Five Features of the New Pipes Module in Civil 3D 2006

The new Pipe features in Autodesk Civil 3D 2006 are very powerful yet easy to manipulate and master. Because of the intuitive way this program was built, the user can easily customize pipe styles to dictate how pipes and structures are drawn, label styles to dictate how the labels are shown, and pipe rules to dictate parameters through which the network is designed. Here are five great features of this exciting program:

1) Pipe Rules allow the user to specify minimum, optimal and maximum slopes for the pipe network to be designed. On the Settings tab, under Pipe > Pipe Rules, these values can be set for the initial layout of the gravity drainage or sanitary system. In addition, rules for minimum and maximum cover and maximum length between structures can be set. Multiple sets of rules can be developed for different pipe sizes, materials, governing agencies, clients, etc.


2) Parts Lists enable the user to construct a network using standard pipes and structures. Lists are built under Settings > Pipe Network > Parts Lists. As a result of obtaining information from standard lists, structure and pipe attributes such as wall thickness and joint length are automatically built into the design. Parts lists also make it easy for the designer to itemize and schedule quantities for the project.



3) Pipe Label Styles are a way for the designer to customize how pipes and structures are labeled in both plan and profile. One intuitive dialog box contains all the options for governing label appearance and includes a nice preview window of the selected settings. A group of settings can also be customized to control how the labels appear in their “dragged state”, or when the label grip is used to position the label away from the component.



4) Curved Pipe alignments are now available. If the design for a project calls for a curved pipe segment, Civil 3D will allow the designer to add the proper segments and show them correctly in plan and profile.



5) Grip Edits are a very easy way to manipulate pipe networks once they have been initially laid out. Pipes can be stretched, moved or detached from structures just as easily as AutoCAD lines or curves. Structures can be moved with or without their pipes attached to them. The slopes and lengths of pipes as well as the height and sump elevation of the structures are recalculated and maintained in the network. The new alignments of any pipe and structures moved in this way will re-cut their appropriate surface and create updated profiles and cross-sections.