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3D Model Libraries and Road Creation/Editing

1. Making the Model Realistic: Getting the best models

There are several different types of object types out there FBX

(Film Box), DAE (Collada file), OBJ (Alias Wavefront), DXF (Data

Exchange Format), 3DS (3D Studio), or SKP (SketchUp) just to

name a few. Lots of these can be found on the on the internet and

here are a few to start with.

1. 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com

2. TurboSquid.com

3. 3DCadBrowser.com

Of course you can always go create your own model inside

AutoCAD or 3D Studio Max or Sketchup If using SketchUp directly

with AutoCAD products, use version 8 or lower (for AutoCAD or

Infraworks) To do this, save the SketchUp file in SketchUp and

change the version with the Files of Type menu when saving. 3DS

and DAE files, may be exported from SketchUp 15 or any other

version (these export materials as do SketchUp files). 3DS files

may also be created in 3D Studio Max which can import SketchUp

files.

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Using SketchUp, Exporting is done by:

Change the Export type to 3DS or DAE file (the best is DAE since

SketchUP 15 can be used). For 3DS:

Click Options:

Set the Options as follows:

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For Collada files (DAE) using SketchUP Export having these

Option settings:

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This next part is Optional (not necessary since the

SketchUP Import is built-in).

The models can be inserted into Civil 3D as well as Infraworks. For

Civil 3D, use the SketchUp Import command found on Autodesk

Exchange (free ->

https://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/CIV3D/en/Detail/Index?

id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com

%3asketchupimportforautocad2014%3aen). Or use the following:

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To get SketchUp Import, click Featured Apps

Then click .

At the top right of the window, search for SketchUp.

Four tools are found:

Choose the one on the lower right SketchUp Import.

All files, including SketchUP 8 or lower, can natively be brought in

directly using the 3D Model option inside either the Style Palette

or Data Sources. The only problem is sometimes the models you

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get are created in varying units so you have to deal with that in

the properties for each object. These models can be used in Civil

3D and Infraworks.

For Infraworks

Set the Application Options > Building Facade Detail: at

least Medium.

To use a model, go to

Then use 3D Model as a data

source. In this case, a 3D Model of a train station in the OBJ

format is brought in. The process used here is the same for all

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other file types. This OBJ model came originally from a SketchUp

warehouse model; it was taken to SketchUp and saved as a

version 8 SketchUP file; Then it was brought to AutoCAD 3D

Studio Max and Exported as an OBJ file (the SketchUP file can also

be directly imported as a Data Source in Infraworks).

Opening the Model for Infraworks

In the Data Sources panel, right click the model and use

Configure.

In the Data Source Configuration window, set the Type to Building

Click on Interactive Placing.. at the bottom of the Data Source

Configuration window.

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Double click to place the model in Infraworks. Click .

If the model needs scaling, usually the scale needed is 0.0254 (#

of metres in an inch). Right click the model and choose Properties.

Select the model again so it turns

yellow.

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In the properties window, set the scaling as follows:

Click Update near the top of the window:

The model can be adjusted for location, rotation, etc. by right

clicking the model, choosing Edit; left clicking the model so it is

selected, and then using the “gizmos” to move, rotate or scale

the model.

2. To Edit Road Styles

When modifying road styles, map the overall style to a Material Group. A

material group

applies a combination of road shoulders, median strips, lane striping, and

other

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components to a single road. Material groups can vary the road appearance

when the

feature passes through a tunnel or over a bridge.

1. Click .

2. Display the style to edit.

On the left side of the Style Palette, click the Road tab.

Select the appropriate style catalog from the drop-down list.

3. Click to duplicate an existing style before editing it.

It is good practice to copy an existing style instead of changing the original

version.

4. Double-click the new copy of the style to open the Style Editor window, or

select the style and click .

a. General settings

b. Track settings

c. Track operations

d. Preview area

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5. Under General Settings, specify the following:

6. Use the Track Settings section to define the road elements.

The rows in the Track Settings table represent elements of the road; the

columns

represent the attributes of each track. The rows are organized by groups: the

right side

of the road and the median strip. By default, the left side of the road mirrors

the right side.

To create an asymmetric road, click (below the table). This adds a

new group

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called Left Group. The new group appears at the top of the table. To add,

remove, copy, or re-order tracks, use the buttons below the table. Double-

click a table cell to edit it. Some cells contain a drop-down menu after you

click in them.

Note: If you specify a material type that is not mapped to any material in the

Material

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Group, the default material for that Material Group is used instead. This

material is

specified in the Material Group style. See Edit Styles

7. Specify the number of Forward Driving Lanes and Backward Driving Lanes.

Changing the number of lanes updates the preview. This is a default value,

which is

replaced by any actual value for a particular feature when you apply the

style.

8. When you click OK, the style is updated in the Style Palette.

Additional Tips

When you edit a material group, you specify a color or style for each

component of that

group. When you edit a road style, you specify which component of a

particular material group will be used for each element of the road.

Exercise

Use Create and manage your model

Style Palette

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Go to the Road tab.

At the bottom click the + sign to Add a new style to the current catalog

above.

For the Material Group of the General Settings, use Street Materials 1. (click

)

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For the Track Settings, the start has no Left Group, a Median Group with

nothing in it and a Right Group with a sidewalk and road that is automatically

duplicated for the left.

Click the Median Group. Click the + sign below the Track Settings.

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Change the tack name from nothing to BRT Zone.

In the group height transition zone width / track main category column,

choose Emergency Lane.

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This lane will be used for a Bus Rapid Transit line.

Make the following settings.

This will have two 3 m wide lanes for busses and a 4 m wide

central pedestrian zone for a total of 10m of right of way.

This makes the “right edge” have a material as seen in the

preview below (the preview will have to be orbited with your mouse)

but the left edge is void (in blue). To fix this, set the

track outer height offset to the opposite value use above for the track inner

height offset value; use, -0.1 m.

Change the surfaces to

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. This makes the sides and top all

appear the same.

Adding Curbs

Click the + sign under Track Settings (make sure the Median Group is

selected)

Change the category to Curb

Change the curb settings as follows:

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Copying the curb and moving the copy to the other side of the BRT track.

Highlight by choosing Curb 1.

Click the copy button below.

Change the name of the copy to Curb 2.

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Move Curb 2 above (click the up arrow) the BRT Zone to place Curb 2 to

the other side.

Adding a Shelter

Click the Decorations tool

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Set the Decoration Target to Median Bucket > BRT Zone

Click the + sign for the Registered Decorations

Click the down arrow on the selection for the category.

Choose 3D Model/City Furniture

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Click the Shelter item

Click OK

Change the Shelter Decoration Settings to the following:

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Add a city bus decoration.

Change the City Bus Decoration Settings to the following:

Add another bus decoration (for the bus going the other way).

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Change the 2nd City Bus Decoration Settings to the following:

Add pedestrian decorations.

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Adding a Left Group with Three Lanes of which one is for Parking

To make the left side of the street having more lanes and a different look

than the right side of the street, a Left Group is added by clicking the last

button on the right of the tool bar under the Track

Settings.

For the Left Group, click the + sign.

Set the first element in the Left Group as follows:

Hit the + sign again and add a second element with the following settings:

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Move the sidewalk above the road in the Left Group by clicking the up arrow

with the sidewalk highlighted in the list.

Set the #Backward Driving Lanes to 3 so that there are two lanes on the left.

Click OK on the Configure Street/Road window.

Change the name of the Road to in the Style palette.

To add a parking stripe, go to AutoCAD Civil 3D.

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Draw a Pline starting a 0, 0 and ending at 0, 2.5 so it is 2.5 metres long and

pointing in the positive Y axis (this is perpendicular to the direction of the

road). Zoom -> Extents to see the Pline on the screen. Go to the properties

palette, choose the Pline and change the Global Width value to 0.1 so it will

represent a 0.1 metre wide paint stripe.

Move the entire pline vertically up in the Z axis by using: Move; Select the

Pline; Enter; Click anywhere as a Base Point; type in @0,0,0.001 to move the

pline 1 millimetre off the ground. Run the FBXExport command (Film Box

Format file creation), choose a name such as Parking Stripe and save the file

in a location such as your desktop.

Set up the FBX Export Options as follows:

OK.

Close AutoCAD -> the drawing need not be saved.

Go back to Infraworks.

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Go to the Style Palette.

Style Palette

Go to the 3D Model tab

Click the + sign under Style Editing

In the Define New 3D model window, click the three buttons to the right of

the Model URL:

Choose the Parking Stripe FBX file that was created in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

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OK

Rename the 3D Model to Parking Stripe in the Style Palette.

Go to the Road tab of the Style Palette.

Double click the BRT Road or select the BRT Road and click the edit tool

at the bottom of the Style Palette.

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Click the tool.

Set the

Click the sign. Find the model. Select it. Click OK.

Set up the Decoration Settings as follows:

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Close.

Take 2 snap shots in jpeg form in the preview area.

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Click OK on the Configure Street/BRT Road window.

Place these jpegs in to the drop box.

Parking Stall

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1G4Uwns4zc

From ~ 24 minutes