Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Learning Objectives: Understand basic features of AutoCAD Civil 3D Start AutoCAD Civil 3D Understand AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Screen Components. Learn about different workspaces in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009  AutoCAD Civil 3D AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 is a powerful software that is used for surveying, designing, analyzing, and documenting several civil engineering projects such as land development, transportation and environmental projects. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 software is a blend of several Autodesk solutions including AutoCAD, MAP 3D, and Civil 3D toolset along with Trimble Link, Carlson Connect, and Leica Exchange. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can use all the traditional commands that exist in AutoCAD software and these can be accessed through toolbars, menu bars, and from the command prompt. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 provides a model-centric technology at the core, that enables the entire team in a project to co-ordinate and work on a single updated model.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 AutoCAD Civil 3D features a range of design and analysis objects within its three-dimensional dynamic engineering model. These objects include points, surfaces, parcels, alignments and gradings. All objects in this model have a hierarchical interaction mechanism with each other. This mechanism ensures that modifications carried out in one object are truly reflected in other objects that are connected to it. All the objects in AutoCAD Civil 3D have a designated hierarchy that can be viewed in an interface component called the Toolspace palette. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 also features various object components such as tables, object labels, and various analysis results that are derived from the model.  BASIC FEATURES OF AutoCAD Civil 3D

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Points are the basic building blocks in AutoCAD Civil 3D. In civil engineering projects, points are used to identify the existing ground locations and design elements. In Civil 3D, each point has a unique number and each numbered point has properties that include information such as northing, easting, level, and description. The points can also have additional properties to control their appearance, such as point style, point label style, and layer. Points Surfaces Surfaces are key objects in AutoCAD Civil 3D and these are a three-dimensional geometric representation of the surface of an area of land. In Civil 3D, surfaces can be composite or volumetric that represents the difference between two surface areas, as in case of volume surfaces. The surfaces are created using points, point files, DEM data, existing AutoCAD objects, contours, breaklines, and boundaries.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can perform various surface analyses to show different height ranges, slopes, and watershed areas. An alignment object represents centerlines, carriageway, verges, highway boundaries, or construction baselines. In AutoCAD Civil 3D, an alignment object can be drawn from a polyline or it can be created using the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar. Alignments Gradings In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the grading tools and commands enable the engineers to grade a surface by applying different criteria, such as applying slope to a surface or grade to a distance.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Profiles Profiles are used to show surface levels along a horizontal alignment and selected surfaces. Sections Sections or cross-sections, provide a view of the terrain that is cut at an angle across a linear feature, such as a proposed road. The sections are cut across the horizontal alignments in specified station intervals. Assemblies and Subsssemblies An assembly and subassembly constitutes the primary structure of an AutoCAD Civil 3D corridor model. The assembly objects contain and manage a collection of subassemblies that are used to form the primary structure of a corridor model.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Corridors A corridor model is applicable for any linear ground-based feature. A corridor model brings together various objects and data including subassemblies, assemblies, alignments, surfaces, and profiles. Pipe Networks You can use pipe networks to draw 2D and 3D models of utility systems such as storm sewers, wastewater sewers, and more. The pipe networks are created from design catalogs, and can be edited in plan views.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009  STARTING AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 To start AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 choose the Start button at the bottom left-corner of the screen (default position), a start-up menu will be displayed. Choose All Programs > Autodesk > AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 > AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009; AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 will get started, as shown in figure. Starting AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009  AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 SCREEN COMPONENTS The initial AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 screen includes various components such as the drawing area, command window, toolbars, menu bar, model and layout tabs, status bar, and Toolspace palette, as shown in figure. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 screen components

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 In AutoCAD Civil 3D, you can view the project data and its status at any time in the Toolspace palette. To display the Toolspace palette in a drawing, choose General > Toolspace from the menu bar or type ShowTS at the command prompt. There are four tabs in the palette, Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox. Toolspace Palette Prospector Tab In the Prospector tab from the Toolspace palette; you can view all objects that are present in the drawing or project. In this tab you can also view all the collections in a hierarchy. To view the collections for the current drawing, select the Active Drawing View option from the drop-down list at the top of the Prospector tab, as shown in the figure.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Settings Tab You can use this tab to view, create and modify different styles for different object types in Civil 3D, as shown. You can also use this tab to control the settings for drawings and commands. The Prospector tab

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 The Settings tab Survey Tab You can use this tab to view, create and modify different styles for different object types in Civil 3D, as shown. You can also use this tab to control the settings for drawings and commands.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Panorama Window This window can be used to display the entities of the objects such as alignments and profiles in a tabulated form. The Panorama window is a floating, dockable window that can be kept open while working.  Civil 3D WORKSPACES When you start AutoCAD Civil 3D, you are prompted in the screen to select a specific workspace and then continue. Once you are done, you can switch to other workspace settings at any time by choosing the Workspace Switching button that is located in the status bar. On doing so, a cascading menu will be displayed, as shown in Figure.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 The cascading menu to choose workspace Civil 3D Complete Workspace This workspace covers all the basic civil features available in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Design Workspace This workspace covers those features of AutoCAD Civil 3D software that are necessary for road, transportation, and site design works. Annotation and Drafting Workspace This workspace is used especially for the purpose of documentation of your project. The Annotation menu is included in the menu bar in this workspace. The label and table Commands are grouped into a single menu in the Annotation menu for your convenience so that all the annotation tools can be used easily. Survey and Topographical Workspace This workspace contains menu bars, toolbars, and other applications that are useful for survey related works. Visualization and Rendering Workspace This workspace is required for 3D visualization and rendering purposes.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Before you create a new project or start working on the existing project, you should be familiar with various tools and concepts that can be applied to create the initial setup of the project. Drawing Templates GETTING STARTED WITH AutoCAD Civil 3D Drawing templates are very useful tools for AutoCAD Civil 3D users. To use a template in a drawing, choose the Prospector tab of the Toolspace palette and then select the Master View option from the drop-down list at the top. Expand the Drawing Templates collection and right-click on a template; a shortcut menu will be displayed, as shown in Figure.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Selecting a drawing template from shortcut menu

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 The Units and Zones Tab This tab is used to set linear and angular units, intended plot scale, and coordinate zone for the current drawing. The Transformation Tab This tab transforms the coordinate system specified in the Units and Zones tab to local specifications. The Object Layer Tab This tab provides a table in which the objects can be directly assigned a layer. To change the layer of an object, click on the field of the Layer column of that object; the Layer Selection dialog box will be displayed.

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Drawing Settings To edit the current drawing settings, right-click on the drawing name that is displayed in the Settings tab of the Toolspace palette; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Edit Drawing Settings option from this shortcut menu, as shown in Figure. Choosing Edit Drawing Settings option from shortcut menu