Civil 3D Corridor Dynamic Labels

Automated Design Corridor annotation is a mission critical, learned skill and a vital workflow to master in Autodesk Civil 3D. A Civil 3D project-based approach is essential to produce better and faster deliverables from Complex Corridors in less time and with less effort.

Simple and repetitive Civil 3D user events can dramatically affect the amount of work required and the quality and substance of the Civil 3D Corridor results we accomplish.
Some of those events include:

• Project-based shared Data Referenced design control
• Robust and consistent Sets of Assemblies resources
• Corridor Creation Baseline and Region Plan(s)
• A Managed Project-based approach to Region Frequency Properties
• What, When, and How we share the Corridor results in our project

Automated Corridor Annotation

Our recent explorations of a common Turn Lane and Median Corridor design reveals that we must acquire new skills and best practices to successfully annotate Multiple Dynamic Baseline Corridors in Autodesk Civil 3D.

More automated forms of Corridor annotation driven by Region Frequencies outputs to Feature Lines or Points are easier and quicker to build and maintain when we are prepared. See the Flexible Civil 3D Corridor Labels post for examples of Point based Label mechanics.

The current state of a Corridor’s Region Frequencies remain the heart of the Corridor WMTI output challenge.

In the recent Civil 3D Corridor Frequency Data Models post, we outlined some of the details and nuances for those Data Model publication mechanics. We see how published Corridor Data Models at different Frequencies play an integral role in all forms of Corridor annotation including the production of multiple potential forms of Labels.

We can choose to Label Extracted Feature Line segments from the Corridor. This only requires some thoughtful preparation and multiple choices of Civil 3D Line and Curve Label Style resources to execute.
Yes. We must be attentive to the details and the many nuances involved in this workflow process.

A video delivers the shout out.

 

Civil 3D Corridor Segment Labels

These automated Segment Labels produced on the Auto Corridor Feature Lines start and end node elevations are relatively simple to create, edit, and maintain. If the Corridor is simpler with a less complicated array of Baselines, Regions, and Assemblies, the process is even quicker.

The Civil 3D capability to employ shared Corridor Data Model References to allow us to successfully manage a Corridor collector’s many output results is certainly worthwhile.

Segment Label Details

Note that we can generate all the Feature Lines and simply delete, by Feature Line Style name or via other selection mechanics, the Feature Lines we do not want to Label. We can delete only a previous set of Labels themselves or just a selected set of Labels to replace.

We can continuously build, edit, check, and improve the Corridor Label annotation as our project develops.

Labels on Dynamic Auto Corridor Feature Lines generally respond acceptably to a decrease in the Region Frequencies. An increase in the Region Frequencies requires new Labels.

Segment Label Dragged State

To change a Segment Label to employ a Dragged State that points to the correct location is a two-step process. It requires we identify the direction of the Feature Line segment and first move the label attachment point to the appropriate start or end node location before the drag.

Segment Label Direction Standards

Segment Line and Curve Labels are by definition associated with a specific Segment Node and Elevation. It is best to employ either Start Node Labels with End Node exceptions or End Node Labels with Start Node exceptions. It is easily possible to incorrectly Label a segment with both Start and End node forms.

Manage Special Station Annotations

New special Station annotation Labels can be individually added as needed as the new Stations are added to a published Corridor Data Model.

Multiple Sets of Labels and Multiple Data Models

A working or published Labels drawing may employ multiple DREF Corridor Data Models and separate collections of Auto Corridor Feature Lines and attached Segment Labels. The classic examples: label publications at different scales and/or levels of label detail.

Dynamic and Static Feature Line Details

We can successfully remove the Dynamic property of a previously extracted Auto Corridor Feature Line to make it Static. This will preserve the state of the attached Segment Labels. We cannot switch the Dynamic property back and forth and always successfully preserve the current Segment Labels.

It is possible to employ annotative copies of regular design Feature Lines and/or deletions of the unwanted label locations to produce Segment Labels. We can employ the same Civil 3D Label Styles to annotate AutoCAD 3D Lines and 3D polyline segments. We must then employ classic XREF methods or DWF IREF publish methods to employ and share the labeled results in the larger Civil 3D project context.

The Line and Curve Label Style Resources

The Line and Curve Label Styles as shown are a quick preview of but a part of an upcoming AddOn Style Collection for the Framework for Civil 3D. The upcoming collection supports both Object based and View based Start and End Label Styles in multiple rotations and configurations. A Label Style Expression Set that can truncate the displayed elevations might also be handy.

Corridor Drawing Name Conventions

In the video, we briefly address some helpful folder and drawing name conventions to help us better manage the interrelated Corridor data behind in our Civil 3D project context.

Register and become a site Member. We provide the Corridor Naming Convention details on a page in the Members section for free.

The use of standardized names for Corridor build and edit, working, and publication drawings and the many potential annotation report files that Civil 3D can produce is significant.

A continuously improved and relatively small Civil 3D Project Template with acceptable and consistent file resource placeholders remains a most appropriate form of Civil 3D customization work.

Robust and Adaptive Corridor Labels

Complex Corridors require lots of shared design control and shared output Data Models. It is the nature of the beast. Civil 3D project design challenges also tend to develop multiple option scenarios. After each stage of our design development, we must take the time to check and update the consistency of all the shared Data References.

It unquestionably helps to have robust and rich Civil 3D Style, Civil 3D Set, and other in-depth and integrated Civil 3D resources to tackle the Complex Corridor beasts.
We make the tools affordable and accessible to all whether you choose to employ them in whole or in part..

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Complex Corridor Frequency Posts

 

Segment Elevation Label Posts