AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009

Express Workshop - Imperial

April 2008
© 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be
reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose.

Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

Trademarks
The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December,
3December.com, 3ds Max, ActiveShapes, Actrix, ADI, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo), AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI,
AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, Autodesk
Envision, Autodesk Insight, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap,
AutoSketch, AutoTrack, Backdraft, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Can You Imagine, Character Studio, Cinestream, Civil
3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware, Content Explorer,
Create>what's>Next> (design/logo), Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer,
DesignStudio, Design|Studio (design/logo), Design Your World, Design Your World (design/logo), DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG TrueConvert,
DWG TrueView, DXF, EditDV, Education by Design, Exposure, Extending the Design Team, FBX, Filmbox, FMDesktop, Freewheel, GDX Driver,
Gmax, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HOOPS, HumanIK, i-drop, iMOUT, Incinerator, IntroDV, Inventor, Inventor LT, Kaydara, Kaydara (design/logo),
LocationLogic, Lustre, Maya, Mechanical Desktop, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, NavisWorks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Open Reality, Opticore,
Opticore Opus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Powered with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProjectPoint, ProMaterials, Reactor, RealDWG,
Real-time Roto, Recognize, Render Queue, Reveal, Revit, Showcase, ShowMotion, SketchBook, SteeringWheels, StudioTools, Topobase, Toxik,
ViewCube, Visual, Visual Bridge, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Hydro, Visual Landscape, Visual Roads, Visual Survey, Visual Syllabus,
Visual Toolbox, Visual Tugboat, Visual LISP, Voice Reality, Volo, Wiretap, and WiretapCentral

The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk Canada Co. in the USA and/or Canada and other countries: Backburner,
Discreet, Fire, Flame, Flint, Frost, Inferno, Multi-Master Editing, River, Smoke, Sparks, Stone, and Wire

All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Disclaimer
THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS.

Published By: Autodesk, Inc.

111 Mclnnis Parkway
San Rafael, CA 94903, USA
Contents

Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Tutorial: Surface Creation Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Exercise1: Creating a Surface Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Exercise 2: Adding Data to a Surface Definition . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data . . . . . . . . . 11
Tutorial: Roadway Design Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Exercise 1: Defining a Roadway Alignment and Profile . . . . . . 21
Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Exercise 3: Defining a Roadway Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Express Workshop Folder Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

iii
iv
Express Workshop:
Getting Started with
Base Plan Creation
1
The Express Workshop tutorials focus on specific areas of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 functionality,
and highlight powerful features that are integral to the most common civil engineering
workflows. Each tutorial demonstrates tools you can use to complete tasks that are common
to an overall workflow. When you have finished these tutorials, you will have a basic
understanding of the AutoCAD Civil 3D design and documentation tools, as well as some of
the best practices that help you efficiently design and develop a civil engineering project.

Tutorial: Surface Creation Basics

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, engineers can use a multitude of data for surface creation.
Because a surface is the starting point of any design, Civil 3D allows users to
quickly create, add, or edit surfaces to ensure accuracy.
In this tutorial, you will create civil engineering base plans by using AutoCAD
Civil 3D to perform the following tasks:

■ Create a new drawing from a Civil 3D template.

■ Insert existing contour data.

■ Create a new AutoCAD Civil 3D surface.

■ Add contours to the surface definition.

■ Add breaklines to define surface features, and adjust the surface triangulation.

■ Delete unnecessary TIN lines.

1
 ■ Create a data shortcut to a surface.

NOTE All drawings used in these tutorials are available in the Express Workshop
drawings folder (page 35). If you want to save your work from these tutorials, save
the drawings to the My Civil 3D Express Workshop Data folder (page 35) so that
you do not overwrite the original drawings.

Exercise1: Creating a Surface Definition

In this exercise, you will

■ Create a new drawing and insert existing contour data

■ Create a new AutoCAD Civil 3D surface

Create a new drawing and insert contour data

1 Close the initial drawing that AutoCAD Civil 3D opens when the
application starts.

2 Click File menu ➤ New.

3 In the Select Template dialog box, browse to the Express Workshop

drawings folder (page 35). Select EW_Imperial.dwt. Click Open.

4 On the command line, enter I.

This starts the Insert command, which allows you to insert a block or a
drawing into the current drawing.

5 Click Browse. In the Select Drawing File dialog box, browse to the Civil
3D Express Workshop\Imperial drawing folder. Select EW_Surfaces-1_I.dwg.
Click Open.

6 In the Insert dialog box, in the Insertion Point area, enter the following
settings:
■ Specify On Screen: Cleared

■ X: 0

■ Y: 0

■ Z: 0

■ Explode: Selected.

2 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 Click OK.

7 On the command line, enter ZE.

The drawing window zooms to the extents of the surface, which displays
the inserted contour data.

NOTE As a result of inserting and exploding the existing contour data, the
drawing now contains simple polylines that incorporate x,y, and z coordinate
data. Later in this exercise, you will use these polylines to define the contours
of a new existing ground surface.

Create a new AutoCAD Civil 3D surface

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, right-click the Surfaces collection.

Click Create Surface.

2 In the Create Surface dialog box, enter the following:

■ Name: EG

■ Description: Existing Ground Surface_Imported

■ Style: Contours 5' and 25' (Background)

TIP Click the Value cell and then click the elipses button to display the
Select Surface Style dialog box.

■ Use the default values for the other fields.

■ Click OK.

Exercise1: Creating a Surface Definition | 3

 A new surface object is displayed on the Prospector tab.

NOTE A surface definition is an empty placeholder, or container where data

and other relevant information is stored, based upon the inputs of the user,
to define the physical characteristics of the surface. The surface you just
created does not contain any data, thus, does not appear in the drawing at
this point. You will add surface data in the next exercise.

To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 2: Adding Data to a Surface Definition

(page 4).

Exercise 2:Adding Data to a Surface Definition

In this exercise, you will

■ Add contours to the surface definition

■ Add breaklines to define surface features and adjust the surface triangulation

■ Delete unnecessary TIN Lines

Add contours to the surface definition

Contours are graphical illustrations of surface elevation changes. By creating
a new surface in AutoCAD Civil 3D, from an existing surface, the new contours
will match the original contours with the added benefit of being a subset of
the new surface. This means that as you modify or change the surface style,
the surface elevation display data is dynamically updated accordingly,
providing a variety of ways to illustrate elevation changes. For more
information about surface styles and contours, see the Surfaces exercises in
the AutoCAD Civil 3D tutorials. You can access the tutorials from the Help
menu.

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand Surfaces ➤ EG ➤ Surface

Definition. Right-click Contours ➤ Add.

2 In the Add Contour Data dialog box, for Description, enter Contour Data.
The description will appear in the surface definition.

3 Use the default values for the other fields. Click OK.

4 You are prompted to select contours. Draw a selection rectangle around

the polylines. Press either the Spacebar or Enter to complete the selection.

4 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 The contours are added to the EG surface definition. This surface is
automatically updated in the drawing window.

NOTE The existing contours used to create the surface are still visible within
the drawing.

5 In the Layers list, next to EG CONT MNR and EG CONT MJR, click

. The layer is frozen .

Layer Freeze freezes the selected layers in all viewports, including the
Model tab. You can freeze layers to speed up ZOOM, PAN, and many
other operations; improve object selection performance; and reduce
regeneration time for complex drawings. Objects on frozen layers are not
displayed, plotted, hidden, rendered, or regenerated. You can freeze a
layer in all viewports, in the current layout viewport, or in new layout
viewports as they are created. A layer is not visible when it is set to Off
or Frozen in the drawing.

Add breaklines to the surface definition

1 In the Layers list, next to the E G_Breaklines layer, click . Click in the
drawing view to exit the layer list. The 3D polylines that represent the
edge of pavement (EP) along with the contours, are now visible.

NOTE The EP polylines were added to the drawing when the original surface
data was inserted.

Exercise 2:Adding Data to a Surface Definition | 5

 2 In the drawing window, select the surface. Right-click. Click Suface
Properties.

3 In the Surface Properties dialog box, on the Information tab, for Surface
Style, select Contours and Triangles. Click OK.

NOTE The surface now shows contours and triangles that illustrate the EG
TIN surface triangulation.

Breaklines are used to define surface features and to force triangulation

along the breakline, preventing triangulation across the breakline, creating
more accurate TIN surface models.

NOTE For more information, see the AutoCAD Civil 3D tutorial exercise
Adding Breaklines to a Surface.

You add the breakline data to the surface definition by using the
Toolspace ➤ Prospector tab. The process is very similar to the process
used to add contour data.

4 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, under the EG surface definition,

right-click Breaklines. Click Add.

NOTE It is important to give breaklines a name for later reference. For this
exercise, the identified breaklines will be named EP for “edge of pavement”.

5 In the Add Breaklines dialog box, for Description, enter EP. Use the default
values for the other fields. Click OK.

6 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 6 The Select Objects prompt becomes active. While in this command, use

the Zoom and Pan commands to better view and locate the
two blue 3D polylines on the east side of the site.

7 Select the polylines and press the spacebar to end the breakline Add
command.
The surface triangulation is modified. The edge of pavement breaklines
are applied, and the TIN surface is adjusted along the breakline edges,
modifying the surface triangulation.

8 On the command line, enter ZE.

The drawing window zooms to the extents of the surface. With the
breakline data added, the layer that contained the source data for the
breaklines can be frozen.

9 In the Layers List, next to the EG_Breaklines layer, click .

Delete unnecessary TIN lines

Now that the surface contains contour and breakline data, extra data can be
cleaned up. Long, narrow TIN triangles are present at the surface perimeter
and are not accurate for this surface. The following steps illustrate how to edit
the surface definition to remove unnecessary lines.

Exercise 2:Adding Data to a Surface Definition | 7

 When an edge is removed, either an interior border following the adjacent
lines is created or the exterior border is modified to follow the new lines.

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, under the EG surface definition,

right-click Edits. Click Delete Line.

2 On the command line, you are prompted to select edges. Enter C to use
a crossing selection to select edges. Select the TIN edges as shown in the
following illustrations.

NOTE The crossing selection option ends after you make a selection, but the
Delete Line command is still active. To continue to use crossing selection in
the delete command, enter C again.

3 Continue by selecting the following lines:

TIP Use the Pan and Zoom commands while in this command,
to navigate within the view to better select the identified areas.

8 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

4 Press either the Spacebar or Enter to end the Delete Line command.

NOTE Use discretion when editing TIN triangles. Only delete lines that are
interpolating across long distances, as the contours generated from this
condition are typically inaccurate.

5 On the command line, enter ZE.

The drawing window zooms to the surface extents.

Exercise 2:Adding Data to a Surface Definition | 9

 6 In the drawing window, select the EG surface. Right-click ➤ Surface
Properties.

7 In the Surface Properties dialog box, on the Information tab, for Surface
style, select Contours 2’ and 10’ (Background). Click OK.

8 Click File menu ➤ Save As.

9 In the Save Drawing As dialog box, navigate to the My Civil 3D Express

Workshop Data folder (page 35). For File Name, enter Existing Ground.dwg.
Click Save.

For more surface creation information, see the AutoCAD Civil 3D tutorial
Creating and Adding Data to a Surface.

10 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition
Data (page 11).

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data

In this exercise, you will create a data shortcut for the Existing Ground surface
and import it into another drawing. Then, you will create contour labels that
will demonstrate the dynamic nature of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Most engineering firms rely on multiple people to continually work in parallel
as projects progress. Utilizing data shortcuts, users collaborate by simply
importing the data shortcut that dynamically references in specific data. This
methodology ensures that users can rely on proven collaborative workflows.
Using data shortcuts, the user can link drawings together, which is very similar
to using External Referencing (Xrefs). However, it is very important to
understand that because AutoCAD Civil 3D creates objects, you can change
styles, label objects, and extract information from objects that were created
through data shortcuts.
In this exercise, you will

■ Create a data shortcut

■ Reference the data shortcut in another drawing

■ Label the contours on the referenced surface

■ Dynamically update contour labels by modifying the surface style

You will create data shortcuts in the drawing that can be referenced into other
drawings. This is similar to a Link and Host file relationship.

NOTE Ensure that the Existing Ground.dwg file is open and visible in the drawing
view.

Create the data shortcut

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, click the Views list. Select Master
View.

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data | 11

 NOTE The Data Shortcuts node is now displayed in the Toolspace.

2 Expand the Data Shortcuts node. Right-click Data Shortcuts. Click New
Data Shortcuts Folder.

3 In the New Data Shortcut Folder dialog box, enter the following:
■ Name: Data Shortcut

■ Use the default values for the other fields.

4 Right-click Data Shortcuts. Click Create Data Shortcuts.

12 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 NOTE The dialog box displays only those objects within the file that are
available to create a shortcut. In this tutorial, the surface definition EG is the
only object available for selection.

5 In the Create Data Shortcuts dialog box, Click (Pick In Drawing).

TIP You can also select the object in the object field.

6 In the drawing window, select one of the EG surface contours. Press Enter.

NOTE In the Create Data Shortcuts dialog box, the Surfaces and EG check
boxes are now selected.

7 Click OK.

8 Expand Surfaces in the Data Shortcut collection item to display the

sub-menu object EG.

Reference the data shortcut in another drawing

1 Click File menu ➤ Open.

2 In the Select File dialog box, browse to the Express Workshop drawings
folder (page 35). Select EW_Surfaces-2_I.dwg. Click Open.

NOTE The lesson drawing files have been saved as read only and should be
opened as read only, to avoid overwriting the original files.

3 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Data Shortcuts ➤ Surfaces

collection. Right-click EG. Click Create Reference.

4 In the Create Surface Reference dialog box, for Description, enter EG

Surface Data Shortcut. Click OK.

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data | 13

 The EG surface is displayed in the drawing view.

Label the contours on the referenced surface

The following steps illustrate the dynamic ability of AutoCAD Civil 3D to use
referenced data to facilitate collaboration. You will label the contour lines,
using the EG surface created through the data shortcut.
Contour Labels are created when you draw a contour label line by picking
points on the surface. Labels appear at each location that the contour label
line intersects a surface contour. The labels remain on the contour label line.
If the contour label line is moved, the labels move with it and update to reflect
the elevation at the new location.

1 On the Civil 3D standard toolbar, click (Zoom Window).

2 In the drawing window, pick in the northwest corner, draw a rectangle

around lots 513 through 515.

TIP You can also enter the Zoom Window command by entering ZW on the
command line.

14 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

3 In the Layers list, next to the PICK POINTS layer, click .

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data | 15

 4 Click Surfaces menu ➤ Add Surface Labels ➤ Contour Multiple.

5 In the drawing window, click the surface at the points specified in the
following illustration. Press Enter.

16 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 The surface contour labels are automatically created.

6 Click the Layers List. Next to the Existing PICK POINTS layer, click
.
In the following steps, you will change the location of the contour labels
by grip editing the contour label line. When you select the contour label
line, grips are displayed at each vertex and segment midpoint. If you drag
the label line to a different location, the labels move with it.

7 Select a contour label. Grips are displayed on the contour label line.

8 Click a grip. The grip turns red, indicating that it is active. Drag the grip
across multiple contours. Click to place the contour label line at a new
location. Press Esc to deselect the contour label line.
Notice that the contour labels are updated to reflect the contour elevations
at their new location.

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data | 17

 Dynamically update contour labels by modifying the surface style

1 On the Civil 3D standard toolbar, click (Zoom Window).

2 In the drawing window, draw a rectangle around a dense section of

contour lines and labels.

18 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

3 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Surfaces collection. Right
click EG. Click Surface Properties.

NOTE Move the dialog box so the contour labels in the view are visible.

4 In the Surface Properties dialog box, on the Information tab, for Surface
Style, select Contours 5’ and 25’ (Background). Click OK.
The contour labels are automatically updated, reflecting the modified
contour intervals.

Exercise 3: Collaborating Surface Definition Data | 19

 You have completed the AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Express Workshop Surface
Creation Basics tutorial.

Tutorial: Roadway Design Basics

In this tutorial, you will create a basic roadway design by using AutoCAD Civil
3D to perform the following tasks:

■ Create an alignment from a polyline.

■ Create a profile from a surface definition.

■ Create and modify roadway assemblies.

■ Create a corridor.

■ Modify a corridor.

NOTE All drawings used in these tutorials are available in the Express Workshop
drawings folder (page 35). If you want to save your work from these tutorials, save
the drawings to the My Civil 3D Express Workshop Data folder (page 35) so that
you do not overwrite the original drawings.

20 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

Exercise 1: Defining a Roadway Alignment and
Profile
In this exercise, you will

■ Create an alignment from an existing polyline

■ Create an existing ground profile and profile view

■ Create a finished grade profile

Create an alignment from a polyline

Horizontal alignments are construction baselines for designing roads, railways,
runways, bike paths, and other corridors. Defining the horizontal alignment
is one of the first steps in corridor design.

1 Close the initial drawing that AutoCAD Civil 3D opens when the
application starts.

2 Click File menu ➤ Open.

3 In the Select File dialog box, browse to the C:\Civil 3D Project

Templates\EW\Imperial folder. Select EW_Roadway_I.dwg . Click Open.

4 In the Layers List, next to the Centerline Polyline layer, click .

5 Click Alignments menu ➤ Create Alignment From Polyline.

6 Pick the polyline as indicated in the following illustration.

Exercise 1: Defining a Roadway Alignment and Profile | 21

 7 In the Create Alignment - From Polyline dialog box, for Name, enter Main
Street. Click OK.

The existing polyline is converted, with curves between tangents, and all
polyline entities are erased.

NOTE You can also lay out an alignment by drawing it. AutoCAD Civil 3D
comes with a variety of constraint-based drawing tools for laying out tangents,
curves, and spirals.

Create an existing ground profile and profile view

An existing ground profile illustrates the surface elevation along a horizontal
alignment. The profile is displayed in an annotated grid called a profile view.

1 Click Profiles menu ➤ Create Profile From Surface.

2 In the Create Profile From Surface dialog box, click Add.

NOTE For this lesson, the Main Street alignment, and the EG surface, are the
only available selections, and are thus selected by default.

3 Click Draw in Profile View.

4 In the Create Profile View wizard, click Create Profile View.

22 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 5 In the drawing window, click the lower left corner of the rectangular
placeholder.

The Main Street Profile view, containing the dashed profile that represents
the existing ground (EG) surface, along with elevations and stations, is
now visible.

Create a profile by layout

1 In the Layers List, next to the Profile_Finished Grade_Centerline layer,

click . Click in the drawing view to exit the layer list.

NOTE The profile view now has two lines visible. The dashed line represents
the EG surface profile. The solid line represents the Finished Grade Centerline.
Use the solid line to lay out a finished grade profile of the roadway.

2 Click Profiles menu ➤ Create Profile By Layout.

3 In the drawing window, select the Main Street profile view.

Exercise 1: Defining a Roadway Alignment and Profile | 23

 4 In the Create Profile - Draw New dialog box, enter the following settings:
■ Name: Finished Grade Centerline

■ Profile Style: Design Profile

■ Profile Label Set: Complete Label Set

Click OK.
The Profile Layout Tools toolbar is displayed. This toolbar allows you to
lay out a finished grade profile, using either points of vertical intersection
(PVIs) or constraint-based tangent and curve entities. For this exercise,
you will create PVIs at specified points. Tangents will be created between
the PVIs, and curves will be created at each PVI.

5 On the Profile Layout Tools toolbar, in the Draw Tangents list ,

select Draw Tangents With Curves.
The command line prompts you to specify a start point.
Before selecting a start point, verify that Object Snap (OSNAP) is on and
Endpoint mode is selected.

6 On the status bar, right-click Object Snap . Click Settings.

7 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, on the Object Snap tab, click Clear
All, then select Endpoint. Click OK.

TIP While in this command, use the Pan and Zoom commands
to navigate within the view to better select the identified areas. You can also
use the scroll wheel of your mouse to zoom and pan. Rolling the scroll wheel
will zoom the view and out, based on the position of the cursor. To pan,
depress the scroll wheel and drag the cursor in the drawing window.

8 Moving from left to right, select the line segment endpoints, as indicated.

24 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 Press Enter to finish the profile endpoint selection.
The Finished Grade Centerline profile and its labels are displayed in the
profile view.

9 Close the Profile Layout Tools toolbar.

10 In the Layers List, next to the Profile_Finished Grade_Centerline layer,

click . Click in the drawing view to exit the layer list.

To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly (page

25).

Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly

In this exercise, you will

■ Create a corridor assembly baseline

■ Add roadway components to the assembly

■ Use the Mirror command to finish the assembly

Create a corridor assembly baseline

A corridor assembly is a collection of subassemblies that you use to form the
basic structure of a 3D corridor model.
Adding one or more subassembly objects, such as travel lanes, gutters, and
sidewalks, to an assembly baseline creates an assembly object. This forms the
design for a corridor section.

1 Click Corridors menu ➤ Create Assembly.

2 In the Create Assembly dialog box, for Name, enter Main Street. Click
OK.

3 In the drawing window, click a point between the profile view and the
EG surface to specify the assembly baseline location.

NOTE The viewport zooms to the baseline marker location.

Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly | 25

 Add roadway components to the assembly
In the following procedure, you will add travel lanes, curb-gutters, sidewalks,
and slopes to the assembly baseline.

1 In the Tool Palettes window, on the Imperial - Basic tab, click Basic Lane.

TIP If the Tool Palette is not visible, click Tool Palette . If the Imperial -
Basic tab is not visible on the Tool Palette, right-click the Tool Palette control
bar and select Civil 3D - Imperial.

2 In the Properties palette, in the ADVANCED Parameters section, set the

value for Side to Left. Click the baseline marker.
A basic lane is displayed to the left of the baseline marker.

3 While still in the command, set the value for Side to Right. Click the
baseline marker.
A basic lane is displayed to the right of the baseline marker.

26 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

4 In the Tool Palettes window, on the Imperial - Structures tab, click
UrbanCurbGutterGeneral.

TIP To move the Properties palette for better viewing in the drawing window,
right-click the Properties palette control bar. Verify that the Allow Docking
option is cleared. Drag the Properties palette to a desired location.

5 In the Properties palette, in the ADVANCED Parameters section, enter

the following:
■ Side: Right

■ Subbase Depth: 0

■ Subbase Extension: 0

■ Use the default values for the other fields.

6 Click the top-right marker of the right side travel lane.

The curb-gutter is displayed to the right of the selected travel lane marker.

Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly | 27

 7 In the Tool Palettes window, on the Imperial - Structures tab, click
UrbanSidewalk.

8 In the ADVANCED Parameters section, enter the following:

■ Side: Right

■ Inside Boulevard Width: 1.5

■ Sidewalk Width: 4

■ Outside Boulevard Width: 2

■ Use the default values for the other fields.

NOTE By entering values for the Inside and Outside Boulevard Width
parameters, you create a detached sidewalk.

9 Click the top-right marker of the curb-gutter.

The detached sidewalk is displayed to the right of the selected curb-gutter

marker.

28 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

10 In the Tool Palettes window, on the Imperial - Daylight tab, click
DaylightMaxOffset.

11 In the Properties palette, in the ADVANCED Parameters section, enter

the following:
■ Side: Right

■ Cut Slope: 3.00:1

■ Fill Slope: 3.00:1

■ Max Offset from Baseline: 25

■ Use the default values for the other fields.

12 Click the top-right marker of the sidewalk.

The daylight appears to the right of the selected gutter marker.

13 Press the Esc key to end the command.

Exercise 2: Creating a Roadway Assembly | 29

 Use the mirror command to finish the assembly
Now that one side of the assembly is complete, you can quickly replicate the
subassemblies and their parameters on the other side.

1 Zoom out to clearly see the full assembly.

2 Select each of the following subassembly: curb-gutter, sidewalk, and

daylight.

3 Right Click. Click Mirror.

4 Click the top-left marker of the left side travel lane.

The selected subassemblies are displayed to the left of the selected travel
lane, resulting in a completed, symmetrical corridor assembly.

To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 3: Defining a Roadway Corridor (page

30).

Exercise 3: Defining a Roadway Corridor

In this exercise, you will create a corridor, based on the alignment, profile,
and assembly that you created.
You will

■ Create a corridor model

30 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

■ Create a corridor surface

■ Modify the corridor

Create a corridor model

1 Click Corridors menu ➤ Create Corridor.

2 When the Select A Baseline Alignment prompt is displayed, press Enter.

3 In the Select An Alignment dialog box, verify that Main Street is selected.
Click OK.

4 When the Select A Profile prompt is displayed, press Enter.

5 In the Select A Profile dialog box, in the Select A Profile list, select Finished
Grade Centerline. Click OK.

6 When the Select An Assembly prompt is displayed, press Enter.

7 In the Select An Assembly dialog box, verify that Main Street is selected.
Click OK.

8 In the Create Corridor dialog box, enter the following:

■ Corridor Name: Main Street

■ End Station: 15 + 07.55

9 In the Frequency field, click .

10 In the Frequency To Apply Assembly dialog box, for Along Curves, enter
10. Click OK.

11 In the Create Corridor dialog box, click Set All Targets.

12 In the Target Mapping dialog box, in the Surfaces Object Name field,
click <Click Here To Set All>.

13 In the Pick A Surface dialog box, select EG.

14 Click OK three times.

Exercise 3: Defining a Roadway Corridor | 31

 15 The corridor model is built and is displayed in the drawing window.

16 On the command line, enter ZE.

The viewport zooms to the extents of the drawing.

Create a corridor surface

When you create a corridor surface, it is added to the Surfaces collection on
the Toolspace Prospector tab. You can work with a corridor surface the same
way you do with any surface in the Surfaces collection, including changing
its style, adding labels to it, and using it for surface analysis.

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, Expand Corridors. Right-click the

Main Street collection. Click Properties.

2 In the Corridor Properties dialog box, on the Surfaces tab, click Create A

Corridor Surface .
A new corridor surface definition is displayed in the table.

3 In the table row, for Name, enter Top-FG. Click the Surface Style cell.

4 In the Pick Corridor Surface Style dialog box, click Contours 1' and 5'
(Design) . Click OK.

32 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

 5 In the Corridor Properties dialog box, in the Add Data section, for Data

Type, select Links. For Specify Code, select Top. Click (Add Surface
Item).
Next, you will define the surface boundary.

NOTE Adding a boundary to the corridor surface prevents surface

triangulation outside the daylight lines of the corridor. This results in more
accurate surface volume calculations.

6 On the Boundaries tab, in the Name field, right-click Top-FG. Select ADD
Automatically ➤ Daylight.
The corridor surface boundary is created automatically, along the daylight
lines.

7 Click OK to close the Corridor Properties dialog box. Press ESC to clear
the selection.

Modify the corridor

Because corridor surfaces are created from the corridor model, they remain
dynamically linked to the corridor object. Any changes to the corridor model
are reflected in the corridor surface. In the following steps, you will adjust the
width of one of the travel lanes, and then examine the changes in the corridor
and corridor surface that resulted from changing the corridor model.

1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Assemblies collection.

Right-click Main Street. Click Properties.

2 In the Assembly Properties dialog box, on the Construction tab, under

the first Group heading, click Basic Lane.

NOTE In the Input Values section, verify that Side has a value of Left.

3 In the Input Value section, in the width field, change the value to 15.

4 Click OK.

5 On the Command line, enter ZW. Click and drag a rectangle across a
section of corridor.

6 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Corridors collection.

Exercise 3: Defining a Roadway Corridor | 33

 NOTE In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, Main Street now has a next
to it, that which indicates that the corridor has been modified and must be
rebuilt.

Right-click Main Street. Click Rebuild.

The left lane adjusts to reflect the updated lane width. Notice that the
corridor surface has also been rebuilt.

You have completed the AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Express Workshop Tutorial
Roadway Design Basics.

34 | Chapter 1 Express Workshop: Getting Started with Base Plan Creation

Express Workshop
Folder Locations

Express Workshop drawings folder <Civil 3D installation location>\Help\Civil

3D Express Workshop\Imperial\Drawings

Express Workshop folder <Civil 3D installation location>\Help\Civil 3D Express

Workshop\Imperial

My Civil 3D Express Workshop Data folder If this folder does not already
exist, create it at the following location to save the tutorial drawings as you
work on them:
C:\My Documents\Autodesk\My Civil 3D Express Workshop Data

Glossary | 35
36
Index
A
alignment 21
L
creating from a polyline 21 label 14, 18
assembly 25–26, 30 dynamically modify with surface
create baseline 25 style 18
mirror sub-assemblies 30 multiple contours 14
place assembly components 26

P
C
profile 22–23
corridor 31–33 create by layout 23
create corridor model 31 create profile view 22
create corridor surface 32
modify corridor 33
R
D Roadway Design 20
data shortcut 11, 13
creating 11 S
reference into another drawing 13
surface 1–5, 7
add breaklines 5
add contours 4
create new surface 3
delete TIN lines 7
insert contour data 2

Index | 37
38