CI123754

Infraworks, AutoCAD Civil 3D,and Revit 2018 Working

Together for Master Plan Design
Enrique Galicia
Concepto Integral S.A. de C.V.

Learning Objetives
• Learn how to create a workflow with AutoCAD Civil 3D and Infraworks
• Learn how to get quantities and export information in and out
• Learn how to use the same information on Revit 2018 for project development
• Learn how to export back and visualize on Infraworks

Description
In this class, we’ll learn how to work with a workflow between Infraworks software, AutoCAD
Civil 3D software, and Revit software, together for master plan design. We’ll start with the model
builder extraction from Infraworks, of the site, then we’ll look at how this file needs to be aligned
with the actual topography survey on AutoCAD Civil 3D and back to Infraworks, and how we
can work with these two having interactions using the SDF format. Next, we’ll cover how to
extract the topography models from Infraworks and AutoCAD Civil 3D to Revit so any building
pads and model elements can return or be used on both platforms to get quantities. We will
explore 2 case examples of this workflow with a touristic walk-through of a hotel project in
Huatulco, Mexico, and an urban planning project in Mexico City.

Your AU Expert
Enrique Galicia is a BIM Specialist and International Consultant who works on several Mexican,
and Saudi Arabian Firms, He provides real construction solutions to common problems while
implementing and using BIM, using Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, AutoCAD Civil 3d,
and Infraworks 360. He has 10 years of experience with workflows of BIM interoperability,
participated on more than 70 projects of diverse typologies, interoperability and has
programmed more than 37 Add-ins using the Revit API, presented at Autodesk University in
2012 with Harry Mattison on a lecture called Revit API for Constructors. Revit Architecture
Certified Professional, and Professor for more than 5 Years at Tecnologico de Monterrey on
BIM Topics. Has Developed more than 24 Courses on Udemy's Platform to spread the word
using BIM true potential with more than 1250 thousand students over 83 countries.
arq.enrique.galicia@gmail.com
WhatsApp - 525536666063

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Learn how to create a workflow with AutoCAD Civil 3D and Infraworks
Infraworks and Civil 3d are tools that manage the Civil engineering process and infrastructure.
Nevertheless, Infraworks scope is for presentation, while Civil 3D is specifically for analysis and
technical information, we will need both on a masterplan project and there’s no sense in not
taking advantages of what each software can do better and how they can connect the
information they have available.

The starting point would always come from the Model Builder on Infraworks, in this spot you
would create a scenario using web services to determine topography, roads and heights, even if
this doesn’t reflect the actual topography, it is still going to be valuable enough to the architect to
get started.

Let’s Review bullet points of coordinating those files.

And we start by using the model builder.

From this point on we can select where our project is the only limit we may have is to exceed
the 200sq km we can select the area and we need to select the group it’s going to be saved and
the name.

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And we hit create model.

Sometime later we will get our file on the main screen.

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The starting file would be around 300kb and it will download the information settings from
internet data sources.
It would have topography, and would present some roads and a land image.

Even if it looks promising be aware that the actual topography would be different because the
information we are having was taken from the images and data, pulled before.
Important thing about our file is to know what is the location we are at.
We can review that on the Settings button.

And on the model properties

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.
Because in this menu we will find the minimum and Maximum Value
Those are important because they would help us to get our files in proper position.

Coordinate Systems Civil 3d and Infraworks.

In this case we are working with a USC of LL84 that has Latitude and Longitude, and degrees
We need to keep that information close so we can transfer.
And a starting point we can export all model elements to civil 3d
We have two options as 3d Model and IMX file and we will use IMX because that format would
maintain information from the Infraworks model.

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And it will ask me for the model extends and the file location, am going to be using the same
location for all files.

Using the entire model, and creating a file on that route, now that we have exported the files as
IMX we can open the Autocad Civil 3d
We might want to use a basic template so it would have all the settings for a civil 3d model.
And on the Insert Tab as Civil 3d we have a Infraworks 360 button that would extract the IMX
file

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Page 7
 It would ask us to Set a Coordinate System and we will use Infraworks UTM84-14N

At the lower part, it has selection set method that can isolate the elements we might need.
As sample, we can select less roads, and less surfaces.

We will leave it with all elements on

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And set ok and open the model
And at the beginning might look like this.

And then we can zoom in and we will find that there are surfaces created following that border,
what has happened is that the main profile was pulled and the road is picking a reference

We have imported Infraworks surface to Civil 3d now anything we do over this file if the position
is maintaining will respond with it.

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So, we can delete the profile line and remain with the elements set.
All config visibility would be shown by the surface properties.
Because we used a blank file all properties are visible, and we can set the surface style properly
so it shows diferent source of elements.
Civil 3d will import a AIW Existing Ground a Surface AIW_Existing_Transportation and a
AIW_Proposed Ground just in case it has it.
We can change the properties with the surface style setting by right click on the surface

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 And by Clicking the Style properties we can manage to see more elements.

If we set visible the borders and the contours we will get deeper information.

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Files of Import and Export
Working on a Civil3d and Infraworks environment need you to know how to export from one to
the other one and vice versa.
Going Back to Infraworks has two diferent paths
IMX File
This option would bring Civil 3d elements as they are, it would import surfaces and
roads, we need to keep the positioning systems so that modifications would remain and
the Infraworks file would take the new file as the last layer of information, smaller
surfaces would work as a patch.
Its recommended that you join surfaces to get one result to go over it to avoid conflicts
while reading it.
So, for that process we will go the Output Tab and Select the option Export IMX

.
That would open the menu bar, asking for a folder

Just change path if needed and select the version you are using in this case 2.1
And then returning to Infraworks we got our data sources that would pop up the right-
side menu

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You can add on the first icon a IMX file

And with that you can get the Autodesk IMX property to select your file
It will pop up this window

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And as you can see is telling us which resources can be beneficial to the import, we
select them and set ok
And they will appear on the database with the file name

And there the two sources were extracted and configured but not imported we need to
double click them to select surfaces or roads to be used.

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 We got the same values from the civil file and with that we can select and at the lower
part we have a close and refresh button that would update the result.

SDF
The other process we can use for exporting is by SDF this will pull the element lines that
can be transformed later several types of elements.
I created some rectangles to show you the process for extraction

Lines can be created to be imported with elevation set or just to adapt to the terrain.
To export those lines, we use the command MAPEXPORT

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Select a location and then select the elements to be exported.

And then select manually the elements to be exported, its recommended that you set elements
by the type you want to import and avoid having on the same file concurrent edges.
Exported the two rectangles and now we can have imported on Infraworks

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And set it to be configured

Important options need to configure the type element.

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So that the rectangles would pick that setting
We can use building, coverage area, land area since it’s a closed element.
Building would set a rectangular extruded element
Coverage area would just set the lines of the space
Land Area would create gradings
Let’s use Land Area.

And on the source tab we have one options that says don’t drape, that would set if we want the
lines to adapt the terrain or the terrain to adapt the lines.
Set to no Drape and the platforms will appear.

It’s not changing visual quality we can configure that to reveal modifications, select the element
and change its style

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And just change it to be an existing grading or create a new style.

What to do Where
So, as you can see it may be thought that infrastructure projects can be work on any of those
platforms but the reality will be that the presenter capabilities of Infraworks would lead the

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conceptual design and the proposal review and the Civil 3d tools would manage to get elements
in place, and solutions to the project
Considering that the topography surface has been merge and we are working with both
platforms
Civil 3d - Infraworks– Civil 3d
File gets topography, on Civil 3d
Main ideas are imported to Infraworks creating proposals with several Civil imports
Once Idea is clear now it’s time to optimize results review for surfaces, and better road
performance
We might get volume quantities from civil 3d and set some comparison data.
And then elements can be flowing from infra to civil and vice versa.

Civil 3d Bullet Points

Accurate Topography
Surface analysis up to the millimeter
Roads and Alignments set to center profile
Gradings properly developed.
Values updated from civil parametric objects.
Infraworks Bullet Points
Appealing Graphical Style
Analysis modules clear for the teamwork – Elevations and Urban Settings
Road can be optimized for each set
Grading can be visualized.
Models from other platforms can be inserted.

With this setting, it’s up to the project where about to do the processes nevertheless we can
integrate Revit and Dynamo to the workflow and that can really speed up other processes.

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Learn how to use the same information on Revit 2018 for project
development

To bring Revit 2018 to the equation we need to export topography and use the coordinate
system to align all elements.
For that we need to see the difference in xyzzy values on the AutoCAD civil 3d file and then use
them as our coordinate to move the surface to the center point.
So, create a line that goes from 0,0,0 to the lower left corner where you can pick the reference

And then get the properties from that line

We will use that information on the Revit file to have a proper position of the shared site so if we
link dwf or Navisworks they can have same coordinate
As a recommendation leave the project base point angle to the top and just change the crop
view if rotation is needed, that would help the true north as well as interaction between diferent
software.
Save a copy of the File delete all elements except the surfaces, if you want to keep both you will
need to create a surface that joins both
You can do it by adding a new surface

And go to definition

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Paste the surface AIW_Existing_Ground and the Paste the AIW_Existing Transportation, hide
both originals by changing the surface style and create a snapshot of the generated surface that
way it will remain the same even if you move other elements.

Move that surface by the lower left point you used as a reference and now
Delete all other elements to avoid unnecessary exporting
If elements are missing do to set up create a rectangle and use it as boundary, it won’t matter it
goes far out because the reference you needed is already set with the origin point.

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Now we need to export this file so it can be read in Revit, it would make a huge difference the
level of detail we depend on the topography to get deeper detail, and the scale of the drawing if
we got too deep in detail on a huge scale Revit it’s going to have trouble using the file so just be
careful and if there are export issues change the grading distance.

First, we need to save it again with a ACAD legend just to understand and remember is no
longer a civil file and then explode the file 2 times so now the grading are just lines.
Save that file and now we can go to Revit.

Coordinate Systems
01_Location – For Sustainability purposes we need to set the same location of the project so we
would go to the Manage Location tab

And we can use the lower left coordinates of the Infraworks file the only thing is that we need to
set first the y and then the x value

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That would set the project location but for the project we need to make visible the site
Go to visibility graphics and set the site project base point, project survey points and then on the
base point modify the coordinates with the cad file
First review that units are in meters

That would set a cero value for the center but a shared coordinate
The same thing happened with the N/S related to the Y Value and the E/W related to the X
Value.

Topography Import
Now that we have the coordinates set up we can bring the link cad of topography

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And with those lines we can get a proper Topography

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Select Import Instance and use the Layers from the Grading Lines.

Files of Import Export

We have now the information we create from Infraworks connected with civil and Revit, if we
want to export elements from Revit to Infraworks we can use several formats.

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 RVT
Will import in Infraworks all elements from model before going to a cloud analysis
process that would eventually transforms the file on a FBX

FBX
Will import visible elements on selected view with their materials, this option is
recommended for most of Revit imports, but it would need to decrease polygons on
complex elements otherwise Infraworks would rapidly slow the performance

IFC
No performance issues but materials will go blank so if we are aiming for analysis can be
a good option since the file weight goes at least five times less than FBX.

The process of inserting elements would need from us to set type element and the insertion
coordinates that we already have in this case elevation is automatically save as 0 but width and
height needs to use the location coordinates
Let’s Send some floors to Infraworks.

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Export the view with just the visible items to FBX

Then on Infraworks use the data sources to add a 3D Model and choose the file previously
created.
Double Click on the added element and configure it to be a building, set the coordinate system
to be XY-IFT and the LL84 Local Origin with the XYZ values from the lower left corner of the
Infraworks model, and use the height you got from the civil 3d and now it’s all coordinated to
import files on locations.

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What to Do Where
Now that we have the three tools working together it’s still important to understand pros and
cons to create elements.
Going with Revit would mean that the level of detail is now heading to a construction
background and that elements need proper solutions to create its settings.
Revit would increase the certainty of quantities and would set all coordinate settings, would
create much more appealing results and would set a clear relation between objects and their
properties.

Revit Bullet Points

Parametric Objects to each circumstance
Details and elements integrated in topography
Linked Files and Multiple integration of elements.
Access to Dynamo Tools
Sustainability Analysis

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Complements to Revit for Information Handling
Revit by itself won’t have much use other than using building pads, and quantity comparison in
extraction volumes.
But with dynamo we have a deep relationship with its generative potential to complement
modeling by analysis.
We can extract topography, get surfaces, interact with the building pads, create elements to
connect and then export everything back to Infraworks.

Learn how to get quantities and export information in and out

Quantities are one of the main benefits that you could get using a mixed workflow, because it’s
difficult to do the process by hand it takes time and you cannot compare and on infrastructure
project small differences can transform into big losses.
Quantities from Infraworks
Quantities from Navisworks can be taken for review proposes and function you have this tool

s
That can help you with distance and slopes and have the terrain statistics, but that doesn’t work
for 3d quantities just for area of surface.

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Quantities from Civil 3d
On Civil 3d you can compare and create volume surfaces so for that we need to export the
topography once again and use it an inserted on the same file we got the previous one
Let’s remember to use the file whose location still the original and insert the new import
Delete the extra lines or you can also just export the surfaces.
AIW_Existing Ground and AIW_Existing_Graound are the same so we can delete one.
But for comparison purposes we need to create a paste composite of AIW_Existing_Ground
and AIW_Existing Transportation as we saw it before.
Called them Original and Comparison.

There may be cases that the information may need an audit

Use the command audit and fix errors in case something is missing and review your surfaces
moving the surface settings.
And in case you find any gaps create a boundary by rectangle to fill them.
Draw a rectangle on the analysis area.

And on the surface definition go to boundaries and set Add

Then on the Boundary name the rectangle as the surface and set it as

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Now that both surfaces are complete create a volume surface

And from there you can set base surface as original and comparison as comparison to create a
volume surface
Hide the surfaces original and comparison by changing the surface settings
And something like this would appear

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And with that we can get volumes and graphs of quantities
Select the volume surface and click on the Volumes Dashboard

Add the Volume to the dashboard.

And see the results

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You can change the visibility of elements on the surface style
Edit the surface style and on the Analysis Tab change the elevations to be Rainbow

And from there change the display settings to be on Model Elevation turned on

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Then Check the Results

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Quantities from Revit 2018
Now on Revit the quantity process it’s much simpler and it can be clearly review.
First, we need to configure our phases to have at least two Existing and Construction and then
we need to get our topography on the existing one so in the view it appears on gray setting the
filters to New Construction.

For the excavation proposes we need to use building pads to set what we want to excavate so
we can draw some platforms.

And then set the visibility to show complete so far if se select the topography on the building
pads its stills don’t show any info,

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 We need to create a graded region so go to the massing and site and create a Graded Region

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And create a topo surface exactly like the existing one this will pull all volume points and by
accepting

Now two diferent topo surface are interacting and our building pad topography has information
regarding volumes

With that information, we can compare optimize and extract proper information.

Learn how to export back and visualize on Infraworks

We had review the export back process for independent elements such as models on Revit
What we are really missing is how to use the building pad information we got and transform it
again into surface value that can show up what’s happening on the topography model.
We need to extract the lines on the excavation and filing platforms so we can use it on Civil 3d
and later export it to Infraworks.
Extracting the Lines from Revit
We need to get the outlines of platforms if we export files and extract their info it would take a lot
of time so we are going to use two dynamo functions and Flux

Dynamo Extraction
We need to set the view with only the necessary components for extraction, just the
building pads.

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 Let’s open Dynamo on the Manage and Visual Programing Tools and we are just going
to use some basic functions that can be saved for later use.
Create a New Script

And on the search tab write select faces

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Then click on the Select Button and go the Revit pick both upper faces and set finish to close
the selection.

On Dynamo now we have a selection with two ids

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And on the back, we can navigate by clicking the upper right items

And we see the location of items on the screen next we need to get the perimeter curves from
surfaces
Search for the function Perimeter Curves and connect

And then we need to transform curves into polycurve with function Polycurve.ByJoinedCurves

And finally, a Flatten so we can collect all our perimeter curves.

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Flux with Lines
Flux is a great tool and it features the sharing of objects between multiple files
We need to install on Dynamo as well as on Civil 3d to perform the operation.
Once Installed on Dynamo we get some tools

That we can use to send the information from Dynamo to a cloud service.

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This case I’m using a Flux project called Test1 with a Flow Control of Once and send
both polycurve to cad.
Once it has run we can use it in cad just go the Flux Tool Bar and set the receive button.

Pick the receive button and select the project and the key value to receive
By that now you would have the polycurve on Civil 3d Translate them to the real
coordinate and export to SDF

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And with that you are now able to send it to Infraworks and load the sdf files as land
areas.

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Project Samples
Let’s review some sample workflows
Huatulco Project Overview
Project got topography from civil 3d and master plan from dwg files
Roads and Pads were developed on Revit and exported back to civil 3d.
Levels got modified 3 times using quantities in Revit.

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El Cristo Project
Project got topography with a unit’s mistake and fixed on civil
Masterplan Roads where reviewed and fixed to set element visibility
Four spaces for sale where reviewed with two proposals to settle the selling agreements

Elisia Queretaro Master Plan

Project got topography of the complete set
Roads and parcels where established by quantity processes.
Roads where review to slope issues on Infraworks, and improved on civil 3d
After 4 versions, result was set to solve all slope problems

Huatulco MEB Project

Project got topography from master plan proposal
Integration of roads and buildings gave the excavation numbers to construction,
Excavation volumes on such solid ground became an issue and so does the excavation for
installations.
Project needed to be modified to be reestablished.

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Want to Learn More?
Review other courses developed on PracticalBIM
BIM Mastering Geometry on Revit with Dynamo Samples and Uses
This course has some elements for modeling with topography
https://www.udemy.com/bimmdgeo/?couponCode=AUVEGAS2017

Infraworks, Civil3d, Revit and Dynamo 2018

This course goes all way inside about the use of integration workflows
https://www.udemy.com/bimmdgeo/?couponCode=AUVEGAS2017

Coming Soon to English

Infraworks, Civil 3d and Revit 2018 For Master Plan Design

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Hope you enjoy this lecture and see you around.

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