From the Ground Up

AutoCAD CIvil 3D 2010 - Update 3

Following on from the Update 3 to AutoCAD 2010, the AutoCAD 3D Update 3 is now available for download.

Download

Jack Strongitharm 

What does it do? – the Bridge preview under LABs

You can’t have missed it…?!?   The preview of bridge functionality for Civil 3D 2010, available on Autodesk LABs  http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/civil3d_bridge/

I understand that we can not expect everyone to install it on their normal machines as it is a technology preview, and not a released and supported product. That’s why I have installed it myself and tried it briefly  ;-)

Below are a number of images showing what I managed to achieve without ANY previous experience in bridge design.

After installation you get a new part of the Ribbon in C3D 2010.

After selecting type of bridge and what Corridor to apply it on, we get this user interface.

Here we can select what Corridor Regions to use for the Bridge deck.

My Corridor has three Corridor Regions. Before, over and after bridge. The dialog below also shows the graphics and section labels for my selected Alignment. The graphics are interactive.

After going through a number of steps in the Bridge wizard, we get the the bridge created over the span where we had our Corridor Region.

It is also easy to use the “Project Object to Profile View” command and present the 3D-bridge with Styles.

It has, of course, created a fully 3D bridge for us to be visible from any angle.

We can use “Hide”. See columns

Below are some images showing what it looks like when we use the new “Drive along Corridor” functionality, released as Subscription Advantage Pack for C3D 2010.

Corridor Surface turned off to show the “construction” below.

Using Visual Style “Render” while driving along the Corridor.

…and as “Hidden”…  See the geometry of the curve and super elevation…

…and finally as an object in “Object Viewer”.

As said, I am not in any way skilled in bridge design – but I imagine this tool will help a good way in doing visuals and “preview” design of bridges. Great for getting a quick view for discussion.

We’re heading for Las Vegas, Autodesk AU, for the whole next week. Jack is already on the plane – or close to boarding…?   Who knows?  ;-)

Anyway – feel free to catch us in Vegas if you’d like to chat or comment on anything.

Have a great weekend!   / Ove

The biggest release this year!

And you thought it was Windows 7!!

Well you more than likely can't get that just yet, at work anyway.  However I do like it!

So the rumours were true, we have released a bucket load of extra functionality to get even more from Civil 3D 2010 and also introduce some needed checking tools, for me 'Sight Distance Analysis'.

You can probably work out why I was over in Manchester, New Hampshire a couple of months ago.

As you may have read there are multiple language versions to be made available in due course, but in the UK and Ireland we have our own British Language version, so chainages and levels rather than stations and elevations.

To avoid the confusion, the British English version is also available today on the subscription center

And yes roundabouts are on the left hand side!, the correct side of the road.

Lots more to come on this shortly.

Jack Strongitharm

Anyone can do it?!

Hi there,

Hope you all have had a nice week.

I was in Tallinn yesterday and held a seminar where I presented most of the new tools within Survey. This was of big interest as they now really can make use of their way of doing survey and now easily import it in to Civil 3D 2010.

By the way...  we have lately noticed that the new Ribbon interface in Civil 3D 2010 let's almost ANYONE work with the new tools!   ;-)

Have a nice weekend!   // Ove

Got everything you wanted in 2010? - Maybe we can give you a little more

 I disappeared for the last week as I have been on my hols across the pond in Canada to have a look at Toronto, Niagara and Montreal.

Also to annoy people on the plane for 8 hours with my 8 month old son.

But like the little star he is, he got a fan club instead and just smiled all the way there and slept on the way back!. Little bugger, I was up for about 40 hours. 

Can't complain, apart from the 300 emails waiting for my return.

Anyway back to the purpose of this post

We have released yet more for Civil 3D 2010 of GENIO, HEC RAS, Stage Storage and Roundabouts (but only for French at this current time, sorry!! Junction Jack still lives on)

Here is a run down of them all just to remind you

GENIO Import/Export Extension for AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2010

The GENIO Import/Export Extension for AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2010 streamlines the migration of data from Bentley® MXROAD® software to AutoCAD Civil or Civil 3D software. It also enables customers to use AutoCAD Civil or Civil 3D on projects that require Bentley MXROAD format deliverables. Using this extension, our customers will be able to:

·         Import Bentley MXROAD alignments, profiles, surfaces, points and feature strings into AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D

·         Export AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D model elements including points, alignments, profiles, corridor feature lines, and grading feature lines into the Bentley MXROAD format

The GENIO Import/Export Extension is currently only available in English, but will install on all language versions of AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2010.

HEC-RAS Import/Export Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010

The HEC RAS Import/Export Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 provides an interface for passing data between AutoCAD Civil 3D and HEC-RAS, the widely used floodplain modeling software from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Using this extension, our customers will be able to:

·         Export stream design information from Civil 3D in .GEO format

·         Import the .GEO file into HEC-RAS to perform a floodplain analysis

·         Import the analysis results back into Civil 3D and use the data to create Civil 3D surface objects

By extending the value of the Civil 3D model for floodplain analysis, this extension will help our customers streamline floodplain management projects. The HEC-RAS Extension is only available in English, but will install on all language versions of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010.

Stage Storage Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010

The Stage Storage Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 will help our subscription customers calculate incremental and cumulative volumes of a basin from an AutoCAD Civil 3D surface. Polylines or Civil 3D surface contours that represent basin contours can be selected to calculate basin volumes and areas. Volume and area analysis tables can then be saved as .AeccSTT files, inserted into the drawing as AutoCAD tables, or sent to a .txt report file.

This extension is available in English only, but will install on all language versions of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010.

 

AutoCAD Land Desktop Style Converter Extension for AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2010

The AutoCAD Land Desktop Style Converter Extension for AutoCAD Civil 2010 and AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 helps our customers streamline the process of converting AutoCAD Land Desktop styles and settings into equivalent AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D styles and settings. Through a wizard driven interface, users can easily convert layers and text styles; line, curve and spiral labels; point styles; contour and surface styles; and alignment, profile and pipe settings.

This extension is available in English only, but will install on all language versions of AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2010.

 

Roundabout Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 (FRANCE ONLY)

The Roundabout Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 will help our users in France to significantly streamline the creation of roadway roundabouts that meet SETRA design standards. Using the Roundabout Extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D, users will be able to:

·         Automate the creation of Civil 3D edge of pavement alignments that instantly update if the roundabout is modified

·         Automate the creation of grading feature line objects for traffic islands

The Roundabout Extension is currently only available in French in France.

 

Talk about dangling a carrot on the last one.  Nevermind, it is released so I can tell you about it.

http://www.autodesk.com/subscription

Jack Strongitharm

Civil 3D 2010 is fully released!!

As I mentioned last week you could download Civil 3D.
On Friday we got the British English version also posted.

So if you are logging into subscription from the UK and Ireland you should see these download options.
The US English is also available for those who want stations and elevations.

Note the install of Vault server for Civil.

Also those on subscription in UK, Canada and Korea your main delivery method this year is electronic download so if you want the media you will need to request it on the left hand side

Jack Strongitharm

New Country Kit for UK and Ireland and others

So with past releases we have had to wait to the final release before content is created and then post an installer on the web.

Which is fine, but may have left you waiting a little while before some specific content is ready for that release.  Also when it has come to deployments has not been possible.

So this year we have jumped in the deep end and got all the content created for each location in January so it could make the software installation.

We will still probably aim to push more content out during the year via the web, but at least you will have a good setup from day one.

To get a feeling of what is in the country kit and how to install it please look at this powerpoint deck I have put together.

If you are not reasponsible for installation you will need to direct your IT people to do a little more some also point them in this direction.

This applies to mainly my area UK and Ireland, but if you normally use a country kit the first couple of slides apply to everyone for installation.

Download UKIE 2010 Country Kit Presentation

Jack Strongitharm