Export point cloud extraction and import it to Civil 3D

Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.

Transcript

00:02

So, the last and final step of utilizing your Point Cloud inside InfraWorks is to export out that data into Civil 3D.

00:11

We can export that out in multiple formats.

00:13

For the terrain, it's going to export out an RCS file that's cleaned up, ground shots only.

00:19

For the feature lines, vertical and linear, it's going to export out shape files, CSV files.

00:25

And then each one of those are going to be assigned a feature code, so when you export those out,

00:29

that's what's used to set the line style in the target app such as Civil 3D.

00:35

Very simple process. Let's jump over to Infraworks, let's export it out.

00:38

We'll then jump into Civil 3D and import it in.

00:42

So, here inside InfraWorks, after we've extracted the data we want,

00:45

whether that is the linear or the vertical features, we can export these out for use within Civil 3D or any other program.

00:54

And we can do that by going to the Manage tab, Point Cloud panel, there's export Point Cloud.

01:02

This will tell us what we want to see, what we want to export.

01:05

We've got the option to export out the ground points only, the grid points only.

01:11

We can export out the linear features as a shape file, or and you can just take a look here, as a CSV file.

01:18

Transverse vertices, we can say yes or no.

01:22

I'm going to turn that one off.

01:23

And then vertical features, do we want that to be a shape file or a CSV?

01:28

Either one, we can import directly into Civil 3D.

01:33

So, I'm going to export out the ground points.

01:36

I'm going to export out the linear features that we drew and the vertical features.

01:41

We've got our target coordinate system and where we want to save that to.

01:45

We can simply select "Start export".

01:49

It's going to export those features out, where we'll then open up Civil 3D and bring those into our file.

01:56

So, I'm now here in Civil 3D.

01:58

I have File Explorer open here, so we can take a look at what was exported out of Infraworks.

02:03

We have a new RCS file that's just a Point Cloud based on a grid.

02:07

We'll import that in momentarily.

02:10

We have our linear features and our vertical features.

02:13

So, let's start with the Point Cloud.

02:16

I'm going to come here to Civil 3D.

02:17

I'm going to go to insert, point cloud panel, select "Attach".

02:24

And then I'm going to select that RCS file that we just exported out from Infraworks.

02:28

I'm going to hit "Open" and simply select "OK".

02:32

Should just take a moment, but you can see there that there's probably 10,000 points compared to 200 million points that we started with.

02:39

It's a cleaned up, simplified surface that we can turn into a Civil 3D surface.

02:44

So, I'm going to select it.

02:46

Create surface from Point Cloud.

02:48

Let's just call this EG for existing ground.

02:52

I'm going to select "Next".

02:53

You can see here, we have just over 11,000 points at a distance of about 3-foot apart.

02:60

Easy surface to work within Civil 3D.

03:02

I'm just going to go right to create surface.

03:08

It should just take a moment.

03:09

Surface usually happens pretty quick, especially with about 11,000 points in there.

03:14

And you can see that our surface has now created.

03:16

And there's our existing ground based on that Point Cloud.

03:21

I'm going to freeze that.

03:24

Let's get rid of that for a moment.

03:27

We now want to bring in our linear features.

03:29

So, let's go ahead and try that with the shape file, let's go to our data set.

03:33

Here's our linear features.

03:34

If you remember, we did that intersection, we added a few brake lines in there.

03:38

I'm going to simply drag and drop them into my file.

03:43

If I zoom in here to that intersection, you can now see all my feature lines have now been brought into Civil 3D, where I can add them to my surface.

03:52

I can use them as alignments.

03:55

And whatever I need to within my model, I now have that information that I previously created in Infraworks brought in.

Video transcript

00:02

So, the last and final step of utilizing your Point Cloud inside InfraWorks is to export out that data into Civil 3D.

00:11

We can export that out in multiple formats.

00:13

For the terrain, it's going to export out an RCS file that's cleaned up, ground shots only.

00:19

For the feature lines, vertical and linear, it's going to export out shape files, CSV files.

00:25

And then each one of those are going to be assigned a feature code, so when you export those out,

00:29

that's what's used to set the line style in the target app such as Civil 3D.

00:35

Very simple process. Let's jump over to Infraworks, let's export it out.

00:38

We'll then jump into Civil 3D and import it in.

00:42

So, here inside InfraWorks, after we've extracted the data we want,

00:45

whether that is the linear or the vertical features, we can export these out for use within Civil 3D or any other program.

00:54

And we can do that by going to the Manage tab, Point Cloud panel, there's export Point Cloud.

01:02

This will tell us what we want to see, what we want to export.

01:05

We've got the option to export out the ground points only, the grid points only.

01:11

We can export out the linear features as a shape file, or and you can just take a look here, as a CSV file.

01:18

Transverse vertices, we can say yes or no.

01:22

I'm going to turn that one off.

01:23

And then vertical features, do we want that to be a shape file or a CSV?

01:28

Either one, we can import directly into Civil 3D.

01:33

So, I'm going to export out the ground points.

01:36

I'm going to export out the linear features that we drew and the vertical features.

01:41

We've got our target coordinate system and where we want to save that to.

01:45

We can simply select "Start export".

01:49

It's going to export those features out, where we'll then open up Civil 3D and bring those into our file.

01:56

So, I'm now here in Civil 3D.

01:58

I have File Explorer open here, so we can take a look at what was exported out of Infraworks.

02:03

We have a new RCS file that's just a Point Cloud based on a grid.

02:07

We'll import that in momentarily.

02:10

We have our linear features and our vertical features.

02:13

So, let's start with the Point Cloud.

02:16

I'm going to come here to Civil 3D.

02:17

I'm going to go to insert, point cloud panel, select "Attach".

02:24

And then I'm going to select that RCS file that we just exported out from Infraworks.

02:28

I'm going to hit "Open" and simply select "OK".

02:32

Should just take a moment, but you can see there that there's probably 10,000 points compared to 200 million points that we started with.

02:39

It's a cleaned up, simplified surface that we can turn into a Civil 3D surface.

02:44

So, I'm going to select it.

02:46

Create surface from Point Cloud.

02:48

Let's just call this EG for existing ground.

02:52

I'm going to select "Next".

02:53

You can see here, we have just over 11,000 points at a distance of about 3-foot apart.

02:60

Easy surface to work within Civil 3D.

03:02

I'm just going to go right to create surface.

03:08

It should just take a moment.

03:09

Surface usually happens pretty quick, especially with about 11,000 points in there.

03:14

And you can see that our surface has now created.

03:16

And there's our existing ground based on that Point Cloud.

03:21

I'm going to freeze that.

03:24

Let's get rid of that for a moment.

03:27

We now want to bring in our linear features.

03:29

So, let's go ahead and try that with the shape file, let's go to our data set.

03:33

Here's our linear features.

03:34

If you remember, we did that intersection, we added a few brake lines in there.

03:38

I'm going to simply drag and drop them into my file.

03:43

If I zoom in here to that intersection, you can now see all my feature lines have now been brought into Civil 3D, where I can add them to my surface.

03:52

I can use them as alignments.

03:55

And whatever I need to within my model, I now have that information that I previously created in Infraworks brought in.

The last and final step of utilizing your point cloud in InfraWorks is to export that data into Civil 3D. After you extract a terrain and features (vertical and linear) from point cloud data, you can export these features for use in other products, such as Autodesk Civil 3D. We can export data in multiple formats:

• Vertical and linear features: Shapefile (SHP) format.

• Vertices data for transverse lines: CSV file.

Note: Each linear feature line style is assigned a feature code. When exporting linear features, this code is used to set the line style in the target application, such as Autodesk Civil 3D. You can modify the feature code if need by double-clicking the line style on the “Linear Feature” tab of the “Style Palette”.

In an InfraWorks model where we have already performed the analysis and extracted features, we are ready to export. Here’s how:

1. Select the Manage tab of the InfraWorks Ribbon and select th Point Clouds panel.

2. Select “Export Point Cloud...” from the bottom of the drop down.

3. A window titled “Export Point Cloud Extraction” will appear. You have the option to export only ground grid points, extract certain features and save the folder in a specific place. For our example, we will extract everything and select “Start Export”.

4. Open your File Explorer to see your exported files. You’ll find files for your grid points, linear features and vertical features.

5. Now, in Civil 3D, select “Insert” from the top of the screen and click “Attach” from the “Point Cloud” panel.

6. In the “Select Point Cloud File” window, select the RCS that you just exported from InfraWorks and hit “OK”.

Here you’ll see your point cloud – a cleaned up, simplified surface that is ready to be turned into a Civil 3D surface.

7. Select the point cloud and click “Create Surface from Point Cloud” at the top of the screen.

8. In the “Create TIN Surface from Point Cloud” window that appears, name the surface and hit “Next”.

9. Click “Create Surface”. Once it loads, you’ll be able to see the surface.

10. Now freeze it so we can bring in the linear features. Drag and drop the linear feature Shapefile into Civil 3D. you’ll now be able to see all of your feature lines have been brought in.

You can now use these features and add them to your surface, use them as alignments and more.

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