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ROAD DESIGN USING

AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D
1.0: INTRODUCTION

The AutoCAD Civil 3D is a design software used to carry out road design, all ground and earth
development (including irrigation canal distribution, erosion control, dam design, earth
embankment), storm water collection and distribution, topographical data analysis, sustainable
designs, parceling and parcel development for estate planning, etc. The road design and
earthworks is the most advanced part of the software.

The fundamental data source that can be supplied to the software can come from Google Earth ,
3D Map, Land XML plug-ins, or from a survey file representing various spot heights as obtained
from site. Point data can also be created manually within the software workspace.

The various design sections that can be formed in the Civil 3D workspace thus covered within the
software include:

Surveying and Data Analysis

Geometric design
Corridor development
Earthworks and Cross sections
Sustainable design
Parceling and Subdivisions
Pipe Networks for storm water collection

For the purpose of road design, we are going to concentrate on the first four (4)

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2.0: SURVEYING AND DATA ANALYSIS

2.1: Exporting survey data:

1. Click the insert tab in the workspace pallets

2. Click import points from file, a new window will appear.
3. Then select the point format (same used to save the file) >>Determine the format used to save
the file before selecting it here. (Formats include P = point number, E(x) = easting, N(y) =
northing, Z(z) = elevation, D = description which can be ETW, EG, FG, EPS, STMH, TRL. 2D, TRL.
5D, WL,TBM)<<
4. Add the source file(s). >>Browse for the file through this tool and select open.
5. Mark, Do elevation adjustment if possible.
Mark, Do coordinate transformation if possible.
6. Click ok.
The imported points will be stored in the points tree in the prospector tab. By default, it is
also saved in the All points point group.
Set the points to be visible in the drawing area:
a. Select the points tree from the prospector tab.
b. Select any point displayed at the bottom of the Tool space area.
c. Right click and select Zoom to. >> Use your mouse to view other points in the drawing
area. OR and <<

2.2: Creating point groups:

1. Select the Point Group tree and right click.

2. Select New.

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3. Click the information tab; enter the new name of the point group.
4. Select the point groups to add to the new points group.
5. Select a suitable Raw Description Matching
6. From the include tab, enter the required raw desc. Matching. >> This is the same as the
description found in your survey data, e.g: EG, FG<<
7. From the point list tab, you can view all the points contained in the group.
8. Click ok when you are done.

2.3: Editing point display styles:

1. Select the point group and right click.
2. Select the properties.
3. From the point display style, select the required display style.
4. Click ok when you are done.
The points displayed in the drawing area can be either centerline points or a combination o f
centerline points, right offset, and left offset.
A minimum of two points are to exist at a particular chainage to form a surface, spaced by at least
40 meters.
To duplicate points, select the points. Select the copy icon and move the selected
points to their new location. Then click to drop.
A pop-up window appears which requires you to indicate the (duplicate) numbering
and description that will be attributed to the new points. Review the window and click
ok.

2.4: Tracing the centerline alignment:

1. Use the Line tool from the Home tab to trace tangent lines from the beginning station to
the end. >>Use line of best fit for the tracing.<<

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2. Use Polyline to join the geometry points and subsequently delete the tangent lines.

2.5: Creating an Existing Ground Surface:

1. Right click the Surfaces tree from the Prospector tab and select Create Surface.
2. Type: TIN Surface
Name: Enter the surface name.
Style: This can be a contour style selected based on the range of elevations,
triangulation or elevation/slope banding.
3. Click Ok. >>The surface is thus created and added to the surface tree.<<
4. Expand the Surfaces tree >>The new surface<<
5. Expand the Definition tree.
6. Select and right click the Point Group and click Add
7. Select the point group that you want to use to create the surface.
8. Click Ok.

A surface of the point will be created with respect to the surface style selected previously.

NOTES:
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3.0 GEOMETRIC DESIGN

3.1: Creating Alignments from Objects:

1. Click the Alignment tool from the Home tab.

2. Click Create Alignment from Objects.
3. Select the object from the preferred starting station.
4. Press
5. Press to accept the direction.
A new window appears:
Name: Enter the alignment name.
Alignment label set: Major Minor and Geometry Points
Specify curve radius.
6. Click Ok. >>The default chainage is 20m. This should be changed to a more suitable value of
25m
7. Click the label on the alignment. ie: Alignment Station Label Group.
8. Click Edit Label Group. From the Alignment Labels, select the Increment of the Major Stations
>>double click<< Change the value to 25m.
9. Select the Minor Stations and click
10. Click Ok.
To adjust the positions of the geometric sections of the alignment, click on the alignment. click
and move the geometric points to their new locations.

3.2: Alignment Labelling:

1. Click the Annotate tab from the list of tabs on the workspace.
2. Click the Add labels, from the Alignment, click the Add Alignment Labels.
3. From the Add Labels window:

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Label type: Single segment

Line label style: Bearing over Distance
Curve label style: Delta over Length & Radius
Click Add
4. Click the various segments of the alignment and their labels will appear.
5. Click close to exit.

3.3: Creating Existing Profile;

1. Click the Profile tab from the Home tab.
2. Click Create Surface profile icon.
3. Select the specified alignment and surface.
4. Click Add.
5. Click Draw in Profile View.
6. Click Create Profile View. >> Click an empty part of the drawing area to place the profile
view.<<
This shows the existing ground profile of the alignment. It is based on this profile that you can
trace the design level which is to bear the finished ground surface for the highway corridor.
The chainage value by default is 20m which should be changed to the required value of 25m.

3.4: Editing the Profile View

1. Select the profile view display >>ie: the graph<<
2. Right click and click Edit Profile View Style
3. Click the Horizontal Axis tab > Major tick details > Interval = 25.00m
Minor tick details > Interval = 25.00m
4. Click the Vertical Axis tab > Major tick details > Interval = 10.00m
Minor tick details > Interval = 5.00m

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5. Click Ok.

3.5: Creating the Design Layout Profile

1. From the Home tab, click the Profile tab and click the Profile creations tools.
2. Select the profile view to create the profile
Name: enter the layout profile name
Profile Label set: Complete Label set
A tool bar will then appear
3. Click the draw down icon of the first icon and click Draw Tangents With Curves.
>> A quick view in the Curve Settings icon shows you the values of L and K that was applied in
the layout design.<<
4. Specify start point. >> This tracing is based on experience and the end result of earthworks
expected. Each point you click, apart from the start point is a PVI. The profile lines above the
existing profile indicates a fill, the profile line below the existing profile indicates a cut<<
5. Press esc to end task.
6. Close the tool bar
>> Edit the design profile layout by clicking the profile from the profile view and dragging the
various geometric parts to their new locations for best fit.<<

3.6: Data band settings

1. Select the data band values >>anyone<< from the profile view.
2. Right click and click Profile view properties
3. From the Bands tab select Profile 2 sub-tab and change the existing ground profile to the
layout profile that you have just created.
4. Click Apply > Ok.

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4.0: CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT

4.1: Create Assembly
1. Click the Assembly tab from the Home tab and select Create Assembly.
2. Enter the assembly Name.
3. Click Ok.
4. Specify assembly baseline location in the drawing area.
The assembly baseline will thus be created.

4.2: Creating roadway subassembly components.

The purpose of this subsection is to develop the various components that makeup a roadway.
They include: medians, curbs, lanes, shoulders, daylight, channels, etc. All these subassembly
components are comprised of various code sets. Code sets are features that define the
boundaries and connection of these components with one another. The various components
combination that can be obtained depends on the kind of roadway that one intends to develop.
A roadway can be a single lane road, dual carriage way (grade separated or median separated),
trunk road, etc.
A feature line can be created using any of the code sets possessed by any of the components.
1. Click the Tool Palettes icon from Palettes group of icons.
2. Right click the sub assembly tree and select Lanes.
3. Click the lane component, >>say LaneOutsideSuperElevAOR<<
4. From the Advanced Parameters menu, set the following:
Default slope = -2.50% Width = 3.65m
Pave1 depth = 0.05m Pave2, base, subbase depths should be specified wrt the
pavement design result.
Side = Right/Left

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Right means that you will place the component on the RHS of the Assembly Baseline in the
drawing area. Repeat for LHS.
Add other Subassembly components as it suites you.
esc to end task.

4.3: Creating Corridor

1. From the Home tab click the Corridor icon and select the Create Corridor tool.
2. Select a baseline alignment or press to select from list. >Click Ok.
3. Select a profile or press to select from list. >Click Ok. >>The profile that you should select
is the design layout profile that you created<<
4. Select an assembly or press to select from list. >Click Ok.
5. Enter the Corridor name.
6. Click Ok.

4.5: Creating corridor surfaces

1. Click the Modify tab.
2. Click the Corridor icon.
3. Click Corridor surfaces icon
4. Click the first icon in the window >>Create a Corridor Surface<<
5. Add data: Data type = Links, Specify code: >>select a code set<<
6. Click
7. Click the Boundaries tab.
8. Right click the corridor and click Add Automatically and select the specified code.
9. Click Ok.
10. Click to exit the corridor.

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4.5 Creating Corridor feature lines.

1. From the Home tab, click Feature line.
2. Click Create Feature Line from Corridor
3. Select a corridor feature line from the drawing.
Make sure you select the feature line that was used to create the surface boundaries.
>>Wrong selection will disorganize your work<<
4. Select feature line >Click Ok.
5. Click Ok in the new window that appeared
6. Select the other side of the corridor and carryout the same task >>3-5<<
7. esc to end task

NOTES:
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5.0: GRADING AND CROSS SECTIONS

5.1: Creating Grading Group.
1. From the Home tab, click the Grading tool.
2. Click Create Grading Group
Name: Enter the name
Mark Automatic Surface Creation
Mark Volume base surface and ensure it is the corridor surface that is selected.
3. Click Ok. > Click Ok.

5.2: Create Grading

1. From the Home tab, click the Grading tool.
2. Click the Grading Creation Tools
3. From the second icon on the tool bar, click the icon Set the target surface >>The target
surface should be the existing ground surface.<<
4. Click Ok.
5. Select Grade to Surface
6. From the seventh icon from the LHS, select Create Grading from the drop down bar.
7. Move into the drawing area and select the feature line that you created on one side. >>Auto
Corridor Feature Line<<
8. Select the side of the grading >>any point outside the roadway but within the existing ground
surface on that same side<<
Apply to entire length: yes
Cut format > Grade: 100% >>varies<<
Fill format > Grade: 100% >>varies<<
The grading for that side will thus be produced.
9. Repeat the same task on the other side.

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10. esc to end task.

11. Close the tool bar.

5.3: Create Sample Line

1. Click the Sample Lines icon from the Home tab.
2. Select an alignment or press to select from lisk.
3. Click Ok.
4. Name: enter name of sample line
Data sources to sample: EG surface, Grading Group Surface, Corridor Surface, Corridor
Assembly >>optional<<
5. Sample line tools
Click the drop down of the sixth icon form the LHS and select By range of Stations
6. Left Swath Width: >>Distance that can cover all the grading width and the roadway from the
baseline.<<
Right Swath Width: >>For RHS<<
Sampling increments: Along Tangents = 25m, Along Curves = 25m, Along Spirals = 25m
>> Ensure that the sample line extends beyond the grade lines.<<
7. Click Ok.
8. esc to end task.

5.4: Multiple Cross Section views

1. From the Home tab, click the Section views icon.
2. Click Create Multiple Views
3. From the new window, review the tabs configurations and provisions
4. Click Create Section Views
5. Click an empty space in the drawing to place the multiple sections.

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6.0: VOLUME COMPUTATIONS

6.1: Merging Corridor Surface with the Grading Group.
1. From the Prospector tab, expand the surface tree.
2. Expand the Corridor Surface tree.
3. Expand the Definition tree.
4. Select and right click Edits.
5. Click Paste Surface.
6. Select the grading group surface.
7. Click Ok.

6.2: Quantity Take Off Criteria Setting

You are required to specify a refill factor for the borrowed materials based on the engineering
properties of the materials based on the engineering properties of the materials. This is provided
in this sub section.
1. Click the Settings tab from the Toolspace palettes.
2. Expand the Quantity TakeOff tree.
3. Expand the Quantity TakeOff Criteria tree.
4. Select and right click Cut and Fill.
5. Click Edit.
6. From the Material list tab, Change the Ground Fill, > Fill Factor: to the suitable values.
7. Click Ok.

6.3: Volume Computation

1. Click the Analyze tab.
2. Click the Compute materials icon.
3. Select Alignment, select Sample line Group click Ok.

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4. Quantity TakeOff Criteria:

Volume calculation method: >>please specify<<
Surfaces:
EG = existing ground surface
Click: >>Click here to set all<<
DATUM = Grading group + Corridor surface >>Corridor Corridor (1)<<
Click: >>Click here to set all<<
5. Click Ok.
The volume is thus calculated based on your specifications. >>If you made a mistake, you can
undo this section.<<

6.4: Creating Total Volume Table

1. From the Analyze tab, click the Total Volume Table
2. Review the configurations and then click Ok.
3. Select an empty drawing area and place the table.
4. Go through the table.
>>END OF REQUIRED DESIGN<<

6.5: Creating View Frames

1. From the Output tab, click the View Frames icon.
2. Enter the alignment and click Ok.
3. Review the configurations of the new dialog box and click Create view frames.

6.6: Exporting for Drafting

1. Click the application menu icon.
2. Highlight Export, highlight AutoCAD DXF, click Export to AutoCAD 2010 DXF

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3. Save to a specified file directory that you can recall later.

You can then open the saved file with an AutoCAD application and continue with your drafting.

NOTES:
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