New Scale List Cleanup Utility

There was a point (early 2007) where drawings were misbehaving by inheriting the scalelist from their xrefs. Excess scales could eventually degraded performance. Service packs were created (mid 2007) to prevent this behavior from continuing to happen. We could then do a manual "SCALELISTEDIT" "Reset" to fix individually affected files.

The new "Scale List Cleanup Utility" repairs files that were affected before the necessary service pack was installed.

So, if you find drawings that contain more than their original scales, you should use this new utility to correct them in mass.

Be Better... Eat your veggies!

Think of the Possibilities - Dynamic Feature Lines from a Corridor

Some of you may have heard by now that Civil 3D 2009 allows for feature lines that are extracted from a corridor to be dynamically linked to the corridor (see next two images).

This ability should lead to some very creative solutions to design challenges. I absolutely look forward to seeing the inventiveness of some users with this behavior.

To get the creativity ball rolling, I spent a little time on a proof of concept that others had suggested should be possible. Here is just one example of what can be done...

In the next image, first notice that the daylighting is accomplished via a grading as opposed to a daylight subassembly (top arrows). The orange objects are feature lines that have been extracted from the corridor, and made dynamic to it. The cyan arcs (curb return) are feature lines that I added manually, that are connected to the ends of the corridor extracted feature lines. Lastly, notice that the design profile (arrow in the lower left hand viewport) is below the existing ground profile.



The next image is the result of ONE change. That one change was editing the design profile (arrow in the lower left viewport) via a grip edit to be above the existing ground profile. the rest is the result of the corridor rebuilding, the feature lines dynamically remaining linked to the corridor and those feature lines updating the cyan feature line that I add by hand (because they share a common endpoint), and of course the gradings updating as well (2 top arrows) from cut to fill.



Big deal you may be saying. Well think about it. In previous versions I would have had to modify a curb return profile as well, to ensure that the curb lines stay aligned. In this example that was not necessary, as a matter of fact there are no curb alignments, nor profiles.

Talk about a game changer. This ability should also allow us to create cross-gutter flow lines that will auto-magically remain linked without the need for extra alignments or profiles. I also created four dynamically linked feature lines on each corridor, but I could have accomplished similar with only one feature line and gradings from that one, in the curb return area.

Where once I needed 12 alignments and corresponding profiles to do a full intersection with cross-gutters and spandrells, I can do it with only two.

Just Think of the possibilities.

Be Better... Don't do things the old way!

AU on an Ipod

Did you know that you can subscribe to Autodesk University 2007 audio podcasts at the iTunes store? These podcasts can then be synchronized and listened to on any iPod at convenient times. (I can hear you now, and YES, I do have a life. I also spend a fair amount of time traveling... you get the point)

As a matter of fact you can find session from 5 different tracks. They are...

AutoCAD
Architectural
Geostatial
Civil
Manufacturing

Unfortunately, this list is in popularity order as listed by iTunes. Apparently, there have not been many subscribers to the Civil Sessions. Let's see if we can change that.

The first podcast that I had available was Dana Probert's "Using Civil 3D 2008 for Stormwater Management Tasks Part I". It was a 1 hour 23 minute session.

The second session was Ian McGregor's "Civil 3D Vault & Design Review: A Workflow". This session was co-presented by Jack Strongitharm, Nick Zeeben and Pete Kelsey (talk about an allstar line-up). It was 1 hour and 20 minutes long.

I mention this because I have been exploring methods of learning that may not be so obvious, but would be very convenient, such as YouTube. There are lots of ways to learn. If you have other ways that you find helpful, may I impose upon you to share them with me. One method to do so is to add them as comments. I would appreciate it.

Be Better... than the competition!

Help Select Autodesk University 2008 Classes!!

When I first read the following I thought this is awesome. What better way for Autodesk University attendees to benefit from AU than for them to have a hand in selecting the classes that will be presented.

Click on the title of this post to get to the Survey Monkey pages that list submitted classes for AU 2008. There we can select a track (Civil Engineering, of course) and then choose 15 from the approximately 185 classes submitted in this track that we would like to see.

Unfortunately, we only see the titles, application(s) covered, intended level of instruction, and the instructor's name. We may have to assume what some cleverly named classes will cover (makes me wonder if mine were clear enough). Either way, this is good.

Be Better... today than yesterday!

My AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Top Five

Among the many enhancements, and new features of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 these are the five items that I think will have the most impact on users, procedures, or workflows...

1. Labeling objects through XRefs (some users will not even need to use shortcuts because of this)
2. Data Shortcuts in the Prospector (a cross between the vault interface and legacy shortcuts)
3. Memory Managed Surfaces (if over 2 million points, users get the option to save surface to .ssm file - external to drawing, freeing up memory)
4. Dynamic Feature Lines from Corridors (can be used as baselines for gradings, replacing daylight subassemblies in certain cases)
5. Criteria Based Design for Alignments and Profiles (displays warning markers if criterion is violated e.g. AASHTO values)

Deserving of honorable mention (due to southwestern US design requirements) is the "Stacked Profiles" or 3-Line Profiles (can actually stack upto 9 profiles). This has been a MUCH wanted ability around these here parts.

Honorable mention also goes to expansion and compaction factors in earthwork volume calculations and volume surfaces.

There are many other items, these are just what I think will rise to the top on user lists.

Be Better!

WisDOT's Thoughts

I first saw a reference to this document at Louisa Holland's Blog "Civil 3D for Beginners" (Thank You Lou). I found it very interesting and thought that others might think so as well.

This 4 page report summarizes WisDOT's selection of AutoCAD Civil 3D as their design software replacement for the future.

Be Better!

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Documents

I ran across these today on the Autodesk website Civil 3D product pages. These are the first of many new bits of information that are becoming available.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Product Brochure (6 pages)

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Questions and Answers (13 pages)

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 New Features Workshop

Hey just found tons of 2009 documents (lots to read here e.g. Getting Started Guide, User Guide, Tutorials, and my personal favorite, Best Practices Guide, etc.).

I hope this will help those of you that have been curious.

Be Better!

AU Needs U!

It is that time of year again. The 16th Autodesk University (AU) will be held again this year at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada in November.

Currently, the event staff are accepting proposals from potential presentors. Anyone who wishes to submit a proposal to present a class for Autodesk University 2008 can do so by clicking on the title of this post.

AU is an outstanding event to learn, network, and to help advance our collective industries. If you feel that you have technical abilities combined with communication skills you should definitely consider submitting one or more proposals. Most presenters that I have talked to mention how very rewarding presenting at AU is.

The collective knowledge in our industry is growing in leaps and bounds. The number of civil engineering companies looking for AutoCAD Civil 3D knowledge is probably growing faster. The need for instructors willing to share that knowledge is substantial. Please take a moment to consider it.

Proposal Guidelines and Resources can be found here.

The deadline to submit is April 27 2008.

Be Better!

Northern Pacific Civil Consortium - Open House

Next Thursday, January 24, 2008, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, the Northern Pacific Civil Consortium (NPCC) will host an "Open House" meeting in Sacramento, California. The NPCC's main focus is to "Educate, Enhance, and Enlighten its members in the effective application of Autodesk software products".

At the open house meeting there will be two primary sessions. I will be presenting "Civil 3D - Grading on a Dime" where I will demonstrate Civil 3d's grading capabilities that anyone can use with VERY LITTLE OR NO TRAINING! Additionally, there will be a CAD Manager's Tips & Tricks session, where knowledge to improve our AutoCAD productivity will be shared.

Pizza and soft drinks will be served and there will be door prizes. The grand prize is an iPod NANO (you must be present to win).

I encourage you to consider this opportunity to network and learn with our peers. This is a great way to start 2008, investing in improvement.

Contact Doug Matchell at dougmatchell@kennedyjenks.com to RSVP.

Be Better!

New Hydraflow Extensions

I was told that beginning today, January 14th, subscription customers would be able to download both of the other Hydraflow applications, Hydraflow Hydrographs and Hydraflow Express, as extensions to Civil 3D 2008 from their subscription center sites.

Hydraflow Hydrographs give us the ability to do watershed analysis and detention pond design.

Hydraflow Express is a collection of calculators that solve hydraulics and hydrology problems for culverts, inlets, channels, and weirs.

Please inform the appropriate internal personnel to acquire these extensions.

Be Better!