purge surface from civil 3d drawing

For designers and engineers, the power to seamlessly combine drone data with their existing CAD capabilities has meant faster, more efficient workflows. Planning earthwork for land development and roadway blueprint projects, developing customs masterplans, and performing material takeoffs has been fabricated easier thanks to advances in drone surveying software.

Autodesk Civil 3D is a common CAD software used for civil infrastructure design and documentation—and one that's especially easy to utilise aslope drone data platforms. Below, we walk through the 5 about common Civil 3D workflows that you need to know if you lot're going to integrate drone data into your CAD work.

Acme 5 Civil 3D Drone Information Workflows:

• 1. How to import an orthophoto into Civil 3D (JPEG and GeoTIFF)
• two. How to export a Tin can Surface DWG to a DXF
• 3. How to create a Can Surface from a DXF export
• iv. How to simplify a TIN surface
• v. How to create a 3D pipage network DXF
• Beyond CAD: Who else in your organization benefits from drone surveys?

1. How to import an orthophoto into Civil 3D (JPEG and GeoTIFF)

Orthophotos are 2D aerial images that take been created by stitching together hundreds of individual drone photos and rectifying for angle and distortion. Orthophotos in DWG files are frequently used by engineers and state developers to generate planning documents, such as masterplans, subdivision phasing plans, and zoning exhibits.

They also help in development of civil designs for a variety of projects. A model can be loaded on summit of an orthophoto in Civil 3D. Here'southward how to upload an orthophoto:

1. To avoid issues with the orthophoto scaling, you'll want to proceed the Insertion units at the default of Unitless. To confirm this, enter the control "units" to pull upwards the Drawing Units dialog box.

2. Select your desired coordinate arrangement. Type the control "mapcsassign" to pull up the Assign dialog box. There, enter your coordinate system'southward EPSG code and assign your desired coordinate system.

3. Type the control "mapiinsert" to upload your file. If you're uploading a .TIFF, uncheck the Modify Correlation box. Since the orthophoto is already georeferenced, transformations or modifications to the insertion of the image are not necessary.

If uploading a JPEG, two additional files volition exist downloaded: a WLD and JGW. These need to remain in the same folder every bit the JPEG to enable Civil 3D to correctly insert the orthophoto. To make sure Civil 3D is able to read the WLD file, check the Alter Correlation. This will pull upwards the Image Correlation when you upload your file, where you can verify that the Correlation Source is set to World File.

4. To zoom to the extents of the image, type the control "ze." The insertion coordinates can exist viewed past selecting the orthophoto and opening the Properties pane or by selecting the orthophoto and inbound the control "MO".

v. Save your drawing.

2. How to export a Tin can Surface DWG to a DXF

Instead of exporting survey data to use in Civil 3D, you might choose to have the opposite arroyo: importing design files and final grade surfaces to a drone data platform.

The advantage of this is that you only have to upload those design files in one case (until inevitably your pattern changes). As you add more surveys to your drone software over time, y'all can and so measure your progress against those designs.

Because .DWG files are interoperable with few non-CAD programs, you'll need to catechumen your blueprint files into DXFs before y'all can export them from Civil 3D.

1. Open the existing DWG containing the Tin surface. The drawing should already exist georeferenced in the proper coordinate system and fix to the right units (US Survey Anxiety).

2. To exist able to view the pattern as individual triangles, we'll have to edit the surface mode. Right-click and select Edit Surface Way. In the dialog box, navigate to the Display tab. Disable all the surface style attributes by clicking on the lightbulb icons, except for Triangles.

This volition brand it then that the model is only displayed as triangles in model space.

3. Select the Tin surface and enter the command "explode". This will convert the TIN surface to a block reference. Type "explode" once more to catechumen the block reference to individual 3D faces.

4. To export the DXF, click Save As and select Other Formats. In the dialog box, set the Files of Type to AutoCAD 2022 DXF (*.dxf) and choose your desired binder location.

5. Before exporting the pattern, we desire to brand certain no extra objects are being included in the file. Click the Tools dropdown and select Options. In the Saveas Options dialog box, select the DXF Options tab and check the Select Objects box. Click OK then save the blueprint.

6. Back in model space, your cursor will modify to a box with the text "Select Objects." You can now create a box around your design which will specify that the design triangles are the only objects that should get exported.

7. Click Enter to export the DXF.

iii. How to create a Tin can Surface from a DXF consign

Some drone software is capable of visualizing your site every bit a 3D model, which yous tin can consign as a TIN surface to use in Civil 3D. In the opposite of the previous workflow, doing this will require you to convert a DXF file into a TIN surface Civil 3D volition recognize.

1. Open the DXF 3D model file in Ceremonious 3D. This DXF file contains 3D faces which volition be used to generate the Tin can surface. Once the DXF is opened, make certain you are in model space, with the 3D faces in view. If you practice not see the 3D faces, double-click the mouse scroll wheel or enter the control "ze" to bring them into view.

(The 3D faces will automatically exist set to layer 0. It'southward recommended, but non mandatory, to create a new layer and assign the 3D faces to that.)

2. On the Home tab, click the Surfaces dropdown, then click Create Surface. In the dialog box, proper noun the Can surface and assign it to the appropriate layer.

3. In your Toolspace, open the Prospector tab. In the accordion menu, navigate to Surfaces > you surface > Definition.

4. Right-click Drawing Objects and select Add from the dropdown. In the dialog box, alter the Object blazon to 3D faces. Check the Maintain edges from objects box. Click OK.

5. Click and drag your mouse to create a selection box around your design. Hit enter on your keyboard. This will create the TIN surface.

6. Prepare your layer to the 1 your new Tin can surface is assigned to. Enter the command "layoff". Click on any 3D confront on your Can to turn off the layer information technology'south assigned to. Since these 3D faces have been added to the Tin surface definition, it is okay to turn them off or freeze them. Don't delete them, as they are part of the surface definition.
7. Your TIN Surface volition be rendered in the style selected at the first of this workflow in the Create Surface dialog box. You might see only the border.

If that'southward the case, right-click the surface, and select Edit Surface Way. In the dialog box, navigate to the Display tab. All the attributes associated with the Tin surface can exist toggled on and off, including major and minor contours, triangles, and the border.

8. Salve the DXF every bit a new DWG.

4. How to simplify a TIN surface

Whichever drone surveying platform you work with, at that place volition exist a limit on the size of the TIN surface you can upload. The size of a TIN is measured in the number of triangles, or 3D faces. , This workflow will outline how to reduce the number of triangles in a TIN surface so that y'all can upload it to your drone data software of option as a DXF.

1. Open the existing DWG file containing the TIN surface. The drawing should already be georeferenced by the customer in the proper coordinate system and gear up to the correct units (United states Survey Feet).
2. Locate the Can Surface under the Prospector tab of your Toolspace:

Right-click on the surface name and select Surface Properties.

In the Statistics tab of the dialog box, expand the Can category to see the number of triangles (3D faces) the Can surface contains. If the number is above the adequate triangle limit for your drone survey software of choice, continue with this workflow.

3. Dorsum in the Prospector tab of your Toolspace, navigate to Surfaces > [the name of your surface] > Definition > Edits. Right-click Edits and select Simplify Surface.

In the dialogue box, select Border Wrinkle and click Next.

In the second dialog box, confirm that your region is set to Use existing surface border and click Side by side.

In the final dialog box, you'll specify what percent of triangles you need to remove from the TIN surface to get to an acceptable corporeality for your drone survey software. (Brand sure to check the box next to Percentage of points to remove.)

Enter a percent to remove and the dialog box will calculate how many triangles the Can will have left. Striking Apply one time you've adamant the correct pct to remove.

(If the number of triangles are non reduced enough, get to the Prospector tab of your Toolspace and navigate to Surfaces > [the name of your surface] > Definition > Edits A list of edits will appear beneath the Toolspace palette. Delete the Simplify Surface edit and repeat Step three.

4. When you are satisfied with the number of triangles, export your TIN surface as a DXF

NOTE: Surfaces created or modified by adding cartoon objects similar feature lines, contours, points or 3D faces will need to be exported equally a LandXML file and imported dorsum into a clean drawing in Civil 3D. Tin surfaces with cartoon objects fastened are not able to exist simplified.

You tin easily export your surface to an XML file by navigating to the Prospector tab in the Toolspace, expanding the surfaces category, right-clicking on the surface proper name and selecting Export LandXML. To import an XML file into Civil 3D, enter the command "XMLIN" and navigate to the folder containing the XML file.

5. How to create a 3D piping network DXF

Utility strikes are inconvenient, costly mistakes that every contractor tries to avert. The easiest manner to do this is to maintain visibility on the utility line work beneath the surface on your site. Here, we'll walk you through creating a piping network DXF file in Civil 3D, which can be used alongside your survey information.

1. Open up the drawing that contains the pipage network. If the pipe network is in an XML file, type the command "xmlin" in model space to open up information technology.

2. Ceremonious 3D cannot convert pipes and connecting structures—such as manholes—at the same time. Salvage the pipe network equally two separate drawings. Nosotros will combine the pipes with the structures drawings afterwards in the workflow.

3. In your first drawing, correct-click a construction and choose Select Similar to select all the structures. Hitting delete on your keyboard.

4. With all the structures removed from the drawing, we can begin modifying the pipe styles. Right-click on whatever pipe and select Edit Pipe Manner. In the dialog box, navigate to the Brandish tab. Plough off all Component Types except for Pipe Solid, which is the 3D portion of the piping.

5. Click and drag your mouse to create a pick box around all your pipes.  Type the command "explode" to convert the pipes to cake references. Practise the same thing again to convert the cake references to 3D solids.

6. In the workspace selection dropdown at the top of your screen, switch to 3D Modeling. The 3D Modeling workspace is where nosotros will perform the conversion of the pipe 3D solids to 3D faces.

7. Create a selection box effectually all the pipe 3D solids in your drawing. Navigate to the Mesh subsection of the Mesh tab. (Yeah, they are both named that.) Click the small-scale arrow in the lesser-right.

In the dialog box, set the Mesh type to Triangle. You can modify the Mesh distance to adjust the density of the mesh, if desired.

8. For your second drawing, repeat steps 3-seven, this time deleting the pipes and leaving the structures.

9. Now we will combine the two drawings.  In the structures drawing, hold down ctrl + shift + c to copy all the structure mesh objects. When you practise, a Specify base of operations betoken box will appear. Blazon 0 into the box, press tab on your keyboard, and blazon 0 into the second box that appears. Hit enter to copy the structure mesh objects at a basepoint of 0,0.

10. Switch to the drawing with the pipe mesh objects and hold downwardly ctrl + v to paste the structures objects. Repeat the previous pace when the Specify base point box appears once more.

11. The structure and piping mesh objects are now in the same drawing. Create a selection box effectually all the objects. Enter the command "explode" to convert all mesh objects to 3D faces.

12. Export the drawing to a DXF past entering the command "dxfout". Save the DXF to your desired folder location.

Now that you understand how drone surveying and Civil 3D can be used together to amend construction workflows, take a look at how drone data software works with your surface design files:

Across CAD: Who else in your arrangement benefits from drone surveys?

Civil 3D design and documentation is only 1 of many utilize cases for drones in construction. As drone surveying continues to become more commonplace on construction and ceremonious engineering projects, the accessibility and usefulness of drone data has improved along with it.

Convenient, interactive drone surveying platforms are being used by personnel at all levels—from GIS specialists and construction surveyors to on-site managers—to map, measure, and uncover critical insights virtually their worksites.

Want to come across how else drone data can be used to improve your workflows? Check out our Costless ebook, From Surveyor to Home Office: How Up-to-Date Construction Data is Improving Worksite Operations

Keep reading:

Calculating Cut and Fill Quantities On Your Structure Site

What are DXF Files and How are They Used in Drone Surveying?

How Drones Help with Disharmonize Management in Construction

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Source: https://www.propelleraero.com/blog/5-civil-3d-workflows-to-know-for-integrating-drone-surveys-and-cad/

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