Civil 3D 2015 Productivity Pack 1 now available

                                                  

Autodesk has released the new Productivity Pack 1 for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015. This set of tools is available only to current members of Autodesk Maintenance Subscription or Desktop Subscription.

Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2015 Productivity Pack 1 consists of the following features:

1. Ability for AutoCAD Civil 3D users to directly read Autodesk InfraWorks models for detailed design / production tasks
2. Coordinate Geometry Editor utility that provides a streamlined process for point, line, and curve entry and balance
3. Automated process for creating AutoCAD 3D solids from Civil 3D surface models and pipe networks

The following post details the InfraWorks model import function. Later posts will cover the other two features of the Productivity Pack.

Directly Read InfraWorks project files

Start with an InfraWorks project:

Switch to Civil 3D. On the Toolspace, Toolbox tab, expand Subscription Extension Manager and expand Open InfraWorks Model. First, configure import settings by right-clicking on Configure InfraWorks - Civil 3D Exchange Settings.

Use the ellipsis buttons to the right on each row to access the style and layer settings for each InfraWorks/Civil 3D object type. For example, to set defaults for Surfaces, press the ellipsis to the right of the Terrain Surfaces / TIN Surfaces row.

Set the surface style and layer defaults and press OK.

Configure similar settings for other object types. Before you exit, be sure you save your settings to a settings file so you can recall them later. The import routine requires that you pick a settings file. Note: The default folder for these files is C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2015\enu\Data\InfraWorks Object Settings\Imperial (or Metric.)

After pressing Save, and when finished with settings, press OK to exit the dialog.

Now right-click Open InfraWorks Model on the toolspace and Execute.

Select the InfraWorks Model using the folder button at the top. Once the model is selected, you will be shown the model's coordinate system information. If you need to convert to a different coordinate system, there is a button allowing you to Set a Coordinate System for your Civil 3D drawing. Either import the entire InfraWorks model area or set your own Area of Interest.

This very cool feature will automatically load AutoCAD's online mapping as a background to your drawing, zoomed in on the project area read from the InfraWorks file. You can then select a rectangular sub-area of the project. If you are not already logged in to Autodesk 360, you will be prompted. This is a requirement for this feature.

Be patient, it can take some moments for the map to load.

Pick the Object Settings file you created earlier.

If you would like to see and control which objects are to be imported (important, so you don't end up importing a hundred existing roads that are in InfraWorks for reference, but not needed for Civil 3D's detailed design) press Refine Selection Set. On large models, this can take quite a while, so don't reboot because you think the system is doing nothing. It's reading the model, but you aren't told progress. Just wait, or go get a cup of tea, stretch your legs, whatever.

When done setting the object import options, press Open Model.

Requirements: AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015 with Service Pack 2 installed. Autodesk InfraWorks 360 2015.3.