Autocad Civil 3d Drawing Settings

Active Drawing Settings

Introduction

The Civil Site Design software requires the Designer to set how they want the software to perform for a particular drawing (design project). Many commands in Civil Site Design read information from the Active Drawing Settings form to undertake calculations and to control design and drafting outputs.

The Active Drawing Settings form includes multiple tabs for control over the settings governing the design inputs and outputs, including:

The default surface to use for daylighting/batters on road elements created
The controls for intersection connections
Styles and settings for outputs of alignments, kerb returns, surfaces and more
Management of layers and outputs.

The initial settings for this form are populated from the Global Drawing Settings - editing the global defaults will change the initial local settings for future projects.

Notes:

When you start a new project, you will be prompted to select a 'global' or starting settings file if one has not been assigned
The local settings will be checked before exit to ensure that all styles and objects that are referenced in the forms exist - designers will be unable to Save and Exit until then.
Please be aware that the settings are checked BEFORE a dependent command is run to make sure that they are valid for the current drawing. If you have specified any style that does not exist in the current drawing and is required by the command, you will be prompted to correct the settings before proceeding with the use of Civil Site Design.

Icons

	Save and Exit	Saves any changes you have made to the settings and exits the Active Drawing Settigns Form
	Save As	Allows you to save your Active Drawing Settings as a Settings Template (.DEF) for importing into other projects
	Import Settings	Allows you to import Default Settings templates (.DEF) or any that you have saved previously
	Set Global Default Settings	Sets your current Active Drawing Settings as the Global Default Settings
	Create/Edit Templates	Opens the Create/Edit Section Form
	Cancel	Exits the Active Drawing Settings without saving your changes
	Help	Opens this help file.

Design Settings

The Design Settings tab of the Active Drawing Settings form is where you set your project defaults for Surfaces and Country of project.

Civil Site Design works by connecting kerb returns, cul-de-sacs and knuckles (horizontally and vertically) to particular point codes/labels that are created for each of the Roads. The software analyses levels/offset along cross section codes to determine which levels need to match to the kerb returns, cul-de-sacs and knuckles, and which levels define the edge of the through section on the main road at the intersection. In general terms, these codes should exist on each cross section of the road and for most subdivision purposes this will occur. If these codes are missing from the road cross sections, then the software will flag an error and you will need to check the labelling that has been used for the applied Template and fix the errors before continuing:

Default Surface Name	The surface that Civil Site Design will reference for the current project, generally it will be your base or natural surface.
Country	Allows you to set what country you are currently working in, The default setting is Australia. (If the country you are after is not listed please contact Civil Survey Solutions)
Units	Sets the default Units for the project; Either Metric or Imperial
	Base CSD Settings
Kerb Direction	Allows you to set the Kerb Direction; Counter Clockwise (CCW) or Clockwise (CW) Note: Once the Kerb Direction is set and project data added, it Cannot* be changed mid-way through.*
	Default Point Code Intersection Connections
Matching Code for Kerbs	This sets the Code that the Kerb Return centrelines (and alignments) will match to
Intersection Through Code	This sets the Code on the Main Road that is extended through the intersection zone - any Codes outside of this are automatically excluded from the Auto Model build process (where a Road network is built) in the zones where the kerb returns are. Normally this is set to be the same as the Matching Code for Kerbs, however in the case of the kerb Code being matched to, say, the back of kerb, it may be required for the road sections to only show to the pavement edge.
Select Code from a List	Lists the available codes from the templates currently in the drawing.
	Alignment Update Message
Show Update Dialogue if Coordinates Change	Tick on to receive a form popup whenever any string alignments change. When a string length changes the message displays and offers to udpate the road cross sections for all strings.
Setting Description	Allows you to give brief details of the settings you have set, you might have separate settings for different types of project.
Show ID Numbers on Forms	Debug mode - identifies forms with a number for tracking

Styles

The Styles section of the Active Drawing Settings allows you to define the styles for Alignments created by CSD. You can select Alignment styles sets for Road, Kerb and CulDeSacs and other alignments. There is also additional Annotation Controls for both plan and setout purposes.

Alignment Annotation Style Sets	Default label (annotation) style sets to apply to alignments upon creation
Roads/Default	Pick list of Annotation sets. Applied to road alignments
Kerbs	Pick list of annotation sets. Applied when the software creates kerb return alignments
Cul-de-sacs	Pick list of annotation sets. Applied when the software creates cul-de-sac alignments
Other	Pick list of annotation sets. Not used
Alignment Display Controls	Pick an alignment display control style - this sets the layers to use for display of the alignment object - line, curve and spiral segments
Colour Style	Pick a colour style
Alignment Annotation Controls	Allows for additional labelling controls on alignments, as well as for setout
Chainage Format - Annotations in Plan	Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the annotation labels
Prefix	type in a prefix
Suffix	type in a suffix
Symbol	type in for a text symbol
Chainage Format - Setout	Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the setout labels
Prefix	type in a prefix
Suffix	type in a suffix
Symbol	type in for a text symbol
Tables Option
Draw Tables as Lines and Text	Tick to draw a table as lines and text, or Unticked a Table will be inserted.

Kerb Details

The Kerb Details tab of the Active Drawing Settings is where you set your defaults for geometry, templates, sampling and grading of Kerb Returns.

	Default Kerb Return Geometry and Template
Automatic Kerb Return Radius	Default radius when running automatic kerb returns
Extend Start/End of Kerb Return by	Extends the start and end of kerb return by distance specified, maintaining the kerb radius.
Select Kerb Template	Selects the default kerb template. If Auto is selected, the kerb return cross sections will be constructed by finding matching codes on the Roads at the start/end of the kerb return alignment - linear transition to width and slope/height will be applied.
Select the Subgrade Template	Selects the default Subgrade Template to apply to kerb returns when Auto Template is selected
'Auto' Default Slopes	Sets the default slopes applied to Kerb Returns when the Kerb Template is set to 'Auto'
	Section Sampling and Vertical Grading Editor Settings
Default Kerb Section Sampling Frequency	Sets the default section sampling along the kerb return
Vertical Grading - Distance to extend	When the kerb return is viewed in the Vertical Grading Editor, it will display the approaching and departing Road String Point Connection Code to this distance before and after the kerb alignment
Kerb Section Width (Left and Right)	The distance to section either side of kerb return alignment.
Width for Added Sampling Lines	The width of any extra sampling lines that are included along kerb return
	Kerb Fitting Routine - Program Settings - Advanced
Kerb Acceptance Tolerance	The kerb connection is iterative - this value sets the allowing misclose on the horizontal position
Kerb Face if Slope (%) >	If the slope of a section is greater than this value, CSD will do a linear transition on the height difference instead of the slope
Kerb Fitting - Maximum Start Searches	Sets a start distance from the intersection to start searching for matching locations for the kerb returns
Kerb Fitting - Start Search Distance	Set the initial iteration distance to step along the two roads to find a kerb match location

Road Details

The Road Details tab of the Active Drawing Settings is where you define the default settings for your Intersection Match-in, Section Sampling and Advanced Program Settings for your Road Design.

	Intersection Side Road Match-In Details
Apply Parabolic Ease Curve	Applies parabolic ease curve on the side road vertical grade, at the time of creating a Road String
IP Distance from Main Road Edge	The distance you would like the automatic parabolic curve's IP to be placed, measured from the Point Connection Code on the main road
Default Parabolic Curve Length	The length of the automatic parabolic curve
Ease Cut/Fill Conditions	Set whether to Always provide a cut/fill ease curve, only in cut, only in fill, or never.
	Section Sampling Frequency/Spacing
Default Sampling Frequency (Tangents/Straights/Arcs/Spirals)	Defines how often you want to sample your road cross section along particular elements of an alignment
Road Section Width (Left/Right)	Width to sample from alignment
Select Template For Roads	Default Template to apply when a Road String is created - this can be edited at the time of creating the Road or when the Road is resampled.
	Program Settings - Advanced
End Search Distance	End search distance for intersections
Crossing Road Intersect Tolerance	Distance the program will search for possible crossing road intersections

About Intersection Match-In - 'Vertical Curve Ease'

When side roads meet up with 'main' roads, the vertical grading of the side road is adjusted so it exactly matches the cross section of the main road where it crosses. Users are able to pre-set a vertical curve to be applied at the approach and/or departure of each intersection - we call this a vertical curve 'ease'.

This is an example of the Side Road matching at an intersection and the application of a vertical curve 'ease' - controlled above.

The software reads the 'true' grades of the corridor, so for skew roads and where the main road has a high vertical grade, the crossfall on the left and right sides of the main road will differ (as shown, left).

Upon creation of the Road, designers can set the vertical curve ease length, IP distance and whether the ease is shown, by setting the Road Details tab in these settings.

Note: Designers can customize the 'ease' conditions at every intersection for any road already created.

Vertical Grading Editor

The Vertical Grading Editor section of the Active Drawing Settings allows your to setup what you will see in the VGE window, as well as set the Design Aids for Vertical Alignments (Crest/Sag K Value, Max/Min Grade for Warning). You can also choose weather or not to update your Civil 3d Profiles when you exit the Vertical Grading Editor.

These settings are matched in the Display Settings button on the Vertical Grading Editor, with the following exceptions:

Colour Setting File - sets the colours to apply in the Vertical Grading Editor
Update all 3D Profiles when a Vertical grading Editor is closed - all Civil 3D profiles get updated (if created using the Create/Update Profiles command in CSD) when a VGE window is closed.

Modelling

The Modelling Section of the Active Drawing Settings is where you define the settings for surface creation in Civil Site Design.

	Surface Modelling Options
Surface Style	Pick the Surface Style to be applied when the software creates a single surface from all the road elements representing the road network. This is the default style if none of the below apply.
Surface Style Automatic Model	When the Auto Model command is run, the surface created will use this Surface Style
Surface Style Object Model from Vertical Grading	When a surface of a String is created from the Vertical Grading Editor, this Surface Style will be applied
Surface Style Model Builder	When a surface is created from Model Builder, this Surface Style will be applied.
Civil 3D Surface Style	When the software creates a Civil 3D surface for an existing Civil Site Design surface, this Civil 3D Surface Style will be applied
Create Mesh for Imported Faces	Tick this ON to create the alternate surface model at the time of building the Auto Model in Civil 3D.
Save the 3D Polylines Used to Build the Model	Tick this ON if it is required for the breaklines to be included in the drawing and for the surface to be dynamically linked to these breaklines. Tick this OFF to simply output the surface and store the breakline data in the surface definition.
Show Model Report Message	At the time of building the surface model, the software creates additional reports detailing the quality of the surface model created. If it is desired NOT to receive a message that these files have been created then UNTICK this.
Delete Existing Surface	Delete the previous surface and create a new surface. Untick to just update the breaklines (takes longer in Civil 3D)
Maximum distance to move kerb point to match with the road when building a surface model	When kerb returns, cul-de-sac and knuckle alignments do not meet tangentially to the Roads, there is overlap or a 'gap' for the offset feature lines of the Road and the associated road element. This leads to a mismatch for the kerb offset points and the corresponding road points. Civil Site Design allows to a correction of the mismatch within the tolerance set here. When building the design surface model, it is important that matching coordinates have exactly the same value, otherwise there is the chance of having 2 points very close together that create minutely small triangles. Hence, before building the surface model, the software matches the coordinates at the ends of the kerb returns with the nearest point on the road at the point of tangency. If the distance is less than this 'maximum distance' value, then the coordinates on the kerb are adjusted to match to the road. Typical Imperial value 0.1 feet. Typical metric value 0.05 metres. Note: A report is printed showing all the matching points, the distance to the closest road point and whether or not the coordinates have been adjusted.
Maximum triangle side length	Applies a maximum triangle length control when building a surface in CSD - this setting does not apply to Civil 3D surface outputs.
	Modelling Controls
Colour File	Sets the default display colours used in the Build Models command
Alternate Colour File	Sets the secondary colours or hide display for any additional models
	Transparency Setting for Model Editing
Apply Transparency	Allows the user to see the workspace behind the Model editing form
Transparency (%) to Apply	Set the amount of transparency to apply. Default = 75%
	Note: Transparency mode must be turned on in the drawing for this to take effect.
	VGE Update Settings
Update settings	Allows the user to set whether the Plan linework and Model update automatically or manually.
	Error Reporting
Error Reporting	Use the pick list to set where Error Reports are presented
	Save Factor
Save Factor	Unused
	*Corridor Options* - these options control the outputted corridor model in Civil 3D after starting the Auto Create Corridor* command*
Subgrade Creation Method	When building a corridor using Civil Site Design data, the user doesn't have to build the subgrade points, links and shapes at the time of building the corridor. Since the corridor build times can become excessive for larger models, omitting the datum from the corridor significantly improves build/rebuild speeds. Options are: NONE: the top surface of the corridor is built only - no datum or subgrade shapes are created DATUM: the top surface and only the datum links are included in the built corridor model OPTIMISE: builds the full corridor shape with all subgrade layers but removes duplicate point codes to improve build speed FULL: builds the full corridor shape with all subgrade layers, as per Civil 3D
Recompute Options	In order to guarantee synchronisation between the Civil Site Design data and the Civil 3D corridor, users can opt to always recompute the corridor. This takes extra time and resource. From the pick list select ALL to recompute the corridor data all the time, or NONE to not check for the corridor integrity.

Cross Section Usage

This is a matrix of the Type of Sampled Section and then the type of Output it should be included for.

List of Types and where they may be created:

Sample Section Type	Command/Action Resulting in the Section
Standard	Standard section spacings defined at the time of Creating a Road, Kerb Return, Knuckle, Cul-de-sac or Roundabout
High/Low	Sections automatically added for the Design High/Low point/s - this is a result of the Vertical Design
VC Start/End	Sections automatically added for the start and end of Vertical Curves - this is a result of the Vertical Design
Kerbs	Sections added to Roads for the Start/End of kerb returns where they match to the edge of the Road
Data	Ability to add Chainages set in the Design Data Form to the section sampling
VC Mesh	Allows additional sections to be automatically added for modelling or profile plotting through a vertical curve. The spacing can be set prior to plotting.
Super	Additional sections are added after application of Superelevation, to pick up the Super Points
Extra Spacings	At the time of creating a Road, the designer can change the spacings in a chainage range or add extra chainages
From Drawings	At the time of creating a Road, the design can read in lines on a selected layer to add extra sampling
From Points	Provided for future section creation option from point groups. Not currently used.
Before/After TP	Extra sections added very close to the Kerb match points, for improved grade calculations on the kerb returns.

List of Outputs that the user can toggle on/off for the selected sampling group to be included:

Output Type	Affected Command/s
Left Setout	affects setout of data left of the Centreline
Right Setout	affects setout of data right of the Centreline
Section	Cross Section Plotting
Profile	Long Secton Plotting
Model	Used in building models
Volumes	Used in Volumes

Extracted Sections Output	Controls section information
Filter Tolerance	Set a value to IGNORE breaklines that result in a level difference LESS than this value. This WILL EDIT THE SURFACE used by CSD
Use Extracted Sections for Batters	Pre-calculates the batters from the surface at the time of sampling.
VC Spacings	Set up tighter spacing for modelling of Vertical Curves
Required Spacing	Type in the required spacing

Layer Names

The Layer Names section is where you decide what objects from Civil Site Design go on which layers in the drawing. You can assign layer name prefixes and modifiers.

Details of the list is as follows:

Object Type Layer Name Prefix Layer Name Modifier

See List, above Type in the desired prefix to the layer name Choose a particular Layer Name Modifier 'style' to append to the Layer Prefix using the Pick List.

Designers create/edit the Layer Name Modifier 'style' sets by clicking on the Create Layer Name Modifier button:

In the above Label Name Modifier style above, the resultant label name modifier would be -Road Name-Label.

Details of the form are as follows:

Add New Click on this button to create a new Label Name Modifier style.  The designer will be prompted to name the style

Delete Current Click on this button to delete the Current Label Name Modifier

Modifier Controls - This set of commands enables the designer to append the Road Name and/or the Label to the Layer Name Prefix assigned to particular CSD drafting outputs

  Current Label Name Modifier Pick list to select the Label Name Modifier style to set current for editing or deleting

The Label Name Modifier is made up of three components: Prefix to the Layer Name Modifiers, Layer Name Modifiers, and suffix to the Layer Name Modifiers

Prefix to Modifiers - sets a prefix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned

  Road Name Type in a textual prefix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned

  Code Type in a textual prefix for the Code modifier that can be assigned

Layer Name Modifiers - provides the capacity to include Property information (Road Name or Label) to include with the Label Name

  First Modifier Use the pick list to assign either the Road Name (and/or Model Name) property or the Code property as the first modifier in the label modifier text.  List of options is as follows:

Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties

  Second Modifier Use the pick list to assign either the Road Name (and/or Model Name) property or the Code property as the second modifier in the label modifier text.  Selection options as above.
Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties

Suffix to Modifiers - sets a suffix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned

  Road Name Type in a textual suffix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned

  Code Type in a textual suffix for the Code modifier that can be assigned

  Replace Underscores (_) with Spaces Tick this ON for the software to replace any _ values to be spaces in the prefix or suffix modifiers.

Apply and Exit Apply the changes and exit the form

Cancel Exit without applying changes

About Layer Names - How they Work

The software uses AutoCAD lines and polylines as part of the output of data. In the tab where you set up layer names that CSD uses for display of different design elements, users can set up the layer names required for different output types.

The Layer is made up of:

A Layer Prefix: this is a typed in name, and optionally:
A Layer Name Modifier: this appends to the Layer Prefix optionally with a combination of the Road Name and/or cross section Label (eg: LEB, LFPI, C.L.)

Linework outputted to the drawing is initially generated usin the CSD fastdraw graphics (as blocks) - there is a command to generate polyline outputs from this. Unless controlled otherwise, this polyline outputted linework would be controlled from the Explode to 2D Polyline and Explode to 3D Polyline layer controls

Designers can set up their own Layer Name Modifier 'styles' and apply them as desired.

Miscellaneous

The Miscellaneous section of the Active Drawing Settings allows users to modify settings for Arrow type, size and angle. As well as Arc to Chord distance for mdelling purposes, as well as allowing either single or multiple variations for codes at a single cross section. Users can also specifiy what tangent check tolerance they want the program to use.

	Arrow for Long Section
Arrow Type	Sets the arrow type to use on the long sections. Use the pick list to select the arrow head type rquired
Arrow Size	Sets the arrow size
Arrow Angle	Use the pick list to set the angle of the arrow
Arch to Chord Distance for Modelling	Sets the chord distance for display of vertical curves on Long Sections
Minimum Tangent Spacing	Sets the minimum spacing for display of tangents on Long Sections
	Variation Settings
Variation Settings	Users pick whether a Code can be modified by one Variation only, or if various Variations should make compounding edits on a Code
	Reports Listing Prompt
Display Opening Message for Reports	Untick to not display a confirmation message box before displaying reports
	Tangent Check
Tolerance (Seconds)	Set an angle tolerance that is acceptable for Tangency. This value is used when running the tangency check command.
	Display Checking
Show All Triangles	A 'debug' option to display all triangles - ignores any boundary and or edits applied to any surface.
Point Monitor	Special Notes: Does not apply to Civil 3D . Sets whether a tooltip is displayed in the drawing describing the position of the mouse cursor with respect to alignments in the drawing. Options:
Point Monitor On	Tick on to enable tooltip display
Tooltip	Tick on to display a dynamic tooltip next to the mouse cursor
Text Display	Tick on to display text in the bottom left corner
Item 1-4	Pick what to display on the tooltip. Options: Road Name, Chainage, Offset, Label, None

Section Lines	Controls width of sampled section lines, if displayed
Existing Width	If ticked on, applies widths as per the Resample Cross Section command > Section Widths form
Design Width	If ticked on, displays lines to match the width of the design (LBAT to RBAT) plus a user defined Design Extension
File Copies	Allows for backup of the data folders
Copy Method	None: no backup copies made ASCII Copy: makes all files for the data (as per current files/folders in the data folder) WinRAR: zips the data folder backup
Time Interval	Number of times opening the data set before making a backup
ALWAYS copy at startup	When the data folder is first opened, a backup of the data is made.
Speed Options	Additional controls to manage the speed of calculations and what is calculated.
Existing Surface Option	Controls whether sections are calculated 'on the fly' or saved to the data folders. Redo: does not save the sections: they are always calculated Save: saves the sections to file Redo requires more processor speed, so may slow on larger jobs.
Advanced Settings	Opens up advanced build controls. By default, CSD V13 and later auto recalculates all Roads, Kerbs, other road network objects and surfaces. This can become slower in larger jobs. The Advanced Settings allows the user to knobble the automatic rebuild processes. All inputs and controls are as described in the Advanced Rebuild Settings command.

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Source: https://www.help.civilsurveysolutions.com/OnlineHelp/CSD_Siteworks/Commands/ActiveDrawingSettings/ActiveDrawingSettings-CAD.htm