Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Learn about pipe networks, pipe networks catalogs, and pipe network parts lists.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
3 min.
Transcript
00:04
There are two types of pipe networks that can be designed using civil 3D
00:10
pressure.
00:10
Pipe networks are used to model distribution systems
00:13
under pressure such as gas and water supply
00:17
pipe networks which we will describe here are used to
00:20
model gravity systems such as storm and foul water drainage.
00:25
Pipe networks are created using two types of objects or domains.
00:29
There are pipes,
00:31
different shapes and materials
00:34
and structures
00:36
such as a head wall
00:38
manhole or gully.
00:42
There are no pipe bends or fittings
00:45
and the pipes run directly between the structures
00:48
to design these networks.
00:50
We first lay out the route in plan with the structures placed on a surface
00:54
and pipes are placed below the surface using some simple rules.
00:59
This creates the network in 3D.
01:02
We can draw the pipes in a profile view
01:05
that allows us to easily adjust the pipe elevations and slopes.
01:11
These objects are provided in a catalog of components and can be customized
01:16
or new parts created using the part builder tool in civil 3d.
01:22
The part builder allows you to create a parametric part with variable sizes
01:26
that can adapt to design considerations such as pipe depths,
01:32
some structure types can be shared with Infra works and are created
01:35
outside of civil 3d using an application called the infrastructure parts editor
01:41
structures created with the infrastructure parts editor are modular
01:45
and can combine different surface structures,
01:47
underground structures and covers or grates
01:50
to create a part family with different sizes assigned.
01:56
Each catalog is divided into part types, part shapes and families.
02:01
The part families are the individual parametric components that we use in
02:05
our models and can have a range of sizes assigned to them
02:10
to access a structure or pipe in your drawing.
02:13
You must first set the catalogs. You wish to use
02:17
a standard catalog for both metric and imperial structures.
02:20
And pipes is installed with civil 3d
02:23
and additional catalogs may be installed as part of a country kit
02:28
to work on a model with pipe networks.
02:30
You must have access to the same parts in the catalog
02:33
that was used to create the network.
02:36
And so the catalogs are often copied to a central server or project folder
02:40
to provide access for the entire project team.
02:44
There are separate catalogs for pipes and structures,
02:47
but both must be accessed from the same location.
02:52
You cannot directly insert a part from the catalog into a model
02:56
to provide access to a part family. You must first create what is called a parts list.
03:02
The parts list references,
03:04
specific sizes of families from the catalog and is saved in your drawing.
03:09
We create a parts list using the pipe
03:10
network settings and choose the families such as
03:13
manhole types and pipe materials and sizes that we want to use in the project.
Video transcript
00:04
There are two types of pipe networks that can be designed using civil 3D
00:10
pressure.
00:10
Pipe networks are used to model distribution systems
00:13
under pressure such as gas and water supply
00:17
pipe networks which we will describe here are used to
00:20
model gravity systems such as storm and foul water drainage.
00:25
Pipe networks are created using two types of objects or domains.
00:29
There are pipes,
00:31
different shapes and materials
00:34
and structures
00:36
such as a head wall
00:38
manhole or gully.
00:42
There are no pipe bends or fittings
00:45
and the pipes run directly between the structures
00:48
to design these networks.
00:50
We first lay out the route in plan with the structures placed on a surface
00:54
and pipes are placed below the surface using some simple rules.
00:59
This creates the network in 3D.
01:02
We can draw the pipes in a profile view
01:05
that allows us to easily adjust the pipe elevations and slopes.
01:11
These objects are provided in a catalog of components and can be customized
01:16
or new parts created using the part builder tool in civil 3d.
01:22
The part builder allows you to create a parametric part with variable sizes
01:26
that can adapt to design considerations such as pipe depths,
01:32
some structure types can be shared with Infra works and are created
01:35
outside of civil 3d using an application called the infrastructure parts editor
01:41
structures created with the infrastructure parts editor are modular
01:45
and can combine different surface structures,
01:47
underground structures and covers or grates
01:50
to create a part family with different sizes assigned.
01:56
Each catalog is divided into part types, part shapes and families.
02:01
The part families are the individual parametric components that we use in
02:05
our models and can have a range of sizes assigned to them
02:10
to access a structure or pipe in your drawing.
02:13
You must first set the catalogs. You wish to use
02:17
a standard catalog for both metric and imperial structures.
02:20
And pipes is installed with civil 3d
02:23
and additional catalogs may be installed as part of a country kit
02:28
to work on a model with pipe networks.
02:30
You must have access to the same parts in the catalog
02:33
that was used to create the network.
02:36
And so the catalogs are often copied to a central server or project folder
02:40
to provide access for the entire project team.
02:44
There are separate catalogs for pipes and structures,
02:47
but both must be accessed from the same location.
02:52
You cannot directly insert a part from the catalog into a model
02:56
to provide access to a part family. You must first create what is called a parts list.
03:02
The parts list references,
03:04
specific sizes of families from the catalog and is saved in your drawing.
03:09
We create a parts list using the pipe
03:10
network settings and choose the families such as
03:13
manhole types and pipe materials and sizes that we want to use in the project.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement. May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.