Civil 3D Synopsis

I took my first Civil 3D (C3D) training class a few months ago. Let me tell you that it is going to be difficult to change someone’s mindset from LDT to C3D’s new procedures if they're stuck in their ways. Do you know anyone who screams, “Bring back R14 & Softdesk 8!” It’s a paradigm shift. Everything is object based. This allows for real-time updates. C3D 2007 service pack 3 is the only version worth working with. I haven't worked with 2008 but will be soon. The big issue I still see is Vault. It’s the replacement for Data Shortcuts. Vault is the current method of sharing database information from one drawing to another. No more common database. All “database” work is stored in the drawing which it was created in. For example if someone drops 200 points and creates a surface EG in a drawing called EG-Surface.dwg then you would check the 200 points, EG surface, and the dwg file into a vault so that any other drawings needing to use them will reference through vault. There are IT related issues with Vault that I’m not too savvy with. It deals with SQL Servers, # of users, etc. Not to mention file backup systems.

Points are going to send some surveyors over the edge. However if they’re taught how to protect their points then they shouldn’t fuss too much about that. The thing I don’t like about points is that if I’m in a “Plan” drawing where I’m doing grading design and I check out the 200 points into my current drawing so that I may reference them then they’re actually inserted into my drawing. If I delete any of them and they weren’t protected then they are gone from vault. Picture this. I’ve xrefed my topo into my drawing that shows points then I check the points out so now I have duplicate points displayed. There is a point on top of the xref point. It’s just plain weird. Can you tell I’m the one who’s trying to cope with grasping these concepts? Locking your points is my main point.

Styles were a big topic because everything displayed is based on a style. It will take someone at each company a great deal of time to setup per their company standards. Styles are stored in a .dwt (drawing template) file and can be accessed through the prospector. One method to tackle styles is to teach most of your CAD staff how to created and manipulate styles so they will be self sufficient. If you are 100% standardized in development of plans and layout then someone could create most of them for staff to use without any hassle. It will be a virtual impossibility to create a style for every single use. Designers are going to want to create styles to view design. I’m sure each one will have their own flare to debug designs.

Figuring out the bits and pieces is something that is going to have to be done when companies start attempting to use C3D as their source for design and production.

There was more we covered that I don't have the energy to post. What I can say is that training is immanent.

I'm not going to blog too much about Civil 3D until we roll out pilot projects or convert completely.

A great resource for all Civil 3D needs is http://www.civil3d.com. I have posted some Civil 3D bloggers site on the right pane under Other Bloggers.

Thanks for reading!