• Civil 3D

Create a gravity-fed pipe network

Create a gravity-fed pipe network and add it to the profile view in Civil 3D.


00:04

Gravity-fed pipe networks are essential to infrastructure design

00:07

and are commonly used in water supply systems,

00:10

sewer and wastewater management,

00:13

and irrigation systems.

00:16

Agricultural and stormwater management systems are also typically designed to rely on gravity and natural forces to divert water.

00:24

This not only minimizes energy use and reduces maintenance requirements,

00:29

but also makes gravity networks a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.

00:36

To create a gravity-fed network in Civil 3D,

00:39

begin with a corridor model already placed in a drawing.

00:43

Then, on the ribbon, Home tab, Create Design panel,

00:47

expand Pipes and select Pipe Network Creation Tools.

00:52

In the Create Pipe Network dialog, enter a Network name, such as “Sewer”.

00:58

Expand the Surface name drop-down and select the existing ground, or EG.

01:05

Then, if the surveyor plans to stake out the location of this gravity-fed network in relation to an alignment,

01:11

specify the Alignment name—in this case, Newcastle Rd.

01:16

Select the Structure label style and the Pipe label style that you want to use,

01:22

and then click OK.

01:25

The Network Layout Tools toolbar displays.

01:28

First, click Pipe Network Properties.

01:32

From the dialog, set the Utility Type to Sanitary,

01:37

and then adjust any other Layout Settings,

01:40

Profile and Section parameters,

01:43

and other Statistics.

01:46

Click OK.

01:48

Next, set the surface and alignment, which, in this example,

01:53

are already assigned and specified in the toolbar.

01:57

Expand the Structure list to specify the structure type—here,

02:02

a specific size of Concrete Rectangular Headwall is chosen.

02:06

You can change this type as needed as you place pipes and structures at each vertex.

02:13

Next, expand the Pipe list and select the exact pipe to use with the headwall—in this case,

02:19

a 12 inch Concrete Pipe.

02:22

Expand the Draw Pipes and Structures drop-down to specify whether you want to set the Pipes Only,

02:28

Structures Only, or, for more efficiency,

02:32

Pipes and Structures together.

02:34

Here, leave the default Pipes and Structures selected.

02:39

Now, you can start placing pipes and structures into your model.

02:43

Zoom into the drawing and click to specify the first structure insertion point,

02:48

as well as the starting point of the first pipe object.

02:51

Move the pointer to the next location,

02:54

and then click again to specify the end of the pipe

02:57

and insert a new structure connected to that pipe.

03:01

Continue to specify subsequent points.

03:04

It is a best practice to use design parameters as you set insertion points.

03:10

For example, if your structures cannot be more than 200 feet apart,

03:15

move your pointer in the desired direction,

03:18

type in the distance, and then press ENTER to place it.

03:21

When you are finished, place the final point where you want the pipe to drain,

03:26

and then press ENTER to complete the command.

03:30

If you need to add additional pipes, with Pipes and Structures still selected in the Drawing Commands drop-down,

03:36

select a new structure, such as Concentric Cylindrical Structure,

03:41

and then pick a point in your model.

03:44

As you approach an already placed structure,

03:47

a symbol appears that you can click to automatically connect to that structure.

03:52

Notice that even if you move the pointer to the tangent side,

03:56

the insertion point will be at the center of the structure.

04:00

When you select another pipe and then approach the intersection of two pipes,

04:05

a different grip appears that you can select to connect the two pipes with a structure.

04:11

Once you have drawn the pipes in the Plan view,

04:14

you can add them to the profile view.

04:17

Select the specific pipes and structures that you want to include.

04:22

Then, on the contextual ribbon, Network Tools panel,

04:27

click Draw Parts in Profile.

04:30

When prompted, select the profile view, and the program draws the parts in the profile.

04:37

Now you can create a gravity-fed pipe network and add it to the profile view in Civil 3D.

Video transcript

00:04

Gravity-fed pipe networks are essential to infrastructure design

00:07

and are commonly used in water supply systems,

00:10

sewer and wastewater management,

00:13

and irrigation systems.

00:16

Agricultural and stormwater management systems are also typically designed to rely on gravity and natural forces to divert water.

00:24

This not only minimizes energy use and reduces maintenance requirements,

00:29

but also makes gravity networks a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.

00:36

To create a gravity-fed network in Civil 3D,

00:39

begin with a corridor model already placed in a drawing.

00:43

Then, on the ribbon, Home tab, Create Design panel,

00:47

expand Pipes and select Pipe Network Creation Tools.

00:52

In the Create Pipe Network dialog, enter a Network name, such as “Sewer”.

00:58

Expand the Surface name drop-down and select the existing ground, or EG.

01:05

Then, if the surveyor plans to stake out the location of this gravity-fed network in relation to an alignment,

01:11

specify the Alignment name—in this case, Newcastle Rd.

01:16

Select the Structure label style and the Pipe label style that you want to use,

01:22

and then click OK.

01:25

The Network Layout Tools toolbar displays.

01:28

First, click Pipe Network Properties.

01:32

From the dialog, set the Utility Type to Sanitary,

01:37

and then adjust any other Layout Settings,

01:40

Profile and Section parameters,

01:43

and other Statistics.

01:46

Click OK.

01:48

Next, set the surface and alignment, which, in this example,

01:53

are already assigned and specified in the toolbar.

01:57

Expand the Structure list to specify the structure type—here,

02:02

a specific size of Concrete Rectangular Headwall is chosen.

02:06

You can change this type as needed as you place pipes and structures at each vertex.

02:13

Next, expand the Pipe list and select the exact pipe to use with the headwall—in this case,

02:19

a 12 inch Concrete Pipe.

02:22

Expand the Draw Pipes and Structures drop-down to specify whether you want to set the Pipes Only,

02:28

Structures Only, or, for more efficiency,

02:32

Pipes and Structures together.

02:34

Here, leave the default Pipes and Structures selected.

02:39

Now, you can start placing pipes and structures into your model.

02:43

Zoom into the drawing and click to specify the first structure insertion point,

02:48

as well as the starting point of the first pipe object.

02:51

Move the pointer to the next location,

02:54

and then click again to specify the end of the pipe

02:57

and insert a new structure connected to that pipe.

03:01

Continue to specify subsequent points.

03:04

It is a best practice to use design parameters as you set insertion points.

03:10

For example, if your structures cannot be more than 200 feet apart,

03:15

move your pointer in the desired direction,

03:18

type in the distance, and then press ENTER to place it.

03:21

When you are finished, place the final point where you want the pipe to drain,

03:26

and then press ENTER to complete the command.

03:30

If you need to add additional pipes, with Pipes and Structures still selected in the Drawing Commands drop-down,

03:36

select a new structure, such as Concentric Cylindrical Structure,

03:41

and then pick a point in your model.

03:44

As you approach an already placed structure,

03:47

a symbol appears that you can click to automatically connect to that structure.

03:52

Notice that even if you move the pointer to the tangent side,

03:56

the insertion point will be at the center of the structure.

04:00

When you select another pipe and then approach the intersection of two pipes,

04:05

a different grip appears that you can select to connect the two pipes with a structure.

04:11

Once you have drawn the pipes in the Plan view,

04:14

you can add them to the profile view.

04:17

Select the specific pipes and structures that you want to include.

04:22

Then, on the contextual ribbon, Network Tools panel,

04:27

click Draw Parts in Profile.

04:30

When prompted, select the profile view, and the program draws the parts in the profile.

04:37

Now you can create a gravity-fed pipe network and add it to the profile view in Civil 3D.

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