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Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Optimize grading for various land areas based on criteria that you set.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
In Civil 3D, Grading Optimization is an interactive tool that facilitates grading various land areas such as sites,
00:13
road interchanges, and around structures.
00:16
It consists of optimization algorithms that work toward surface smoothness, while accommodating user-imposed constraints.
00:25
These design constraints include grading and drainage elements.
00:30
The constraints are entered as global parameters and as individual grading element parameters.
00:38
In this example, you set up a building pad, pond, and zone to be optimized.
00:45
From the Analyze tab, in the Grading Optimization panel, select Grading Object Tools.
00:53
In the Tool Palettes window, click Building Pad.
00:57
Within the drawing area, select the closed geometry representing the building, and then press ENTER.
01:05
In the Building Pad Properties dialog, set the following for this example:
01:11
Name the building pad.
01:14
Turn Elevation ON.
01:16
Turn Fixed elevation value OFF.
01:20
Set the Min elevation to 345 ft.
01:25
Set the Max elevation to 355 ft.
01:30
Turn Level grading with pad ON.
01:34
Set the Depth of material to 1.5 ft.
01:39
Close the Building Pad Properties dialog.
01:42
Back in the Tool Palettes window, click Pond.
01:46
In the drawing area, to the left of the building, select the green polyline to define a pond, and then press ENTER.
01:56
In the Pond Properties dialog box, set the following:
02:01
Enter the Name of the pond.
02:03
Select Dry pond (or Wet pond).
02:07
Set the Min storage volume to 10000 cu ft.
02:13
Set the Max storage depth to 5 ft.
02:17
Select whether to Allow boundary change (this will adjust during the optimization), and whether a Safety bench is required.
02:26
Enter Berm details, including width, freeboard, and inside slope.
02:33
Close the Pond Properties dialog.
02:36
In the Tool Palettes window, click Zone.
02:40
In the drawing area, select the outer green polyline representing the boundary to define a zone, and then press ENTER.
02:49
In the Zone Properties dialog, set the following:
02:54
Enter the Name of the zone.
02:56
Select Use global constraints.
03:00
Turn Breakline OFF.
03:03
Turn Grading Limit ON.
03:06
Turn Balance cut and fill, Minimize earthwork, and Smooth surface ON.
03:13
Close the Zone Properties dialog.
03:17
From the Analyze tab, in the Grading Optimization panel, select Optimize.
03:23
If you need to change any grading parameters you set, you can do so in the left pane of the Grading Optimization dialog.
03:32
Click Optimize.
03:34
Once the optimization is complete, click Update Drawing.
03:40
In the Save Optimization Result dialog, set the Name and Style for the new surface.
03:47
Click Finish.
03:49
You can view the optimized surface in the drawing.
Video transcript
00:03
In Civil 3D, Grading Optimization is an interactive tool that facilitates grading various land areas such as sites,
00:13
road interchanges, and around structures.
00:16
It consists of optimization algorithms that work toward surface smoothness, while accommodating user-imposed constraints.
00:25
These design constraints include grading and drainage elements.
00:30
The constraints are entered as global parameters and as individual grading element parameters.
00:38
In this example, you set up a building pad, pond, and zone to be optimized.
00:45
From the Analyze tab, in the Grading Optimization panel, select Grading Object Tools.
00:53
In the Tool Palettes window, click Building Pad.
00:57
Within the drawing area, select the closed geometry representing the building, and then press ENTER.
01:05
In the Building Pad Properties dialog, set the following for this example:
01:11
Name the building pad.
01:14
Turn Elevation ON.
01:16
Turn Fixed elevation value OFF.
01:20
Set the Min elevation to 345 ft.
01:25
Set the Max elevation to 355 ft.
01:30
Turn Level grading with pad ON.
01:34
Set the Depth of material to 1.5 ft.
01:39
Close the Building Pad Properties dialog.
01:42
Back in the Tool Palettes window, click Pond.
01:46
In the drawing area, to the left of the building, select the green polyline to define a pond, and then press ENTER.
01:56
In the Pond Properties dialog box, set the following:
02:01
Enter the Name of the pond.
02:03
Select Dry pond (or Wet pond).
02:07
Set the Min storage volume to 10000 cu ft.
02:13
Set the Max storage depth to 5 ft.
02:17
Select whether to Allow boundary change (this will adjust during the optimization), and whether a Safety bench is required.
02:26
Enter Berm details, including width, freeboard, and inside slope.
02:33
Close the Pond Properties dialog.
02:36
In the Tool Palettes window, click Zone.
02:40
In the drawing area, select the outer green polyline representing the boundary to define a zone, and then press ENTER.
02:49
In the Zone Properties dialog, set the following:
02:54
Enter the Name of the zone.
02:56
Select Use global constraints.
03:00
Turn Breakline OFF.
03:03
Turn Grading Limit ON.
03:06
Turn Balance cut and fill, Minimize earthwork, and Smooth surface ON.
03:13
Close the Zone Properties dialog.
03:17
From the Analyze tab, in the Grading Optimization panel, select Optimize.
03:23
If you need to change any grading parameters you set, you can do so in the left pane of the Grading Optimization dialog.
03:32
Click Optimize.
03:34
Once the optimization is complete, click Update Drawing.
03:40
In the Save Optimization Result dialog, set the Name and Style for the new surface.
03:47
Click Finish.
03:49
You can view the optimized surface in the drawing.
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