If you are an AutoCAD Civil 3D user being asked to provide data to your geographic information system (GIS) department, if you are being asked to use GIS data as background data for your designs, or if you think GIS is a 4-letter word-this class will answer this all-too-common question: "Why should I care about GIS?" You will learn to import GIS data not only as AutoCAD objects, but also directly as AutoCAD Civil 3D objects like Surfaces and Pipe Networks that use the existing database information. Once that data is in AutoCAD Civil 3D software, we'll explore ways to use it with labeling tools and other display techniques. This popular class has won the award for Best Hands-on Lab at Autodesk University; don't miss your chance to learn how the GIS tools in AutoCAD Civil 3D can make you more productive by automating common everyday tasks.

If you’re an AutoCAD Civil 3D software user who’s being asked to provide data to your geographic information system (GIS) department, if you’re being asked to use GIS data as background data for your designs, or if you think GIS is a 4-letter word, this class will answer this all-too-common question: “Why should I care about GIS?” You will not only learn to import GIS data as AutoCAD software objects, but you’ll also learn to import GIS data directly as AutoCAD Civil 3D software objects like Surfaces and Pipe Networks that capitalize on the existing database information. The request to provide design data to GIS departments is becoming more common every day. This class will explore the details of why just sending them a drawing is often not enough. We will explore ways to export AutoCAD Civil 3D software objects to GIS formats that your GIS department can use easily and consistently. Finally, you will learn about other GIS tools in AutoCAD Civil 3D software that can make every AutoCAD Civil 3D software user more productive by automating common everyday tasks.

Are you an AutoCAD Civil 3D software user who’s being asked to provide data to your geographic information system (GIS) department? Are you being asked to use GIS data as background data for your designs? Do you think GIS is a 4-letter word? If so, this class will answer this all-too-common question: “Why should I care about GIS?” You will not only learn to import GIS data as AutoCAD software objects, but you’ll also learn to import GIS data directly as AutoCAD Civil 3D software objects like Surfaces and Pipe Networks that capitalize on the existing database information. The request to provide design data to GIS departments is becoming more common every day. This class will explore the details of why just sending them a drawing is often not an adequate way to satisfy that request. We will explore ways to export AutoCAD Civil 3D software objects to GIS formats that your GIS department can use easily and consistently. This popular class has won the award for Best Hands-on Lab at Autodesk University—don’t miss your chance to learn how the GIS tools in AutoCAD Civil 3D software can make you more productive by automating common everyday tasks. This session features AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D.

If you are an AutoCAD Civil 3D user being asked to provide data to your Geographic Information System (GIS) department, if you are being asked to use GIS data as background data for your designs, or if you think GIS is a 4-letter word, this class will answer this all-too-common question: "Why should I care about GIS?" You will learn to import GIS data not only as AutoCAD objects, but also directly as AutoCAD Civil 3D objects like Surfaces and Pipe Networks that use the existing database information. Once that data is in AutoCAD Civil 3D software, we'll explore ways to use it with labeling tools and other display techniques. This popular class has won the award for Best Hands-on Lab at Autodesk University. Don't miss your chance to learn how the GIS tools in AutoCAD Civil 3D can make you more productive by automating common everyday tasks.

How many times do we re-create and re-engineer design data? Wouldn't it be nice to work with Autodesk, Inc., design tools and directly use existing geographic information system (GIS) data to store and retrieve data regardless of data format? There is always a difference between the design-mode land GIS model that makes this process costly and inefficient. This class will demonstrate how you can configure and use the AcClassify GIS data utility to translate data (round-trip and on the fly) to and from your enterprise GIS. You will learn how to use the AcClassify data utility to define profiles that encapsulate the complexities of data model transformation, and you will see how AcClassify works with the current AutoCAD Utility Design software data exchange (DX) adaptor to create a smooth workflow. You will also see how to use AcClassify for many other dynamic transformations, including those between Autodesk design tools and the cloud.

Good old-fashioned paper drawings have a wealth of information that can complement the lifecycle of a design, and when they are scanned into a digital format, they offer potentially more than any modern data capture method. Image data is pervasive and is more often than not a prerequisite for a project, but how can you make sense of a dirty, warped scanned document? Is it the correct location, and does it have the correct geography? How can you extract intelligence from the image, thus extending the value of this existing information? AutoCAD® Raster Design software helps you to easily clean, edit, enhance, and maintain scanned drawings and plans in a familiar AutoCAD® environment. This class explores the tools that are available with AutoCAD Raster Design and how to get the most from your imagery using powerful raster editing and raster-to-vector conversion tools.

The use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in an engineering consultancy company is very much a question of predicting field problems in order to anticipate resolutions and thereby avoid rework, delays, and possible negative impacts for the client. Using BIM, as well as Autodesk tools, has enabled us to reach this level of maturity of delivering value to the end customer in order to ensure that some studies and concepts can be virtualized and stressed in advance, causing the least possible impact on the constructions. The objective of using BIM in a consultative engineering company is certainly given by the role of manager; therefore, we have as main characteristics of use the thought of monitoring and managing the enterprise, using the models for validations and changes in scope, planning assistance, attack plan analyzes, earth-moving analyzes, and so on.

Have you experienced any of these issues with AutoCAD products: slow opening of drawings, crashing, pausing within AutoCAD, and slow plotting? Clients, sub-consultants, and approving agencies often have DWG™ files that get corrupted. This can cause loss of work and missed deadlines. Drawing corruption can range from small annoying issues to being unable to open or print files. This corruption can affect your files and spread across your projects rapidly. In this session, we will explore methodologies and workflows to prevent files from getting corrupted due to internal and external factors. We will review 7 things that cause drawing slowness, and we’ll show how to repair the drawings.

As CAD managers, tech managers, designers, and product users, we use AutoCAD software (and AutoCAD-based software) in a variety of ways—from project design requirements through drawing production standards automation and technical support. AutoCAD includes an extensive number of tools that can positively impact productivity by eliminating inconsistencies, assisting with standards conformance, and troubleshooting challenges—all while attempting to avoid errors, budget loss, and risk. Please join us for this class as we discuss six key AutoCAD productivity tips that can help you achieve your efficiency goals—from the single designer, to an entire project design team, to all of the company’s drawing production staff. Let’s explore how you can capitalize on and implement some of AutoCAD software’s advanced productivity tools to gain the upper hand!

A common workflow issue is managing drawings with CAD standards issues: blocks on the wrong layer, text with the wrong style or size, and so on. But taking the time to fix these issues can be a daunting process. In this lab, we will walk through several tools that AutoCAD software offers to speed up this process. You will also learn techniques to make your drawings open faster, have smaller file sizes, and reduce crashing. This is a crucial part of your day-to-day workflow!

As more importance is being placed on Building Information Modeling (BIM) models and 3D deliverables and the lifecycle management of project data, there is still the need to present the 2D representations of the model in a clear and concise format that utilizes time-tested effective practices for drawing and drafting standards. In most cases our deliverables are still the 2D plan sets. How many of your engineers, designers, and architects utilize software design packages but have not been instructed in effective drafting practices that help to tell the story on the construction documents that are going to the contractor? In this round-table session we will discuss what organizations are doing to preserve the craft of drafting, and we'll cover how to handle moving between the 3D models to a 2D plan set deliverable.

The U.K. government has mandated that all government-funded projects must be delivered to Level 2 Building Information Modeling (BIM) by 2016. In a breakout from U.K. convention, companies have used AutoCAD Civil 3D software as the highway design tool for the Building Information Modeling (BIM) model and Revit software and Structural Bridge Design software for the major bridge structures. While 3D BIM models have been around for many years, there usually has not been any attendant data attached (beyond the inherent geometry) to models generated from AutoCAD Civil 3D software. We will discuss various strategies and methods for creating additional asset data in AutoCAD Civil 3D, and propose and demonstrate a method of attaching additional data to the BIM model and linking this to both the AutoCAD Civil 3D software entities and the Navisworks objects for Field BIM software. As part of this process, we will also discuss how Civil 3D objects may be used to represent real-world assets in the BIM model. Finally we will explore the result of customisation using .NET plug-ins to Civil 3D to further enhance the ability to link data to the BIM model.

Do you spend 10-20 minutes or more configuring settings every time you need to print or publish (PDF, DWF) a file? Are you familiar with AutoCAD software's Batch Plot command but it's just not working for you? In this session, we'll learn the best ways to manage the printing and publishing of our drawings.

It takes more than vision when you are first on the ground and last to leave in today’s budget-tight, target-rich environment at the "silicon heart" of the world’s economy. Can the survey department of a large urban/suburban metropolitan area teach us about how to practically implement, learn, and employ AutoCAD Civil 3D software? The department's ecosystem is a political and complex technical network that includes every known form of municipal infrastructure—from the oldest state historic sites, high tech campuses, and a large international airport. Their historic and demanding customers work in a variety of CAD design and GIS software from AutoCAD® to Bentley® MicroStation® and beyond. They have gigabytes of historical data, multiple input data forms, and more output standards, reports, and changing job requirements than anyone ever wants to deal with. That’s the job. How do they and the Civil 3D survey features deliver the technical muscle, quality assurance methods, standards flexibility, and productivity to get it done?

A common workflow issue is managing drawings with CAD Standards issues - blocks on the wrong layer, text with the wrong style or size, etc. I could go on and on about all the issues we face with standards in our AutoCAD files. But taking the time to fix these issues can be a daunting process. In this lab, I will walk you through several tools that AutoCAD offers to speed up this process!

You will also learn techniques to make your drawings open faster, have smaller file sizes, and reduce crashing.  This is a crucial part of your day to day workflow!

Using civil virtual design and construction technology is never an easy battle. There are numerous hard expenses upfront and soft expenses that follow. Often individuals have to create plans when they don't understand the full implications of using new technology and providing new services. This course explores how to successfully develop an implementation plan, how to quantify results, and how to see that returns are realized. We will provide examples from Sundt Construction Inc.'s own experience of implementing technology into the office and the field.

Often engineers and designers are asked to provide preliminary designs for roadways, utilities, and infrastructure with minimal existing data. An advantage of using AutoCAD Civil 3D software for preliminary design is its ability to access and use data available through geographic information system (GIS). Before ground survey is available, you can retrieve surface data, political boundaries, roadways, and water feature information directly from GIS and reference it in to AutoCAD Civil 3D software. With the preliminary design complete, move straight into production once the ground survey and other data becomes available by swapping out the GIS data and using the design information generated in AutoCAD Civil 3D software.

Learn how to implement annotation scaling in your organization. Whether you would like to start with small steps or go all out, you will learn all levels of migrating these tools into your daily workflow. Learn about annotation scaling and how it works with hatching, text, linetype scale, dimensions, and all of the other options. See how you can "bring this technology home," improve your productivity, and reduce unnecessary hours spent on annotations. This class is designed to assist you in building a new workflow for annotations in your organization. This session features AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, and AutoCAD Map 3D. AIA Approved

As CAD managers, we face a variety of challenges when developing, supporting, and coordinating adoption of a company’s CAD standards package. These tasks can include a variety of considerations, such as user acceptance, change management, production impacts (or disruptions), training prerequisites, collaboration techniques, solution architecture, rollout strategies, feedback protocols, and, of course, user pushback. Join the speaker for this roundtable discussion as we explore strategies that have worked (and those that have not) and discuss what you need to know as a CAD manager when “selling” the standard—from the single drawing-production staff member through upper-tier management. This is an opportunity to share your CAD management experiences with others in attendance. Participation is expected.

How common is it that a company's geographic information system (GIS) department has all of this useful data but the civil department never uses it? The answer: it’s common. AutoCAD Civil 3D software comes with the full suite of AutoCAD Map 3D software tools, and it’s high time you learn how to use them. Many of the AutoCAD Map 3D tools are not just for GIS professionals, but also for civil designers and surveyors. AutoCAD Map 3D is the bridge between the GIS world and the CAD / Building Information Modeling (BIM) world, and the gap is getting smaller every day. Reducing design time and lowering costs are just 2 benefits from using GIS data that already exists—and that may exist in the GIS department on the other side of your cube wall. We’ll cover some of the core AutoCAD Map 3D tools, including Map Connect (FDO connection), ODBC, and Object Data linking, as well as fundamental map styling.