Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite: Your All-Purpose Collaboration Tool
Collaboration is an essential component of any project, whether it’s a BIM (Building Information Modeling) project, an IPD (Integrated Project Delivery) project, or a project using traditional project delivery methods. Autodesk has integrated collaboration tools into the Infrastructure Design Suite software to make collaboration more efficient and effective. Regardless of if your organization uses BIM, these collaboration tools (which you may not realize you already have at your fingertips) could be beneficial to your projects.
Collaboration in Civil 3D
Data Shortcuts
Regardless of the size of your team or project, Data Shortcuts in AutoCAD® Civil 3D® can help improve your collaboration with others. Data Shortcuts allow you to share Civil 3D objects such as Surfaces, Alignments, Profiles, and Pipe and Pressure Pipe Networks with others while maintaining the object properties and functionality. For example, a surveyor can create an existing Surface in a file, then that Surface can be shared with a civil engineer as a data reference, allowing the Engineer to target the existing Surface with Grading Objects, Corridors, and Pipe Networks in their own Civil 3D file. In addition, the Civil engineer can alter how the existing Surface looks in his file by changing the Surface Style. This also protects the surveyor's surface data from accidentally being modified or deleted during the project.
Another benefit of using Data Shortcuts is the ability to split project tasks between multiple designers on the same project. Two designers could be working on the same design, one concentrating on building a Corridor for the project, while the other one works on laying out a drainage system for the site using Pipe Networks. Each could Data Shortcut the other’s design into their working file, getting automatic updates of the data being changed by the other designer. Data Shortcuts are a great tool for local collaboration during your internal design and documentation.
Figure 1
Prior Version Compatibility
Another new feature in recent releases of Civil 3D is the ability to open files created in newer versions. This prior version compatibility allows Civil 3D users to collaborate with other users, offices, consultants, or clients—even if they aren't using the same version of Civil 3D. Most objects in Civil 3D 2014, 2015, and 2016 are backward-compatible with Civil 3D 2013. Be a little careful with this one, as not all object features are compatible with previous versions.
Civil 3D and GIS
When GIS data is available, it can be an essential source of information during the planning of a project. Civil 3D provides you access to many of the tools available in AutoCAD® Map 3D, Autodesk's GIS software solution, though the Planning and Analysis Workspace. Having access to these tools allows you to import, export, and utilize GIS data within your designs. Shapefiles created from GIS software can be imported directly into Civil 3D as basic AutoCAD® objects for use in your files. Objects can also be exported from Civil 3D as shapefiles to share data with a GIS system. You can also use the Map 3D tools to collaboratively work directly in a GIS database. Using a data connection, Civil 3D users can connect to a GIS database, load, modify, or create GIS data, and then merge the new data back into the GIS database.
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Civil 3D (2015 and 2016) can also export data in KML format, for import into Google Earth or other software packages.
BIM 360 Glue
If your organization uses BIM 360™ Glue®, Civil 3D can now export design data directly to the online coordination service for review and analysis. In addition, Civil 3D can "pinpoint" clashes detected in BIM 360 Glue within your Civil 3D model, allowing you to make the necessary modifications then resubmit the model to BIM 360 Glue. You must install the BIM 360 add-in during installation/deployment, or download it from the Autodesk website. This workflow can provide complete collaboration with a project team.
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Industry Foundation Class (IFC)
In a perfect world, everyone collaborating on a single project is using the same software, or at least software from the same software company. In reality, though, you may be asked to collaborate with others who are using software tools that aren't developed by Autodesk. Starting in Civil 3D 2016, IFC files can now be imported into your file or exported from your design. The IFC file format bridges the gap between different software solutions by using an independent industry standard format that is compatible with most BIM software tools. Civil 3D objects must be converted to 3D solids before being exported in IFC format. Civil 3D includes tools to convert Surfaces, Corridors, and Pipe and Pressure Networks to 3D solids.
Collaboration in the Infrastructure Design Suite
Civil 3D and Revit
Many times Civil 3D users are required to collaborate with an architect or structural engineer who is using Revit. There are two ways to collaborate with other consultants using Revit software. First, Revit users can export a 3D view of their model as an ADSK file, which can then be imported into Civil 3D as a Building Site object. Building Site objects can also be assigned a Civil 3D Style to control the display of the 3D model in plan, section, and model views. Using a Building Site instead of importing an exported DWG file also provides the ability to update the model within the Civil 3D file as updates are submitted by other consultants working on the project.
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Another tool available from Autodesk is the Shared Reference Point tool (subscription required). This tool allows you to specify reference points in Civil 3D, then export those points as an XML file to be imported into Revit, where the same two reference points are specified. Once these are set in Revit, you can export ADSK or DWG files from Revit and when they're loaded into Civil 3D, they will drop right into the correct true North orientation while still allowing the Revit users to work in project North. In addition, the Shared Reference Point tool will also work when exporting from Revit to Autodesk Navisworks® for additional collaboration opportunities.
InfraWorks 360
Starting with Civil 3D 2016 (also available in Civil 3D 2015 Productivity Pack 1 with subscription), you can open InfraWorks® models directly in Civil 3D. The most recent version of InfraWorks 360 also added a new Civil 3D DWG data import option that imports objects directly into the InfraWorks model. Although these tools are new (and probably need some additional functionality) this opens the door for collaboration either within a company or with clients, assuming these tools continue to be developed.
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With these tools, schematic design and design options could be created in InfraWorks by project managers or lead designers, then passed along to other designers or drafters for final design and documentation in Civil 3D. There are also tools available to automate creation of plan and profile sheets in Civil 3D from design roads in InfraWorks.
With the new import tool, Civil 3D designs can also be opened in InfraWorks 360 to create visualizations, or to study alternate design options with your design team or the client.
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C3D and Navisworks
Civil 3D can export files in the NWC format, allowing designs to be opened, appended with other models, and reviewed using Navisworks. This is important on projects where BIM model coordination is required, but can also be useful for reviewing designs during internal reviews or reviewing projects with clients. Civil 3D objects such as Surfaces, Corridors, Pipe Networks, and Grading Objects can be reviewed in Navisworks. The ability to append these objects to a Navisworks project model provides a centralized data set that can be beneficial when collaborating with other teams or consultants.
Collaboration in the Field
InfraWorks 360 App
InfraWorks models can also be shared with others by publishing Scenarios. Scenarios are a snapshot of an InfraWorks model that can be viewed using a web browser or on the InfraWorks 360 iPad app. Users viewing Scenarios can navigate the InfraWorks model, control layer visibility, and even use the GPS functionality in the iPad to locate and view the model in real-world situations. Imagine the impact of being able to take the client out to their site and allow them to view the model of their completed project draped over the existing site conditions.
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AutoCAD 360 Mobile
Civil 3D files can also be shared using the AutoCAD® 360 app, which allows multiple users to collaborate on the same DWG file, adding comments, photos, and markups that can be viewed by others accessing the file. This can be helpful for collaboration between project stakeholders from different offices, or communicating with staff in the field.
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Conclusion
With all of these tools built into the Infrastructure Design Suite, project collaboration, whether internally with a small team or on a large-scale BIM project, is definitely possible. Integrating Autodesk collaboration tools could be beneficial to improving collaboration on your projects. Hopefully this article was a helpful introduction to some of these tools, and will lead you to dig into one or more of these topics to improve your current processes, or begin to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate more effectively using the tools you already own.
