There are multiple ways of organizing AutoCAD Civil 3D

project drawings. Three of the most common approaches are as

follows:
1.Single-Design Drawing Projects

Since AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces, alignments, and other AEC

objects can be entirely drawing-based, you can have a single
drawing file act as the repository for all design data.
Realistically, this might only be feasible with the smallest
projects and/or those worked on by only one person. The only
external data would be survey databases, and possibly drawings
containing plotting layouts.

2.Multiple Drawings Sharing Data using Shortcuts

This approach permits multiple survey and design drawings that
share data. For example, a surface could exist in one drawing
and an alignment in another. A third could contain a surface
profile based on the alignment and terrain model, and all could
be kept in sync with each other using Data Shortcuts. This
approach is usually preferable to the single-drawing approach,
because it permits more than one user to work on the project at
the same time (in the different design drawings) and keeps the
drawings at a more manageable size. Using data shortcuts is
essential in larger projects to ensure that the regeneration time
for drawings is at an acceptable speed. This approach does not
create any external project data other than survey databases
and XYL data files that are used to share data between
drawings. Once an object has been referenced into the drawing
and the drawing has been saved, the object is saved in the
drawing.
Therefore, it only needs access to the source drawing for
validation and synchronization purposes if the source object
changes. This makes it easy to share drawings with others
because it ensures that the referenced objects are displayed even
if the source drawings are not available Shortcuts tend to be
efficient for projects with a small number of drawings and
project team members. Since the XML data files that connect
 drawings must be managed manually, keeping a large number of
drawings and/or people in sync with shortcuts can be
cumbersome. It is highly recommended that you
establish procedures to ensure that data is not unintentionally
deleted or changed. You will also want to document these
procedures very carefully.

Multiple Drawings Sharing Data with Autodesk

Vault
The Autodesk Vault program is a data and document
management system (ADMS). It is used in conjunction with other
Autodesk applications in different industries. When working with
the Autodesk Vault program, all project drawings, survey
databases, and references are managed and stored inside an SQL-
managed database. Autodesk Vault consists of user-level access
permissions, drawing check-in/out, project templates, automated
backups, data versioning, etc. These benefits are offset by the
additional time required to manage and administer
the database, and in some cases purchasing additional hardware
and software. If you work on large projects with multiple design
drawings or have many team members (more than 10), you
might find that the Autodesk Vault is the best way to keep those
projects organized. In the AutoCAD Civil 3D workflow, you
can use two methods of project collaboration to share AutoCAD
Civil 3D design data:
Data Shortcuts and Vault references. Autodesk Vault and Data
Shortcuts can be used to share design data between drawing files
in the same project, such as alignment definitions, profiles,
surfaces, pipe networks, and View Frames. They do not permit
the sharing of profile views, assemblies, corridors, sample line
groups, or other AutoCAD
Civil 3D objects. Drawing sets using shortcuts typically use and
reference other line work and annotations between drawings.
Whether using Vault Shortcuts or Data Shortcuts, the process is
similar.
The example in Figure (1) shows the sharing of data in a project
collaboration environment. The data is divided into three
distinctive levels. Using either Data Shortcuts or Autodesk
Vault, these levels can be accessed and contributed to, on a local
or remote server.

FIGURE(1)

Starting a Project
Estimated time for completion: 15 minutes
In this practice you will walk through the steps of creating
project-based Data Shortcuts folders.
Task 1 - Set the Working folder.
In this task, you will set up a new working folder as the location
in which to store Data Shortcut projects. The default working
folder for Data Shortcut projects is C:\Civil 3D Projects.
1. Open DS-A1-Shortcuts.dwg from the C:\Civil 3D
Projects\Civil3D-Training\Data Shortcuts folder.
2. In the Manage tab>Data Shortcuts panel, select Set Working
Folder, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure( 2)
3. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, select the Civil 3D
Projects folder and click , as shown on the left
in Figure 3 Type Learning Data Shortcuts as the folder name
and click , as shown on the right in
Figure 4.
Learning Objective

working folder for the project being worked on.

Figure 4

This help sheet covers the method for importing survey points
into a Civil 3D drawing and managing the points in Civil 3D
point groups. The data in the file can be in many different
formats (comma delimited, space delimited, etc.) and in
different orders (PNEZD, PENZD, etc.). The format and order is
chosen when exporting the data from the data collector. You can
also open the downloaded file using EXCEL or NOTEPAD and
view the data. You will need to know which format and order
your data is in before importing.
Note: Point Name can be alpha or numeric, point number can
only be numeric Typically ND GPS data is imported using the
Name NEZD comma delineated point file format.
The following examples assume the data is in point number,
northing, easting, elevation, and point description (PNEZD) and
is comma separated.
ppearance of text file data:

Appearance of csv file data:

Adding Points to a Drawing
In civil 3D points are numbered and named uniquely. Each
point has properties that can include information such as
northing, easting, elevation, and description. A point that is
displayed in a drawing can have additional properties that
control its appearance, such as a point style, a point label style,
and a layer.
1) Ensure your coordinate system is set for your drawing (see

2) There are 2 methods for opening the Create Points toolbar: a.

Toolspace > Prospector Tab >

-or-

i. The Create Points toolbar will open 1. Click on the Import

Points Icon (far right icon)
a. The Import Points dialog box will open (see screen shot
below) i. Specify the Point File Format
ii. Click on the white + sign to browse to the file location 1.
Select the file > click Open a. The Import Points Dialog box will
now show a preview of the points.

the point group you want them to go in. However, you may have
to edit the point group to remove points that do not represent the
point group. 1. For example, if you check the Existing Group
point group, you would need to edit that point group to remove
points on top of a wall or a tbm that is not at ground level.

iv. The advanced options should not be checked unless you are
transforming points from one coordinate system to another (see
help sheet).
i. Click OK to import the data into the drawing 1. To zoom to
your points a. Double click the wheel of your mouse

b. type ZE in the command line (zoom to extents)

ii. You can close the Create Points toolbar by clicking the X in
the upper right corner of the toolbar

Duplicate Point Number a. When you add points, it is possible

that the point numbers will conflict with those that already exist
in the drawing. Several options are given for a resolution. i. The

will result in the point numbers being higher than existing point
numbers.

Note: this only changes point numbers that are conflicting. It

will not re-number all the points that are currently being
imported
Having trouble finding a specific point? a. In Toolspace >

part of toolspace) all the points will be listed 1. You can right
Viewing/Modifying-Editing/Locking Points a. Viewing the
> In the preview
(lower portion of toolspace) all the points in the drawing are
now listed.

b. Modifying & Editing the Points

1) Points can be moved, rotated, and deleted with the basic

AutoCad commands (move, rotate, erase).
2) Click on a point and move it simply by dragging it to where
you want it (use this with CAUTION!)
3) Select a point and open the properties box and change most of
the properties such as description, northing, elevation, style.
4) Select a point > right click > choose from an array of options
including editing specific items, changing the datum, etc.

portion of toolspace) all the points in the drawing are now listed.
You can edit any of the fields by simply clicking the field you
want to edit and overwriting the data. You can also right click in
one of the fields and choose from a number of options.
6) You can reposition the point label (the dragged state property
style will control how the point looks and behaves when the
label is moved from its original position.) Use the appropriate
grip to move the label.
After selecting the point, hover over the grips to see the options.

USDA-

After the label is placed in a dragged state more grips will

become available. Hover over the grips to see the new selections
To reset the label you can select the point > right click > and
select reset label

Locking points prevents either individual points or all the points

from being modified. a. To lock an individual point: Toolspace
> Prospector tab > Points > in the preview pane right click on
the point > lock/unlock
b. To lock all the points: Toolspace > Prospector tab > right
click on Points > lock/unlock
c. When points are locked the locked symbol will appear next to
them in the preview pane.
Point Groups
Point groups are a named subset or collection of points and are a
powerful tool for organizing points and controlling their style
and visibility.

the points groups along with the point style and point label style
are shown in the preview area.

style to the whole group instead of to each individual point (see

Point and Point Label Style section below for information on
creating and editing these styles if applicable).
The points in the point group share a common characteristic o

existing ground points go into one point group and all the
property line points go into another point group
to include all points in the drawing
o No Display is set to include all points in the drawing, but the
style is set so they are not shown.
o Most of the point groups are set to include specific raw
descriptions, therefore when you add points to your drawing the
point groups will automatically populate according to the points
raw descriptions!

Updating Point Groups

change occurs (via the icons in the prospector tab). o The icon
indicates there is data associated with that point group.

once you bring point into your drawing you will notice some of
the point groups have data associated with them and some are
out of date!
The preview box in Toolspace is also reflective of point groups
with data.

Point Group Hierarchy

Points groups are displayed in model space according to the

first (or highest) point group in the list are shown in model space
first.
p (such
as All Points, No Display, and Existing Ground) the points
styles are shown for the point group highest in the display order
and is unaffected by the points groups that are lower in the
display order.
yle, point label
style, and the layer are used to display the point.

o To view the Point Group Display Order: Toolspace >

Prospector tab > Right Click on Point Groups > Properties
onto change the order of the point groups, simply click on the
point group you want to change and use the arrows on the right
to move it all the way to the top , up 1 position , down 1 position

such as when you want to only show one point group. Put that
point group at the top of the list followed by the No Display

space!

may have to update the Point Groups for the new

display order to take effect.

Point and Point Label Styles

Point and Point Label Styles control how a point is displayed in
a drawing. The Point Style defines how a point symbol is
displayed in the drawing. The Point Label Style defines how a
point is labeled in the drawing.
Although an individual point can reference a point style and a
point label style, when possible, you will want to use point
groups to control the display of point symbols and point labels
for points sharing similar characteristics.
Styles are managed in Toolspace > Setting tab. There is a lot
that goes into creating and editing a style and since the majority
of folks will find the styles in the ND NRCS template sufficient
I do not want to go into great detail here.
There are several great blogs dedicated to CAD and can be
found with a simple Google search.

Surfaces and Grading

in Civil 3D, can build surfaces from traditional survey data, such
as points and break lines. Utilize large data sets from aerial
photogrammetric, laser scanning, and digital elevation models
by taking advantage of the surface reduction tools. View the
surface as contours or triangles, or create elevation and slope
banding analysis. Use surfaces as a reference for creating
intelligent objects that maintain dynamic relationships to the
source data. Team members can use the powerful daylighting
and grade projection tools to generate surface models for any
type of
grading projection.
Building a Survey Quality Surface
Use points and break lines from the survey data to create a
survey quality existing ground surface. learn ways to leverage
the use of Point Groups to efficiently build and edit a Surface by
editing the source data and also editing the Surface itself. also
explore various ways of editing and analyzing surfaces
including the use of the preliminary surface to add extra data
beyond the limits of the survey. Finally, you will learn to display
and label contours working with Surface Styles and Contour
Label Styles. Creating an accurate Surface is one of the most
important parts of any Civil 3D project. The Profiles, Sections,
Corridor Models, and Grading as well as Volume Calculations
that you create later in the project are all based on this Surface.
This chapter will explore ways to create an existing ground
surface from survey data as well as ways to check, display,
analyze, and edit the surface.
Alignments
When creating alignments, use a naming format that identifies
the real-world -
-

alignments multiplies. Either type in the name of each alignment

as you create it, or modify the alignment naming template to add
any standard
text to the name, such as project phase. Some corridors can be
designed entirely from a single centerline alignment, but most
require additional alignments, such as the centerlines of
intersecting roads. Create these other alignments before
generating the corridor if you have the design information
available. Other alignments such as gutter flow lines and curb
returns, can be generated from the corridor design or added later
in the
process. For real-time warnings during the layout of the
alignment, the Use criteria-based design and Use design check
set options are selected at the onset of alignment creation.
Alignment Interaction
When you create alignments, you have the option of not
assigning them to a site. Therefore you can keep your
alignments from interacting with other
site objects during the design period. After the alignment design

and work with the

interactions between both object types. If you use alignments in
the design of utility networks, you may want to keep these
alignments in a separate site from the parcels and the road
alignments. Similarly, you may want to keep your overall
grading plan in a separate site from the alignments and parcels.
Profiles
Profiles define the surface elevation along an alignment. Design
grade profiles are defined using tangents and
vertical crest and sag curves. Profile geometry may be
controlled using design criteria that specify three types of
minimum K tables based on stopping sight distance, passing
sight distance, and headlight sight distance (K-value represents
the horizontal distance along which a one percent change in
grade occurs on the vertical curve). Additional criteria and
design checks can include slopes and curves that are designed
for safe or comfortable driving at a particular speed, or for sag
curve drainage considerations.

Applying Design Criteria Files to Profiles

Design criteria is applied to profiles using methods similar to the
ones used for alignments; criteria and design checks can be
applied at the onset of design or afterwards.
parent alignment uses design criteria, that design criteria file is
automatically applied to the profile by default.

Create profile

Create a single profile view to display a surface profile and to

design a layout profile. Each profile view displays new or
existing profiles and offsets for one horizontal alignment.

Profile & Section Views panel Profile

View drop-down Create Profile View
 2. In the Create Profile View wizard, navigate through the
pages by using the links at the left or clicking Back or
Next. Note: Click Create Profile View at any time to
accept the current settings. The wizard pages contain the
following controls:

General page - Specify the alignment name and profile

view name and description.

Note: The Show Offset Profiles By Vertically Stacking Profile

Views is only applicable when creating stacked profile views.

Station Range page - Specify the starting and ending

stations.
Profile View Height page - Specify the profile view height
and any split profile options, including split stations and styles
for individual stations.
Profile Display Options page - Specify the profiles to be
drawn as well as their styles, labels, and layers.
Pipe/Pressure Network page - Specify the pipe networks or parts
to be drawn.
Data Bands page - Specify the data band sets and their
properties.
Hatch Options page - Specify how to mark areas between
two profiles on the profile view, such as where terrain must be
cut or filled to create the design profile.
3. Click Create Profile View.
4. In the drawing window, click a location for the lower left
corner (origin) of the profile view grid. The profile view is
drawn.

Parent topic: Profile Views

Related Concepts

About Editing Profile Views

Related Tasks

To Create Multiple Profile Views

To Create Stacked Profile Views
To Add Profile Lines to a Profile View
To Change Profile View Styles
To Add Hatch Areas to a Profile View
In this tutorial, you will create simple existing ground and
layout profiles for an alignment.
An existing ground profile is extracted from a surface and
shows the changes in elevation along a horizontal
alignment. A layout profile is a designed object that shows
the proposed grade and elevations to be constructed.
Profiles are displayed on an annotated grid called a profile
view.

Display an existing ground profile in a profile view

1. Open drawing Profile-1.dwg, which is located in the

tutorials drawings folder.

This drawing contains an existing ground surface, an alignment

that represents a road centerline, and a polyline that represents
the centerline of an intersecting road. You will use the
rectangle in the northeast corner of the site as a guide to create
a profile view.
2. Click Home tab Create Design panel Profile drop-
down Create Surface Profile Find.

Note: For this exercise, the First Street alignment and the EG
surface are the only available selections, and are selected by
default.

placeholder.

Assemblies
Assemblies represent the cross-sectional composition of the road
design. Assemblies are collections of individual
subassembly components representing items such as medians,
lanes, curbs, sidewalks, and shoulders. An example is shown in
Figure 15. The assembly object serves as the baseline to which
the designer snaps together any number of premade
subassembly pieces from the Civil 3D Tool Palette.

Figure: An assembly is made of up

a combination of subassemblies such
as sidewalks, curbs, and lanes.
About Superelevation

Assemblies
Assemblies represent the cross-sectional composition of the road
design. Assemblies are collections of individual
subassembly components representing items such as medians,
lanes, curbs, sidewalks, and shoulders. The assembly object
serves as the baseline to which the designer snaps together any
number of premade subassembly pieces from the Civil 3D Tool
Palette.
Assemblies may contain functionality that is critical in the
building of complex road systems, such as intersections,
conditional daylighting, and superelevation. An example of an
assembly with conditional daylighting is shown in Figure. The
steepness of the cut condition is automatically adjusted when a
rock type surface is encountered.

Figure: This assembly example has conditional

daylighting functionality. The slope of the cut condition is
automatically adjusted to accommodate different surface types.
Subassemblies
AutoCAD Civil 3D contains an extensive collection of
subassemblies for a wide variety of road design applications.
The scope of their application ranges from simple marked points
and generic links to very sophisticated superelevated lane
objects with axis of rotation options. Custom subassemblies can
also be made from AutoCAD entities or by using the
Subassembly Composer. The basic components of
subassemblies are points, links, and shapes. Their geometry and
behavior are controlled by input parameters. Parameters vary
depending on the intended function of the subassembly. Some
parameters are static, manually entered values, while others are
derived automatically from another object or entity within the
drawing. For example, a lane width may be assigned to follow a
meandering polyline instead of holding a fixed value. This is an
example of a target parameter. Surfaces are also common
parameters, as they are needed to calculate the daylighting.
Subassemblies can also be tied to the superelevation parameters
of the alignment. As the corridor is built, any
subassemblies that reference superelevation will recognize the
information contained in the alignment and respond to it. For
example, subassembly lane objects will automatically adjust
their cross-slopes throughout transition and full superelevation
regions along the alignment curves

Styles are used to control the appearance and labeling of the

individual point, link, and shape components of the
subassemblies. The many styles required are grouped into Code
Sets. Code Set settings are located in the General collection on
the Settings tab of the Toolspace, as shown in Figure.
Summary and Conclusion
The solutions for road design in AutoCAD Civil 3D software
make defining, annotating, and analyzing your road design more
efficient and help your design comply with sound engineering
standards. Using criteria-based design, road modeling with real-
time analysis and designer feedback helps expedite the design
process and minimizes problematic issues. Additionally, a good
understanding of subassemblies and their functions enables the
efficient construction of more accurate, construction-ready
corridor models. Utilizing points, links, shapes, codes, target
parameters, and road models, which can be tailored to your
designs needs, will automate many repetitive and/or difficult
road design tasks, such as labeling and updating cross section
sheets. This document has given you an overview of the core
components and methods that are used when modeling roads.
After reading this document, you should be able to begin
building your own dynamic, criteria-based roadway designs and
understand why Autodesk and BIM for Infrastructure can help
you and your company gain a competitive edge.