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Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2024
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Essentials
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Part 1
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Learning Guide
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Imperial Units - 1st Edition

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Cover Page
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 ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
Autodesk® Civil 3D®2024
Essentials
Imperial Units - 1st Edition
Prepared and produced by:

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ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
630 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 175
Charlottesville, VA 22911

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866-527-2368

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www.ASCENTed.com

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Lead Contributor: Jeff Morris
Copyright

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge (a division of Rand Worldwide Inc.) is a leading developer of
professional learning materials and knowledge products for engineering software applications. ASCENT

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specializes in designing targeted content that facilitates application-based learning with hands-on

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software experience. For over 25 years, ASCENT has helped users become more productive through
tailored custom learning solutions.

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We welcome any comments you may have regarding this guide, or any of our products. To contact us
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please email: feedback@ASCENTed.com.

© ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge, 2023

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All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form by any photographic, electronic,
mechanical or other means or used in any information storage and retrieval system without the written
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permission of ASCENT, a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc.

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The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates in the USA and other countries: 123D, 3ds Max, ADSK, Alias, ATC, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD, Autodesk,
the Autodesk logo, Autodesk 123D, Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Docs, ArtCAM, Autodesk Forge, Autodesk
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Fusion, Autodesk Inventor, AutoSnap, BIM 360, Buzzsaw, CADmep, CAMduct, Civil 3D, Configurator 360,
Dancing Baby (image), DWF, DWG, DWG (DWG logo), DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView,
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DWGX, DXF, Eagle, ESTmep, FBX, FeatureCAM, Flame, FormIt 360, Fusion 360, The Future of Making Things,
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NASTRAN is a registered trademark of the National Aeronautics Space Administration.

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All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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General Disclaimer:
Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, nothing contained herein constitutes nor is intended to
constitute an offer, inducement, promise, or contract of any kind. The data contained herein is for
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informational purposes only and is not represented to be error free. ASCENT, its agents and employees,
expressly disclaim any liability for any damages, losses or other expenses arising in connection with the use
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of its materials or in connection with any failure of performance, error, omission even if ASCENT, or its
representatives, are advised of the possibility of such damages, losses or other expenses. No consequential
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thereto. ASCENT does not warrant that the document or information will be error free or will meet any
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AS-C3D2401ESS1IM-SG // IS-C3D2401ESS1IM-SG
 Contents

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Preface .............................................................................................................................ix

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In This Guide ...................................................................................................................xiii

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Practice Files ...................................................................................................................xv

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Chapter 1: The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface 1-1
1.1 Product Overview ................................................................................................. 1-2

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1.2 Autodesk Civil 3D Workspaces.............................................................................. 1-3

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Start Tab ...........................................................................................................................1-4

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1.3 Autodesk Civil 3D User Interface........................................................................... 1-8
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Practice 1a: Overview of Civil 3D and the User Interface................................................ 1-16
1.4 Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace .............................................................................. 1-22
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Prospector Tab...............................................................................................................1-24
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Settings Tab....................................................................................................................1-26
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Survey Tab ......................................................................................................................1-28

Toolbox Tab....................................................................................................................1-29
1.5 Autodesk Civil 3D Panorama............................................................................... 1-32
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Practice 1b: Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace ..................................................................... 1-34

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 1-42

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Command Summary ..................................................................................................... 1-44

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Chapter 2: Survey, Points, and Linework 2-1

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2.1 Survey Workflow Overview.................................................................................... 2-2

Workflow...........................................................................................................................2-2
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2.2 Survey Figures...................................................................................................... 2-3

Figure Prefix Database.....................................................................................................2-4
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2.3 Points Overview.................................................................................................... 2-5

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2.4 Point Settings....................................................................................................... 2-6

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® i

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

2.5 Creating Points ..................................................................................................... 2-8

Practice 2a: Create Autodesk Civil 3D Points .................................................................. 2-9
2.6 Reviewing and Editing Points .............................................................................. 2-10

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2.7 Point Reports...................................................................................................... 2-12
Practice 2b: Manipulate Points and Point Reports ......................................................... 2-15

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2.8 Importing Survey Data ........................................................................................ 2-19

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Import Points Only......................................................................................................... 2-19
Duplicate Point Numbers.............................................................................................. 2-21

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Survey Toolspace .......................................................................................................... 2-22

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Import Points and Figures Using the Survey Database .............................................. 2-23
2.9 Point Groups....................................................................................................... 2-28
Defining Point Groups ................................................................................................... 2-28

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Practice 2c: Importing Points ........................................................................................ 2-34
Practice 2d: Creating Point Groups ............................................................................... 2-42

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2.10 Lines and Curves ................................................................................................ 2-47
Practice 2e: Begin a Subdivision Project ....................................................................... 2-50
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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 2-53
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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 2-55

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Chapter 3: Surfaces 3-1

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3.1 Surface Process ................................................................................................... 3-2

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3.2 Surface Properties ................................................................................................ 3-9

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3.3 Other Surface Data ............................................................................................. 3-12

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DEM Files ....................................................................................................................... 3-12

Contour Data.................................................................................................................. 3-12
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Drawing Objects ............................................................................................................ 3-12

Point Files ...................................................................................................................... 3-13
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Point Groups .................................................................................................................. 3-13

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Point Survey Queries ..................................................................................................... 3-13

Figure Survey Queries ................................................................................................... 3-13
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Practice 3a: Create an Existing Ground Surface............................................................. 3-14

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3.4 Breaklines and Boundaries.................................................................................. 3-23

Breaklines ...................................................................................................................... 3-24
Practice 3b: Add More Data to an Existing Ground Surface............................................ 3-28

ii © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

3.5 Surface Editing ................................................................................................... 3-37

Line Edits........................................................................................................................ 3-39
Point Edits...................................................................................................................... 3-39
Smooth Contours .......................................................................................................... 3-40
Copy Surface ................................................................................................................. 3-41

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Surface Paste ................................................................................................................ 3-41
Raise/Lower Surface..................................................................................................... 3-42

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3.6 Surface Analysis Tools ....................................................................................... 3-43

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Viewing a Surface in 3D ................................................................................................ 3-43

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Surface Preview in the Prospector............................................................................... 3-44
Quick Profile .................................................................................................................. 3-45

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Practice 3c: Surface Edits ............................................................................................. 3-47
3.7 Surface Labels.................................................................................................... 3-60

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Contour Labels .............................................................................................................. 3-61

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Spot and Slope Labels .................................................................................................. 3-61

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3.8 Surface Analysis Display..................................................................................... 3-62
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Analysis Settings ........................................................................................................... 3-63
Analysis Data Display.................................................................................................... 3-64
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Practice 3d: Surface Labeling and Analysis ................................................................... 3-65
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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 3-72

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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 3-74

Chapter 4: Alignments 4-1

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4.1 Roadway Design Overview .................................................................................... 4-2

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4.2 Autodesk Civil 3D Sites......................................................................................... 4-3

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4.3 Introduction to Alignments ................................................................................... 4-4

Criteria-Based Design.......................................................................................................4-6
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Alignment Types...............................................................................................................4-7
Alignment Segment Types...............................................................................................4-8
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Practice 4a: Create Alignments from Objects ................................................................ 4-10

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4.4 Alignment Layout Tools ...................................................................................... 4-18

Alignment Editing .......................................................................................................... 4-20
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Practice 4b: Create and Modify Alignments................................................................... 4-21

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4.5 Alignment Properties .......................................................................................... 4-27

Station Control Tab ....................................................................................................... 4-27
Design Criteria Tab........................................................................................................ 4-27
4.6 Labels and Tables............................................................................................... 4-29
Alignment Point Labels................................................................................................. 4-29
Independent Alignment Labels..................................................................................... 4-34
Alignment Table Styles ................................................................................................. 4-36

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® iii

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Practice 4c: Alignment Properties and Labels ............................................................... 4-37

Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 4-45
Command Summary...................................................................................................... 4-46

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Chapter 5: Profiles 5-1
5.1 Profiles Overview.................................................................................................. 5-2

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Repositioning and Deleting Profile Views.......................................................................5-3

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5.2 Create a Profile View Style.................................................................................... 5-4

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5.3 Create Profiles from Surface............................................................................... 5-11

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5.4 Create Profile View Wizard ................................................................................. 5-13
Practice 5a: Work with Profiles Part I ............................................................................ 5-18

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5.5 Finished Ground Profiles..................................................................................... 5-25
5.6 Create and Edit Profiles ...................................................................................... 5-27

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Transparent Commands ............................................................................................... 5-28
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Assigning Profile Band Elevations ............................................................................... 5-30
Profile Segment Types.................................................................................................. 5-30
Profile Labels................................................................................................................. 5-31
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Practice 5b: Work with Profiles Part II ........................................................................... 5-34

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 5-49

Command Summary...................................................................................................... 5-51
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Chapter 6: Corridors 6-1

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6.1 Assembly Overview .............................................................................................. 6-2

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Assemblies .......................................................................................................................6-2
Subassemblies .................................................................................................................6-3
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Practice 6a: Create Assemblies....................................................................................... 6-6

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6.2 Creating a Corridor ............................................................................................. 6-12

Corridor Frequency........................................................................................................ 6-14
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6.3 Corridor Properties ............................................................................................. 6-15

Information Tab............................................................................................................. 6-15
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Parameters Tab............................................................................................................. 6-15

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Feature Lines Tab.......................................................................................................... 6-16

Corridor Contextual Ribbon .......................................................................................... 6-17
Exporting Corridors ....................................................................................................... 6-17
Practice 6b: Create Corridors ........................................................................................ 6-19

iv © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

6.4 Designing Intersections ...................................................................................... 6-29

General Tab.................................................................................................................... 6-30
Geometry Details Tab.................................................................................................... 6-31
Corridor Regions Tab .................................................................................................... 6-31
Intersection in Prospector ............................................................................................ 6-33

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Practice 6c: Intersections ............................................................................................. 6-36

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6.5 Corridor Surfaces ............................................................................................... 6-47
Overhang Correction ..................................................................................................... 6-47

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Surface Boundaries ....................................................................................................... 6-48

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Practice 6d: Corridor Surfaces ...................................................................................... 6-49

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6.6 Sample Line Groups............................................................................................ 6-52
Modifying Sample Line Groups .................................................................................... 6-56

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Practice 6e: Create Sample Lines.................................................................................. 6-57

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6.7 Section Volume Calculations .............................................................................. 6-62

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Earthwork Volumes ....................................................................................................... 6-62
Mass Haul ...................................................................................................................... 6-63
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Material Volumes .......................................................................................................... 6-63
Quantity Takeoff Criteria............................................................................................... 6-63
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Define Materials ............................................................................................................ 6-64
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Practice 6f: Compute Materials..................................................................................... 6-65

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 6-74

Command Summary...................................................................................................... 6-76
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Chapter 7: Grading 7-1

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7.1 Grading Overview.................................................................................................. 7-2

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7.2 Feature Lines ........................................................................................................ 7-4

Feature Line Contextual Tab............................................................................................7-4
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Elevation Editor.................................................................................................................7-5
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Practice 7a: Create Feature Lines.................................................................................... 7-7

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7.3 Grading Tools ..................................................................................................... 7-18

Grading Creation Tools Toolbar ................................................................................... 7-18
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Grading Volumes ........................................................................................................... 7-19

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Practice 7b: Create Grading Groups .............................................................................. 7-20

7.4 Modifying Autodesk Civil 3D Grading .................................................................. 7-32
Grading Styles................................................................................................................ 7-32
Feature Line Labels ....................................................................................................... 7-32
Grading Criteria.............................................................................................................. 7-32
Grading Criteria Set ....................................................................................................... 7-33

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® v

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Practice 7c: Modify Grading and Calculate Volumes...................................................... 7-35

Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 7-42
Command Summary...................................................................................................... 7-44

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Chapter 8: Pipe Networks 8-1
8.1 Pipes Overview ..................................................................................................... 8-2

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8.2 Pipes Configuration .............................................................................................. 8-4

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8.3 Creating Networks from Objects ........................................................................... 8-5

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Practice 8a: Create Pipe Networks by Objects ................................................................. 8-7

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8.4 The Network Layout Toolbar ............................................................................... 8-10
Practice 8b: Create Pipe Networks by Layout ................................................................ 8-12

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8.5 Network Editing .................................................................................................. 8-19
Pipe (and Structure) Properties.................................................................................... 8-19

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Swap Part....................................................................................................................... 8-20
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Connect/Disconnect From Part.................................................................................... 8-20
Practice 8c: Edit Pipe Networks .................................................................................... 8-21
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8.6 Annotating Pipe Networks .................................................................................. 8-26
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Pipe Networks in Sections............................................................................................ 8-27

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Pipe Network Reports and Tables................................................................................ 8-28

Practice 8d: Annotate Pipe Networks ............................................................................ 8-29
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8.7 Pressure Pipe Networks...................................................................................... 8-37

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Practice 8e: Create a Pressure Pipe Network ................................................................ 8-43

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 8-52

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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 8-53

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Chapter 9: Project Explorer 9-1

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9.1 Introduction to the Project Explorer....................................................................... 9-2

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9.2 Project Explorer User Interface ............................................................................. 9-4

Practice 9a: Project Explorer Interface ............................................................................ 9-9
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9.3 Civil 3D Object Management ............................................................................... 9-13

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Practice 9b: Edit Civil 3D Pipe Objects........................................................................... 9-18

9.4 Reports and Object Sets...................................................................................... 9-25
Practice 9c: Reports and Object Sets ............................................................................ 9-27
Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 9-36
Command Summary...................................................................................................... 9-37

vi © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

Chapter 10: Plan Production 10-1

10.1 Final Design ........................................................................................................ 10-2
10.2 Plan Production Tools......................................................................................... 10-3
Overview for Plan/Profile Sheets ................................................................................. 10-3

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Overview for Section Sheets......................................................................................... 10-4
10.3 Plan Production Objects ..................................................................................... 10-5

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10.4 Plan Production Object Edits............................................................................... 10-7

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View Frame Geometry Properties Edits....................................................................... 10-8

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Match Line Geometry Properties Edits ........................................................................ 10-9

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Practice 10a: Plan Production Tools - View Frames .................................................... 10-10
10.5 Creating Sheets ................................................................................................ 10-19

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Practice 10b: Plan Production Tools - Sheet Generation.............................................. 10-22

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10.6 Section Views ................................................................................................... 10-27

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Section View Wizard ................................................................................................... 10-27
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Practice 10c: Plan Production Tools - Sections ........................................................... 10-30
Chapter Review Questions .......................................................................................... 10-41
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Command Summary.................................................................................................... 10-42
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Index........................................................................................................................ Index-1
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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® vii

 Preface

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The Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2024: Essentials guide is designed for civil engineers and surveyors

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who want to take advantage of the Autodesk Civil 3D software’s interactive, dynamic design
functionality. The Autodesk Civil 3D software permits the rapid development of alternatives

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through its model-based design tools. You will learn techniques enabling you to organize

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project data, work with points, create and analyze surfaces, model road corridors, perform

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grading and volume calculation tasks, and lay out pipe networks.

Topics Covered

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•

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Learn the Autodesk Civil 3D user interface.
• Create points and point groups and work with survey figures.

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Create, edit, view, and analyze surfaces.
• Create and edit alignments.
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• Create sites, profiles, and cross-sections.

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•
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Create assemblies, corridors, and intersections.

• Create grading solutions.
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• Create gravity-fed and pressure pipe networks.

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• Use plan production tools to create plan and profile sheets.

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Prerequisites
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• Access to the 2024.0 version of the software, to ensure compatibility with this guide. Future
software updates that are released by Autodesk may include changes that are not reflected
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in this guide. The practices and files included with this guide might not be compatible with
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prior versions (e.g., 2023).

• Experience with AutoCAD® or AutoCAD-based products and a sound understanding and
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knowledge of civil engineering terminology.

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Note on Learning Guide Content

ASCENT’s learning guides are intended to teach the technical aspects of using the software
and do not focus on professional design principles and standards. The exercises aim to
demonstrate the capabilities and flexibility of the software, rather than following specific
design codes or standards, which can vary between regions.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® ix

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Note on Software Setup

This guide assumes a standard installation of the software using the default preferences during
installation. Lectures and practices use the standard software templates and default options
for the Content Libraries.

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Configuration Changes

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The following configuration changes need to be made to ensure the practices run smoothly. For

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more information on making these configuration changes, consult the Civil 3D help menu.

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• Set the Template file location to C:\Civil 3D Essentials\Ascent-Config, as shown below.

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• Set the Pipe Catalog location to C:\Civil 3D Essentials\Ascent-Config\Pipes Catalog, as

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shown below.
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x © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Preface

• Set the Pressure Pipe Catalog location to C:\Civil 3D Essentials\ Ascent-Config\Pressure

Pipes Catalog\Imperial, as shown below.

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• Change the Survey User Settings as follows:

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• In the Toolspace>Survey tab, click (Survey User Settings), as shown below.

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• Click (Import User Settings), browse to C:\Civil 3D Essentials\ Ascent-Config\Survey

Settings and select ASCENT-Settings.usr_set.
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• Click Open or double-click the file to open it.

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Lead Contributor: Jeff Morris

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Specializing in the civil engineering industry, Jeff authors training guides and provides
instruction, support, and implementation on all Autodesk infrastructure solutions.
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Jeff brings to bear over 20 years of diverse work experience in the civil engineering industry. He
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has played multiple roles, including Sales, Trainer, Application Specialist, Implementation and
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Customization Consultant, CAD Coordinator, and CAD/BIM Manager, in civil engineering and
architecture firms, and Autodesk reseller organizations. He has worked for government
organizations and private firms, small companies and large multinational corporations, and in
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multiple geographies across the globe. Through his extensive experience in Building and
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Infrastructure design, Jeff has acquired a thorough understanding of CAD Standards and
Procedures and an in-depth knowledge of CAD and BIM.
Jeff studied Architecture and a diploma in Systems Analysis and Programming. He is an
Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) and holds the Autodesk Certified Professional certification
for Civil 3D and Revit.
Jeff Morris is the Lead Contributor for Autodesk Civil 3D: Essentials. This title was formerly part
of Autodesk Civil 3D: Fundamentals, for which he was the lead contributor since 2019.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® xi

 In This Guide

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The following highlights the key features of this guide.

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Feature Description

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Practice Files The Practice Files page includes a link to the practice files and instructions on

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how to download and install them. The practice files are required to complete the

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practices in this guide.
Chapters A chapter consists of the following: Learning Objectives, Instructional Content,
Practices, Chapter Review Questions, and Command Summary.

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• Learning Objectives define the skills you can acquire by learning the content
provided in the chapter.

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• Instructional Content, which begins right after Learning Objectives, refers to the
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topic introduces a product feature, discusses various aspects of that feature,
and provides step-by-step procedures on how to use that feature. Where
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relevant, examples, figures, helpful hints, and notes are provided.
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• Practice for a topic follows the instructional content. Practices enable you to
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use the software to perform a hands-on review of a topic. It is required that you
download the practice files (using the link found on the Practice Files page)
prior to starting the first practice.
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• Chapter Review Questions, located close to the end of a chapter, enable you to
test your knowledge of the key concepts discussed in the chapter.
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• Command Summary concludes a chapter. It contains a list of the software

commands that are used throughout the chapter and provides information on
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where the command can be found in the software.

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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® xiii

 Sa

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Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Chapter

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The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

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In this chapter, you will learn about the Autodesk® Civil 3D® software interface and terminology.

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You will learn how to navigate the available workspaces and the Toolspace, and how to work in
a dynamic model environment. You will also learn how to change the settings within the

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program to conform to specific standards.
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Learning Objectives
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•
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Switch between the Autodesk Civil 3D tools, 2D drafting and annotation tools, 3D
modeling tools, and planning and analysis tools by changing the workspace.
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• Locate the basic features and commands of the Autodesk Civil 3D software interface,
which include the ribbon, drawing window, Command Line, and Toolspace.
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• Access commands by right-clicking on an object or collection of objects in the

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Prospector and Settings tabs in the Toolspace.

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•
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Access predefined reports and create custom reports to share useful engineering data
about architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) objects in a drawing.
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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–1

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

1.1 Product Overview

The Autodesk Civil 3D software supports a wide range of survey and civil engineering tasks. It

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creates intelligent relationships between objects so that design changes can be updated
dynamically.

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• The Autodesk Civil 3D software uses dynamic objects for points, alignments, profiles, terrain
models, pipe networks, etc. Objects can update when data changes. For example, if an

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alignment changes, its associated profiles and sections update automatically. Commands

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can be safely undone in the software without the graphics becoming out-of-date with survey

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and design data.
• These objects are style-based and dynamic, which streamlines object creation and editing.

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• Autodesk Civil 3D objects (surfaces, alignments, etc.) are often stored directly inside

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drawing files. The exception is when working with the Autodesk Data Management System
(Vault), data shortcuts, or a survey database.

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The Autodesk Civil 3D software supports a multiple document interface. This means that
more than one drawing file can be open in the same session of the Autodesk Civil 3D
software at the same time.
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•
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The Autodesk Civil 3D software can be launched by selecting its icon on the desktop or by
accessing the command through the Start menu. The icon indicates Imperial or Metric.
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Once launched, the software initiates with the standard Autodesk Civil 3D profile. Your BIM
manager can customize the shortcut to have the software launch with project based
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settings. This is accomplished using a custom profile.

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1–2 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

1.2 Autodesk Civil 3D Workspaces

When the Autodesk Civil 3D software is launched for the first time, you must sign in to your

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Autodesk account in order for license verification.
If you are already signed in, you will be greeted with the standard Civil 3D Start screen, which

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will be discussed shortly. If you are not yet signed into your Autodesk account, you are greeted
with the Sign in screen, as shown on the right in Figure 1–1.

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If you do not have an Autodesk account, you can click on Create Account to launch the

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Autodesk - Create Account screen, as shown on the left in Figure 1–1. Note that you can return

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to the Sign in screen by clicking on Sign in.

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Figure 1–1
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Start Tab
By default, the Start tab is continually available, even when a drawing file is open. It enables you
to complete several actions, as shown in Figure 1–2:

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• Open existing files. (1)
•

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Create new drawings from template files. (2)

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• Review and open recent documents. (3)

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• Browse to Autodesk Docs. (4)

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• Access Learning videos and tips. (online) (5)
• Open various online tools and support. (6)

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• Identify File Type (either local or cloud based). (7)
•

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Select the search columns to display. (8)
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Open the Announcement panel to submit feedback for improving the Civil 3D product (9), as
shown in Figure 1–3. To collapse the Announcement panel, click on the X icon in the top
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right corner.
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• The Search box updates the Recent Files list with matches of the typed in characters. (10)
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• Pin a drawing to the Start screen to be a permanent display on the Start screen (until it is
unpinned). (11)
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• Choose to open the drawing as Read-Only or not. (12)

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

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Figure 1–3

Hint: In order to open Autodesk Docs cloud-based drawings, you need to have access to
Autodesk Docs.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

The Start tab is persistent even when other drawings are open. This makes it easier and faster
to open or start new drawings. If the Single Drawing Interface is enabled (SDI System Variable
set to 1), then the Start tab will vanish. The Single Drawing Interface only allows one drawing to
be opened at a time. When another drawing is opened, the current drawing must close.

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The Civil 3D workspace is the default workspace upon initiation of Civil 3D. It is recommended
that you stay in the Civil 3D workspace most of the time. As a review, AutoCAD® Workspaces

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are saved groupings of menus, toolbars, and palettes, which can be customized as required for
specific tasks. You can modify the default workspaces supplied with the Autodesk Civil 3D

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software or create your own. In this material, you work with the Civil 3D workspace, which

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includes a complete list of Autodesk Civil 3D-specific ribbons, drop-down menus, and tools.

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Workspaces can be changed using the Workspaces switching icon in the lower right corner of
the Status Bar, as shown in Figure 1–4. They can also be modified using the CUI command.
Note: This task is typically performed by your BIM manager.

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Figure 1–4
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

Each of the ribbons from the workspaces are shown in order in Figure 1–5 and include the
following:
• Civil 3D workspace: Contains tools used to create AEC objects, such as surfaces,
alignments, profiles, corridors, grading objects, etc.

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• Drafting & Annotation workspace: Contains tools that are commonly used in the standard
AutoCAD software, such as those in the Home tab>Draw and Modify panels.

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• 3D Modeling workspace: Contains standard AutoCAD 3D modeling tools for designing 3D

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solids, mesh surfaces, etc.

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• Planning and Analysis workspace: Contains tools found in the AutoCAD® Map 3D®

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software that help you attach and analyze GIS data for more efficient planning of projects
before starting your design.

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Civil 3D workspace
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Drafting & Annotation workspace

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3D Modeling workspace
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Planning and Analysis workspace

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Figure 1–5

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

1.3 Autodesk Civil 3D User Interface

The Autodesk Civil 3D software user interface is shown in Figure 1–6.

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2 3

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Figure 1–6
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1. Application Menu 6. Tooltips

2. Quick Access Toolbar 7. Drawing Window
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3. InfoCenter 8. Command Line

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4. Ribbon 9. Status Bar

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5. File tabs 10. Layout Tabs

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

1. Application Menu
The Application Menu provides access to commands, settings, and documents, as shown in
Figure 1–7. With the Application Menu, you can:
•

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Perform a search of menus, menu actions, tooltips, and command prompt text strings.
• Browse for recent documents, currently open documents, and commands you have recently

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executed. The number of recently used documents has increased from 9 to up to 50.

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Figure 1–7
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2. Quick Access Toolbar

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The Quick Access Toolbar provides access to commonly used commands, such as Open, Save,
Print, etc. You can add more tools to the Quick Access Toolbar by clicking the down arrow on
the right, as shown in Figure 1–8.
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Figure 1–8

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Share

Share your current drawing by using the (Share) command in the Quick Access
Toolbar. It opens a dialog box to create a copy of the current drawing for viewing only or for

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editing and saving, as shown in Figure 1–9.

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Figure 1–9
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3. InfoCenter
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The InfoCenter enables you to quickly search for help. You can specify which Help documents
to search, and collapse or expand the search field (as shown in Figure 1–10) to save screen
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space. You can also sign in to the Autodesk 360 service, where you can use various tools in the
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Autodesk cloud.
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(Autodesk App Store) provides the ability to connect to the Autodesk App Store to find
additional efficiency-enhancing applications.
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Figure 1–10

4. Ribbon
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The ribbon provides a single, compact location for commands that are relevant to the current
task. Most of the time, you work in the Home tab. When annotating the model, you switch to the
Annotate tab. It contains tools in a series of tabs and panels to reduce clutter in the application
and maximize drawing space. Selecting a tab displays a series of panels. The panels contain a
variety of tools, which are grouped by function, as shown in Figure 1–11.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

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Tabs Panels

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Commands

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Figure 1–11

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Clicking the drop-down arrow expands the panel to display additional tools, as shown in
Figure 1–12. Clicking an arrow pointing to the bottom right opens the tool’s dialog box, which
contains additional options.

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Figure 1–12
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The expanded panel collapses again to its normal state when you either select a command or
move your cursor off of the panel. To prevent this, you can pin the expanded panel by clicking
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the pin icon ( ) in the lower left corner of the panel. When a panel is pinned, the icon changes
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to a pinned state ( ).
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You can minimize the ribbon by clicking the arrow successively on the far right of the tabs, as
shown in Figure 1–13.
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Figure 1–13

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

There are two classifications of ribbons: static and contextual.

• Static ribbons: Display the most commonly used tabs, panels, and commands.
• Contextual ribbons: Display the tabs, panels, and commands that are only applicable to the

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selected object. An example of a contextual ribbon is shown in Figure 1–14. The contextual
ribbon tabs are always the last tab on the far right of the tabs.

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Contextual ribbon tab

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Contextual

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ribbon

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Selected AEC object
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Depending on your screen size, screen resolution, and the menu or workspace you have, there
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may not be enough room for all tabs to display. In that case, a double arrow icon ( ) appears.
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When you select it, it lists the hidden tabs for you to select, as shown in Figure 1–15.
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Figure 1–15
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5. File tabs
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The drawing’s File tabs (shown in Figure 1–16) are located near the upper left corner of the
drawing window. They provide a quick way of switching between open drawings, creating new
ones, opening, saving, or closing the required drawings. The Start tab persists in the File Tabs
bar. Clicking it displays the initial Start window in the (File tab menu) from where you can
switch between open drawings, create a new drawing, and save and / or close drawings, etc., as
shown in Figure 1–16.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

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Figure 1–16
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6. Tooltips
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Tooltips display the item’s name, a short description, and sometimes a graphic. They provide
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information about tools, commands, and drawing objects, as shown in Figure 1–17.
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Note: Tooltips can be turned off and a display delay can be set in the Options dialog box>
Display tab.
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Figure 1–17

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

7. Drawing Window
The Drawing Window is the area of the screen where the drawing displays.

8. Command Line

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The Command Line is a text window that is located at the bottom of the screen and displays
command prompts and a history of commands, as shown in Figure 1–18. To toggle the

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Command Line display on or off, press <Ctrl>+<9>.

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Figure 1–18

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9. Status Bar
The Status Bar enables you to change many of AutoCAD’s drafting settings, such as Snap, Grid,

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and Object Snap. Not all the available tools are shown by default (e.g., Coordinates). Click
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(Customization) to toggle on more available tools in the Status Bar, as shown in
Figure 1–19.
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Customization
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Figure 1–19
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

10. Layout Tabs

To the left of the Status Bar is the Layout Tab bar containing the various layouts contained
within the drawing. At the beginning of the Layout Tab bar is the (Layout tab menu) from

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where you can switch between layouts, create a layout, and publish layouts, etc., as shown in
Figure 1–20.

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Figure 1–20
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Practice 1a
Overview of Civil 3D and the User Interface

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Practice Objective

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• Locate the basic features and commands of the Autodesk Civil 3D software interface,

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which include the ribbon, Toolspace, drawing window, Command Line, etc.

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In this practice, you will become familiar with Autodesk Civil 3D’s capabilities and learn about

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its interface.

Task 1: Set up the practice.

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In this task, you will add a folder shortcut in the pane on the left side of the Select File dialog

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box. This enables you to quickly access the practice files folder in the Open dialog box.
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1. If required, start the Autodesk Civil 3D 2023 Imperial application.
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2. In the Start tab, click (Open), or expand (Application Menu) and select Open. In
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the Select File dialog box, browse to the C:\Civil 3D Essentials\Working folder.
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3. Expand the Tools drop-down list and select Add Current Folder to Places, as shown in
Figure 1–21.
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Places
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Figure 1–21
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4. After you create the new entry in your Places, use the up arrow, as shown in Figure 1–21, to
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go up one folder. As an alternative to adding an entry via the drop-down list as you did in the
previous step, you could drag and drop the Working folder to the Places panel from this
level.
5. Browse to the References\DWG folder.
6. Select Introduction.dwg and then select Open. If prompted to save the changes to your
Places panel, click Yes.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

7. When the drawing opens, you may receive a notification in the Event Viewer - “Macro file not
found at original path specified in subassembly. Updated macro file location to path defined
by AECCCONTENT_DIR environment variable..." . This means that the subassemblies in the
drawing were created in an earlier version of Civil 3D. Nothing to worry about, the

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subassemblies are still valid. Click the green checkmark ( ) to close the Events vista, as
shown in Figure 1–22.

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Figure 1–22

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8. A notification bubble pops up in the lower right corner regarding Unreconciled New Layers,
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as shown in Figure 1–23. This means that some new layers have been discovered since the
last time the drawing was opened.
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Figure 1–23
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Hint:
Consult with your organization’s CAD Management standards on how to manage Layer
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Reconciliation.
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

9. Click on the blue View unreconciled new layers... link to open up the Layer Properties

Manager. Click (Layer Settings) in the top right corner, and in the Layer Settings dialog
box, uncheck the New Layer Notification option, as shown in Figure 1–24. This will not
reconcile the layers, but it will prevent the notification from appearing the next time you

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open this drawing.

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Figure 1–24
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10. Click OK to close the Layer Settings dialog box, and then close the Layers Properties
Manager dialog box.
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11. In the Status Bar, confirm that Civil 3D is the active workspace. The Workspace icon is
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located in the Status Bar (bottom right of the interface) and in the Quick Access Toolbar
(top left of the interface), as shown in Figure 1–25.
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Figure 1–25
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

12. Click on the Insert tab and then click on the down arrow on the Import panel. The panel
expands, as shown in Figure 1–26. Move your cursor back to the drawing area and the
panel contracts. Click on the down arrow once again, then click on the pin icon ( ). This

time when you move the cursor, the panel remains expanded. Click on the unpin icon ( )

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to let the panel contract again.

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13. Click on the Home tab to return to the Home ribbon.

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14. Locate the Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace (as shown in Figure 1–27). If you cannot find it,
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click (Toolspace) in the Home tab>Palettes panel. By default, the Toolspace is docked
to the left side of your drawing window.
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Figure 1–27

15. Save the drawing as Intro-A1.dwg. To do this, expand (Application Menu) and select
Save As. Browse to the C:\Civil 3D Essentials\References\DWG folder and in the File Name
field, type Intro-A1. Click Save.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Task 2: Review Autodesk Civil 3D’s dynamic object model.

1. In the top left corner of the drawing window, select - (dash or minus symbol) for Viewport
Control. Expand Viewport Configuration List>Custom Viewport Configuration and select

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Plan-Profile, as shown on the top in Figure 1–28.
• Alternatively, in the View tab>Model Viewports panel, select Named, then select

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Plan-Profile from the Named Viewports tab of the Viewports dialog box, as shown on the

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bottom in Figure 1–28.

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This will divide the screen horizontally and zoom into the alignment in the bottom portion

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and the surface profile to the upper portion.

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Figure 1–28
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

2. Select the Jeffries Ranch Rd alignment to activate its grips, as shown in Figure 1–29. (If
there is a series of cyan square grips, it means you have selected the alignment labels, not
the alignment. Press <Esc> and try again.) Select the eastern triangular grip and reposition
it northward. The alignment and profile both update. The constraints built into the Civil 3D
alignment will not allow you to drag it too far.

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Note: You may need to disable the Osnap (press <F3>) to be able to relocate the grip.

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Jeffries Ranch Rd Eastern grip

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Figure 1–29
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3. Hover the cursor near the alignment in its new position. Ensure that you are hovering over a
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blank section of the drawing, not over the alignment, surface contour, etc. The station,
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offset, and surface elevation information display through tooltips.

4. Select the eastern grip and reposition it back near its original position. The alignment and
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profile both update again.

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5. In the top left corner of the drawing window, select + (plus symbol) for Viewport Control.
Expand Viewport Configuration List and select Single.
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6. Save and close the drawing.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

1.4 Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace

The Autodesk Civil 3D software uses a Toolspace to manage objects, settings, and styles. Each

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tab uses a hierarchical tree interface to manage objects, settings, and styles. Branches in these
hierarchical trees are referred to in the Autodesk Civil 3D software as collections. The
Toolspace is an interactive data management tool.

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Toolspace operates similar to an AutoCAD tool palette in that it can be resized, set to dock or

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float, and when floating, can be set to auto-hide. The Toolspace is shown floating on the left in

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Figure 1–30 and docked on the right in Figure 1–30. Note that the TOOLSPACE title is vertical in
the floating position, whereas it is horizontal on top when docked.

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Figure 1–30

• The Toolspace can be closed by selecting the X in the upper left or right corner.

• Once closed, it can be opened by clicking (Toolspace) in the Home tab>Palettes panel.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

• By right-clicking on the vertical title bar (when the palette is floating), you can anchor the
palette either on the right or left side of the screen, as shown in Figure 1–31. It will be
contracted when not in use, but when you hover over it, it will expand. When you hover over
another space on your screen, it will contract again.

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Figure 1–31

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Hint: Anchoring the Toolspace
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If you have multiple screens, it is best to keep the Toolspace floating and leave Auto-hide
unchecked on the second screen. If you only have one screen, it is recommended to have the
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Toolspace anchored left or right. You need to activate the Allow Docking feature before the
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Anchor options become active.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Prospector Tab
The Prospector tab (shown in Figure 1–32) lists the Autodesk Civil 3D objects that are present
in open drawings and other important information. Its hierarchical structure dynamically

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manages and displays objects and their data. As objects are created or deleted, they are
removed from the Prospector tab. A drop-down list at the top contains the following options:

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• Active Drawing View: Displays only the Autodesk Civil 3D objects that are present in the

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active drawing. If you switch to another drawing, the tree updates to reflect the currently
active drawing.

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• Master View: Displays a list of all open drawings and their objects, project information, and

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a list of drawing templates. The name of the active drawing is highlighted.

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Figure 1–32
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To toggle the display of the Toolspace>Prospector tab on or off, click (Prospector) in the
Home tab>Palettes panel, as shown in Figure 1–33.
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Figure 1–33

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

• Each object type (Points, Point Groups, Alignments, Surfaces, etc.) is allotted a collection,
and objects present in a drawing are listed below the respective collection.
• The bottom of the Toolspace>Prospector tab displays a list view of items in the highlighted
collection or a preview of an object that has been selected in the Prospector tab. The

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preview options are toggled off by default. You will learn how to turn on the preview
functions.

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• The icon at the top of the Toolspace>Prospector tab controls how items in the Prospector

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tree display. Icons next to objects provide additional information about the object. A list of

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common icons is as follows:

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Toggles the Toolspace item preview on or off.

Toggles floating Toolspace window orientation from Top/Bottom to Left/Right

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Opens (or closes) the Panorama window. This window only opens if vistas are available to be

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displayed in the Panorama.
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Opens the Autodesk Civil 3D Help system.
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Indicates that the object is currently locked for editing.
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Indicates that the object is referenced by another object. In the Toolspace>, Settings tab, this
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also indicates that a style is in use in the current drawing.

Indicates that the object is being referenced from another drawing file (such as through a
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shortcut or Vault reference).

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Indicates that the object is out of date and needs to be rebuilt, or is violating specified design
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constraints.
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Indicates that a vault project object (such as a point or surface) has been modified since it
was included in the current drawing.
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Indicates that you have modified a vault project object in your current drawing and that those
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modifications have yet to be updated to the project.

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Hint: Project Explorer

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The Project Explorer offers a lot of the same features as the Prospector tab, but with many
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improvements. For more information, see Chapter 9: Project Explorer.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Settings Tab
The Settings tab is used to configure how the Autodesk Civil 3D software operates and the way
Autodesk Civil 3D objects are displayed and printed, as shown in Figure 1–34.

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Figure 1–34
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To toggle the Toolspace>Settings tab display on or off, click (Settings) in the Home
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tab>Palettes panel, as shown in Figure 1–35.

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Figure 1–35

Different settings are accessed by right-clicking on the name of a drawing file or on one of the
collections located inside the tab.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

Units and Zone

In the Drawing Settings dialog box, the Units and Zone tab (as shown in Figure 1–36) sets the
Model Space plotting scale and coordinate zone for the drawing. The scale can be a custom
value or selected from a drop-down list. A zone is selected from a drop-down list of worldwide

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categories and coordinate systems.
A drawing that has been assigned a coordinate system enables points to report their grid

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coordinates and/or their longitude and latitude. Conversely, when assigning a coordinate

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system, grid coordinates and longitude and latitude data can create points in a drawing.

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Figure 1–36
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The collections (such as the Parcel collection shown previously in Figure 1–34) can contain
object styles, label styles, command settings, and related controls.
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Changes to settings affect all lower items in the tree. For example, assigning an overall text
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height in the drawing’s Edit Label Style Defaults dialog box applies that height to all other
settings and styles in the drawing. Applying the same setting in the Surface collection’s Edit
Label Style Defaults only applies the text height to the surface label styles. (Lower items in the
tree and styles can be set to override these changes individually as required.)
• All drawing settings originate from the reference template attached to the drawing or, if no
reference template is used, the drawing template that is used to create an Autodesk Civil 3D
drawing.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–27

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Survey Tab
The Survey tab is used to manage survey observations data, as shown in Figure 1–37. Selecting
this tab enables you to create a survey database, a survey network, points, and figures, and

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import and edit survey observation data.

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Figure 1–37
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To toggle the Toolspace>Survey tab display on or off, click (Survey) in the Home
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tab>Palettes panel, as shown in Figure 1–38.

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Figure 1–38

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

Toolbox Tab
The Toolbox tab is used to access the Reports Manager and to add custom tools to the
Autodesk Civil 3D interface, as shown in Figure 1–39.

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Figure 1–39
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To toggle the Toolspace>the Toolbox tab display on or off, click (Toolbox) in the Home
tab>Palettes panel, as shown in Figure 1–40.
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Figure 1–40

The Reports Manager, the only set of tools that displays in the toolbox by default, enables you
to generate a large variety of survey and design reports. For example, to launch a Stakeout
Alignment Report, right-click on it in the Alignments collection and select Execute.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–29

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

The icons in the upper left area of the Toolspace>Toolbox tab enable you to:
Open the Edit Report Settings dialog box, in which you can assign settings for all report types.
These settings include items, such as the name to display in the report.
Open the Toolbox Editor, in which you can add custom reports and other tools.

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Open the Edit Report Settings dialog box by clicking on the (Edit Report Settings) in the top

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left corner to enter all the pertinent information for the reports, such as the client’s and your

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company’s name, address, etc., as well as the units to be used for the various Civil 3D objects
the reports will be accessing, as shown in Figure 1–41.

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Figure 1–41
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

Once a report has been executed, it can be saved in multiple formats, including .HTML, .DOC,
.XLS, .TXT, and .PDF. To save a report in a format other than the default .HTML, expand the
Files of type drop-down list and select the type of file required, as shown in Figure 1–42.

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Figure 1–42
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Hint: Project Explorer

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The Project Explorer offers alternatives to creating tables and reports, providing additional
flexibility and improvements. For more information, see Chapter 9: Project Explorer.
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

1.5 Autodesk Civil 3D Panorama

The Autodesk Civil 3D software includes a multi-purpose grid data viewer called the Panorama

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window. It is similar to an AutoCAD tool palette in that it can be docked or floating, and set to
auto-hide. Each tab in the Panorama is called a vista. The Panorama can be opened from the

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Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace by clicking (Panorama), and can be closed by selecting the X

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in the upper left or right corner of the window. You can only display the Panorama after

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launching a command that uses it, such as Edit Points (right-click on a Point Group in the
Toolspace>Prospector tab to access this option). The Panorama can display many different

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kinds of data, such as point properties, alignment, and profile data, as shown in Figure 1–43.

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Figure 1–43
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

The Panorama can also display a special vista called the Event Viewer, as shown in
Figure 1–44. The Event Viewer opens, prompting you about the status of the performed action.
If everything was successful, it displays a white circle containing a blue i, indicating that it is for
informational purposes only. When there are items of interest or an item needs attention, a
yellow triangle containing a black ! (exclamation point) displays.

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Note: If a Panorama contains multiple vistas, selecting a green checkmark only closes the

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current vista. To close (hide) the Panorama, click the X in the top right or left corner.

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When the Autodesk Civil 3D software encounters a processing error, such as when surface

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breaklines cross or a road model passes over the edge of the existing ground surface, a red
circle containing a white x displays. When working through a large number of events, you can

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use Action>Clear All Events to clear all of the old entries in the Panorama.

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Figure 1–44
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Hint: Project Explorer

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The Project Explorer offers alternatives to creating tables and reports, providing additional
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flexibility and improvements. For more information, see Chapter 9: Project Explorer.
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Practice 1b
Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace

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Practice Objective

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• Access commands and change the drawing using the Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace.

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In this practice, you will explore the tabs in the Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace.

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Task 1: Review the Prospector tab in the Toolspace.

1. Open Introduction.dwg from the C:\Civil 3D Essentials\ References\DWG folder.

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2. Ensure that the Autodesk Civil 3D Toolspace displays. If the Toolspace tab is not displayed,

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click (Toolspace) in the Home tab>Palettes panel.
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3. Select the Toolspace>Prospector tab to make it active. (The tabs are listed vertically along
the right side of the Toolspace.)
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4. Select the + signs to open the collections and the - signs to close them. Items displayed in
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the Prospector tab are the design data (also known as AEC objects) currently in the drawing
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file (such as points, alignments, and surfaces).

5. Collections, such as Points, do not have a + or - sign because they are not intended to be
expanded in the tree view of the Prospector tab. Select the Points collection and the list
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view displays in the preview area, describing the Autodesk Civil 3D points that are currently
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in the drawing file.

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6. Under the Surface collection, look for the surface called FG. Expand its branch and the
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Definition area inside it. Highlight the items below (breaklines, boundaries, etc.) and note
the components displayed in the list view.
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7. With FG’s breaklines expanded and highlighted in the list view, right-click on School-FL and
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note the commands available in the shortcut menu, as shown on the left in Figure 1–45.
Select Zoom to.
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Note: Similar shortcut menus are available for nearly all of the objects displayed in the
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Toolspace>Prospector tab.
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8. Expand the Point Groups branch and select the Boundary Pin Survey point group. In the
preview area at the bottom, press <Shift> to select both point numbers 2 and 3, as shown
on the right in Figure 1–45. Right-click and select Zoom to. Although the points are not
displayed, the software knows where they reside in the drawing. Use the AutoCAD Zoom
Previous command to return to the previous zoom level.

1–34 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

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Figure 1–45
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Task 2: Review the Settings tab in the Toolspace.

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1. Select the Toolspace>Settings tab, as shown in Figure 1–46. If the Settings tab is not
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displayed, click (Settings) in the Home tab>Palettes panel.

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Figure 1–46

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–35

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

2. In the Settings tab, right-click on the drawing’s name (Introduction, at the top), and select
Edit Drawing Settings.
3. In the Drawing Settings dialog box, select the Units and Zone tab, as shown in Figure 1–47.

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Figure 1–47
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4. Expand the Scale drop-down list in the upper right corner and select 1" = 40'.
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5. Note the coordinate systems that are available in the Zone area, such as CA83-VIF, NAD83
California State Planes, Zone VI, US Foot.
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6. Click OK to close the dialog box.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

7. You can also change the Model Space display scale using the Annotation icon in the Status
Bar. Change it to read 1" = 100'. Note that as you change the scale, all of the labels also
change in size, as shown in Figure 1–48.
• Because Autodesk Civil 3D labels are annotative, the label annotation size has changed

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to match the new Drawing Scale. If the AutoCAD text within the XREFs is set to
annotative to the proper drawing scales, it too will change.

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Figure 1–48
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You can change the display of the contours by changing the style of the surface. In the drawing, select
the surface object (for example, select a contour), so that the contextual tab displays in the ribbon, as
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shown in Figure 1–49.

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Figure 1–49
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8. In the Modify panel, click (Surface Properties). Alternatively, you can right-click and
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select Surface Properties.

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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–37

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

9. In the Information tab, select the drop-down arrow for the surface style, as shown in
Figure 1–50. Select any of the predefined styles and click Apply to apply the selected style
to the surface to preview the results before they display in the dialog box.

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Figure 1–50
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10. Click OK to exit the Surface Properties dialog box.

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11. Save the drawing.

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Task 3: Review Autodesk Civil 3D’s Reports Manager.

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1. In the Toolspace, select the Toolbox tab. If the Toolbox tab is not displayed, click
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(Toolbox) in the Home tab>Palettes panel.

2. Click (Edit Report Settings) in the top left corner.

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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

3. Expand the Owner category and add your name as the Preparer, your Company, and other
information, as shown in Figure 1–51.

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Figure 1–51
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4. Time permitting, also fill out some of the information under Client, then click OK to accept
the values.
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5. Expand Reports Manager>Alignment, then right-click on PI Station Report, and select

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Execute, as shown in Figure 1–52. As a shortcut, you can double-click to launch the Report
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without having to select the Execute command.

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Figure 1–52

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–39

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

6. Accept all of the defaults and click Create Report. The report displays, as shown in
Figure 1–53.

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Figure 1–53
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7. Review the report and close the Internet browser.
8. In the Create Reports dialog box, click Done.
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9. In the Toolbox tab, expand the Surface collection. Select Surface Report, right-click, and
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select Execute, as shown in Figure 1–54.

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Figure 1–54
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

10. Accept all of the defaults and click OK. Browse to the C:\Civil 3D Essentials\Documents\
Reports folder and type an appropriate filename for the report. Expand the Files of type
drop-down list, select .XLS and select Save. The report displays in Microsoft Excel, as
shown in Figure 1–55. Review and close the report. If an error occurs when trying to output
the report to an .XLS format, try the .HTML format instead.

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Figure 1–55

End of practice

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–41

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Chapter Review Questions

1. Which Workspace should you be in if you want to create an AEC object (surfaces,
alignments, profiles, etc.)?

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a. 2D Drafting and Annotation

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b. 3D Modeling

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c. Civil 3D

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d. Planning and Analysis

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2. What does the Toolspace>Prospector tab do?

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a. Sets the layers for AEC objects.

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b. Lists the AEC objects and provides access to their information.

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c. Sets the workspace in which you want to work.
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d. Enables you to connect to GIS data from a number of sources.
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3. What does the Toolspace>Settings tab do?

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a. Sets the layers and display styles for AEC objects.

b. Creates templates from which new drawings are based.
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c. Creates new drawings with references to data.

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d. Generates Sheets for printing purposes.

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4. How do you open the Edit Drawing Settings dialog box?

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a. Type CUI in the Command Line to open the Customize User Interface dialog box.
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b. Application menu>Drawing Utilities.

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c. In the Toolspace>Prospector tab, right-click on the drawing name.

d. In the Toolspace>Settings tab, right-click on the drawing name.
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 The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface

5. What is the main function of the Panorama window?

a. Setting up styles for AEC objects.
b. Reviewing and editing tabular AEC object data.

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c. Pan inside the drawing.
d. Look at the AEC objects in 3D views.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials

Command Summary
Button Command Location

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Close • Drawing Window
• Application Menu

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• Command Prompt: close

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Close Current Drawing • Application Menu

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Open • Quick Access Toolbar

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• Application Menu
• Command Prompt: open, <Ctrl>+<O>

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Prospector • Ribbon: Home tab>Palettes panel
• Command Prompt: prospector

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Settings • Ribbon: Home tab>Palettes panel
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Surface Properties • Contextual Ribbon: Surface tab>Modify panel
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• Command Prompt: editsurfaceproperties
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Survey • Ribbon: Home tab>Palettes panel

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• Command Prompt: survey

Toolbox • Ribbon: Home tab>Palettes panel
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• Command Prompt: toolbox

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Toolspace • Ribbon: Home tab>Palettes panel

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• Command Prompt: toolspace

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1–44 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 n. nly
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Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2024
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Beyond the Basics for Grading
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Learning Guide
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Imperial Units - 1st Edition

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Cover Page
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 ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
Autodesk® Civil 3D®2024
Beyond the Basics for Grading
Imperial Units - 1st Edition
Prepared and produced by:

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ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
630 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 175
Charlottesville, VA 22911

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866-527-2368

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www.ASCENTed.com

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Lead Contributor: Jeff Morris
Copyright

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge (a division of Rand Worldwide Inc.) is a leading developer of
professional learning materials and knowledge products for engineering software applications. ASCENT

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specializes in designing targeted content that facilitates application-based learning with hands-on

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software experience. For over 25 years, ASCENT has helped users become more productive through
tailored custom learning solutions.

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We welcome any comments you may have regarding this guide, or any of our products. To contact us
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please email: feedback@ASCENTed.com.

© ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge, 2023

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All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form by any photographic, electronic,
mechanical or other means or used in any information storage and retrieval system without the written
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permission of ASCENT, a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc.

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The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates in the USA and other countries: 123D, 3ds Max, ADSK, Alias, ATC, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD, Autodesk,
the Autodesk logo, Autodesk 123D, Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Docs, ArtCAM, Autodesk Forge, Autodesk
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Fusion, Autodesk Inventor, AutoSnap, BIM 360, Buzzsaw, CADmep, CAMduct, Civil 3D, Configurator 360,
Dancing Baby (image), DWF, DWG, DWG (DWG logo), DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView,
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DWGX, DXF, Eagle, ESTmep, FBX, FeatureCAM, Flame, FormIt 360, Fusion 360, The Future of Making Things,
Glue, Green Building Studio, InfraWorks, Instructables, Instructables (Instructables logo), Inventor, Inventor
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NASTRAN is a registered trademark of the National Aeronautics Space Administration.

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All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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General Disclaimer:
Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, nothing contained herein constitutes nor is intended to
constitute an offer, inducement, promise, or contract of any kind. The data contained herein is for
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informational purposes only and is not represented to be error free. ASCENT, its agents and employees,
expressly disclaim any liability for any damages, losses or other expenses arising in connection with the use
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of its materials or in connection with any failure of performance, error, omission even if ASCENT, or its
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or incidental damages can be sought against ASCENT or Rand Worldwide, Inc. for the use of these materials
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The information contained herein is intended to be of general interest to you and is provided "as is", and it
does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing herein constitutes
professional advice, nor does it constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the issues discussed
thereto. ASCENT does not warrant that the document or information will be error free or will meet any
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Rand Worldwide, Inc. specifically disclaims any warranty, either expressed or implied, including the warranty
of fitness for a particular purpose.

AS-C3D2401GRD1IM-SG // IS-C3D2401GRD1IM-SG
 Contents

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Preface ............................................................................................................................vii

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In This Guide .....................................................................................................................xi

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Practice Files ..................................................................................................................xiii

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Chapter 1: Grading for Land Developers 1-1
1.1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 1-2

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Roads and Right-of-ways .................................................................................................1-2

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Standard Civil 3D Grading Tools vs Grading Optimization............................................1-3
Parts of the Grading Object .............................................................................................1-4

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Grading Workflow.............................................................................................................1-6
1.2
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Tools in Autodesk Civil 3D .................................................................................... 1-8
Practice 1a: Settings and Defaults .................................................................................. 1-9
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1.3 Grading Group Styles .......................................................................................... 1-16

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1.4 Grading Criteria Sets........................................................................................... 1-19

Grade to Distance...........................................................................................................1-20
Grade to Elevation ..........................................................................................................1-20
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Grade to Relative Elevation............................................................................................1-21

Grade to Surface ............................................................................................................1-21
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Practice 1b: Grading Styles ........................................................................................... 1-23

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1.5 Sites Overview.................................................................................................... 1-33

Sites for Design Options ................................................................................................1-34
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Creating Sites .................................................................................................................1-35

Copy or Move Objects from One Site to Another .........................................................1-36
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Practice 1c: Prepare for the Project .............................................................................. 1-38

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 1-41

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Chapter 2: Feature Lines 2-1

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2.1 Feature Lines........................................................................................................ 2-2

2.2 Feature Line Styles ............................................................................................... 2-3
2.3 Create Feature Lines from Objects........................................................................ 2-6
Practice 2a: Create a Feature Line from Objects in an XREF ............................................ 2-8
Practice 2b: Feature Lines from elevations.................................................................... 2-16

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® i

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

2.4 Create Feature Lines from Corridors ................................................................... 2-21

2.5 Draw Feature Lines ............................................................................................. 2-23
Practice 2c: Draw a Feature Line ................................................................................... 2-25

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2.6 Edit Feature Line Geometry ................................................................................. 2-29
Delete PI ......................................................................................................................... 2-30
Stepped Offsets............................................................................................................. 2-30

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Break Feature Lines....................................................................................................... 2-32

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Trim Feature Lines ........................................................................................................ 2-33
Join Feature Lines ......................................................................................................... 2-34

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Practice 2d: Editing Feature Lines ................................................................................. 2-36

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2.7 Edit Elevations Panel .......................................................................................... 2-44
Practice 2e: Set Parcel Line Elevations.......................................................................... 2-51

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2.8 Feature Line Contextual Tab ............................................................................... 2-58
Practice 2f: Create a feature line and set elevations by grading ..................................... 2-59

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 2-62

Chapter 3: Introduction to Grading Optimization 3-1

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3.1 Grading Optimization ............................................................................................ 3-2

Grading Optimization Workflow ......................................................................................3-3
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Grading Surface................................................................................................................3-3
Grading Optimization Objects .........................................................................................3-5
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Launching the Grading Optimization Program...............................................................3-9

The Grading Optimization Help Center ........................................................................ 3-10
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Grading Optimization Interface .................................................................................... 3-11

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Navigating the Model .................................................................................................... 3-19

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Outputting Grading Information ................................................................................... 3-19

Practice 3a: Grading Optimization Interface .................................................................. 3-22
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3.2 Grading Optimization Zones................................................................................ 3-33

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Creating Grading Objects.............................................................................................. 3-35

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Zone Properties ............................................................................................................. 3-38

Layers and Civil 3D Styles............................................................................................. 3-43
Grading Limits ............................................................................................................... 3-44
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Exclusion Zones ............................................................................................................ 3-46

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Practice 3b: Create the Interim Design Surface ............................................................. 3-47

Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 3-61

ii © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

Chapter 4: Building Pad Design 4-1

4.1 Grading Creation Tools ......................................................................................... 4-2
Grading Groups.................................................................................................................4-2
Grading Setup ...................................................................................................................4-5

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Create Grading..................................................................................................................4-7
Grading Infill......................................................................................................................4-8

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4.2 Editing the Grading ............................................................................................... 4-9
Delete Grading Objects ....................................................................................................4-9

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Modify Grading Object Criteria ........................................................................................4-9

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Practice 4a: Grading Creation Tools .............................................................................. 4-11

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4.3 Grading Volume Tools ........................................................................................ 4-25
Calculate Volumes ........................................................................................................ 4-25

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Balance Volumes........................................................................................................... 4-26

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Practice 4b: Grading Volume Tools ............................................................................... 4-28

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 4-31
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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 4-32
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Chapter 5: Parking Lot Design 5-1
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5.1 Create a Temporary Surface ................................................................................. 5-2

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Practice 5a: Create a Temporary Surface ........................................................................ 5-4

5.2 Create a Transitional Grading Group ................................................................... 5-10
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Practice 5b: Create Stepped Offsets and Transitional Gradings..................................... 5-15

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5.3 Create a Grading Surface .................................................................................... 5-33

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5.4 Add Feature Lines to a Grading Surface .............................................................. 5-34

Practice 5c: Create a Surface with Proper Drainage....................................................... 5-35
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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 5-43

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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 5-45

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Chapter 6: Parking Lot Grading Options 6-1

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6.1 Creating a Corridor ............................................................................................... 6-2

Corridor Contextual Ribbon .............................................................................................6-3
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Practice 6a: Create the Corridor ...................................................................................... 6-4

6.2 Corridor Editing..................................................................................................... 6-9
Corridor Bowties...............................................................................................................6-9
6.3 Reversing Feature Lines...................................................................................... 6-12
Practice 6b: Corridor Editing ......................................................................................... 6-13

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® iii

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

6.4 Corridor Surfaces ............................................................................................... 6-22

Overhang Correction ..................................................................................................... 6-22
Surface Boundaries ....................................................................................................... 6-23
Practice 6c: Adding Surfaces and Boundaries ............................................................... 6-24

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6.5 Grading Optimization: Parking Lots and Drainage ............................................... 6-30
Retaining Walls .............................................................................................................. 6-34

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Drain Lines ..................................................................................................................... 6-35
Low Points ..................................................................................................................... 6-36

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Ridge Line ...................................................................................................................... 6-37

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Bend Line ....................................................................................................................... 6-38

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Bounded Points ............................................................................................................. 6-39
6.6 Convergence Plots.............................................................................................. 6-42
Practice 6d: Grading Optimization: Parking Lot ............................................................. 6-45

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 6-63

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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 6-65
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Chapter 7: Pond Design 7-1
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7.1 Pond Design ......................................................................................................... 7-2
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7.2 Feature Line Review.............................................................................................. 7-3

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7.3 Creating Complex Grading Groups ........................................................................ 7-4

Grade to Elevation ............................................................................................................7-4
Grade to Relative Elevation..............................................................................................7-5
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Grade to Distance.............................................................................................................7-6
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Grade to Surface...............................................................................................................7-6
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Practice 7a: Pond Grading - Feature Line (Create Base Line) ........................................... 7-7
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Practice 7b: Pond Grading - Grading Object (Grading the Proposed Pond)..................... 7-25
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7.4 The Grading Optimization Pond object ................................................................ 7-32

Visualization Toolbar .................................................................................................... 7-36
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Practice 7c: Preliminary Pond Design with Grading Optimization................................... 7-43

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7.5 Pond Staging Volumes........................................................................................ 7-62

Practice 7d: Calculate Pond Staging Volume................................................................. 7-66
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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 7-69

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Command Summary...................................................................................................... 7-71

Chapter 8: Parcel Grading 8-1

8.1 Setting Parcel Line Elevations............................................................................... 8-2
Site Properties ..................................................................................................................8-2
Practice 8a: Set Parcel Line Elevations............................................................................ 8-3

iv © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Contents

8.2 Retaining Walls ................................................................................................... 8-11

8.3 Editing Surfaces ................................................................................................. 8-14
Practice 8b: Create and Edit the Surface to Add Retaining Walls.................................... 8-17

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8.4 Feature Line Interactions with Parcel Lines ......................................................... 8-25
Practice 8c: Add Elevation Points to Parcels ................................................................. 8-26

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8.5 Grading Optimization: Parcels and Building Pads ................................................ 8-32

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Building Pads................................................................................................................. 8-32
Pathways ....................................................................................................................... 8-33

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Offset Points.................................................................................................................. 8-35

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Reveals........................................................................................................................... 8-37
Aligned Edges ................................................................................................................ 8-39
Practice 8d: Grading for buildings ................................................................................. 8-41

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................ 8-62
Command Summary...................................................................................................... 8-65

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Appendix A: Combining Surfaces A-1
A.1 Autodesk Civil 3D Projects....................................................................................A-2
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Single-Design Drawing Projects ..................................................................................... A-2

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Multiple Drawings Sharing Data Using Shortcuts ......................................................... A-2

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Autodesk Docs Design Collaboration ............................................................................ A-2

Multiple Drawings Sharing Data with Autodesk Vault .................................................. A-3
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A.2 Sharing Data .........................................................................................................A-4

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A.3 Using Data Shortcuts for Project Management......................................................A-5

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Update Notification ......................................................................................................... A-7

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Removing and Promoting Shortcuts.............................................................................. A-8

Data Shortcut Workflow.................................................................................................. A-9
Workflow Details ........................................................................................................... A-10
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Advantages of Data Shortcuts ..................................................................................... A-10

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Limitations of Data Shortcuts....................................................................................... A-11

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Practice A1: Data Shortcuts ..........................................................................................A-12

A.4 eTransmit Data References.................................................................................A-22
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Practice A2: Share Projects with Team Members Outside the Office Network ...............A-23
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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................A-27

Command Summary......................................................................................................A-28

Appendix B: Using InfraWorks for Visualization B-1

B.1 Building Information Modeling ..............................................................................B-2
Launching the Software .................................................................................................. B-2

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® v

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

B.2 Overview of the Interface ......................................................................................B-3

Home Screen ................................................................................................................... B-3
Model View ...................................................................................................................... B-6
B.3 Creating an InfraWorks Model.............................................................................B-13

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Model Builder................................................................................................................. B-13
B.4 Share Design Elements with Autodesk Civil 3D ...................................................B-17

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Civil 3D “Roads” ............................................................................................................. B-19
Drawing Overlays........................................................................................................... B-21

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Practice B1: Create a New Model Using Model Builder ..................................................B-23

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B.5 Create Water Features in a Model .......................................................................B-37

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B.6 Create City Furniture in a Model ..........................................................................B-39
B.7 Add Vegetation to a Model..................................................................................B-42

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Edit Vegetation .............................................................................................................. B-44
Practice B2: Add Details to the Site ...............................................................................B-45

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................B-57
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Command Summary......................................................................................................B-58
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Appendix C: More Grading with Corridor Models C-1
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C.1 Create Grading Assemblies...................................................................................C-2

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Link Subassemblies ........................................................................................................ C-3

Daylight Subassemblies.................................................................................................. C-5
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Practice C1: Create Grading Assemblies .......................................................................C-11

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C.2 Creating Complex Corridors ................................................................................C-24

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Baselines........................................................................................................................ C-24
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Regions .......................................................................................................................... C-27

Practice C2: Create Complex Corridors .........................................................................C-30
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C.3 Modify Corridor Grading .....................................................................................C-43

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Grip Editing .................................................................................................................... C-43

Modify Regions.............................................................................................................. C-43
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Modify Corridor.............................................................................................................. C-44

Modify Corridor Sections .............................................................................................. C-45
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Practice C3: Modify Corridor Grading ............................................................................C-46

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Chapter Review Questions ............................................................................................C-61

Command Summary......................................................................................................C-63

Index........................................................................................................................ Index-1

vi © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

Preface
The Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2024 software supports a wide range of civil engineering tasks and
creates intelligent relationships between objects. The Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the
Basics for Grading guide is recommended for users who create or manage site grading plans
using the Autodesk Civil 3D software.

This learning guide covers the use of feature lines, grading tools, and corridors to create a
commercial site containing a parking lot, building pads, pond, and simple sewage lagoon. A
road has been included in the survey, for which the existing conditions were collected by a
survey team. The practices have been designed to allow you to practice grading lots in a small
residential subdivision.
The learning content in this guide assumes that the existing conditions are already processed.
To learn how to create the existing conditions, refer to Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Essentials for
Surveyors.

Topics Covered
• Introduction to grading
• Traditional grading tools and the grading optimization tool
• Parcel grading
• Grading using feature lines
• Grading using grading objects and grading groups
• Grading using corridors
• Grading using the grading optimization tool
• Combining surfaces
• Visualization in Autodesk® InfraWorks®

Prerequisites
• Access to the 2024.0 version of the software and the Grading Optimization extension, to
ensure compatibility with this guide. Future software updates that are released by Autodesk
may include changes that are not reflected in this guide. The practices and files included
with this guide might not be compatible with prior versions (e.g., 2023).
• Knowledge of Civil 3D basics as taught in Autodesk Civil 3D: Essentials, or equivalent
experience.
• A sound understanding and knowledge of civil engineering terminology.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® vii

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Note on Learning Guide Content

ASCENT’s learning guides are intended to teach the technical aspects of using the software
and do not focus on professional design principles and standards. The practices aim to
demonstrate the capabilities and flexibility of the software, rather than following specific

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design codes or standards, which can vary between regions.

Note on Software Setup

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This guide assumes a standard installation of the software using the default preferences during

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installation. Lectures and practices use the standard software templates and default options
for the Content Libraries.

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Configuration Changes

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The following configuration changes need to be made to ensure that the practices run smoothly.

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For more information on making these configuration changes, consult the Civil 3D help
documentation.

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• Set the Template file location to C:\Civil 3D Grading\Ascent-Config, as shown below.
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viii © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Preface

Lead Contributor: Jeff Morris

Specializing in the civil engineering industry, Jeff authors training guides and provides
instruction, support, and implementation on all Autodesk infrastructure solutions.
Jeff brings to bear over 20 years of diverse work experience in the civil engineering industry. He

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has played multiple roles, including Sales, Trainer, Application Specialist, Implementation and
Customization Consultant, CAD Coordinator, and CAD/BIM Manager, in civil engineering and

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architecture firms, and Autodesk reseller organizations. He has worked for government

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organizations and private firms, small companies and large multinational corporations, and in
multiple geographies across the globe. Through his extensive experience in Building and

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Infrastructure design, Jeff has acquired a thorough understanding of CAD Standards and

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Procedures and an in-depth knowledge of CAD and BIM.
Jeff studied Architecture and a diploma in Systems Analysis and Programming. He is an
Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) and holds the Autodesk Certified Professional certification

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for Civil 3D and Revit.
Jeff Morris is the Lead Contributor for Autodesk Civil 3D: Beyond the Basics for Grading. This

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title was formerly part of Autodesk Civil 3D: Fundamentals for Land Developers (Grading), for
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which he was the lead contributor since 2019.
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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® ix

 In This Guide

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The following highlights the key features of this guide.

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Feature Description

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Practice Files The Practice Files page includes a link to the practice files and instructions on

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how to download and install them. The practice files are required to complete the

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practices in this guide.
Chapters A chapter consists of the following: Learning Objectives, Instructional Content,
Practices, Chapter Review Questions, and Command Summary.

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• Learning Objectives define the skills you can acquire by learning the content
provided in the chapter.

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• Instructional Content, which begins right after Learning Objectives, refers to the
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topic introduces a product feature, discusses various aspects of that feature,
and provides step-by-step procedures on how to use that feature. Where
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relevant, examples, figures, helpful hints, and notes are provided.
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• Practice for a topic follows the instructional content. Practices enable you to
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use the software to perform a hands-on review of a topic. It is required that you
download the practice files (using the link found on the Practice Files page)
prior to starting the first practice.
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• Chapter Review Questions, located close to the end of a chapter, enable you to
test your knowledge of the key concepts discussed in the chapter.
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• Command Summary concludes a chapter. It contains a list of the software

commands that are used throughout the chapter and provides information on
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where the command can be found in the software.

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Appendices Appendices provide additional information to the main course content. It could
be in the form of instructional content, practices, tables, projects, or skills
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assessment.
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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® xi

 Chapter

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Grading for Land Developers

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During the grading process, it is important for a designer to be able to visualize how the ground

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is affected when it gets reshaped. Designers need to understand where the water runs so that
they can make any necessary changes. In this chapter, you will learn how to create styles that

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make it easier to visualize a ground surface and understand its impact on flowing water.
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Learning Objectives
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• State the purpose of grading and reshaping the earth’s surface.
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• List the tools in the Autodesk® Civil 3D® software that can be used for grading.
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• Identify the required settings to set up a new grading project.

• Set up feature line styles.
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• Set up a grading group style for easy viewing of grading objects.

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• Create grading criteria sets for multiple types of grading tasks.

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• Create surface styles that make the effects of your grading easier to see and adjust.
• Create sites for managing common topology, such as parcels, alignments, grading
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groups, and feature lines.

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• Create a drawing template specifically for grading.

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© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–1

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

1.1 Overview
Grading is used in construction to create the proper slope conditions for drainage,
transportation, landscaping, and more. Its purpose is to provide stability for the site by

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minimizing soil erosion and sedimentation. When reshaping the ground surface, engineers and
designers strive to prevent drainage problems, such as standing water on roads, flooding of

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homes and businesses, and having the ground wash away with storms, as shown in Figure 1–1.
A properly graded project establishes drainage areas, directs drainage patterns, and affects

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runoff velocities.

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Figure 1–1
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Before creating a grading plan, the existing conditions of a site must be gathered. Land surveys,
soil investigations, and storm data should all be studied before starting to consider where to
create cut or fill areas. Another consideration is the newly created hard surfaces that create
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additional runoff.
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Roads and Right-of-ways

Existing roads offer access points to the property and usually lie beyond the property limits.
Even if the roads directly border the property, there are usually right-of-ways which must be
respected. It is fair to assume that the limit of such right-of-ways will form the development
(grading) limit for the property.

1–2 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

Proposed roads are usually part of the overall design. In many cases, Civil 3D corridors are
designed to accommodate the access and vehicular traffic flow within the development site.
These corridors are typically designed over the existing ground surface to form a basis for other
grading.

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Figure 1–2 shows the development site for this course.

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Proposed ponds

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Northern site

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Proposed roads

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Proposed school
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Existing roads
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Southern site
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Figure 1–2
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The lecture part and the practices will focus primarily on the Northern Site, with the Southern
Site available for additional practices with minimal instructions.
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Standard Civil 3D Grading Tools vs Grading Optimization

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Grading can be an arduous process. Although it sounds simple that "water runs downhill", the
tasks involved in conceptualizing, designing, and calculating proper drainage on a site are
complex and involved.

Civil 3D has some great grading tools to help with such tasks. The more traditional Civil 3D
tools were the best options before the 2022 release of Civil 3D. With that release, grading tasks
were complimented with an additional tool known as the Grading Optimization Program.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–3

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

It is an alternate approach to grading solutions. It is an external program designed to find

several different grading scenarios based on a variety of input data. Once a preferred solution is
found, it is imported into Civil 3D as a surface along with optional points and breaklines. It is
considered a tool primarily for initial site studies, layouts and conceptual grading, as shown in
Figure 1–3.

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Figure 1–3
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This program works well in conjunction with the traditional Civil 3D tools.

Parts of the Grading Object

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Grading objects contain several components. A basic grading object contains a footprint or
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base line, projection lines, daylight or target lines, and faces. Each of the parts are shown in
Figure 1–4.
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1–4 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

Projection
line

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Center marker
(infill)

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Base line and

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feature line

Target/daylight

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line and feature

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line

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Slope patterns
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on the face
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Figure 1–4
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• Base lines act as the footprint for the grading object. They can be a parcel line or any open
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or closed feature line. Feature lines can represent ridge or swale lines, building footprints,
parking lots, and a number of other design features.
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• A target line is the end result of a grading object. It can be defined by a distance, elevation
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(relative or absolute), or surface. If a surface is used as the target, the result is a daylight
line. In all cases, the target line will be a feature line that can then be used as the base line
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for another grading object.

• A face is the slope area created by the application of a grading criteria. Depending on the
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grading object’s specified style, slope patterns might be displayed on each face according
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to the type of grading solution. The slope pattern for a distance grading object might look
different than the slope pattern on a cut or fill slope, as shown in Figure 1–4.
• Projection lines define the face edges within a region of a grading object and are used for
the facets along curves and break points on the base line and target line.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–5

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

• The center marker is a diamond that marks a graded face’s center and is used for display
and selection purposes. When you edit each grading object, select the center marker that
displays the Grading contextual tab in the ribbon. In most cases, this center marker
designates a grading infill.

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A grading group is a collection of grading objects that is used to organize gradings and make
surface creation and volume calculations easier. By setting a volume base surface in the

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grading group properties (as shown in Figure 1–5), grading volume tools can be used to
calculate a quick volume between the new grading surface and the existing ground surface.

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Figure 1–5
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Grading Workflow
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Setting Up Gradings
In the preliminary phase of a project, you can save a lot of time and effort if your drawing is set
up beforehand with the settings and styles needed to convey design intent effectively. Then
save it as a template.
1. Establish Grading Settings: This is where you will define units of measurement to be used
throughout the project for gradings.

1–6 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

2. Create Grading Styles: Styles determine how feature lines, surfaces, and grading groups
display in the drawing and on the printed sheet.
3. Define Grading Criteria: Predefining the methods and projections for grading saves time
and ensures that the proper standards are followed.

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Designing and Creating Gradings

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The process used to create gradings might vary from one project to another. The list of tasks
below is intended to be a high-level overview.

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1. Create a Site: A site is where the grading information created resides in Civil 3D. This is
where the interaction between Feature Lines and Grading Groups occur.

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2. Create Feature Lines: Parcel lines can be used to create feature lines or convert existing
linework into feature lines. Nearly every grading project contains at least one feature line.

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3. Create Grading Groups: The interaction between feature lines can be controlled along with

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grading projections using grading groups.

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4. Create the Grading: By creating multiple grading objects, you can determine the slope of
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the ground from the base line to the target line.
5. Modify the Grading as Required: Editing commands can be used to make easy
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adjustments to grading objects and feature lines as the design changes.
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Outputting Grading Information

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It is important to be able to convey the grading design to others. During the design phase,
community leaders and the public might need to be able to visualize the finished project.
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Creating renderings for the public makes visualizing the project easier for them. However,
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contractors are more familiar with reading contour data with cut and fill slopes labeled or
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shaded to indicate how much ground needs to be moved from one area to another. They might
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also need cut and fill reports to help them order the correct volume of material for the site.
1. Select the Grading Group Surface Creation: Once the grading group satisfies your grading
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specifications, you need to create contours for it. This is only accomplished by creating a
surface.
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2. Edit Grading Styles: Viewing the surface in various ways assists in finding problems and
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communicating design intent.

3. Plot and Publish the Drawings: Drawings can be plotted onto paper or published
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electronically to send to interested parties more efficiently.

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4. Produce Reports: Reports complement drawings to communicate design intent and

volumes to interested parties.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–7

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

1.2 Tools in Autodesk Civil 3D

The Autodesk Civil 3D software is a powerful application for civil engineering design. Although
it runs in the familiar AutoCAD® environment, the software is based on a dynamic engineering

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model that contains all of the core geometry and integrates all of the data. When you make a
change to the design, the Autodesk Civil 3D software automatically updates the related objects,

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views, annotations, tables, etc.

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The objects used for grading in the Autodesk Civil 3D software establish intelligent
relationships. The following table lists items that can be used for grading and shows the

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relationships and how a change made to one object is reflected in others.

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When you edit these objects... These objects are updated...
Points Surfaces

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Surfaces Grading Groups, Profiles, Pipe Networks, and Corridors

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Parcels Grading Groups and Corridors
Alignments e EN Grading Groups, Corridors, Profiles, Parcels, Sections, and
Pipe Networks
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Profiles Grading Groups, Corridors, Parcels, Sections, and Pipe
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Networks
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Grading Groups Surfaces and Corridors

Subassembly Assembly, Corridors, and Surfaces
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Assembly Corridors and Surfaces

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Feature Lines Grading Groups, Alignments, Profiles, Corridors, and Surfaces

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Sample Lines Sections and Corridors

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1–8 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

Practice 1a
Settings and Defaults

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Practice Objectives
• Create a customized drawing template for grading.

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• Identify the required settings to set up a new grading project.

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In this practice, you will create a template based on National CAD Standards to include the

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correct settings and defaults for the types of grading done in the project.

Task 1: Create preliminary drawing template.

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1. Open the Autodesk Civil 3D software. In the Start tab, click the New drop-down arrow and
select Autodesk Civil 3D (Imperial) NCS.dwt, as shown in Figure 1–6, to start a new

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drawing using this template. This is one of the standard templates that come with the
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software.
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Figure 1–6

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–9

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

2. Click (Application Menu) and select Save As>Drawing Template, as shown in

Figure 1–7.

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Figure 1–7
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Note: Having project files stored in a common folder structure emulates proper CAD
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procedures. For training purposes, these folders reside on the local C drive, but in
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practice, these folders should be on a shared network drive so that the entire project team
has access to them. GRD is for Grading; CA83-VIF designates the coordinate zone we will
set this template up for.
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3. Browse to the C:\Civil 3D Grading\Ascent-Config folder and type XXX-GRD (CA83-VIF)

NCS.dwt as the template file name (replacing XXX with your initials). Click on the Save icon.
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4. In the Template Options dialog box, add an appropriate description for this newly created
template, for example: Civil 3D Training template for Land Development.
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 Grading for Land Developers

5. Select the Toolspace> Settings tab, as shown in Figure 1–8.

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Figure 1–8
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6. In the Toolspace>Settings tab, right-click on the drawing’s name (XXX-GRD (CA83-VIF)

NCS) at the top, and select Edit Drawing Settings. (Substitute XXX with your initials.)
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

7. In the Drawing Settings dialog box, select the Units and Zone tab, as shown in Figure 1–9.

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Figure 1–9
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8. In the Selected coordinate system code field, type in CA83-VIF. This is the code for NAD83
California State Planes, Zone VI, US Foot. These coordinates are in the vicinity of the
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CA83-VIF coordinate zone.

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9. Click OK to close the Drawing Settings dialog box.

10. Note the coordinates of the drawing are near 0,0. At the command line, type Zoom and
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press <Enter>, then type C (for Center) and press <Enter>. For the coordinates, type
6256700, 2036200. At the ensuing magnification or height prompt, type 5300 and press
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<Enter>.
11. Start the Single Line text command (type in DTEXT at the command line or select in the
ribbon>Annotate tab, Multiline Text drop down), then select the center of the display as the
insertion point.
12. Set the text height to 150 and the rotation angle to 33.

1–12 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

13. Type the following, pressing <Enter> after each line (when done typing the last line, press
<Enter> twice to finish):
“GRADING TEMPLATE...
DRAWING SET TO CA83-VIF COORDINATE SYSTEM.

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GO TO DRAWING SETTINGS TO MODIFY IF NEED BE.

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DELETE THIS MESSAGE.”

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14. Zoom extents.

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15. Save the drawing template.

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Task 2: Establish typical settings for grading.

1. In the Toolspace> Settings tab, right-click on the drawing’s name (XXX-GRD (CA83-VIF)

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NCS) at the top, and select Edit Drawing Settings. (Substitute XXX with your initials.)
2. In the Object Layers tab, set the Tin Surface Modifier to a Suffix, and type -* (dash, asterisk)

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in the Value field, as shown in Figure 1–10.
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Figure 1–10

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

3. In the Ambient Settings tab, verify that the following values are set, as shown in
Figure 1–11.
• Volume Unit: Cubic yard
• Grade Format: percent

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• Slope Format:run:rise

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Figure 1–11
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4. Click OK to close the dialog box.

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5. In the Settings tab, do the following:

• Expand Grading>Commands.
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• Right-click on CreateFeatureLines.
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• Select Edit Command Settings.

Note: You can also double-click on CreateFeatureLines.

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 Grading for Land Developers

6. In the Edit Command Settings dialog box, do the following, as shown in Figure 1–12:
• Select the Plus symbol next to Feature Line Creation to expand it.
• In the Feature Line Name and Use Feature Line Style fields, select True.
•

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Expand Default Styles and set the Feature Line Style to Basic.
• Click OK.

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Figure 1–12
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7. Save the drawing template.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

1.3 Grading Group Styles

The grading group style determines what is displayed in the drawing. You can set the layers for
the various grading components to a no plot layer in the Display tab of the Grading Style dialog

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box (as shown in Figure 1–13). This allows you to create grading groups, which enable the
grading objects to be displayed while you are working and not when the drawing is printed or

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plotted. Therefore, only the contours and labels are displayed on the printed sheet.

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Figure 1–13
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The Center Marker tab determines the size of the center mark (diamond at the center of the
grading face). The center mark size can be:
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•
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a percentage of the screen, as shown in Figure 1–14.

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• a fixed size (using feet or meters) according to the drawing units.

•
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based on the drawing scale so that it plots a specific size.

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Figure 1–14

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 Grading for Land Developers

The Slope Pattern tab determines the patterns used to mark the grading slopes. If you select the
option to display a slope pattern, an additional style needs to be created to define the number of
components to use and the length of each of those components. To access this style, select
the Edit Current Selection option as shown in Figure 1–15.

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Alternatively, you can go to the Settings tab and expand General>Multipurpose Styles>Slope
Pattern Styles. This enables a symbol to be placed at the beginning of the slope. The symbol
can be a block, triangle (opened or closed), or tapered lines (with or without a gap). You can

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also have multiple components for the slope pattern with different symbols and line lengths for

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each.

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Figure 1–15

In the Grading Style editor>Slope Pattern tab, the slope ranges can also be turned on. This
enables you to apply the slope patterns to a limited range of slope values that you specify.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

In the Display tab, you can set the layer, color, linetype, visibility, etc., of the various components
in the plan or model views, as shown in Figure 1–16. If the layer is set to layer 0 (zero), the
drawing settings determine the layer on which the grading group components are placed. If it is
set to any other layer in the Grading Style dialog box, it overrides the drawing settings.

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Figure 1–16

The Summary tab is a quick way of determining which center marker and slope pattern styles
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were set on previous pages, as shown in Figure 1–17.

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Figure 1–17

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 Grading for Land Developers

1.4 Grading Criteria Sets

Grading criteria is applied to a base line or footprint to create grading projections. Different
types of projects require different grading criteria. A pond grading might require a 2:1 slope up

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to a specific elevation on the interior while the exterior of the pond might require a maximum of
a 3:1 slope that daylights to a surface. Each of these criteria can be set in an Autodesk Civil 3D

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template to speed up and control the grading process during design.
Design criteria can be locked in the criteria to ensure that predefined design specifications are

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used every time. This also permits faster completion of grading projects by reducing the

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redundant typing of grading parameters. Once each type of grading criteria has been created,

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they can be included in a Grading Criteria Set so that they are in one location, making them
easier to use (as shown in Figure 1–18).

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Figure 1–18

There are four different types of grading criteria:

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1. Grade to a distance
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2. Grade to an elevation
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3. Grade to a relative elevation

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4. Grade to a surface
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Grade to Distance
When you need to keep a specific grade or slope for a specified horizontal distance, you use the
Grade to Distance criteria (as shown in Figure 1–19). For example, a building pad for a house

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might require that the ground slopes away from the house at a 2% grade for a specified
distance to ensure that standing water is directed away from the foundation. Use this criteria to
set the target at a specific distance and then lock that distance so that it cannot be changed.

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Figure 1–19
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Grade to Elevation
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When you need to keep a specific grade or slope to an absolute elevation, you need to use the
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Grade to Elevation criteria (as shown in Figure 1–20) to set the target to be a specific elevation.
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You can then decide which slope or grade to use for the fill slopes separate from the cut slopes.
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This is useful in pond grading since the top of the pond needs to be level.
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Figure 1–20

1–20 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

Grade to Relative Elevation

Sometimes it is necessary to project a grade up or down a specific vertical distance. This
strategy requires using the Grade to Relative Elevation criteria (as shown in Figure 1–21), which

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enables you to set the target to a specific vertical distance and the slope or grade for that
relative elevation. You can then lock the relative elevation so that it cannot be changed.

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Figure 1–21
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Grade to Surface
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When you need to keep a specific slope until the projection finds daylight, you need to use the
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Grade to Surface criteria (as shown in Figure 1–22). It enables you to set the target to be a
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specific surface name. You can then decide which slope or grade to use for the separate fill and
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cut slope solutions. This criteria is typically used last to finish the grading solution.
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Figure 1–22

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

• When locking grading criteria parameters, note that once they are locked, they cannot be
changed (not even during the editing process). If you change the design parameters, you
might need to redefine the grading group rather than just edit it as you would if the grading
criteria was not locked.

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 Grading for Land Developers

Practice 1b
Grading Styles

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Practice Objective
• Create feature line styles, grading group styles, and a grading criteria set to be used in

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the project.

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In this practice, you will add to the template to include the correct styles and grading criteria.

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Task 1: Create feature line styles.

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1. Continue working in the drawing template from the previous practice.

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2. In the Settings tab, expand the General tree, expand Multipurpose Styles, right-click on
Feature Line Styles and select New, as shown in Figure 1–23.

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Figure 1–23
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3. In the Information tab, for the Name, type ASC-Parking Lot. For the Description, type
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Parking lot foot print.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

4. In the Profile tab, set each of the Vertex Marker Styles to _No Markers, as shown in
Figure 1–24.

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Figure 1–24
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 Grading for Land Developers

5. In the Section tab, set the Crossing Marker Style to _No Markers, as shown in Figure 1–25.

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Figure 1–25
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6. In the Display tab, select the Layer 0 to the right of the Feature Line component. In the Layer
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Selection dialog box, click the New button as shown in Figure 1–26.
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Figure 1–26

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

7. For the Layer name, type C-GRAD-PARK and set the Color to 40, as shown in Figure 1–27.
Click OK three times to close all of the dialog boxes.

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Figure 1–27
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8. Repeat Steps 2 to 7 to create additional feature lines for the design objects listed in the
following table. Keep the same settings unless otherwise noted.
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Feature Line Style Name Layer Name Color

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ASC-Building Pad C-GRAD-BLDG Blue (5)

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ASC-Pond C-GRAD-POND Yellow (2)

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ASC-Lagoon C-GRAD-LGON Green (3)

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9. Save the drawing template.

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Task 2: Create grading group styles.

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1. Continue working in the drawing template from the previous task.

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2. In the Toolspace>Settings tab, expand General>Multipurpose Styles, right-click on Slope

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Pattern Styles and select New, as shown in Figure 1–28.

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 Grading for Land Developers

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Figure 1–28

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3. In the Information tab, type ASC-Easy Viewing for the name.

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4. In the Layout tab, for Component 1, in the Slope Line Symbol area, set the following:
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Symbol Type: Triangle
• Percent of Length: 10%
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5. Set the Component to Component 2, as shown in Figure 1–29.

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Figure 1–29

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

6. For Component 2, in the Slope Line area, set the Percent of Length to 75%, as shown in
Figure 1–30. This will ensure that the slope lines are not mistaken for projection lines.

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Figure 1–30
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7. Click OK.
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8. In the Settings tab, expand Grading, right-click on Grading Styles and select New, as shown
in Figure 1–31.
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Figure 1–31

9. In the Information tab, type ASC-Pond Grading Display.

10. In the Center Marker tab, type 5 for the Percentage of Screen size.

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 Grading for Land Developers

11. In the Slope Patterns tab, select the Slope pattern option and set the Style to ASC-Easy
Viewing, as shown in Figure 1–32.

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Figure 1–32

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12. In the Display tab, select all of the components using <Shift>, and then select a 0 (zero) in
the Layer column. In the Layer Selection dialog box, click the New button. For the Layer
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name, type C-GRAD-NPLT and set Plot to No, as shown in Figure 1–33.
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Figure 1–33

13. Click OK three times to close all of the dialog boxes.

14. Save the drawing template.

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–29

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Task 3: Create grading criteria sets.

1. Continue working in the drawing template from the previous task.

2. In the Settings tab, expand Grading>Grading Criteria Sets>Basic Set.

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• Note that it includes the criteria for each type of projection that can be created in the

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Autodesk Civil 3D software. When this set is used, the designer can select which slope/
grades to use and the distance to which to grade. For Pond grading, you will want more

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control of the slopes to ensure that the correct specifications are used.

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3. Right-click on Grading Criteria Sets and select New, as shown in Figure 1–34.

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Figure 1–34
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4. For the Name, type Pond Grading. Click OK.

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5. In the Settings tab, right-click on the Pond Grading criteria that you just created and select
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New, as shown in Figure 1–35.

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Figure 1–35

1–30 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

6. In the Information tab, for the Name, type Interior.

Note: You might have to save the drawing for the new criteria to be displayed.

7. In the Criteria tab, do the following, as shown in Figure 1–36:

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• Set Target to Elevation.
• For Elevation, type 160.

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• For both Cut Slope and Fill Slope Projections, set Format to Slope.

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• For both Cut Slope and Fill Slope Projections, set Slope to 3.

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• Select each Lock icon to lock each parameter and ensure that it cannot be changed

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when used in a grading.
• Click OK.

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Figure 1–36
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

8. Repeat Steps 5 to 7 to create the following grading criteria. Keep the same settings unless
otherwise noted in the following table and shown in Figure 1–37.
Grading Criteria Name Grading Method Slop Projection Lock

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Rim Distance, 6', Slope Grade, 2% Yes
Outer Slope to Surface Surface, Cut/Fill Slope, Cut first Slope, 3:1 cut, 3:1 fill Yes

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Figure 1–37
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9. Save the drawing template.

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 Grading for Land Developers

1.5 Sites Overview

In the Autodesk Civil 3D software, sites are used as a collection point for common topologies
that share relationships with each other. When an alignment and a parcel reside in the same

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site, they interact with each other. An alignment that resides in the same site as a parcel
subdivides the parcel. Grading groups and feature lines also reside in sites and interact with

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each other when they share the same site. Each drawing can have multiple sites for various
purposes, as shown in Figure 1–38.

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Figure 1–38
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Sites for Design Options

It is recommended that you always start your project with an overall site in which you place all
of the existing parcel linework. Then before adding alignments, feature lines, and grading

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groups to your design, you can create another site, label it Design option 1, and copy the parcels
with which you are going to be working into that site, as shown in Figure 1–39.

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Figure 1–39
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This enables you to provide more options to your clients without having many file versions in
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multiple drawings on a server. Once a client decides which design option to pursue, the other
sites can easily be deleted, removing all of the design components within it at the same time, as
shown in Figure 1–40.
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1–34 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

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Figure 1–40

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Creating Sites

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To create a new site, select the Prospector tab in the Toolspace, right-click on Sites and select

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New. In the Information tab, type a name that is relevant to the entire team. In the 3D Geometry
tab, set the Site Display Mode, as shown in Figure 1–41.

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Figure 1–41
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• It is recommended that you leave the default option as Use elevation so that the site’s
linework displays at its actual elevations, making it easier to view design intent from any
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direction in the Object Viewer.

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Note: If you do not take the time to create the project site(s) before starting to create
feature lines, parcels, or grading groups, a default site is created automatically, called
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Site 1. By default, alignments are placed in the alignments tree rather than in a specific
site.

• The optional Flatten to elevation option causes all of the site’s linework to become 2D and
to be located at the elevation that you set.
• In the 3D Geometry tab, you can also set the layers on which the construction geometry is to
be located.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

The Numbering tab enables you to set the Automatic number for parcels and the counting
interval to use for the next number, as shown in Figure 1–42.

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Figure 1–42

Copy or Move Objects from One Site to Another

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Feature lines and parcels must reside in a site to be created and used. If you use feature lines

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for grading, it is important that they reside in the same site as their grading group. Sometimes
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feature lines or parcels are created in the wrong site or need to be reused in other sites. In such
cases, you can move or copy a feature line or parcels from one site to another. You are able to
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copy or move the contents of an entire site (alignments, grading groups, parcels, and feature
lines) to another site.
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How To: Move or Copy Feature Lines or parcels

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1. Select the object(s) to move or copy.

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2. Right-click and select Move to Site or Copy to Site, as shown in Figure 1–43.
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Figure 1–43

1–36 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

• Another option is to select Move to Site or Copy to Site on the Feature Line or Parcels
contextual tab>Modify panel, as shown in Figure 1–44.

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3. In the dialog box, select an option for the Destination site, as shown in Figure 1–45.
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Figure 1–45
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Civil 3D appends the name with a (1) (or the next available number) so as to ensure that the
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feature line name remains unique. This is true of moving or copying the features line to another
site.
Note: Copying the parcels and placing them in a new site causes them to lose any
interaction they have with other objects, such as feature lines, alignments, or grading
groups. To ensure that you are working with the correct site’s parcels when adding
elevations and making other edits, it is recommended that you create a style that turns off
the display of parcel segments, and set the parcels in the unrequired sites (i.e., sites that
you are not currently working with) to that style.

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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Practice 1c
Prepare for the Project

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Practice Objective
• Create a surface style and sites in preparation for the grading project.

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In this practice, you will add a surface style to the template to make it easier to display the site

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grading. You will also create some sites to give multiple design options to the client.

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Task 1: Create a surface style.

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1. Continue working in the drawing template from the previous practice.

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2. In the Settings tab, expand Surfaces>Surface Styles. Right-click on Contours 2' and 10'
(Design) and select Copy, as shown in Figure 1–46.

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Figure 1–46
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3. In the Information tab, type ASC-Temporary Grading View.

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 Grading for Land Developers

4. In the Display tab, turn on the layers Slope Arrows and Watersheds, as shown in
Figure 1–47.

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Figure 1–47
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5. In the Watersheds tab, expand 3D Geometry. Verify that Watershed Display Mode is set to
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Use Surface Elevation, as shown in Figure 1–48.

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Figure 1–48
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6. Click OK to close the dialog box.

7. Save the drawing template.
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 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

Task 2: Create sites.

1. In the Prospector tab, right-click on Sites and select New.

2. In the Information tab, for the Name, type Multi-Family. For the description, type Parcels,

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building pads, and parking lots for multi-family property.

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3. Click OK to close the dialog box and accept the defaults on the other tabs.

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4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 to create the following sites. Keep the same settings unless otherwise
noted in the following table.

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Site Name Description

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Pond Site Storm water retention pond

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Lagoon Lagoon and wetland grading

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Residential Grading Single family lot grading

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5. Save the drawing template.
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1–40 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

 Grading for Land Developers

Chapter Review Questions

1. What geometric shape is the Center Mark of a grading object?

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a. Diamond
b. Circle

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c. Triangle

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d. Rectangle

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2. Figure 1–49 shows each of the parts of a grading object. Match the numbers with their
corresponding names.

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Figure 1–49
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a. Slope Pattern
b. Center Mark (Infill)
c. Target Line
d. Projection Line
e. Base Line

© 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–41

 Autodesk Civil 3D 2024: Beyond the Basics for Grading

3. When you edit a grading group, which of the following objects are updated?
a. Feature Lines, Alignments, and Surfaces.
b. Points, Surfaces, and Corridors.

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c. Surfaces and Corridors.
d. Assemblies, Profiles, and Feature Lines.

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4. How can you have the software automatically use one style when creating a feature line

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from objects and a different style when creating a feature line from scratch?

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a. Set it in Drawing Settings, in the Ambient Settings tab.
b. Set it in Command Settings.

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c. Set it in Drawing Settings, in the Object Layers tab.

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d. Set it in the grading group style.

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5. If you create a grading criteria with locked parameters, you can still change the parameters
during the editing process.
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a. True
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b. False
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6. What are sites used for? (Select all that apply.)

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a. To group the collection of common topology that share relationships with each other.
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b. To provide different design options within the same project.

c. To house the sample sections for a grading design.
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d. To set the settings and styles to use for grading projects.

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1–42 © 2023, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®