Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024, What’s New in Civil 3D 2024?
It’s always fun to see the new items in all of Autodesk products. Could there be more? Absolutely!! But continuing to see enhancements of key features and performance updates throughout the year, and with the annual release, this is always a date I look forward to!
Keep in mind that some things like Project Explorer and Grading Optimization are now included in Civil 3D and/or the AEC Collection! And an exciting new product joins the AEC Collection (and Revit) called Twinmotion! So aside from just the new things in our favorite hero products, there is a lot more to offer if we choose to expand our workflow just a bit. However, there are some great new features and functionalities in Civil 3D 2023.2 and 2024. Here are just a few:
Civil 3D Corridor Transitions
Civil 3D 2023.2 Corridor Transitions
Civil 3D 2023.2 added controls for transitioning subassembly parameter values across a defined station range. This allows for greater flexibility in modelling complex roadway features and saves time setting up target linework, separate regions, and multiple assemblies.
You can also create linear, slope, and elevation transitions on corridor feature lines which reduces the need for complex, custom subassemblies.
Some of the top use cases include:
- Daylight slope transitions
- ADA ramps and driveways
- Bus bays
- Turn lanes
Civil 3D 2024 Corridor Transitions
Controls for defining subassembly transition parameters allow for greater flexibility and controls in the corridors. You can establish a transition (or series of transitions) in one corridor, then export the transitions and import them into a new corridor or drawing.
2024 also introduces:
- Support for locking the length of a transition to allow easy movement of the transition along the baseline.
- Support for rearranging transitions in the list to allow the customer to specify the order in which transitions are processed.
- Support for panning/zooming to transitions from within the dialog box.
- Added support for creating transitions by selecting the .NET class name of the subassembly.
- API for creating transitions.
Pressure Pipe Networks
One of the places we need to see a lot of improvements is in Pressure Pipes, and gravity pipes for that matter, but Civil 3D 2024 adds some pretty good improvements for pressure network layouts and editing, including, but not limited to:
- Added the ability to set a separate user-defined block for displaying vertical bends in plan view.
- Added the ability to display a hatch pattern for pressure network fittings and appurtenances in plan view.
- Added the ability to consider the branch angle when automatically creating branch fittings (tee vs wye).
- Utilized the existing PipeNetworkSyncMode system variable to control when you are notified to synchronize pressure network parts in addition to gravity networks when they are changed by data shortcuts.
- 0 = Notifies to synchronize when the geometry changes
- 1 = Notifies to synchronize when the geometry, name, or description change
- 2 = Notifies to synchronize when the source drawing is saved
- Added support for more scaling options for user-defined blocks in plan view for fitting and appurtenance styles.
- Added the automatic vertical rotation of branch fittings to align with branch pipe run slopes.
- Added the ability to connect a pipe run to another pipe run at a tee, wye or cross.
- Added the ability to convert a pipe run line segment to an arc or an arc segment to a line.
- Added the ability to merge pressure networks by using the MergePressureNetworks command or the Merge Pressure Networks button on the ribbon.
- Added the Flip grip on pressure network reducers in pressure networks in profile view to flip vertically eccentric reducers.
Rail – Turnout API
The Rail Turnout API expands the capabilities of Civil 3D and allows customers to include data from other software platforms or drafting standards.
Turnout APIs are added to allow users to create/edit a simple turnout.
- Rail Companies are requesting turnout APIs so that design data from other software like TopoRail can be imported to Civil 3D for their digital transformation.
- Rail companies have their own drafting requirement, with new turnout API, make it easier for them to adopt Civil 3D.
Connector for ArcGIS enhancements
Enhancements to the Connector for ArcGIS to give customers greater control over import/export of existing conditions data.
- Added the capability to import objects from ArcGIS as AutoCAD point/polyline/polygon.
- Added the capability to configure settings when importing objects from ArcGIS:
- o For all supported types of geometry: COGO point, alignment, feature line, pipes, structures, parcels, and AutoCAD objects.
- o Query subset of objects for each type.
- o Assign different stylization, labels, etc. for each subset.
- Added support to import arc objects into Civil 3D as arcs.
Civil 3D - Project Explorer
Project Explorer is incorporated into Civil 3D!
Want to learn more about Project Explorer? Check out this article I did a while back on the features and functionality of the program.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/551hw61brcoy4os/AW202202hr.pdf?dl=0
Subassembly Composer – 2023, 2023.2 & 2024
Subassembly Composer Enhancements (2023)
- Added the ability to create an auxiliary curve object (comparable to the auxiliary line and auxiliary point objects).
- Customers can use the auxiliary curve to create temporary geometry to base other design elements upon.
- Added indicator to inform users when the subassembly they are working in has unsaved changes.
Subassembly Composer Enhancements (2023.2)
- Predefine standard point, link, and shape codes and apply predefined codes to assembly geometry.
- Share codes across teams and projects.
- Find and Replace codes within the assembly with familiar functionality.
Subassembly Composer Enhancements (2024)
You can now manage changes to assembly deployments and configurations more efficiently. Subassemblies are shown in Toolspace to allow users to view versions and the subassembly status. Corridors will show a notification when they need to be rebuilt based on changes to the subassemblies. The PKT file can be saved and refreshed without restarting Civil 3D.
Label performance improvements
I’m not a huge fan of this “improvement” just yet, but thought I’d mention it in case you wanted to turn off this functionality.
- Labels automatically turned off when zooming out.
- Labels adaptively generated within viewport extents.
- Control all label visibility with the new TOGGLELABELVISIBILITY command.
- AECCLABELOPTIMZE
- When this is turned on Group Labels that are outside the modelspace viewport range are not drawn
- AECCLABELOPTFLAGS
- Use this command to control and manage the redraw behavior of Group Labels in Profile Views and Section Views.
- 0 - Neither of above two settings are turned on
- 1 - Regen the labels if needed when the view is panned or zoomed
- 2 - Reduce the number of labels that are drawn inside the viewport
- 3 - Both the above two settings are turned on
- Use this command to control and manage the redraw behavior of Group Labels in Profile Views and Section Views.
- The AECCVIEWPORTOPT system variable controls whether labels in paper space will be drawn if they are not within the extent of the viewport.
Navisworks 2024 – Alignment Support
Navisworks is now Civil 3D alignment aware and can utilize the design alignments for visualization and navigation within a model. Users can use the function to view station locations or section views of the Civil 3D Corridor. There is a new “Civil Alignments” panel on the “Views” tab of the Navisworks Ribbon.
NAVISWORKS 2024 CIVIL ALIGNMENT ENHANCEMENTS
- Visualize alignments and station labels.
- Visualize, navigate, and leverage alignment data from Civil 3D corridors to enhance review of transportation projects.
- Display Civil 3D alignments from DWG/NWC and opened via Model Coordination
- Step or drive along an alignment, cutting sections at station intervals.
- Measure point locations relative to active alignments.
ReCap Pro 2024
I don’t remember the last time ReCap had a real noteworthy update! I’ve said for the last decade that ReCap needs feature extraction tools. Autodesk attempted with Infraworks, but that failed miserably. I think they are onto something with the Linear Feature Extraction tool introduced with the 2024 release. It's definitely a good start, now I can’t wait to see where they take it.
CLASSIFICATION MANAGEMENT
- ReCap now extends classification management and automatic ground classification to scans imported from all different types of raw scans.
RECAP VIEWER LINEAR FEATURE EXTRACTION
- ReCap Viewer now allows users to extract geometry of linear features that will greatly help draw in your existing hard surface lines (concrete, curbing, asphalt, etc.) making the generation of your surface models much more lightweight and useable.
Twinmotion
Access to Twinmotion for Revit is included with the subscription to standalone Revit, the AEC Collection, Flex, or Enterprise Agreements, available as a part of Revit 2023.1 Update and the 2024 release(s).
With Twinmotion for Revit, Autodesk users can easily bring their designs to life and create high-quality visualizations in a fast, interactive creative process. Everything from photorealistic stills and animations to compelling immersive VR is possible.
AutoCAD Platform Items
Here are a couple new things to look forward to in all AutoCAD platform products:
- SMART BLOCKS: PLACEMENT & REPLACEMENT
- PLACEMENT: Automatically place blocks in your drawing by inferring the position of the next block based on where you’ve inserted the same ones thus far in your DWG file, reducing the number of clicks and saving you time in the process.
- REPLACEMENT: Quickly find the blocks you need and replace one or more of your blocks via machine learning-based suggestions, recently used blocks, and manual substitute block selection. These powerful automations allow you to save time that you would have spent manually looking for blocks and replacing each instance, giving you a productivity boost.
- MARKUP IMPORT & ASSIST
- Make your cross-platform markup workflows faster through expanded machine learning capabilities and essential experience improvements, allowing you to share and annotate your drawings safely and securely across desktop, web, or mobile devices. With Markup Import, incorporate feedback from a PDF or printed paper and automate drafting changes to your drawings. With enhanced Markup Assist, you can now update existing drawing text and automatically fade the markups you have addressed. AutoCAD uses machine learning to detect certain instructions in the markup text enabling shortcuts to commands like “MOVE,” “COPY,” or “ERASE.”
Conclusion
I may not have covered all the features and there may not seem like a ton of new features, but the new features and enhanced features will help in your everyday workflows.
I would love to hear from you regarding the new features and features you would like to see added or enhanced, so feel free to call or email me anytime.
