CONTENTS

Titlepage

Credits

Dedication

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

What’s New in This Book?
Who Should Read This Book?
What Is Covered in This Book?
The Essentials Series

Chapter 1: Navigating the User Interface

Getting to Know the Civil 3D User Interface
Working with the Application Menu
Working with the Ribbon
Working with the Toolspace
Using the Drawing Area
Using the Command Line
Using Panorama
Using the Transparent Commands Toolbar
Using the Inquiry Tool

Chapter 2: Leveraging a Dynamic Environment

Connecting Objects and Styles
Connecting Labels and Label Styles
Connecting Objects to Objects
Connecting Objects to Labels
Appreciating the Richness of the 3-D Model
Sharing Data in a Dynamic Environment

Chapter 3: Establishing Existing Conditions Using Survey Data

What Is Survey Data?
Creating a Survey Database
Importing Survey Data
Automating Field-to-Finish
Editing Survey Points
Editing Survey Figures
Creating Additional Points

Chapter 4: Modeling the Existing Terrain Using Surfaces

Understanding Surfaces
Creating a Surface from Survey Data
Using Breaklines to Improve Surface Accuracy
Editing Surfaces
Displaying and Analyzing Surfaces
Annotating Surfaces

Chapter 5: Designing in 2-D Using Alignments

Understanding Alignments
Creating Alignments from Objects
Creating Alignments Using the Alignment Creation Tools
Editing Alignments
Applying Design Criteria Files and Check Sets

Chapter 6: Displaying and Annotating Alignments

Using Alignment Styles
Applying Alignment Labels and Label Sets
Creating Station/Offset Labels
Creating Segment Labels
Using Tag Labels and Tables

Chapter 7: Designing Vertically Using Profiles

Creating Surface Profiles
Displaying Profiles in Profile Views
Creating Design Profiles
Editing Profiles
Using Design Check Sets and Criteria Files

Chapter 8: Displaying and Annotating Profiles

Applying Profile Styles
Applying Profile View Styles
Applying Profile View Bands
Applying Profile Labels
Creating and Applying Profile Label Sets
Creating Profile View Labels
Projecting Objects to Profile Views

Chapter 9: Designing in 3D Using Corridors

Understanding Corridors
Creating an Assembly
Creating a Corridor
Applying Corridor Targets
Creating Corridor Surfaces

Chapter 10: Creating Cross Sections of the Design

Using the Section Editor
Creating Sample Lines
Creating Section Views
Sampling More Sources

Chapter 11: Displaying and Annotating Sections

Applying Section Styles
Applying Section Labels
Controlling Corridor Section Display with Code Set Styles
Applying Labels with Code Set Styles
Applying Section View Styles
Applying Section View Bands
Applying Group Plot Styles
Creating Section View Labels

Chapter 12: Designing and Analyzing Boundaries Using Parcels

Understanding Parcels
Creating Parcels from Objects
Creating Parcels by Layout
Editing Parcels

Chapter 13: Displaying and Annotating Parcels

Applying Parcel Styles
Applying Parcel Area Labels
Creating Parcel Segment Labels
Editing Parcel Segment Labels
Creating Parcel Tables

Chapter 14: Designing Gravity Pipe Networks

Understanding Gravity Pipe Networks
Creating Gravity Pipe Networks
Editing Gravity Pipe Networks

Chapter 15: Designing Pressure Pipe Networks

Understanding Pressure Pipe Networks
Creating Pressure Pipe Networks
Editing Pressure Pipe Networks

Chapter 16: Displaying and Annotating Pipe Networks

Displaying Pipe Networks Using Styles
Annotating Pipe Networks in Plan View
Annotating Pipe Networks in Profile View
Creating Pipe Network Tables

Chapter 17: Designing New Terrain

Understanding Grading
Understanding Feature Lines
Creating Feature Lines
Editing Feature Lines
Understanding Grading Objects
Creating Grading Objects
Editing Grading Objects

Chapter 18: Analyzing, Displaying, and Annotating Surfaces

Combining Design Surfaces
Analyzing Design Surfaces
Calculating Earthwork Volumes
Labeling Design Surfaces

Appendix: AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Certification

End-User License Agreement

List of Illustrations

Figure 1-1: Major components of the Civil 3D user interface

Figure 1-2: Part of the Civil 3D application menu

Figure 1-3: Tabs arrange large numbers of similar Civil 3D commands into groups.

Figure 1-4: Panels provide another level of grouping within a ribbon tab.

Figure 1-5: Most panels expand downward to reveal more commands, as is the case with the Create Design panel on the Home tab of the ribbon.

Figure 1-6: The ribbon displays the contextual Alignment: Main Road A tab because an alignment has been selected in the drawing (the name of the tab you see may be slightly different depending on which alignment you selected).

Figure 1-7: The Prospector tab showing a portion of the tree structure

Figure 1-8: The drawing area showing the same model in plan view on the left and 3D view on the right

Figure 1-9: A view of the command line while a transparent command (covered later in this chapter) is used to draw a line. Notice how the command line reports that the LINE command has been started and then prompts for the first piece of information: the “first point.”

Figure 1-10: Panorama showing the Events and Alignment Entities tabs

Figure 1-11: The Transparent Commands toolbar with red lines pointing to the Bearing Distance and Northing Easting transparent commands

Figure 1-12: The Inquiry Tool showing a partial list of available inquiry types

Figure 2-1: The same surface is shown in four different configurations using four different styles (from left to right): contours, elevation banding, TIN lines and contours, and slope arrows.

Figure 2-2: The contours on the left are displayed using proposed layers that are typically darker and more prominent. The contours on the right are displayed using existing layers that are typically lighter, so they appear more as background information.

Figure 2-3: Assigning the Station And Offset label style to the label

Figure 2-4: Clicking the Edit Current Selection command for the selected label style

Figure 2-5: Changing the visibility of the leader by modifying a label style

Figure 2-6: Grip-editing the profile

Figure 2-7: Grip-editing the alignment

Figure 2-8: Data shortcuts shown in Prospector

Figure 2-9: A surface data reference and an alignment data reference shown along with other surfaces and alignments in Prospector

Figure 2-10: A profile created from an alignment data reference and a surface data reference

Figure 3-1: Survey points shown as dots, giving a sense of how they are used to create mapping

Figure 3-2: The Essentials survey database shown in Prospector after the completion of step 6

Figure 3-3: So far, importing data shows only a bunch of relatively meaningless x markers in the drawing.

Figure 3-4: The appearance of the drawing makes more sense now that features such as fence lines and treelines have been drawn on the appropriate layers.

Figure 3-5: The contents of a specific point group shown in the item view of Prospector

Figure 3-6: An error has caused this point to display incorrectly.

Figure 3-7: The result of editing the building figures

Figure 4-1: A surface model displayed as TIN lines. Note the irregular triangular shapes that make up the surface model.

Figure 4-2: Creating a surface from within Prospector

Figure 4-3: The contents of a surface shown in Prospector

Figure 4-4: Changing the visual style to 2D Wireframe in the lower-right viewport

Figure 4-5: A surface shown using the Conceptual visual style

Figure 4-6: The effect of breaklines on a surface

Figure 4-7: Adding breaklines from within Prospector

Figure 4-8: Creating breaklines from survey figures. Note how some figures are checked as breaklines and some are not.

Figure 4-9: Unchecking the Add Breakline operation for the surface

Figure 4-10: The two top views show the surface in 2-D and 3-D without the breaklines; the two bottom views show the surface with the breaklines included.

Figure 4-11: Erroneous TIN lines created across a bay in the surface data

Figure 4-12: The effect of hide boundaries added at building locations

Figure 4-13: The extents of the surface after erroneous TIN lines have been removed. The areas of removal are highlighted.

Figure 4-14: 3-D view of incorrect surface point

Figure 4-15: A 3-D view of a surface using the Elevation Banding (3-D) style

Figure 4-16: Slope analysis of surface shown in 3-D

Figure 4-17: Slope arrows can be used to identify a drainage divide (delineated in red) in the project.

Figure 4-18: Spot elevation label showing 189.80' (57.85 m) added where the new road meets the existing road

Figure 4-19: Contour labels

Figure 5-1: A single-line drawing of the subdivision roads (in red)

Figure 5-2: The object with the dark blue grips is a polyline, and the object with the light blue grips is an alignment. Alignments have more types of grips that enable more geometric editing functionality.

Figure 5-3: Selecting the Tangent-Tangent (With Curves) command

Figure 5-4: Moving a PI grip

Figure 5-5: Moving a PC or PT grip

Figure 5-6: Moving the pass-through point grip

Figure 5-7: Moving the radius grip

Figure 5-8: Moving the start point or endpoint grip

Figure 5-9: Moving the tangent midpoint grip

Figure 5-10: Alignment Layout Tools toolbar

Figure 5-11: Alignment after removing a tangent and a curve

Figure 5-12: Alignment after the addition of a reverse curve

Figure 5-13: The Alignment Entities tab of Panorama showing the tabular data of the alignment

Figure 5-14: The Sub-entity Editor Tool, Pick Sub-entity Tool, and Alignment Layout Parameters dialog box

Figure 5-15: Tooltip relaying details about a design check set violation

Figure 5-16: Warning symbols indicating design check set violations within the alignment

Figure 5-17: Warning symbols in Panorama indicate design check set violations.

Figure 6-1: Different alignment styles are used to represent the right-of-way, edges of pavement, and centerlines in this drawing.

Figure 6-2: Assigning an alignment style in the Properties window

Figure 6-3: Geometry point labels displayed on the Jordan Court alignment

Figure 6-4: The Madison Lane alignment after the label set has been applied

Figure 6-5: Changing the style of the geometry point labels improves their appearance and readability by moving them outside the right-of-way line.

Figure 6-6: Station/offset labels applied to the edge-of-pavement arcs at the intersection of Madison Lane and Jordan Court

Figure 6-7: Curve labels added to the Jordan Court alignment. To improve readability, the labels have been dragged away from the alignment and into clear areas.

Figure 6-8: Curve tag labels on the Jordan Court alignment

Figure 6-9: An alignment segment table for Jordan Court

Figure 7-1: The newly created profile view

Figure 7-2: Invoking the Draw Tangents With Curves command

Figure 7-3: Moving a PVI grip

Figure 7-4: Moving a tangent slope grip

Figure 7-5: Moving a tangent midpoint grip

Figure 7-6: Moving the pass-through point grip

Figure 7-7: Moving the start point or endpoint grip

Figure 7-8: Profile Layout Tools toolbar

Figure 7-9: Clicking the Free Vertical Parabola (PVI Based) command

Figure 7-10: Warning symbols indicating design check set violations

Figure 7-11: Warning symbol with a tooltip reporting that the passing-sight-distance criterion isn’t being met

Figure 7-12: A warning symbol in Panorama indicating a violation of the headlight-sight-distance criterion

Figure 8-1: The Layout profile style displays lines and curves with different colors as well as markers at key geometric locations.

Figure 8-2: Using Prospector to access the Properties command for the Jordan Court EGCL profile

Figure 8-3: Additional grid lines displayed as a result of applying the Major & Minor Grids 10V profile view style

Figure 8-4: Assigning Jordan Court EGCL as Profile 1

Figure 8-5: The newly added band showing stations, existing elevations (left), and proposed elevations (right)

Figure 8-6: The list of labels to be applied to the Jordan Court FGCL profile

Figure 8-7: Logan Court FGCL profile after the newly created profile label set has been applied

Figure 8-8: The beginning of the Jordan Court FGCL profile, where there is a tie to the edge of the existing Emerson Road as well as a V-shaped drainage ditch

Figure 8-9: Additional text added to a label in the Text Component Editor dialog box

Figure 8-10: The station-elevation label and depth label added to the Jordan Court profile view

Figure 8-11: A 3D polyline representing a water pipe has been projected into the Jordan Court profile view.

Figure 8-12: A Civil 3D point projected to the Jordan Court profile view

Figure 9-1: The blue lines represent 3D chains formed by combining alignments with profiles to form a three-dimensional pathway.

Figure 9-2: A Civil 3D assembly that establishes lanes, curbs, sidewalks, and grading

Figure 9-3: Assemblies inserted at intervals along a 3D chain

Figure 9-4: The red lines are feature lines that connect like points on each assembly insertion.

Figure 9-5: A corridor along with its corridor surface, shown in 3D view

Figure 9-6: Selecting the Basic tool palette

Figure 9-7: A portion of the newly created corridor shown in a 3D perspective

Figure 9-8: A cross-section view of a road that shows the daylighting of a 3:1 slope on either side

Figure 9-9: A width or offset target (in red) applied to a corridor to widen the lane and create a pull-off area

Figure 9-10: The use of a profile (3D chain shown in red) to control the elevations of a ditch

Figure 9-11: Choosing the attachment point for the curb and gutter subassembly

Figure 9-12: The Assembly Properties dialog box after the groups and subassemblies have been renamed and the properties for the lanes have been set properly

Figure 9-13: The assembly with newly added BasicSideSlopeCutDitch subassemblies on either side

Figure 9-14: The Target Mapping dialog box showing the three types of corridor targets along with the subassemblies that can use each type of target

Figure 9-15: The corridor is wider where the lane-edge polyline was targeted.

Figure 9-16: Areas of daylighting along the corridor

Figure 9-17: Contours displayed for the newly created corridor surface. Note the incorrect contours in the center of the site.

Figure 9-18: Selecting the corridor extents as the basis for creating a surface boundary

Figure 10-1: The Section Editor ribbon tab

Figure 10-2: A section view shown by the Section Editor command

Figure 10-3: The ditches have been removed, but only at a single station within the corridor.

Figure 10-4: A plan view (left) and section view (right) of the corridor after the ditches have been removed

Figure 10-5: The Sample Line Tools toolbar showing the different methods available for sample line placement

Figure 10-6: The Create Sample Line Group dialog box

Figure 10-7: Sample lines created at corridor stations

Figure 10-8: A newly created section view

Figure 10-9: Newly created section views configured by sheet

Figure 10-10: Sampling additional sources using the Section Sources dialog box

Figure 11-1: The sections have been stylized to differentiate between rock and existing ground.

Figure 11-2: A label set has been applied to the rock section to provide information about the elevations of the rock layer.

Figure 11-3: The Jordan Court corridor section with the Presentation code set style applied

Figure 11-4: Coding diagram for the BasicLaneTransition subassembly

Figure 11-5: A code set style that includes labels has been applied to the Jordan Court corridor section.

Figure 11-6: A fourth sheet is created as a result of changing the section view style applied to the section view group.

Figure 11-7: A section view with bands added for existing ground elevations, rock depth, and offsets

Figure 11-8: A fourth sheet is created to accommodate the extra area taken up by the section view bands.

Figure 11-9: Where to click to change the group plot style for the section view group

Figure 11-10: A section view group with a new group plot style applied

Figure 11-11: Customizing the label contents for a section view label

Figure 11-12: A label has been added that indicates the offset and elevation of the curb flowline.

Figure 12-1: The four parcel segments on the left don’t form a closed shape; therefore, no parcel is created. On the right, a parcel object is created automatically, as shown by the black outline and the LOT 1 label.

Figure 12-2: Sites listed in Prospector, with the contents of one site expanded

Figure 12-3: The effect of sites on the interaction between an alignment and a parcel

Figure 12-4: The newly created parcel shown in Prospector

Figure 12-5: Seven parcels are now listed in the Prospector item view.

Figure 12-6: Snapping to the end of the curve to begin creating a new parcel line

Figure 12-7: Snapping to a location that is perpendicular to the eastern lot line

Figure 12-8: Completing the farm property boundary by clicking a point perpendicular to the west property boundary

Figure 12-9: Selecting the beginning point of the frontage

Figure 12-10: Selecting the endpoint of the frontage

Figure 12-11: Selecting the beginning point of the frontage

Figure 12-12: Selecting the ending point of the frontage

Figure 12-13: Selecting the beginning point of the frontage

Figure 12-14: Selecting the ending point of the frontage

Figure 12-15: As it’s moved with the diamond-shaped grip, the parcel line stays perpendicular to the parcel segments it’s associated with.

Figure 12-16: Trimming the parcel segment has removed the small triangular parcel.

Figure 12-17: The western end of the parcel has been simplified.

Figure 12-18: Defining the frontage for the parcel-editing command

Figure 13-1: A view of the project after all the parcels have been assigned the appropriate styles

Figure 13-2: Parcel Style Display Order shown in the Site Parcel Properties dialog box

Figure 13-3: Parcel Style Display Order at work

Figure 13-4: Entering a description for the Adjoiner : 3 parcel

Figure 13-5: A curve label that has been dragged away from the curve to reveal its dragged state

Figure 13-6: Selecting parcels in the order they are to be renumbered

Figure 13-7: New lines added to a curve table

Figure 14-1: A pipe network shown in plan view (left), profile view (top right), and 3D view (bottom right)

Figure 14-2: A pipe network shown in Prospector

Figure 14-3: A parts list configured for storm sewer design

Figure 14-4: A 3D view of a pipe object and structure object

Figure 14-5: The Network Layout Tools toolbar

Figure 14-6: Icon indicating a connection between a pipe and a structure

Figure 14-7: Inlet placement

Figure 14-8: The Network Layout Tools toolbar after selecting the structure and pipe

Figure 14-9: A portion of the newly created storm pipe network

Figure 14-10: Two pipes and three structures drawn in a profile view

Figure 14-11: Using Dynamic Input to enter a pipe diameter value

Figure 14-12: Editing the sump elevation of a structure using grips

Figure 14-13: Newly created manhole and resized connecting pipes

Figure 14-14: The sanitary pipe network in profile view after several elevations were corrected

Figure 14-15: The Pipe Network Vistas button highlighted on the Network Layout Tools toolbar

Figure 14-16: Selecting multiple rows in the Structures tab of Panorama

Figure 14-17: Pipes in profile view shown with inside and outside walls

Figure 15-1: A pressure network shown in plan view (left), profile view (center), and 3D view (right)

Figure 15-2: A pressure network shown in Prospector

Figure 15-3: The specialized ribbon tab for pressure network layout

Figure 15-4: Pressure network parts (indicated with red arrows) shown in profile view along with other profile information

Figure 15-5: The compass (the red circle) shows the available bend angles and deflections.

Figure 15-6: The newly drawn waterline, including the 90° elbow at circle E and the curved section of pipe between circles E and F

Figure 15-7: The water main pressure pipes and fittings shown in profile view

Figure 15-8: Launching the Pressure Network Plan Layout ribbon tab by clicking the Plan Layout Tools command

Figure 15-9: The specialized ribbon tab for pressure pipe layout in profile view

Figure 15-10: A glyph indicating the proper connection of a pipe to a fitting

Figure 15-11: The connection of the proposed waterline to the existing waterline, shown in a 3D perspective

Figure 15-12: The connection of the proposed waterline to the existing waterline, shown in plan, profile, and 3D perspective

Figure 16-1: A structure shown as a block (left) and as an outline of a 3D shape (right)

Figure 16-2: A structure shown as a solid (left), boundary (center), and block (right)

Figure 16-3: A tee fitting shown as a centerline (left), catalog defined block (center), and user-defined block (right)

Figure 16-4: A conflict between two manholes is evident when the style reflects their true size.

Figure 16-5: A pipe in profile view

Figure 16-6: A storm pipe crossing shown as an ellipse indicates a conflict with a sanitary pipe.

Figure 16-7: Revised pipe names shown in the item view of Prospector

Figure 16-8: Revised structure names shown in the item view of Prospector

Figure 16-9: The initial placement of labels in the drawing is rather cluttered and will require modification.

Figure 16-10: The same area shown in Figure 16-9 after edits have been made to the labels

Figure 16-11: The Add Labels dialog box showing the styles selected for labeling pipes and structures in profile view

Figure 16-12: The initial placement of pipe network labels in profile view

Figure 16-13: Pipe network labels in profile view that have been edited to improve readability

Figure 16-14: A portion of a structure table created for a sanitary sewer pipe network

Figure 17-1: A grading design for a pond

Figure 17-2: Two crossing feature lines that occupy the same site

Figure 17-3: A plan view of PI and elevation point grips on a feature line

Figure 17-4: The Edit Geometry and Edit Elevations panels of the Feature Line ribbon tab

Figure 17-5: The result of editing the feature lines in this exercise

Figure 17-6: Using the Tab key and coordinate readout to select the correct elevation

Figure 17-7: Circular grips mark elevation points added to match the feature line to the surface.

Figure 17-8: A pond design composed of grading objects

Figure 17-9: An example of grading criteria typically used for the inside slope of a pond

Figure 17-10: The Grading Creation Tools toolbar

Figure 17-11: Selecting grading criteria on the Grading Creation Tools toolbar

Figure 17-12: Selecting the Create Grading command

Figure 17-13: Contours representing the pond design

Figure 17-14: The pond model after several edits

Figure 18-1: The Paste Surface command, located in a Prospector context menu (left) and the Surface ribbon tab (right)

Figure 18-2: You can change the order of operations using the arrow buttons. This can affect the result of pasting multiple surfaces together.

Figure 18-3: Clicking the up arrow changes the order of operations so that the Lots – Interior surface is pasted before the Pond surface.

Figure 18-4: Grading for the entire project is represented by one surface.

Figure 18-5: The Analysis Type choices available on the Analysis tab of the Surface Properties dialog box

Figure 18-6: Colored areas indicate different slope ranges in the FG Final surface.

Figure 18-7: Lot 70 after the building pad has been adjusted downward to eliminate the steep slope

Figure 18-8: Several prominent design features can be noted in the quick profile.

Figure 18-9: A quick profile view showing a feature line and a surface profile

Figure 18-10: A TIN volume surface named Earthwork shown in Prospector, and its volume results shown in the Surface Properties dialog box

Figure 18-11: Contour labels in the front yard of lot 2

Figure 18-12: The labels update, indicating that the maximum slope requirement is now met for lot 2.

Guide

Cover

Front Matter

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1: Navigating the User Interface

Start Reading

Chapter 2: Leveraging a Dynamic Environment

Chapter 3: Establishing Existing Conditions Using Survey Data

Chapter 4: Modeling the Existing Terrain Using Surfaces

Chapter 5: Designing in 2-D Using Alignments

Chapter 6: Displaying and Annotating Alignments

Chapter 7: Designing Vertically Using Profiles

Chapter 8: Displaying and Annotating Profiles

Chapter 9: Designing in 3D Using Corridors

Chapter 10: Creating Cross Sections of the Design

Chapter 11: Displaying and Annotating Sections

Chapter 12: Designing and Analyzing Boundaries Using Parcels

Chapter 13: Displaying and Annotating Parcels

Chapter 14: Designing Gravity Pipe Networks

Chapter 15: Designing Pressure Pipe Networks

Chapter 16: Displaying and Annotating Pipe Networks

Chapter 17: Designing New Terrain

Chapter 18: Analyzing, Displaying, and Annotating Surfaces

End-User License Agreement

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-1-119-05959-2

ISBN: 978-1-119-05958-5 (ebk.)

ISBN: 978-1-119-05975-2 (ebk.)

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Web site is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Web site may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Web sites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (877) 762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002.

Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015936399

TRADEMARKS: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and the Sybex logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. AutoCAD and Civil 3D are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Introduction

When the first version of this book was born just over four years ago, my hope was for it to be one book in a long and successful series that would educate, inspire, and even excite many people about using the Autodesk^® AutoCAD^® Civil 3D^® software. In order to make that happen, I decided that each book in the series had to meet the following criteria:

It should be basic enough to enable anyone to learn Civil 3D.
It should be in-depth enough to enable a person to be productive using Civil 3D for basic tasks.
It should foster understanding by associating the things you do in Civil 3D with familiar things you see every day.
The examples and exercises should be based on the real world.
The book should not simply demonstrate random software features but should also teach the process of project completion using Civil 3D.

Since the first version of the book was released, I have received tons of great feedback about how well this book functions in many learning environments. I have also used the book myself to teach classes in a corporate environment, and I am very pleased with how it performs. I am confident that the goals I listed have been met, and for that reason I have held to the same writing style, format, and delivery that proved to be so successful in the previous versions.

As you work your way through the book as a teacher, a student, or an end user, you’ll find that the first two chapters, although very important, are more general and introductory. After that, you’re going to take a journey through the completion of a residential land development project—start to finish. In fact, the example project is based on a residential development that was built about 10 years ago, not far from my home. The topics are presented as though you have never touched a CAD program before, and wherever possible, there are sidebars and other forms of augmentation that relate what you’re doing to the real world.

You’ll also find that as I wrote this book, I tried to sympathize with future readers by thinking back to my college days when I was learning about surveying and civil engineering for the first time. There were many times when I felt frustrated and lost because I was learning new and foreign concepts and did not see how they related to the real world. I can remember being out in the field during my surveying class—looking through the survey instrument, writing down measurements, and having no idea why. That wasn’t an enjoyable feeling, and it isn’t one I want you to experience as you learn the new and foreign concepts in this book. Eventually I learned all about surveying, and now I have an in-depth understanding of how those measurements relate to designing and building roads, buildings, and other things—but it took many years. It’s my sincerest hope that this book gives you a head start on some of those types of concepts while at the same time relating them to Civil 3D in ways that hit home for you.

What’s New in This Book?

If you already own AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015 Essentials, you’ll be happy to know that AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Essentials has been updated to address important changes in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016. All applicable images have been updated in this version of the book to account for changes to the user interface and changes to functionality. The dataset files have also been updated to ensure compatibility with AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book should be read by anyone who needs or wants to begin learning AutoCAD Civil 3D. It’s appropriate for ages ranging from high school to retirement, and although it’s intended for those who have no experience or skill with Civil 3D, it can also serve as a great resource for refreshing your knowledge base or filling in any gaps. In addition, this book can be used as a resource for preparing to take the AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Certified Professional exam. See www.autodesk.com/certification for more certification information and resources. You can also refer to this book’s appendix to see which certification topics are covered and where they can be found in the book.

In addition to those pursuing a certification, here are some specific examples of individuals who would benefit from reading this book:

High-school students following a design-related educational track
College students learning to be designers or engineers
Employees who have recently joined a company that utilizes Civil 3D
Employees who work for companies that have recently implemented Civil 3D
Experienced Civil 3D users who are self-taught and who want to fill in gaps in their knowledge base

What You Will Learn

This book covers the basic skills and concepts needed to begin using Civil 3D to design land development projects. The concepts include those related to Civil 3D as well as those related to civil engineering and surveying in general. It doesn’t cover all topics or all Civil 3D features, but it provides a solid foundation you can use to perform basic tasks. This foundation can then serve as a stepping-off point as you learn more advanced skills and work toward an in-depth understanding of Civil 3D.

The first two chapters will give you a basic understanding of Civil 3D and help you to understand and appreciate how it “thinks.” The remaining 16 chapters will teach you how to use the tools that Civil 3D provides to complete a typical land development design project.

What You Need

Specific hardware requirements for running AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 had not been released as this book went to press. See the Autodesk website (www.autodesk.com) for current requirements.

To perform the exercises in this book, you must have AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 installed on your computer. It’s recommended that you use the default software setup with two exceptions: Change your drawing screen color to white, and dock the command line at the bottom of the screen. This book contains many screen captures of Civil 3D drawings, which were all produced with these distinctive changes to the user interface. Also, at times, the exercises refer to drawing entities by color, which is sometimes dependent on the background color.

To complete the exercises, you’ll need to download the necessary files from www.sybex.com/go/civil3d2016essentials. Here you’ll find a list of Zip files, one for each chapter. When you unzip the file for the first chapter to the local C: drive of your computer, a folder named Civil 3D 2016 Essentials will be created with the chapter folder inside it. As you unzip additional chapter files to the local simply merge the new Civil 3D 2016 Essentials folder into the old one. The resulting files and folders will appear similar to the following image:

Zip files are available in imperial and metric units. As you complete the exercises, metric values will be shown in parentheses. The imperial and metric values for a given item usually are not equivalent, to avoid using irregular values for the design. For example, the value for the width of a sidewalk would be shown as 3’ (1m) even though 3’ doesn’t exactly equal 1m.

Finally, be sure to check the book’s website for any updates to this book should the need arise. You can also contact me directly by email at CivilEssentials@gmail.com or visit my blog at http://ericchappell.blogspot.com to read even more about the book and Civil 3D in general.

Attention: Instructors

As you know, the best classes start with good preparation, and you can get off to a good start by downloading the instructor materials that accompany this book. Please visit www.sybex.com/go/civil3d2016essentials to access the instructor materials, which contain suggested syllabi, PowerPoint files, additional exercises, and quiz questions that you can use to assist you in making your class a success.

What Is Covered in This Book?

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Essentials is organized to provide you with the knowledge needed to master the basics of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016:

Chapter 1: Navigating the User Interface Familiarizes you with the Civil 3D environment so that you can navigate more easily in the software.
Chapter 2: Leveraging a Dynamic Environment Demonstrates the dynamic Civil 3D environment to establish its importance and encourage you to take full advantage of it whenever possible. This chapter focuses on important relationships between different components of a typical design model.
Chapter 3: Establishing Existing Conditions Using Survey Data Demonstrates how to convert survey field measurements into a Civil 3D drawing while focusing on the survey functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating a survey database, importing data, and processing the data to create a map of the project.
Chapter 4: Modeling the Existing Terrain Using Surfaces Demonstrates how to create a model of the existing terrain of the project while focusing on the surface functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating a new surface and adding data to it to form a 3D model of the before-construction condition of the project.
Chapter 5: Designing in 2D Using Alignments Demonstrates how to perform basic 2D layout while focusing on the alignment functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating alignments, applying design criteria, and editing alignments.
Chapter 6: Displaying and Annotating Alignments Demonstrates how to control the appearance of alignments and provide annotation while focusing on Civil 3D alignment styles and alignment labels. This chapter covers applying alignment styles, creating alignment labels, and creating alignment tables.
Chapter 7: Designing Vertically Using Profiles Demonstrates how to design the vertical aspect of a linear feature while focusing on the profile functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating profiles, applying design criteria, editing profiles, and displaying profiles in profile views.
Chapter 8: Displaying and Annotating Profiles Demonstrates how to control the appearance of profiles and provide annotation while focusing on Civil 3D profile styles and profile labels. This chapter covers applying profile styles, creating profile labels, and object projection.
Chapter 9: Designing in 3D Using Corridors Demonstrates how to design a 3D model of a linear feature while focusing on the corridor functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating assemblies, creating and editing corridors, and creating corridor surfaces.
Chapter 10: Creating Cross Sections of the Design Demonstrates how to generate and display cross sections of your design while focusing on the sample line and section functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating sample lines, sampling various sources, and creating section views.
Chapter 11: Displaying and Annotating Sections Demonstrates how to control the appearance of sections and provide annotation while focusing on Civil 3D section styles and section labels. This chapter covers applying section styles, creating section labels, and object projection.
Chapter 12: Designing and Analyzing Boundaries Using Parcels Demonstrates how to design a lot layout for a residential land development project while focusing on the parcel functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating and editing parcels.
Chapter 13: Displaying and Annotating Parcels Demonstrates how to control the appearance of parcels and provide annotation while focusing on Civil 3D parcel styles and parcel labels. This chapter covers applying parcel styles, creating parcel labels, and creating parcel tables.
Chapter 14: Designing Gravity Pipe Networks Demonstrates how to design underground gravity pipe systems for a residential land development project while focusing on the pipe network functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating and editing pipe networks.
Chapter 15: Designing Pressure Pipe Networks Demonstrates how to design underground pressure pipe systems for a residential land development project while focusing on the pressure pipe network functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating and editing pressure pipe networks.
Chapter 16: Displaying and Annotating Pipe Networks Demonstrates how to control the appearance of pipe networks (both gravity and pressure) and provide annotation while focusing on Civil 3D pipe styles, structure styles, fitting styles, appurtenance styles, and pipe network labels. This chapter covers displaying pipe networks in profile view, creating pipe network labels, and creating pipe network tables.
Chapter 17: Designing New Terrain Demonstrates how to design a proposed ground model for a residential land development project while focusing on the feature-line and grading functions of Civil 3D. This chapter covers creating and editing feature lines and grading objects.
Chapter 18: Analyzing, Displaying, and Annotating Surfaces Demonstrates how to perform surface analysis and display the results as well as annotate design surfaces. This chapter covers managing multiple surfaces, labeling surfaces, and analyzing surfaces.
Appendix: AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Certification Provides information about AutoCAD Civil 3D certification as well as how this book will help you to prepare for the certification exams. This appendix includes specific certification objectives along with where related material appears in the book.

The Essentials Series

The Essentials series from Sybex provides outstanding instruction for readers who are just beginning to develop their professional skills. Every Essentials book includes these features:

Skill-based instruction with chapters organized around projects rather than abstract concepts or subjects.
Downloadable tutorial files showing the start and end state of each exercise.
Digital extras so you can work through the project tutorials yourself. Please check the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/civil3d2016essentials for these companion downloads.

The certification margin icon will alert you to sections that are especially relevant to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 certification. See the appendix for a quick snapshot of the certification objectives covered in the book.

The Autodesk certification exam objectives listed in the appendix were accurate at press time; to find the latest information about the exam and what is covered, go to www.autodesk.com/certification.