• InfraWorks
  • ReCap
  • Civil 3D

Existing conditions modeling for civil projects

A full understanding of the existing conditions can help you design a better site and access to it. In this module, learn how to take advantage of point clouds for modeling the existing conditions. Also learn how to take advantage of the work done by other people like the GIS department, architect, and utility companies/departments.


Course overview

A full understanding of the existing conditions can help you design a better site and access to it. In this module, learn how to take advantage of point clouds for modeling the existing conditions. Also learn how to take advantage of the work done by other people like the GIS department, architect, and utility companies/departments.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

  • Convert point clouds to usable geometry using a combination of ReCap and Civil 3D
  • Start a new model in InfraWorks and include surface, roads, buildings, and other data to display the existing conditions within 30 minutes.

Course outline

20 min.

Use Model Builder to Display the Site and Add GIS Data

Selecting the right site for a building can make a big difference in the cost of the project. Selecting a site with transportation access to it, enough space for ample parking, and appropriate building codes and zoning can determine if the project gets approved or not. In this module, you learn how to use Model Builder to display the site. Then, you learn how to connect GIS data to the InfraWorks model and run a proper GIS analysis before selecting the project site.

Selecting the right site for a building can make a big difference in the cost of the project. Selecting a site with transportation access to it, enough space for ample parking, and appropriate building codes and zoning can determine if the project gets approved or not. In this module, you learn how to use Model Builder to display the site. Then, you learn how to connect GIS data to the InfraWorks model and run a proper GIS analysis before selecting the project site.

This module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Create a model within minutes using the InfraWorks Model Builder
  • Add data from GIS sources to the InfraWorks model
  • Analyze the model using Themes and Styles

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the InfraWorks software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support
  • To collaborate with other industry professionals taking the module, or if you have questions or feedback during the module, please visit the InfraWorks Forum.


25 min.

Beginning to Build the Base Map

Every roadway development project begins with a good existing condition plan, which displays information about the physical features and the topography of the area of development interest. We also need to understand the area of surrounds that extend beyond the development boundaries as this helps us with hydrology environment transportation and visualization tasks. 

Every roadway development project begins with a good existing condition plan, which displays information about the physical features and the topography of the area of development interest. We also need to understand the area of surrounds that extend beyond the development boundaries as this helps us with hydrology environment transportation and visualization tasks. 

This module builds on the previous module “Reduce Errors by Using Point Clouds in Civil 3D”.

This module takes approximately 25 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Add control points and imagery
  • Add PDF data
  • Add GIS and DWG data

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the Civil 3D software loaded. 
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support.


20 min.

Managing Point Cloud Data in Recap

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.

This module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Know more about structured, non-structured and photo data
  • Use Structured Point Cloud Data in Recap
  • Use Non-structured Point Cloud Data in Recap

Module pre-requisites

This module requires user-level knowledge of Recap Pro and is focused on best practices and its industry applications. If you don't have experiences with this product, we recommend you to take foundational training using one of the resources below:

About the author

This module was created by Lucy Kuhns, Designated Support Specialist at Autodesk.

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the Recap Pro software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support


15 min.

Reduce Errors by Using Point Clouds in Civil 3D

Using point clouds to create the existing conditions model can help reduce errors and ensure accuracy. In this module, you learn to bring a point cloud into Civil 3D and use it to create a surface model.

Using point clouds to create the existing conditions model can help reduce errors and ensure accuracy. In this module, you learn to bring a point cloud into Civil 3D and use it to create a surface model.

This module takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Process point clouds in ReCap
  • Import the point cloud into Civil 3D
  • Extract geometry from point clouds

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the Civil 3D and ReCap software loaded. 
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support.


25 min.

Reduce Errors by Using Point Clouds in InfraWorks

Using point clouds to create the existing conditions model can help reduce errors and ensure accuracy. In this module, you learn how to bring a point cloud into InfraWorks and use it to create a model.

Using point clouds to create the existing conditions model can help reduce errors and ensure accuracy. In this module, you learn how to bring a point cloud into InfraWorks and use it to create a model.

This module takes approximately 25 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Run a point could terrain analysis in InfraWorks
  • Extract linear features from point clouds
  • Add additional point cloud modeling
  • Export point cloud extraction and import it to Civil 3D

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the InfraWorks software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support
  • To collaborate with other industry professionals taking the module, or if you have questions or feedback during the module, please visit the module Forum.


20 min.

Creating Surfaces from Point Cloud Data in Civil 3D

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.  

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.  

This module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Import and validate point cloud data
  • Create surfaces from non-classified data
  • Create surfaces from classified data

Module pre-requisites

This module requires user-level knowledge of Civil 3D and is focused on best practices and its industry applications. If you don't have experiences with this product, we recommend you to take foundational training using one of the resources below:

About the author

This module was created by Lucy Kuhns, Designated Support Specialist at Autodesk.

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the Civil 3D software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support


20 min.

Creating Surfaces from Point Cloud Data in InfraWorks

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.

The focus of this module is to import the land survey control points and match the existing conditions imagery, point clouds, and vector data to assure accuracy, and good physical description of the area to be developed. Then, we will create ground surface from classified point cloud data. And finally, because surface data is so crucial to all roadway projects, we must understand the size limitations and how to efficiently manage surface Level of Detail, or LOD, to accommodate the swath areas of high detail and the surrounds areas of less detail.

This module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Set up and import data
  • Ground processing settings for surface cleanup
  • Export for use in C3D

Module pre-requisites

This module requires user-level knowledge of InfraWorks and is focused on best practices and its industry applications. If you don't have experiences with this product, we recommend you to take foundational training using one of the resources below:

About the author

This module was created by Lucy Kuhns, Designated Support Specialist at Autodesk.

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the InfraWorks software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support


20 min.

How to manage large surfaces efficiently

This module begins with describing the difference between TIN and Grid type surfaces and their size limitations; and what happens to your project if the limits are exceeded and overflow cached files are created. 

This module begins with describing the difference between TIN and Grid type surfaces and their size limitations; and what happens to your project if the limits are exceeded and overflow cached files are created. 

This module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • Describe the difference between Grid and TIN surface objects 
  • Know the limits of number of points in each surface object type 
  • Understand how MMS and GRD files are generated and why they should be avoided 
  • Learn which simplification methods are used for road projects 
  • See that extreme point reduction and simplification does not destroy surface representation 
  • Learn when and why to use surfaces with different LODs 

Module pre-requisites

This module requires user-level knowledge of Civil 3D and is focused on best practices and its industry applications. If you don't have experiences with this product, we recommend you to take foundational training using one of the resources below:

About the author

This module was created by Lucy Kuhns, Designated Support Specialist at Autodesk.

Before you start

  • Please make sure you have the Civil 3D software loaded.
  • If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support