& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Discover requirements and workflows for InfoDrainage to Civil 3D interoperability.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Transcript
00:03
A design created in InfoDrainage can be imported into Civil 3D as a Pipe Network for the Pipes and Junctions,
00:10
with other Connection types and Stormwater Controls also created within the drawing as 3D elements.
00:16
Equally, a Pipe Network that has been created within Civil 3D
00:20
can be exported to InfoDrainage to be sized and analyzed before the final design is reimported.
00:26
The InfoDrainage for Civil 3D plug-in is designed to allow engineers to exchange information
00:32
with InfoDrainage by importing and exporting drainage networks within Civil 3D.
00:37
If you have installed InfoDrainage using the Innovyze system,
00:41
this plug-in for Civil 3D is an optional component and must be installed separately.
00:46
You can download the plug-in from the InfoDrainage download page on the Innovyze Support Portal.
00:52
However, if you have installed InfoDrainage using the Autodesk system,
00:57
this plug-in is installed as part of the Ultimate installer by default,
01:01
provided that you already have Civil 3D on your machine.
01:04
If, for some reason, it is not installed, you can download the plug-in from the Autodesk Desktop Application.
01:11
Once installed, the plug-in will automatically add in the InfoDrainage ribbon when Autodesk Civil 3D is launched.
01:18
Ideally, the surface model would be designed first in Civil 3D.
01:23
Then, you would import it into InfoDrainage for the hydrology design.
01:27
There, you can simulate and test the system to ensure it is efficient and effective based on your local regulations.
01:34
You would then bring the design back into Civil 3D to finish the final model.
01:39
During this process, it is important to understand how InfoDrainage objects behave in Civil 3D.
01:46
Junction objects, such as manholes, easily transfer from InfoDrainage into Civil 3D with very little effort from the user.
01:54
The same is true for connections and pipes, though some highly specialized pipe designs may pose challenges.
02:01
The InfoDrainage inflows, which are the catchment areas around manholes,
02:06
transfer well, but the user must still do some processes manually.
02:11
The last two types of InfoDrainage objects, stormwater controls and inlets and outlets,
02:16
do transfer, but they appear as simplistic representations.
02:20
For example, ponds and SuDS features appear as surfaces in Civil 3D,
02:25
and objects such as hydrobrakes, orifices, pumps, and weirs appear as simple lines.
02:32
Be aware that development of the interaction between Civil3D and InfoDrainage is ongoing.
02:38
Currently, there are still many parameters which exist in InfoDrainage for which there is no direct equivalent in Civil3D.
02:45
However, these parameters are held within the InfoDrainage export data.
02:49
For example, take a parameter like percentage impervious—if it is edited in InfoDrainage and then exported to Civil3D,
02:58
it does not appear.
02:59
But if it is subsequently re-exported to InfoDrainage, the edited value is remembered and retained.
03:06
It is also important to realize that InfoDrainage only considers runoff from impermeable areas, such as roads and roofs.
03:13
It is primarily used for stormwater, but similar principles would apply to sanitary systems as well.
Video transcript
00:03
A design created in InfoDrainage can be imported into Civil 3D as a Pipe Network for the Pipes and Junctions,
00:10
with other Connection types and Stormwater Controls also created within the drawing as 3D elements.
00:16
Equally, a Pipe Network that has been created within Civil 3D
00:20
can be exported to InfoDrainage to be sized and analyzed before the final design is reimported.
00:26
The InfoDrainage for Civil 3D plug-in is designed to allow engineers to exchange information
00:32
with InfoDrainage by importing and exporting drainage networks within Civil 3D.
00:37
If you have installed InfoDrainage using the Innovyze system,
00:41
this plug-in for Civil 3D is an optional component and must be installed separately.
00:46
You can download the plug-in from the InfoDrainage download page on the Innovyze Support Portal.
00:52
However, if you have installed InfoDrainage using the Autodesk system,
00:57
this plug-in is installed as part of the Ultimate installer by default,
01:01
provided that you already have Civil 3D on your machine.
01:04
If, for some reason, it is not installed, you can download the plug-in from the Autodesk Desktop Application.
01:11
Once installed, the plug-in will automatically add in the InfoDrainage ribbon when Autodesk Civil 3D is launched.
01:18
Ideally, the surface model would be designed first in Civil 3D.
01:23
Then, you would import it into InfoDrainage for the hydrology design.
01:27
There, you can simulate and test the system to ensure it is efficient and effective based on your local regulations.
01:34
You would then bring the design back into Civil 3D to finish the final model.
01:39
During this process, it is important to understand how InfoDrainage objects behave in Civil 3D.
01:46
Junction objects, such as manholes, easily transfer from InfoDrainage into Civil 3D with very little effort from the user.
01:54
The same is true for connections and pipes, though some highly specialized pipe designs may pose challenges.
02:01
The InfoDrainage inflows, which are the catchment areas around manholes,
02:06
transfer well, but the user must still do some processes manually.
02:11
The last two types of InfoDrainage objects, stormwater controls and inlets and outlets,
02:16
do transfer, but they appear as simplistic representations.
02:20
For example, ponds and SuDS features appear as surfaces in Civil 3D,
02:25
and objects such as hydrobrakes, orifices, pumps, and weirs appear as simple lines.
02:32
Be aware that development of the interaction between Civil3D and InfoDrainage is ongoing.
02:38
Currently, there are still many parameters which exist in InfoDrainage for which there is no direct equivalent in Civil3D.
02:45
However, these parameters are held within the InfoDrainage export data.
02:49
For example, take a parameter like percentage impervious—if it is edited in InfoDrainage and then exported to Civil3D,
02:58
it does not appear.
02:59
But if it is subsequently re-exported to InfoDrainage, the edited value is remembered and retained.
03:06
It is also important to realize that InfoDrainage only considers runoff from impermeable areas, such as roads and roofs.
03:13
It is primarily used for stormwater, but similar principles would apply to sanitary systems as well.
The InfoDrainage for Civil 3D plug-in is designed to allow engineers to exchange information with InfoDrainage by importing and exporting drainage networks within Civil 3D.
If you have installed InfoDrainage using the Innovyze system, you can download the Civil 3D plug-in from the InfoDrainage download page on the Innovyze Support Portal.
If you have installed InfoDrainage using the Autodesk system and already have Civil 3D on your machine, the Civil 3D plug-in is installed as part of the Ultimate installer.
Once installed, the plug-in automatically adds in the InfoDrainage tab to the ribbon when Autodesk Civil 3D is launched.
Ideally, the surface model would be designed first in Civil 3D, and then imported into InfoDrainage for the hydrology design.
During this process, it is important to understand how InfoDrainage objects behave in Civil 3D.
Be aware that development of the interaction between Civil3D and InfoDrainage is ongoing. It is also important to realize that InfoDrainage only considers runoff from impermeable areas, such as roads and roofs. It is primarily used for stormwater, but similar principles would apply to sanitary systems as well.
Industry:
Role:
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement.May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.