2024 Civil 3D Workshop Agenda

This year's virtual workshop provides attendees with the chance to attend every session at a much lower price. Sessions will be pre-recorded to ensure quality and speakers will be available during the presentation to answer questions. There will be on-demand access to all sessions after the event for registered attendees.

All times listed below are central time. Don't forget to share this event with anyone who might be interested!

Register for the Workshop
Workshop Kickoff (10:30 - 12:00 p.m.)

Speakers: Andrew Milford, Autodesk; WisDOT Team

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Join us for an exciting kickoff for the workshop! Hear from leadership in WisDOT and Autodesk about upcoming new features and changes. This session sets the tone for the event so don't miss it!

Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Generate Powerful Insights in Civil Engineering Projects (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Edmundo Herrera, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

This session will address how Generative Artificial Intelligence works in tandem with Autodesk's AEC Collections to create powerful insights into Infrastructure projects. This innovative collaboration represents the future of design review, and multiple examples will be presented demonstrating how results from Autodesk's AEC Collections are leveraged in Artificial Intelligence for advanced, high-speed analytics, providing critical insights essential for assessing and optimizing projects. We will also demonstrate how these insights can seamlessly enhance collaboration within Autodesk Construction Cloud and Autodesk Build, offering a streamlined project workflow from preliminary stages to construction.

Learning Objectives:

  • Review what AI is in the context of Autodesk's programs.
  • Discover how Autodesk is utilizing AI in infrastructure projects.
  • Understand the future of the technology and how it will affect everyday users.
Revolutionizing AEC Infrastructure Projects with Reality Capture Workflows and Autodesk Connectors for ArcGIS (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speakers: Ramesh Sridharan, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

In the rapidly evolving field of AEC infrastructure, integrating advanced technologies is crucial for project success. This presentation begins with an exploration of Reality Capture workflows and their transformative impact on asset data management. By leveraging Reality Capture, stakeholders can achieve precise and efficient data collection, ensuring accurate asset documentation and maintenance.

Learning Objectives:

  • Review the Reality Capture workflow.
  • Discover the importance of integrating new technology into your activities.
  • Learn what Autodesk is doing to make these new technologies functional for every day users.
Day in the life of a Civil Engineer: Using the Autodesk Connectors for Arcgis on your Project (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speaker: John Sayre, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

In this session, we will take you through the day in the life of a civil engineer working with existing conditions GIS data at the beginning of a project and talk about the importance of having a live link to data.  We introduce the Autodesk Connectors for ArcGIS, which seamlessly integrate the captured data with GIS systems, enhancing spatial analysis and decision-making. Together, these technologies create a cohesive workflow that captures, manages, and utilizes asset data, ultimately improving project outcomes and operational efficiency. Join us to discover how these innovative tools can transform your AEC infrastructure projects and drive value for all stakeholders involved.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the connection between Autodesk and GIS systems.
  • Discover how civil engineers benefit from seamless data integration.
  • Learn about Autodesk's plans to enhance these tools to keep pushing the field forward.
Ask the Experts - Q&A With Civil 3D Power Users (4:20 - 5:20 p.m.)

Questions about Civil 3D in general? Trying to figure out that one nagging problem? Join our speakers for in-depth discussion and additional training. Autodesk, WisDOT and other power users will be featured.
WisDOT Civil 3D Customizations: What's New Since Last Year (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Keith Sowinski, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Everyone

WisDOT provides a customized Civil 3D package that is used by internal staff, engineering consultants, local governments, universities, and more. It provides consistency in the development of project deliverables and increase the efficiency of many Civil 3D tasks.

Over the past year, WisDOT has implemented Civil 3D 2024, introduced some new tools, and enhanced several existing tools. This class is focused on reviewing what has changed since last year.

Learning Objectives:

  • Become familiar with the latest WisDOT custom tools.
  • Discover which existing WisDOT custom tools have been enhanced and how.
  • Learn how to get help with using the WisDOT customization and how to report any issues that are encountered.
WisDOT Structures Plan Production (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Danielle De Tennis, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Beginner

The Bureau of Structures has published a guide to Structures Plan Production to the Civil 3D Knowledge Base. This course will give an overview of the guide and work through an example.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to access the Structures Plan Production pages on the Civil 3D Knowledge Base.
  • Become familiar with WisDOT Bureau of Structures Civil 3D customizations.
  • Learn how to create structures plans.
Nerding Out w/Project Explorer: Cause Who Doesn't Love Organized DesignData? (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Eva Helps, ATG

Target Skill Level: Everyone

With the ever-growing amount of objects and data within Civil 3D projects, having a centralized hub like Project Explorer to manage that data and connect workflows will help teams work more efficiently, leading to better project outcomes. You will learn how to streamline your current processes by simplifying the review, validation, reporting, exporting and editing of your overall drawing data.  We’ll discover how to do that in Project Explorer by walking through the details of the main object tabs and available tools. You will get practice on how to determine data you can edit, manage the layout to fit the needs of the project design, and create an effective workflow designing in Project Explorer. Finally, you’ll learn how to share object and design data directly from Project Explorer using various output options.  Allowing you to quickly share necessary design info with stakeholders and team members, helping ensure communication and prevent clashes throughout a project lifecycle.

Learning Objectives:

  • How to effectively utilize Project Explorer to look at the different design data in your Civil 3D project. 
  • Editing the layout of the data, the actual data and comparing all inside Project Explorer.
  • Creating multiple types of output straight from Project Explorer that you can share within the project, internally, or collaborating with outside sources. 
Grading Optimization: Making Choices that Benefit Automatic Grading (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Russ Nicloy, MACER Technologies

Target Skill Level: Experienced

This session will look at Grading Optimization and how it can help users grade sites to optimal slopes or optimal balance. We will look at the importance of zones, and the use of lines and points to provide detail to the automated grading. We will also look at how to encourage desired results, and tools that can identify when results are trending towards undesirable results.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the roles of zones, lines, and points.
  • Learn how to encourage drainage in desired directions.
  • Learn how to change the objectives to balance volumes.
  • Learn how to use the visualization tools to analyze grading progress.
Optimizing Civil 3D Data for Performance in ACC (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Brad Hollister, Stantec

Target Skill Level: Everyone

There are powerful new workflows available in the Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) common data environment, but we need to understand how to effectively manage our data before we can realize these benefits.  

Have you ever worked with a DWG file that takes 5 minutes to open?  10 minutes?  20 minutes?  Me too!  ACC increases the importance of effective design data management as the Collaboration for Civil 3D system can be more sensitive to data management issues than our traditional network server-based work environment.

During our time together we will examine how data referencing patterns can influence Civil 3D performance when working in ACC, and explore an innovative new approach to structuring our DWG data that can lead to file opening performance improvements of up to 500%.  Join me in this discussion to learn how to streamline your Collaboration for Civil 3D experience to make the most out of Autodesk Construction Cloud’s capabilities.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore the reasons why Collaboration for Civil 3D system performance can be more sensitive to data management practices than our traditional network server based environment.
  • Learn how to restructure DWG referencing patterns to substantially improve system performance.
  • Learn how you can apply these new data management practices in your everyday design work.
Getting Free LiDAR data into Civil 3D through InfraWorks (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speaker: Eric Arneson, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Experienced

Sometimes you need surface data before a dedicated collection effort or you need a larger footprint than was collected. There are free and open sources of surface data that you can use in Civil 3D. This class will use one national dataset and one Wisconsin dataset and show the steps of processing the data through InfraWorks for use in Civil 3D. The class will cover the differences in the LiDAR datasets and what they should and should not be used for in solving engineering problems.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn about free available LiDAR datasets.
  • Learn how to bring LiDAR data into Civil 3D through InfraWorks.
  • Learn how to analyze LiDAR metadata and apply it to engineering problems.
Making Quick Roadway Design Models for Review and Public Uses (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Eric Arneson, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Experienced

Making a 3D roadway model that you could show to the public takes a lot of time and effort right? Not really. This class will show what's possible with WisDOT Civil 3D 2024 styles in Civil 3D and InfraWorks to quickly create a navigable model that can be used for internal review or a replacement for roll plots to the public. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to style 3D roadway models in Civil 3D for public use.
  • Learn how to process existing surface data to view seamlessly with proposed roadway design.
  • Learn the different work and options available in Civil 3D and InfraWorks for 3D model display.
Corridor and Profile Optimization in InfraWorks (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Russ Nicloy, MACER Technologies

Target Skill Level: Experienced

InfraWorks is a tool that focuses on early project design decisions. There are two tools that are designed to find the most cost effective horizontal and vertical designs. The Corridor Optimization looks at the best path for the design alignment through the existing conditions, considering cost and terrain issues. The Profile Optimization looks at a road design and finds the best profile options using cost and existing conditions as a guide. This session will look at these two tools in InfraWorks and how to get that proposed design paths into Civil 3D.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to run the horizontal optimization tools.
  • Learn how to run the profile optimization tools.
  • Learn how to move this data to a Civil 3D project.
Using Subassembly Composer to Derive Design Elements (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Martin Ramirez, Jacobs

Target Skill Level: Experienced

Stock "generic" Civil 3D subassemblies are very useful when creating temporary corridors. However, they lack some of features that are available in programs like InRoads. Some of these features are within the capability of Civil 3D but they are locked away. You can use subassembly composer to unlock the full functionality of Civil 3D corridors.

Learning Objectives:

  • Become familiar with creating your own subassemblies.
  • Learn how subassemblies work behind the scenes.
  • Gain more control over your design.
Pipe Networks for Storm Sewer – Basics and Beyond (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Dan Whitefoot, raSmith

Target Skill Level: Everyone

This course will review a few of the basic concepts for laying storm sewer and creating storm sewer plans through the use of pipe network in Civil3D.  It will also dive a little deeper into best practices, lessons learned, and exploration of some of the WisDOT custom tools to help with creating a complete pipe network.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn best practices for laying out pipe networks for storm sewer design.
  • Review WisDOT custom parts lists and tools to create, edit, and update pipe networks, and develop quantity take-offs.
  • Learn tips for creating clear and clutter-free storm sewer plan sheets.
Advanced Surface Modeling Tips and Tricks (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Eric Gates, EnvisionCAD

Target Skill Level: Beginner

This presentation will take a walk through the development process of designing the surface model for a roundabout. Along the way we will investigate an array of tips and tricks for constructing assemblies, laying out corridors and developing surface models and end with tips for planning and managing the design efforts.

Learning Objectives:

  • Demonstrate how to create surface and break line models using multiple layers of corridors.
  • Understand the power of point codes to define complex surfaces.
  • Develop a roadmap to design surface models using corridors and hierarchy of combining surfaces.
AI Revolution: Transforming Civil Engineering and Beyond (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speaker: Terry Walters, Stantec

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Join our enlightening talk on AI's role in reshaping civil engineering. We're at a critical point where BIM, Digital Twins, IoT, and AI merge to create a new industry standard. AI's progress in content generation and applications in various fields is leading towards AI-managed 3D BIM modeling. This shift will allow engineers to prioritize design goals, enhancing productivity and accuracy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discover how AI, BIM, Digital Twins, and IoT are revolutionizing civil engineering and setting new industry benchmarks.
  • Delve into AI's role in content creation across various domains, highlighting its influence on streamlining engineering design.
  • Learn how AI in 3D BIM modeling can elevate engineering efficiency, accuracy, and focus on design innovation.
Dynamic Blocks (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Danielle DeTennis, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Branch Out Your Designs with Conditional Subassemblies (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Russ Nicloy, MACER Technologies

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Conditional subassemblies allow a corridor assembly to change its design options as the conditions change along a corridor design. These changes could be completely different subassemblies for the effected stations or minor adjustments that subassemblies wouldn't normally make on their own. In this session we will look at the two types of conditional subassemblies and show the functions that the user must do to make sure the design needs are accomplished.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn use the Horizontal Target conditional subassembly.
  • Learn use the Cut/Fill conditional subassembly.
  • Learn the importance of targeting these subassemblies in your design.
Overview of Civil 3D Corridor Transition Techniques (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Steve Popke, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Changing the slope, width, height or depth along a design feature over a given distance is normal in highway construction plans. Usually, a combination of transitions is needed to engineer the desired outcome. Being able to efficiently model transitions along a corridor is essential in roadway design. Using the WisDOT Control Profile Editor tool in combination with WisDOT subassemblies is a great way to design corridor transitions. But what about Autodesk’s Corridor Transition tool? Have you heard of it? How does it compare to WisDOT’s method? Are there other options? This class will explore the various ways for handling corridor transitions and provide insights on the different approaches.

Learning Objectives:

  • Gain a greater understanding of the WisDOT Control Profile Editor.
  • Review the application of WisDOT Profile to Parameter Reference subassemblies.
  • Discover the capabilities of the Autodesk Corridor Transitions tool.
Survey Database Workflows (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Mark Schnesk, Seiler Design

Target Skill Level: Everyone

The Civil 3D Survey Database is a powerful tool for field to finish workflows for creating existing conditions drawings from surveyed data. This session will discuss key topics related to the survey database components, importing and processing and visualization of surveyed data, and the best practices for maintaining data integrity. By following these guidelines, users can effectively manage their survey data within Civil 3D, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and efficient project workflows.

Learning Objectives:

  • Review some of the most used features of the survey database.
  • Learn how to follow basic guidelines for work in the survey database to enhance productivity.
  • Discover some easy tricks that will easy your daily workflow.
Finding Clashes with Model Coordination in Autodesk Construction Cloud (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Billy Wong, Stantec

Target Skill Level: Everyone

The Model Coordination module within Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) provides a space for users to upload, review, and detect clashes between different sets of 3D models. During the design phase, different teams may work on separate models and model coordination helps ensure that these models fit together by detecting clashes. Project members can then review detected clashes and address them accordingly.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn to set up Model Coordination in ACC.
  • Learn how to find and resolve clashes.
  • Learn how to organize design files to best use Model Coordination.
C3D Tips and Tricks (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speakers: Mark Degner, AECOM

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Everyone benefits when tips and tricks are shared! Join the discussion and pick up a few new options to help your daily drafting and modeling with Civil 3D! Topics will include basic commands, settings, customization and extremely basic LISPs.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn some forgotten or newer commands.
  • Learn basic customization to suit your drafting style.
  • Learn very basic LISP writing to save a couple clicks.