CI3704:

Civil 3D Survey: What Is Behind the Curtain?

Seth Cohen
CAD Management Resources Inc.
CAD Applications Specialist
Autodesk Civil 3D Implementation Expert,
Level 5 Geospatial Applications Engineer

2011 Autodesk
 About Me
Worked for a consulting engineering firm in New Hampshire
Surveying Topo, boundary, as-built, landfill closure, GPS, etc. In field and in office.
Design Technician Worked on STP, bridge (roadway approach work), highway design and Bypass study projects for
VTrans, MDOT (Maine) and NHDOT (New Hampshire)
CAD Manager Managed, trained and supported users in 3 offices, on company and DOT workflows.
Software used - AutoCAD, Softdesk, LDT, MicroStation and InRoads

Work for CADmanage

CAD Applications Specialist
Provide Training, Consulting, Support, and courseware development for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Map 3D,
MicroStation, InRoads.
Train engineers at Ford Motor Company with their use of AutoCAD.
Developed CAD and Design standards for ITD (Idaho DOT), and ALDOT (Alabama DOT).
Worked extensively with FDOT (Florida DOT) in helping them develop an AutoCAD drawing template for utility
companies to use for better coordination of CAD files.
Work with FDOT, providing documentation related to their implementation of Civil 3D.

Presenter
National AUGI CAD Camps, Presented at AU

2011 Autodesk
Class Summary

In this class, we will discuss the required setup to automate survey functionality in
Civil 3D, and how it can help reduce the amount of time needed to bring in points,
automate linework graphics, and create surfaces. We will look at the critical
importance of styles and settings. We will also examine some of the methods that
can be used to create stakeout points for construction, and direct export for
automatic machine guidance (AMG).

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Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Start using Civil 3D survey functionality
Understand whats behind the scenes for styles and settings
Create surfaces from survey data
Get the data out of Civil 3D and into real world construction

2011 Autodesk
Agenda
Introduction
Civil 3D Interface (As It Relates To Survey Data)
Civil 3D Setup
Collecting Field Data
Survey Database
Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Survey Toolspace Revisited
Creating a Surface from Survey Data
Getting Data for Construction

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Introduction

2011 Autodesk
 Introduction
Survey functionality introduced in Civil 3D 2007
Some LDT survey concepts have been incorporated

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Interface
Prospector Tab
Settings Tab
Toolbox Tab
Survey Tab
Ribbon

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Interface
Prospector Tab
Civil 3D objects (points, figures, etc.) are listed in the Prospector tab

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Interface
Settings Tab
Styles will need to be developed for survey related data
Styles include:
Point
Figure
Network
Description key sets
Settings tab is where some of the setup is done related to survey functionality
There are several other locations as well (learn about these later)

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Interface
Toolbox Tab (Reports Manager)
Used for reporting
Example reports
Radially staking out points
Point List

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 Civil 3D Interface
Survey Tab
Main user-interface for survey functionality
All survey related data is managed in the Survey tab
All of the collections in the Survey tab are accessed external to the
Civil 3D drawing from the survey database

Opening and Closing the Survey Tab

Enter OST or CST

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 Civil 3D Interface
Ribbon

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 Civil 3D Setup
Setting up Points
Description Key Sets
Linear Features
Figure Styles
Figure Prefix Database
Survey Networks
Equipment Database

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Setting up Points
First step, development of point related styles and settings
Point styles automate the placement of symbols (e.g. manholes, trees, hydrants, etc.)
Must create a point style for every type of point data you display on a topo map
Label styles control the display of point information such as the northing, easting, elevation and
description

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Description Key Sets
Means by which raw points will be created in the drawing
Maps any and all point parameters including point style, full description, label style, layer, scale,
and rotate parameters.
Can import LDT description keys (but.)
Two methods to creating description keys

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Linear Features (old way)
There are methods that a surveyor can adopt that automate linework creation (e.g. EP, Tree line,
TBC, etc.) when the survey data is brought into Civil 3D

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Linear Features (new way)
No longer need to use old survey
command syntax
Import
Field Book File
LandXML File
Point File
Civil 3D points
Creates figures automatically using
active linework code set and figure
prefix database

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Linework Code Sets
Civil 3D 2010 included additional functionality to automate linework creation
Interprets field codes entered from surveyors into figures in the survey database
Linework Code sets are displayed in the Toolspace under the Survey tab.

The linework code sets are

stored in a separate file that has
an F2f_Xdef extension.

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Figures
A figure is a linear object (breakline, parcel line, graphical line)

Figure Styles
Figure style controls the display, layers, and 3D geometry of a figure
Displayed under the Survey collection in the Settings tab.

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Figure Prefix Database
Figure prefixes are the means by which linework is connected to the appropriate figure style, layer,
and whether or not the figure should be a breakline or a parcel segment
Similar to description keys
Can also be set up in two different methods
Stored in a Figure Prefix Database (FPD)

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Survey Networks
Network style controls the display of the different components of a survey network

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 Civil 3D Setup
Equipment Database
Where survey equipment properties are defined
Only used when performing a traverse analysis (e.g. Compass Rule, Least Squares, etc.)

2011 Autodesk
 Collecting Field Data
Line Coding
Linework Code Set

2011 Autodesk
Collecting Field Data
Automatic linework can save time completing the final drawing
Has been around since the old DCA days (pre-LDT)
Autodesk Fieldbook Language (.FBK)
Field crews are the key to linework automation
When survey is collected properly Civil 3D will automatically draw the survey data with little
manipulation from the office technician
Automation occurs because of
specific line coding and field collection
techniques that instruct the software
to connect the dots automatically

Depending on the equipment, specific

codes are entered before or after the
raw code,

2011 Autodesk
 Collecting Field Data
Line Coding
The command to begin drawing a line is B or BEG. You only need to use this code once per
figure. It is also important that you place a numeric identifier at the end of the figure name to
make it unique (e.g. EP1, EP2, TOP1, TOP2)
To end the line, simply move on to the next figure number, or enter E or END at the end of the
figure
Can also use the CONT command to continue a figure.

Some equipment have line work

commands already programmed
into them

2011 Autodesk
 Collecting Field Data
Line Coding (cont.)
Additional line codes that can be used are listed in the table below

Command Description
MCS Begins a curve with more than 3 points

MCE Ends a curve with more than 3 points

CB Closes and ends a figure adding a final vertex

CR Closes and ends a figure adding 2 vertices

For a full list of available commands and their parameters, review the file cmdhelp.ref. This file
is typically stored in the C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2012\enu\Survey folder

2011 Autodesk
 Collecting Field Data
Line Coding (cont.)
Some examples of codes are listed below
TBC1 BEG
TBC1 CONT
EP3 BEG
CL1 BEG C3
<three consecutive points for the curve (PC, POC, PT)>
CL1 CONT
CL1 END
Again, verify how data is entered into your equipment. You may want to test a small project to
determine exactly how your equipment translates the field data into drawing data

2011 Autodesk
 Civil 3D Setup
Linework Code Set
Provides very powerful ways to create linework with minimal input from the survey upon collection
time
Example
TBC H.5 V0 H.67 V-.5 H2.0 V-.47 H-5 V.02
H and V codes tell Civil 3D to create additional lines based on the horizontal and vertical offsets
defined in the description.
In Civil 3D Survey Toolspace,
additional figures appear as
<description>.n, where n is
equal to the number offset.

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 Survey Database
Survey User Settings
Survey Database Settings
Survey Database Collections
Import Events Collection
Networks Collection
Figures Collection
Survey Points Collection

2011 Autodesk
Survey Database
Contains all survey-related data
External of AutoCAD
.SDBX extension
Data in the .SDBX are stored in Meters, angles are stored in Radians.
Survey database stores survey project settings
Projects coordinate zone
Distance unit
Angle unit
Direction type

Coordinate zones same as defined by

the Civil 3D Drawing Settings
Survey data stored in the .SDBX will be
transformed into the current drawing
automatically

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database
Survey User Settings
Controls how the current Civil 3D user interacts with the survey features in the drawing
Survey user settings are organized into categories and are stored in the CURRENT_USER hive
of the Windows registry
User settings can be exported (.SET file)

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 Survey Database
Survey Database Settings
Specific to each survey database
Can modify project specific
Coordinate zone
Distance and angle units
Measurement corrections such as scale factor.

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 Survey Database
Survey Database Collections
A survey database expands to display data hierarchy into three root collections
Import Events
Networks
Figures
Survey Points

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 Survey Database
Survey Database Collections
Import Events Collection
Displays each of the imports a user has done, and is stored in the .SDB file
Import survey data into a survey database using the Import Survey Data wizard
Once data is imported, an import event is created in the survey database.
The import events functionality not only gives you a record of the imported survey data, it allows you to quickly
reprocess the survey data if the external survey files or Civil 3D settings/styles change.

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database
Survey Database Collections
Networks Collection
Displays each of the survey networks that are contained in the .SDB
Survey observation management is done at the survey network node
Each network contains the components you will use to manage it
A network contains components
Control points
Non-control points
Directions
Setups
Traverses
To bring data into a survey database, right-
click on the Import Events collection.
You can have multiple networks in one
survey database. However, each network
must contain unique point numbers

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database
Survey Database Collections
Figures Collection
Figures are stored in the survey database
Can be inserted into any drawing from the database
Established from survey points
Will update if points are changed

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database
Survey Database Collections
Survey Points Collection
Displays the different point information contained in the survey
database
Point collection consist of the following and will display an icon that
tells you the state of the survey point
Control Point Survey points displaying this icon represent control points
in a survey network.
Non-Control Point Survey points displaying this icon represent non-
control points in a survey network.
Setup Point Survey points displaying this icon represent setups and
have not been adjusted.
Adjusted Point Survey points displaying this icon represent points
whose coordinates are a result of an adjustment, such as a traverse or least
squares analysis.
Observation Side Shot Point Survey points displaying this icon
represents side shot observations.

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Survey Objects
Networks
Figures
Points
Inserting and Removing Data from the Drawing
Zooming, Panning and Browsing Survey Data
Updating Survey Data in the Drawing from the .SDB
Updating the .SDB from Survey Data in the Drawing

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Three types of objects represent data inserted from a survey database
Networks
Figures
Points
Each survey object has an object style to manage its visibility properties
When survey data is inserted into the current drawing, the Prospector tab is used to manage
and will list the inserted objects

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Survey Objects
Network Objects
When a network or traverse is placed into the drawing,
a survey network object is created. If a network or
traverse is inserted into the drawing, a network or
traverse icon respectively is displayed next to the
object in the Prospector tab

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Survey Objects
Figure Objects
When a figure is inserted into a drawing from the survey database, a Civil 3D Figure object is created

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Survey Objects
Point Objects
When a survey point is inserted into a drawing from the survey database, a Civil 3D COGO Point is created
Points will have a special attribute that indicates that is was created from the survey database
Survey points cannot have their locations and raw descriptions changed in the drawing because they are
locked and set by the survey database (kind of )

You can still change the point style,

rotation, or layer
Points can be controlled by the
description key set defined in the active
drawing

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Inserting and Removing Data from the Drawing
Survey tab provides convenient methods to insert and remove survey data into the drawing
Insert/Remove options at each of the collection nodes

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Inserting and Removing Data from the Drawing
Inserting Survey Data into the Drawing
Two ways to insert survey data
Right-click on collection node
In some cases, drag-and-drop operation
Just right-click anywhere

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Inserting and Removing Data from the Drawing
Removing Survey Data into the Drawing
Two ways to remove survey data
Simply erase the object in the drawing
Use the Survey tab and issue Remove from drawing command
SURVEY DATA WILL NOT BE DELETED!

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 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Zooming and Panning to Survey Data
All survey data can be zoomed or panned to by a right-click menu

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Browsing to Survey Data
Survey data in the drawing can browse back to the data in the survey database
Select survey objects in the drawing and then right-click in the drawing, or look in the ribbon.

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Database and Drawing Interaction
Updating Survey Data in the Drawing from the .SDBX
To update survey data in the drawing, use the same methods mentioned before
When updated data is inserted, the old data in the drawing will get deleted

Updating the .SDBX from Survey Data in the Drawing

Survey objects in the drawing can update the survey database
Select and right-click the object, and select Update survey data from drawing

If a backup of revisions is necessary,

you can export the entire network to
another fieldbook file and rename it
with an appropriate revision naming
convention

2011 Autodesk
 Survey Toolspace Revisited

Properties List
Item List Views
Editors

2011 Autodesk
Survey Toolspace Revisited
Properties List
Properties list displays when a survey item is selected
When changes are made, the items will display in bold indicating that you have made a modification. You will
need to Save the data to update the survey database.
Properties are available for the following items
Control points
Non-control points
Directions
Setups
Traverses
Figures

2011 Autodesk
Survey Toolspace Revisited
Items List View
Item collections list data within a selected collection
Very useful for editing multiple items

2011 Autodesk
Survey Toolspace Revisited
Editors
Editors can be opened from most collections
To open an editor, right-click the collection, and then choose Edit from the context menu that appears. The
editor is then displayed as a tab in the Panorama window

2011 Autodesk
Creating a Surface from Survey Data

2011 Autodesk
Creating a Surface from Survey Data
Surface creation can be automated and take minutes when Civil 3D is setup properly
The following procedure is used to create a surface from survey data:

1. Insert the survey points into the drawing from the survey database.
2. Create a point group that will only contain the existing points that should be used for surface
creation.
3. Create an existing surface with the appropriate surface style associated to it.
4. In the Surfaces definition node, right-click on the Point Group category, and then add the
point group created in step 2.
5. Right-click on the Figures collection in the Survey Toolspace, and then choose Create
Breaklines from the context menu that appears. Toggle the breaklines you want to add to
the existing surface on or off.
6. Add an outer boundary to the surface.

(NOTE: Only breaklines that are toggled on will be available to be added to the surface)

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 Getting Data for Construction

Staking Out the Corridor

Reports
LandXML
Third Party Apps and Plug-Ins

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Getting Data for Construction
Staking Out the Corridor
Select the Corridor, and use the Points from Corridor command to stakeout points from a corridor object
Export the points to a point group, and then export to a .CSV file

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Getting Data for Construction
Reports
Reports Manager
Points_List
Station Offset to Points
Radial_Stakeout
Points_in_CSV

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Getting Data for Construction
LandXML
Export LandXML

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Getting Data for Construction
Third Party Apps and Plug-Ins
The Trimble plug-in can be downloaded free of charge
The extension allows you to communicate directly with data collectors from within Civil 3D

Trimble Link Website

http://www.trimble.com/link_ts.asp?Nav=Collection-27103

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Getting Data for Construction

2011 Autodesk
Getting Data for Construction
Sincpac - Extensions for Civil3D
Extends the functionality of Civil 3D
For a complete list of available tools, you can download them at the link below
http://www.quux.biz/Default.aspx

2011 Autodesk
CI3704: Civil 3D Survey: What Is Behind the Curtain?

Thank You!

www.cadmanage.com

Seth Cohen
scohen@cadmanage.com

2011 Autodesk