As a follow-up to my previous blog, we have all the content that was available in Autodesk Civil 3D: Fundamentals now in two new learning guides called Essentials and Beyond the Basics. My focus for this blog will be on the content within Essentials and what you can expect from this new guide.
The Autodesk Civil 3D 2023: Essentials guide is designed to cover three days’ worth of content. It is geared towards new and novice users of the Civil 3D software. A working knowledge of the AutoCAD software and the computer’s operating system, plus a basic understanding of civil terminology and concepts is recommended. This learning guide focuses on the essential skills that users need to get started with Civil 3D and to develop a comfortable level of proficiency with practice.
The Autodesk Civil 3D 2023: Essentials learning guide contains the following chapters:
- The Autodesk Civil 3D Interface
- Survey, Points, and Linework
- Surfaces (now includes Quick Profile)
- Alignments
- Profiles
- Corridors
- Grading
- Pipe Networks
- Project Explorer
- Plan Production
There is a consistent workflow throughout the entire learning guide that mirrors a typical progression of a standard Civil 3D project. Each practice builds on the previous one, and each chapter is a continuation from the previous one. However, the practice files are designed so that you can jump in anytime to undertake a particular practice without having to complete all the previous practices.
Most of the content and practices are from the Autodesk Civil 3D 2022: Fundamentals guide, so if you are familiar with it, this new Essentials guide will also feel familiar. The following are some of the major changes introduced this year:
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Most of the topics on configuration, styles, and settings that were in the original Fundamentals guide have been moved and can now be found in the Autodesk Civil 3D 2023: Beyond the Basics guide.
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The main surface is now built with more traditional methods of using point files and breaklines, whereas in the previous Fundamentals guide, the main surface was built with contours.
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A practice on surfaces now includes creating a Quick Profile. The Quick Profile is an important tool within Civil 3D.
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The Project Explorer was a new feature last year and had been delegated to the appendix in the previous Fundamentals guide. Since it has proven itself an integral part of the overall Civil 3D workflow, it is now part of the main Essentials guide and is used to refine the overall design of the practice project.
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Many of the complex operations for corridors, grading, and pipe networks have been deemed to be “beyond the basics” for an essentials-level guide and have been moved. They can now be found in the Beyond the Basics learning guide.
I hope you enjoy this new Autodesk Civil 3D 2023: Essentials learning guide and I look forward to hearing how this new format works for you!
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