing,andaccessSurface Properties,andusethe buttontotherightofthesurfaceStyle
selectiontoEdit Current Selection.

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OntheContourstabintheSurfaceStyledialogtheContour Intervals settingsestablishthe


valuesfortheMajor IntervalandMinor Interval,setto10'and2' respectivelyinthisstyle.
TheContour Smoothing optionissettoyes,orTrueinthisstyle,andtheSmoothing Type
isAdd Vertices asopposedtoSplinecurved.WhenAddVerticesisusedthedegreeofsmoothingis
controlledbytheContour Smoothingslidebaratthebottom.

Figure 1112.56 - Surface Properties - Contour Tab

ChangingtotheDisplay tabintheSurfaceStyledialogtheComponentsturnedonaretheMajor
contourandMinorContour.ThisstyleusesColorControllayersforthecontours,sothelayer
assignmentsforthecontoursareV-TOPO-MAJRandV-TOPO-MINRasseen.Changingthecolorand
linetypeofthesetwolayersinthedrawingcontrolsthedisplayoftheexistingcontours.PressOKtwice
toreturntothedrawing.

Figure 1112.57 - Surface Properties - Display Tab

Surface Labeling
Surfaceinformationcanbelabeledavarietyofways,includingcontourlabelsandspotelevationlabels.
Thecommandstoinvoketheselabelscanbeaccessedinavarietyofways,butthebestplacetoaccess
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111237

thecommandsisthroughthegeneral`interfaceinCivil3D,asonlytherecanallofthestyleoptionsbe
adjusted.
TodisplaytheAddLabelsdialog,changetotheAnnotatetabintheCivil 3Dribbon.Thereisan
Add Labels buttonontheupperleftquadrantoftheLabels & Tablespanelasshownin
Figure1112.58.

Figure 1112.58 - Add Labels Button in Civil 3D Ribbon Annotate Tab

Contour Labels

Tosetstylesandcreatecontourlabels,accesstheAdd Labelstoolasdescribedabove.IntheAdd
LabelsdialogchangetheFeature TypetoSurface.
TherearethreecontourlabelingcommandsintheAddlabelsdialog:Contour - Single,
Contour - Multiple andContour Multiple at Interval.Allthreecommandswork
essentiallythesameway,placingeitherlabelsonindividualcontours,groupsofcontoursoratrepeating
intervalsongroupsofcontoursrespectively.Use Contour - Multipleforthisexample.
IndividualMajor Contour Label StyleandMinor
Contour Label Styleselectionscanbemade.The
CivilTraining.comtemplatedrawinghasalargenumberof
optionstoselectfrom;chooseEX Major L100 Even Planfor
themajorstyleandEX Minor L60 Even Planfortheminor
style.ThesestyleslabelwithslantedtextattheL100andL60
sizes(0.10"and0.06"),labelevencontourintervals(no
decimal),andareplanreadable(notupslope).
Withthestylesselected,pressAddtoplacethelabels;the
dialogremainsonscreen.

Figure 1112.59 - Add Labels Dialog for Contour Labels

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AsthecommandpromptsSelect a surface <or press enter key to select from list>:


picktheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceinthedrawingbypickingoneofthecontours.
ThecommandpromptsSpecify first point or [Objects]:pickthefirstpointforaline
alongwhichcontourlabelsshouldlie.ContinuetopickpointsattheSpecify next point:prompt,
addinglabelsalongthelineuntilpressingEntertoendthecommand.

Figure 1112.60 - Adding Contour Labels with Contour - Multiple

Eachofthecontourlabelscreatedinoneoperationofthecommandislinkedwithaninvisiblelinethat
controlstheirposition.Clickingonalabelrevealsthisline,andthelabelpositionscanbeadjustedby
adjustingthislinewithitsgrips.EventhelabelsproducedbytheContourSinglecommandhavealabel
controllineofthistypeandcanbesimilarlyadjusted.

Figure 1112.61 - contour Label Control Line Revealed with Grips

TheexistingcontourlabelstylesintheCivilTraining.comtemplateusethecolorcontrollayersareVTOPO-MAJR-LABLandV-TOPO-MINR-LABLfortheirvisibilitysettings.
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Spot Elevation Labels

Toplaceaspotelevationlabel,changetheLabel TypeintheAddLabelsdialogtoSpot
Elevation.ChangetheSpot Elevation Label StyletoExisting,andtheMarker
StyletoSpot Elev.PresstheAdd button.
AsthecommandpromptsSelect a surface <or press enter key to select from list>:
picktheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceinthedrawingbypickingoneofthecontours.
ThecommandpromptsSelect a Point:;pickanywhereonthesurfacetoplacealabel.Continue
pickingpointsforlabels,orpressEntertoendthecommand.

Figure 1112.62 - Spot Elevation Labels

TheexistingspotelevationstyleintheCivilTraining.comtemplateusesthecolorcontrollayersareVTOPO- LABLforitsvisibilitysettings.
Asitisamodelessdialog,theAddLabelsdialogcanremainonscreenwhileothercommandsareused;it
canbeclosedwiththeClosebuttonwhendonewithlabeling.

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Viewing and Checking the Surface


Asurfaceshouldalwaysbeexaminedcriticallyforerrorsbeforeitisusedinanalysisandengineering;
thisisastepoverlookedfartoooften.
Onegoodwaytoexaminethesurfaceistolookatthecontoursproducedfromit,andthepresentstyle
facilitatesthat.
Anothergoodwaytocheckthesurfaceistoexploreitin3D.
BesuretoSavethedrawingbeforeventuringinto3D

Make sure the drawing is saved before viewing in 3D.


Right-click ontheEXISTING COMBINED surfaceintheProspectorordrawing,anduse
Surface PropertiestochangetheStyletoTriangles Only.PresstheApplybuttonto
changethestyleinthedrawing,butremainintheSurfacePropertiesdialog.
Usethe buttontotherightofthesurfaceStyleselectiontoEdit Current Selectionofthe
selectedTriangles Onlystyle.
ChangetotheDisplaytabintheSurfaceStyledialog,accesstheView Directiondropdownas
showninFigure1112.63,andchangetheView Direction toModel.Makesurethe
Triangles componentissettoVisibleinthedialog,andistheonlycomponentvisible.PressOK
fromtheSurfaceStyledialogandOKfromtheSurfacePropertiesdialog.

Figure 1112.63 - Surface Style Dialog - Display Tab

TurnoffalllayersexcepttheV-TOPO-EXISTING COMBINEDlayeronwhichthesurfaceresides,
usingeither LayisoortheLayer Properties Manager.

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TypeOrbit atthecommandline;astheorbitcommand
initializesslowlyrotatethemodelintoa3Dview.Onceina3D
position,right-click intheorbitcommand,andselect
Visual Styles Realistic.
Asthedisplaysstabilizes,right-clickagainintheorbit
commandandchooseExit.
Atthecommandprompt,typeVSEdges,andchangethesetting
to0tosuppressedgedisplay.
ReturntotheOrbit command,andexplorethesurfaceas
desired.
ItmaybehelpfultochangethecoloroftheV-TOPO-EXISTING
COMBINEDlayerforeasierviewing.

Figure 1112.64 - Visual Style Selection

Figure 1112.65 - 3D View of Surface

The3Ddisplayofthesurfacewilloftenshowdetailandpotentialerrorsthatwouldbedifficulttodetect
inanyotherfashion.
Whendonewiththe3Dexamination,returntoanormalvisualstylebytypingVSCurrentand
changingto2D,andtoaplanviewbytypingPlanandreturningtoaplanviewofthecurrent
coordinatesystem.Thepreviouslayerscanberestored,andtheSurfaceStylesetbacktoExisting
Contours 2' and 10'.

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111242

Using a Quick Profile to Check the Surface


Anothertoolusefultocheckthesurface,particularlyinspecificcriticalareas,istogenerateaQuick
Profilefromit.TheQuickProfiletoolinCivil3Dutilizesmanyoftheconceptsandcontrolsfrom
alignmentsandprofiles,whichwewillcoverindetailinlaterchapters.WewanttoshowtheQuick
Profiletoolhereinthecontextofcheckingthesurface,thoughmanyofthenuancesofprofilingwont
bediscusseduntillater.
Zoomintoanareainthedrawingnearwherethestreambreaklineswereproducedinchapter1111;
we'llseehowwellthebreaklineswereprocessedinthesurfacebycuttingaprofileorcrosssection
throughthestream.
UsetheAnalyze tabofthe
Civil 3Dribbon,andpick
Quick Profilefromthe
Ground Datapanel.

Figure 1112.66 - Analyze Tab - Quick Profile Command

Asthecommandprompts:
Select object or [by Points]: ptypePforpickedpoints,Enter
Select first point or [by Object]:pickthefirstpointacrossthestream
Specify second point:pickasecondpointontheoppositesideofthestream
Specify next point or [hit enter to end]:press Entertoend(althoughmorepoints

couldbepicked).
TheCreateQuickProfilesdialogdisplays.
TurnofftheoptiontoSelect all
surfaces,andselectonlythe
EXISTING COMBINEDsurface.
ChangetheProfile View Styleto
Longitudinal Profile 5:1;this
selectionwillprovidea5:1vertical
exaggerationinthesection.PressOK.

Figure 1112.67 - Create Quick Profiles Dialog

ThecommandpromptsSelect profile view origin:;pickaninsertionpointfortheupperleft


cornerofthequickProfilegrid.
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TheEventViewerappears,warningthattheQuickProfileisatemporaryobjectthatwillnotremainin
thedrawingpermanently.Clear All Events fromtheEvenVieweranddispatchitintheusual
fashion.
TheresultingQuickProfileinthedrawinggivesaclearindicationoftheconditionsmodeledbythe
surface;theexaminationisfacilitatedbytheverticalexaggerationinthesectionorprofile.

Figure 1112.68 - Quick Profile or Section

ThelabelingoftheQuickProfileisderivedfromthealignmentandprofilesettingselsewhereinthe
program.
TheQuickSectioncanbemovedaroundthedrawing,andcanbeplotted.Itwill,however,notsurvivea
drawingSave,anddisappears.

Try it.

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111244

Surface Analysis Styles


AnumberofsurfaceanalysescanbeperformedusingstylebasedtoolsinCivil3D.Theanalysescan
includeelevationandslopeconsiderations,andtheoutputcanbeintheformofanumberof2Dand3D
representations.
Considerationshouldbegiventothefactthateachsurfaceanalysisperformedwillactuallyresultin
whatshouldbeanewdrawing;thetemptationtoexecuteanumberofsurfaceanalysesintheExisting
Basedrawing,eachsavedasaSaveAs,wouldbedisastrous.TheExisting Basedrawingatthemoment
isalittleover18mbinsize.Anumberofcopiesofthisdrawingdisplaying2Dor3Dtriangleswillbevery
large.ThisisaplacewheretheCivil3DProjectisneeded;theExisting Basedrawingshouldbeusedas
thesourceforanynumberofanalysisdrawing,eachofwhichwillbeconsiderablysmallerasthey
consumethesurfacefromtheproject.
We'lltalkabouttheuseofthesurfaceinaprojectinthenextchapter,andwe'llproducesomesurface
analysisdrawingsfromtheEXISTING COMBINEDsurfaceatthattime.Forthemomentwe'll
illustratetheprocessofapplyingasurfaceanalysisstyletocreateaslopeanalysisdrawing,thoughwe
won'tannotateorsaveit.
UseSurface PropertiestochangetheStyleoftheEXISTING COMBINEDsurfaceagain,this
timechangingitto Banding Slope (2D) asshowninfigure1112.69.

Figure 1112.69 - Surface Style Set to Banding Slope (2D)

ChangetotheAnalysistabintheSurfacePropertiesdialog.

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OntheAnalysistabchangetheAnalysis typetoSlopes.
Forthisprojectthedesireistohighlightslopes10%orgreaterandthose25%orgreater.Accordingly,
changetheNumberofrangesto2;wedontwanttocolorcodetheslopeslessthan10%atall.
TurnofftheoptiontoScale scheme to fit,allowingmanualadjustmentoftherangevalues.
Pressthe

buttontoadd2rangestothewindowatthebottomofthedialog.

BeginningwiththeMinimumSlopevalueforthehighestrange,adjusttheMinimum Slopeand
Maximum Slope valuesforeachrangeasshowninFigure1112.70.DontadjusttheMaximum
Slopevalueofthelastrange;itisthesteepestslopesintheTINandshouldbeleftalone.

Many people change the Maximum Slope value on the last range to 100%.

Doing so wipes out


any slopes greater than 1:1. Remember that as the slope approaches vertical the percent grade
approaches infinity.

PressOKtocreatetheanalysis.

Figure 1112.70 - Slope Analysis Settings

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Thecompletedslopeanalysislookslikethis:

Figure 1112.71 - Completed Slope Analysis

TheBanding slope (2D) Surfacestyleisadjustedtoincludethesamecontourdisplayparametersasthe


Existing Contours 2' and 10'style,sothatbothtypesofdataaredisplayed.
ChangetheSurfacestylebacktoExisting Contours 2' and 10',andSavethedrawing.We'lllookat
moresurfaceanalysisoptionsinthenextchapter.

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