Read the Labels

I have now been able to provide "labels" for the majority of the almost 400 posts of this blog.

You will notice at the bottom of most posts what Blogger terms "labels". Other applications might use the term tags. If you pick on a "label" all blog posts that have similar "labels" will be displayed. I accomplished this relatively quickly and not with a fine-tooth comb. So there may be some posts that are not perfectly "label"ed.

This was worth the effort because this can be a good method to find all posts that have to do with a particular subject, such as Vault or Profiles etc.

Give it a try, see if it helps. Feel free to comment about any posts or "labels".

I will add some of the current "labels" to this post, to kick start the process.

Civil 3D - SP2 Coming Soon

Service Pack 2 for Civil 3D 2007 will likely be available sometime next week. It should include Civil 3D 2K7 SP1A, and Map 2K7 SP1 & SP2.

Issues Resolved in Autodesk Civil 3D 2007 Service Pack 2

General

When closing the program, you no longer receive an error message after using the Object Property Manager.

Using the UNDO command after deleting or inserting an elevation point no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

Alignments

Version 2006 drawings that contain a Spiral Curve Spiral with the curve radius set to zero can now be migrated to version 2007 and the Spiral Curve Spiral is correctly displayed.

An issue with alignment station equations has been resolved and the station equation labels now display expected results.

Corridor

When pasting surfaces, dynamic corridor surfaces are filtered out of the selection set to avoid a situation dependency. You can create non-dynamically linked corridor surfaces to paste into an existing surface.

Using the DaylightStandard subassembly, you can create a corridor model with a horizontal slope limit and the material thickness will be applied to the horizontal links. Previously the material thickness was not applied to the horizontal links.

Changing a style of an exported corridor surface no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

When you specify corridor sections at Superelevation Critical Stations (from the Frequency To Apply Assemblies dialog box) the sections are now added.

Grading

Points and Elevations are now displayed accurately in the Elevation Editor.

There is improved performance using the Weed command on a feature line that was created from a polyline.

Using the Fillet command on feature lines no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

There is improved performance when using the Fit Curve command.

An issue with using Feature Line commands in multiple drawings has been resolved.

Using the Weed command now removes the expected points when using a weeding factor of 3D Distance. Previously not all the points that met the weeding factor were removed and all other points were removed.

Using the UNDO command after moving a grading object to a site no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

The maximum range for slope patterns is now displayed correctly. Previously, the slope pattern was displayed even though it was outside of the maximum range.

Elevation point z values are recognized when you add a PI to a feature line.

Entering the elevation difference on a new feature line no longer causes the Draw Feature Line command to end.

Creating a grading transition between mixed surface and elevation or distance targets no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly, however this will not result in creating a grading object because Civil 3D cannot find a valid solution for these conditions.

Labels

Using the Parcel Create by Slide Bearing command no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly when the parcel label styles contain custom expressions.

Duplicate entries are no longer created in parcel tables when you insert a new line.

Issues with parcel labels not erasing correctly have been resolved. The program no longer closes unexpectedly when using the erase command on multiple parcel labels. Labels are not redisplayed after using the erase command and then saving the drawing.

The direction arrow component type has been added to the general line label styles.

LandXML

Error messages are no longer displayed when you close a drawing after using the Export LandXML command.

When exporting multiple corridor models using the Export LandXML command the program no longer closes unexpectedly.

Parcels

The UNDO command produces expected results after using grip edits on parcels and no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

The UNDO command produces expected results after moving a parcel to another site and no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

An issue with converting a closed polyline to a parcel has been resolved.

Using grip edits on parcel lines displays expected results.

An issue with saving user defined properties in a .dwt file has been resolved.

There is improved performance when using the REGEN command for parcels.

Pipes

A set sump depth rule has been added. This rule is not added by default, but can be added to the structure rule set for use during junction structure creation (layout) or by changing all junction structure sump depths at once using the Apply Rules command.

In the Part Builder command, you can use Cyrillic and Asian characters in Catalog chapter names and part names.

When using the Change Flow Direction command, flow arrows are now displayed correctly.

Deleting structures no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

There is improved performance when opening version 2006 drawings that contain structure styles. The program no longer forces version 2006 drawings that contain structure styles to display the boundaries as solid.

There is improved performance when using pipe network references.

Points

An issue with editing Point Label Styles from the Point Panorama view has been resolved.

Points can no longer be selected in a viewport when they are on a layer that is frozen for that viewport.

Profiles

The correct information is now displayed in horizontal geometry bands for radius and curvature.

The pipe network band node in the profile view is now displayed in the first drawing you open. Previously, the first drawing you opened in a new session would be missing the node and you had to close and re-open the drawing.

Using the UNDO and REDO commands after deleting a sub-entity from the profile view no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

Performing station editing in multiple layout profiles no longer produces an error message.

Project Management

The Migrate Pre-Civil 3D Project command now creates the correct folder structure in the project.

Prospector

The program no longer closes unexpectedly when you close a drawing while the item previews are displayed in Prospector.

The Zoom To command zooms to the correct location after setting the UCS.

Surfaces

Contour smoothing no longer creates segments of zero length on closed contours. Previously the program would close unexpectedly when opening a drawing in which this occurred.

The Smooth Contours command no longer causes gaps in the contour display.

Issues with surface styles have been resolved. The program no longer closes unexpectedly when a surface is created that does not have an assigned style.

Surface labels display the correct values for Surface Slope Horizontal Distance.

The program no longer closes unexpectedly when using the Paste Surface command.

Creating Quick Profiles from a surface no longer causes the program to close unexpectedly.

An issue with the display of render masks has been resolved.

Survey

There is improved performance when importing field book files.

Using the Browse for Folder dialog box when specifying an equipment database path now returns the expected result and no longer causes the program to close.

The MCS survey figure command now starts the multipoint curve at the first point number following the command and ends correctly when other curve commands are processed.

An error message is now displayed stating that the file cannot be opened if you attempt to export a field book file to a network address where you do not have write access. The program no longer closes unexpectedly.

The Show Properties command for control points, non-control points, and directions now displays the properties in the item list view.

After inserting survey points into the drawing, using the Zoom To command from the Prospector shortcut menu for Points or Point Groups now returns correct results.

The program no longer closes unexpectedly when you attempt to close the Traverse Editor.

When using the Traverse Analysis command the Angle error now displays correctly for direction start and end traverse.

The Zoom To and Pan To commands on the Survey collection shortcut menus now return expected results.

The Browse To Observation command now returns expected results.

Changing values for the Interactive Graphics in the User Settings no longer closes the panorama view.

The Equipment Database item view list no longer closes when you right click on an Equipment item, in the list and select Make Current.

Editing Latitude and Longitude values for control points now returns the expected results for the Easting and Northing.

This Service Pack also includes resolution for the following AutoCAD issue:
An issue with slow performance has been improved when you open drawings that contain large numbers of blocks.

2007 Contains 87 NEW System Variables

There are 87 NEW system variables in AutoCAD 2007, thus Civil 3D 2007. I am confident that a list will help some so here they are:

System Variable - Description

3DDWFPREC - Controls the precision of 3D DWF publishing.

CAMERADISPLAY - Toggle camera objects display in the current drawing.

CAMERAHEIGHT - Stores the default height for newly created camera objects.

CLEANSCREENSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the clean screen state is on (read-only).

CMATERIAL - Sets the material of new objects.

CSHADOW - Sets the shadow display property for a 3D object.

DASHBOARDSTATE - Determines whether the Dashboard window is active or not.

DEFAULTLIGHTING - Turns default lighting on and off.

DEFAULTLIGHTINGTYPE - Specifies the type of default lighting.

DIMARCSYM - Controls display of the arc symbol in an arc length dimension.

DIMFXL - Sets the total length of the extension lines starting from the dimension line toward the dimension origin.

DIMFXLON - Controls whether extension lines are set to a fixed length.

DIMJOGANG - Determines the angle of the transverse segment of the dimension line in a jogged radius dimension.

DIMLTEX1 - Sets the linetype of the first extension line.

DIMLTEX2 - Sets the linetype of the second extension line.

DIMLTYPE - Sets the linetype of the dimension line.

DIMTFILL - Controls the background of dimension text.

DIMTFILLCLR - Sets the color for the text background in dimensions.

DRAGVS - Sets the visual style while creating 3D objects.

DWFFRAME - Determines whether the DWF frame is visible and if it will plot.

DWFOSNAP - Determines whether object snapping is enabled for DWFs that are attached to a DWG.

ERSTATE - "Determines whether the External References window is inactive - active/visible or active/auto-hidden."

GRIDDISPLAY - Controls the display behavior and display limits of the grid.

GRIDMAJOR - Controls the frequency of major grid lines compared to minor grid lines.

GRIDUNIT - Specifies the grid spacing (X and Y) for the current viewport.

GTAUTO - Controls whether or not grip tools display automatically when selecting objects in 3D space.

GTDEFAULT - "Controls whether or not the 3DMOVE, 3DROTATE, and 3DSCALE commands start automatically when the MOVE, ROTATE, and SCALE commands (respectively) are started in a 3D view."

GTLOCATION - Sets the default location for grip tools.

IMPLIEDFACE - Controls the detection of implied faces.

INTERFERECOLOR - Sets the color of interference objects.

INTERFEREOBJVS - Sets the visual style for interference objects.

INTERFEREVPVS - Sets the visual style for the current viewport while using the INTERFERENCE command.

LATITUDE - Specifies the latitude of the drawing model.

LEGACYCTRLPICK - Specifies the keys for selection cycling and the behavior for CTRL + left-click.

LIGHTGLYPHDISPLAY - Controls whether light glyphs are displayed.

LIGHTLISTSTATE - Indicates whether the Lights in Model window is open or closed.

LOFTANG1 - Sets the draft angle through the first cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTANG2 - Sets the draft angle through the last cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTMAG1 - Sets the magnitude of draft angle through the first cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTMAG2 - Sets the magnitude of draft angle through the last cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTNORMALS - Controls the normals of a lofted object where it passes through cross sections.

LOFTPARAM - Controls the shape of lofted solids and surfaces.

LONGITUDE - Specifies the longitude of the drawing model.

MATSTATE - Indicates whether the Materials window is open or closed.

NORTHDIRECTION - Specifies the angle of the Sun from north.

OSOPTIONS - Automatically suppresses object snaps on hatch objects and when you are using a dynamic UCS.

PERSPECTIVE - Specifies whether the current viewport displays a perspective working view.

PSOLHEIGHT - Sets the default height for a swept solid object created with the POLYSOLID command.

PSOLWIDTH - Sets the default width for a swept solid object created with the POLYSOLID command.

PUBLISHALLSHEETS - Controls how the Publish dialog list is populated.

RENDERPREFSSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the Advanced Render Settings palette is open.

SHADOWPLANELOCATION - Controls the location of an invisible ground plane used to display shadows.

SHOWHIST - Controls the Show History property for solids in a drawing.

SOLIDHIST - Controls the default History property setting for new and existing objects.

STEPSIZE - Specifies the step size in current units when users are in Walk mode.

STEPSPERSEC - Specifies the number of steps taken per second when users are in Walk mode.

SUNPROPERTIESSTATE - Indicates whether the Sun Properties window is open or closed.

SUNSTATUS - Controls whether the Sun is casting light in the viewport.

TIMEZONE - Sets the time zone for a sun study.

UCSDETECT - Controls whether dynamic UCS acquisition is active or not.

VSBACKGROUNDS - Controls whether backgrounds are displayed in the current viewport.

VSCURRENT - Stores the name of the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSEDGECOLOR - Sets the color of edges.

VSEDGEJITTER - Controls the degree to which lines are made to appear as is they were sketched with a pencil.

VSEDGEOVERHANG - Makes lines extend beyond their intersection for a hand-drawn effect.

VSEDGES - Controls the types of edges that are displayed in the viewport.

VSEDGESMOOTH - Specifies the angle at which crease edges are displayed.

VSFACECOLORMODE - Controls how the color of faces is calculated.

VSFACESTYLE - Controls how faces are displayed in the current viewport.

VISUALSTYLES - "Displays the Visual Styles Manager palette - allowing you to create and modify visual styles or apply a visual style to a viewport."

VSHALOGAP - Sets the halo gap in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSHIDEPRECISION - Controls the accuracy of hides and shades in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONCOLOR - Specifies the color of intersection polylines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONEDGES - Specifies the display of intersection edges in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONLTYPE - Controls whether obscured lines are displayed in the current viewport and sets their linetype.

VSLIGHTINGQUALITY - Sets the lighting quality in the current viewport.

VSMATERIALMODE - Controls the display of materials in the current viewport.

VSMONOCOLOR - Sets the color for monochrome display of faces.

VSOBSCUREDCOLOR - Specifies the color of obscured lines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSOBSCUREDEDGES - Controls whether obscured (hidden) edges are displayed.

VSOBSCUREDLTYPE - Specifies the linetype of obscured lines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSOPACITY - Controls the transparency of faces in the current viewport.

VSSHADOWS - Controls whether a visual style displays shadows.

VSSILHEDGES - Controls display of silhouette curves of solid objects in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSSILHEDGEWIDTH - Specifies the width in pixels for display of silhouette edges in the current viewport.

VSSPECULAR - Controls the display of specular highlights on faces without materials in the current viewport.

VSSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the Visual Styles window is open.

ZOOMWHEEL - Allows users to toggle the behavior of mouse wheel zoom operations.

Civil 3D 2007 - New Features Workshop

One of the very useful items that I refer to often is the "New Features Workshop" this is a Flash based interface that provides information about what was introduced in Civil 3D 2007. This is similar to what AutoCAD has had available for several releases.

The interface is broken down into four sections with multiple topics and subtopics (topics are listed below, but not the many subtopics):

Create
Survey Data
Alignments and Profiles
Pipe Networks
Points
Surfaces
Analyze
Survey Data
Design Evaluation
Grading Tools
Share
Project Management
Export Data
Produce
Labels and Label Styles
Profile and Profile View Labels
Reports Manager


I had hoped to post this yesterday, but I was out doing training all day. What do you know, this was also mentioned during today's Civil 3D Webcast.

Bootcamp Day Five - Three Homeruns

Thursday was my fifth and final day at bootcamp. It turned out to be my favorite one.

Why? Well, Autodesk hit three homeruns with me. One for each of the subjects that I covered that day.

HOMERUN #1
Pipes: The additions to pipes were excellent. New rules for both pipes and structures. Structure properties that include pipe inverts that can be edited. Rules can be reapplied at my choosing. Create a network from a pline. Create an alignment from a network. Import LDT pipe runs. Interference checking for collisions or clearance (COOL!). New grips in profile.

HOMERUN #2
Corridors: Lots here too. Many new spiral types. Constrained profiles (similar to horizontal alignments, Fixed, Floating, Free). Floating parabolic curves can now end a profile. Three new transparent commands (profile station from plan view, profile station and elevation from plan view, and profile station and elevation from plan view and point). Profile geometry point can now be labeled in plan views. Customizable markers replace hard-coded ones. Quick profiles, which can include the baseline geometry itself. Two new profile bands: Sectional data and Pipe Network data. Corridors regions can have styles (outlines). Graphical edit can be done. Individual sections can be edited. Corridor surfaces are true surfaces on Prospector tab. 16 new subassemblies. Two new tables: Total Volumes, Materials.

HOMERUN #3
General Drafting: We will now have a Toolbox tab to the Toolspace. This will include reports, but can include custom created tools. Text masking can be added to ALL labels, they can also have a draw order specified. There is now a NOTE label for any text item. We can label basic lines and curves. Reference text in labels can be created from any combination of object(s). Expressions allow us to due math computation with object data (EXCELLENT!!!). We will be able to copy label components. Drag-and-Drop styles will now prompt to Overwrite or Rename. And perhaps my favorite of all EDIT INDIVIDUAL LABEL TEXT VALUES.

It was a very useful and educational week. As you can see there is much to learn, absorb, and incorporate into our habits. That being said, I am sure glad to be home.

I'll be back soon with more detailed posts.

LandXML Revisited

What is Land XML? LandXML is a non-proprietary data standard created by a consortium of industry partners to share (import/export) "civil engineering data".

What type of data? Currently, LandXML 1.0, supports Cogo Points, Point Groups, Surfaces, Watersheds, Parcels, Alignments, Alignment Profiles, Alignment Cross Sections, and Pipe Networks. Shortly, 1.1 will addtionally support survey and corridors model data.

How do we use it? In Civil 3D from the "General" menu pulldown select "Import LandXML..." or "Export LandXML..."

What can we do with it? It can be used for any of the following:

1. To transfer data from a supported software application to another supported application (like LDt to Civil 3D).

2. To convert data from imperial units to metric or vice versa (automatically).

3. To globally translate/rotate coordinates (via settings).

4. To archive data at important milestones.

5. To generate reports about civil objects/data (via LandXML Reporting).

6. To allow 3D viewing of civil objects/data in a LandXML viewer (such as Autodesk Envision 8).

Six years after in was introduced it is amazing that MANY groups that would clearly benefit from the use of LandXML do not know of it's existance. Many people have dropped the ball on this one.

For example, I have used LandXML to export civil data from corrupt Civil 3D drawings and then imported the data into a clean new drawing. Problem solved.

Click on the title of this post to get to the LandXLM.org website and see examples, list of support software, and other facts.

I am revisting this topic for a few reasons. The first is because I am adding information to it. The second is because when someone does a "SEARCH THIS BLOG", via the button in the upper left hand corner, for any topic of interest, the search mechanism only goes back one year and the original post was on Feb. 14, 2005 (a little more than 1 year ago). Thirdly, because it has been one of the most viewed posts of all time (within this blog of course). Lastly, I am revisiting this subject because LandXML 1.1 is within days (weeks?) of being ratified and it will include additional capabilities.

Wow!

I just watched the weekly webcast in which Autodesk introduced Civil 3D 2007. The first thing that amazed me was the number of attendees. I noticed the peak at about 9:20 of over 980 attendees. Awesome.

OK, on to the important stuff.

Dave Simeone and Anthony Governanti did a great job of very quickly (they only had 1 hour) demonstrating some of the new capabilities. Much of it had already been described, here and in other blogs, but to see this live is very different.

I few memorable items for me were...

Labels with masks
Labels with expressions (formulas)
Labels that referenced multiple objects and object types
Generic Note with intelligent layout viewport resizing
The entirely revamped Help documentation
Better surface elimination of flat triangles
Quick Profiles
Inclusion of base feature line in Quick Profiles
Many new Grading Feature Line tools
Autodesk Vault to manage projects
Added project support for Pipes
Survey functionality (similar to Survey add-on to Land Desktop) in the box
Graphically edit Corridor model regions
Immediate creation of corridor surface in Prospector
Ability to graphically modify individual sections that affect corridor
Profile can contain fixed, floating, or free constraints (similar to horiz aligns)
Annotate Vertical Curve info in plan view
Interference checking for pipe networks
Import LDt pipe runs
Part Builder documented and exposed in UI
Replacement of VIZ Render with native AutoCAD tools

Whew!

They suggested that we all begin preparing for the arrival of 2007 which they stated will begin shipping in April.

Lastly, they answered eight and one half pages of questions asked via an input window.

Lots to process.

Civil 3D 2007

As Autodesk introduces the NEW family of 2007 products (shipping in the next month or two) there will be lots to talk about. Here we will focus of course on Civil 3D 2007. What will be there? What will not? I will mention a few general topics today with detailed posts in the near future.

Lets begin.

One of the most obvious additions to Civil 3D is the entirely new Survey functionality and the survey observation object.

The Project environment will now be managed by the core data management capabilities of Autodesk Vault. It will allow for the sharing of:

Points
Surfaces
Alignments
Profiles
Pipe Networks (NEW)
Survey Data (NEW)

Corridors will create named surfaces directly. We will no longer have to export non-associated surfaces. We will also be able to select an existing polyline as a corridor boundary (cool). There will be new subassemblies.

Profiles will now be element-based (free, floating, fixed). This allows for similar constraints as horizontal alignments.

Grading Feature Lines will be controlled by a new set of tools which include the ability, similar to LDt, to create offsets with elevational differences.

Quick sections will be able to be created from AutoCAD objects.

We will be able to create a Pipe Network from a polyline and create an alignment from an existing pipe network. Pipe interference detection will be possible.

Styles management will include the ability to Merge, Copy, or Rename any duplicates found during drag-and-drop operations.

Labels will be able to contain data from various object types in our models. We will be able to include expressions (formulas) in a label style. The labeling of lines, arcs and polylines with style based labels will be possible. I am confident that many will appreciate that masks will be able to be added to labels to hide object behind the label.

We will be able to reset a Point's elevations based on an existing surface. Changing an individual point's rotation angle graphically will be possible.

LandXML 1.1 support for survey and corridor data will help matters.

These are just a few of the enhancements that caught my eye. These plus those found in AutoCAD 2007 and Map 3D 2007 (because Civil 3D is built on top of these products) will give us lots benefit from.

OK, that is enough for now. As I said, I hope to add comments and details in the coming days, and weeks, as time permits.

Day 4

Today was the final day with Autodesk. We covered the improvements to assemblies, corridors, and sections, among other things. Here are a couple of QUICK points:

We can now toggle different regions ON and OFF within a corridor (this should speed things along).

In sections we can now edit individual sections or ranges of sections. This was excellent!

We can now create labels that apply to sections automatically. This is a BIG time saver.

Imagine placing Corridor Feature lines in profiles. It is now possible.

With these things and many more we will have tons to learn and take advantage of in the coming months.

Put It In Reverse

Someone had recently asked in the discussion groups if it was possible to reverse the direction of an alignment in Civil 3D. Dave Simeone, the Autodesk Civil 3D Product Manager, replied that in Civil 3D 2006 it will be possible.

From the Alignment menu, we choose "Reverse Alignment Direction." We are then prompted to...

Select an alignment {or press enter key to select from list}:

Once we select the alignment we will receive a warning message that states:

Warning! Reversing the alignment will remove all station equations, design speeds, superelevation data, and may adversely affect objects and data already created from the alignment.

After we press the OK button on the warning the alignment will be reversed.

Clearly, this works best very early in the design process. If we have profiles, sections, sample lines, corridors and superelevation data already generated from the alignment this can be problematic.

LandXML Part II

With LandXML you can import the following types of data into Civil 3D:

COGO points
Point groups
Surfaces
Parcels
Alignments
Alignment profiles

Note: The LandXML Import command does not support cross sections.
Note: The LandXML import functionality automatically handles the conversion between the units specified in the LandXML file and the current drawing units.
Note: LandXML does not transform coordinate systems automatically, so no specific coordinate system transformation is applied other than what is specified by the translation and rotation settings.


You can export the following types of data from Civil 3D:

COGO points
Point groups
Surfaces
Watersheds
Parcels
Alignments
Alignment profiles
Alignment cross sections

Cause and Effect

When you edit this object type...These objects are updated...

Points--------------------------------Surfaces
Surfaces-----------------------------Grading, Profiles
Parcels-------------------------------Grading, Corridor
Alignments--------------------------Grading, Corridor, Profiles, Sections
Grading------------------------------Surfaces, Corridor
Subassembly------------------------Assembly, Corridor
Assembly----------------------------Corridor

Workflow Guides

Civil 3D 2005 has something new in help. It contains "Workflow Guides". These guides provide overviews of how to perform common tasks, and contain links to relevant procedures. They include:

Points Workflow Guide
Surfaces Workflow Guide
Grading Workflow Guide
Parcels Workflow Guide
Alignment Workflow Guide
Profile Workflow Guide
Sections Workflow Guide
Corridors Workflow Guide
Labels Workflow Guide

The guides tend to be a little more specific at guiding users with the use of the product.

To find them just type "workflow guides" on the "Search" tab in help. The No. 1 ranked topic listed will be "Using the Workflow Guides". The "Parcels" link is broken. But, you will find the rest at this location.

Subassemblies

Many Subassemblies are provided "in the box" with Civil 3D 2005. They consist of several different types of roadway segments that can be snapped together, similar to lego pieces, to create a roadway cross-section.

The different types of segments include:

Medians - Primarily for divided highways
Lanes - Used for driving surfaces
Urban - These include different curb, gutter, and sidewalk types
Shoulders - For paved shoulders
Daylight - Many daylighting scenario segments
Generic - Many multipurpose links
Rehab - For Overlay sections with Milling or Leveling options
Bridge and Rail - For bridge or rail visualizations

Subassemblies have built in logic that tells them how to react, and what to connect to, under different conditions.

What Does It Do?

Specifically Autodesk Civil 3D can do the following:

Data Management and Sharing-
-Import directly from Autodesk Land Desktop 2004 Project Data
-Import/Export via LandXML 1.0
COGO-
-Create points
-Point Groups
-Description Keys
Terrain Modeling-
-Create Surfaces
-Visualize Surfaces
-Analyze Surfaces
Sites-
-Create Parcels
-Create Alignments
-Generate Profiles
-Generate Sections
-Create Grading Objects

What it cannot do yet:

Road Sections-
Hydrology-
Pipes-
No Survey Module-