AUTODESK UNIVERSITY

Session ID: CES500127

Session Title: Grading Optimization in Civil 3D
2022 – A Residential Development Success!

Shawn Herring
Consulting & Services Manager | @TheShawnHerring

© 2021 Autodesk, Inc.

 Session Info
Session ID: CES500127

Session Title: Grading Optimization in Civil 3D 2022 – A Residential Development Success!

Take control of your project like never before! Project Explorer brings a whole new level of design to your
projects. This sessions takes you threw a live project and the benefits you'll gain by implementing Project
Explorer. Even on the simplest of projects you will see a huge time/cost savings by being able to review and
modify your design as well as utilize automated reports that will help you further understand your design at
every step of the game. Get ready to start exploring like never before.
About the speaker
As an accomplished consultant for over 15+ years, Shawn Herring is a well-known figure in the
civil infrastructure design community. Shawn has many titles, Consulting & Services Manager for
ProSoft, Owner of Region Engineering & Surveying and Co-Founder of RealityOne which
specializes in LiDar and drone reality capture.

Over the past decade Shawn has been involved in hundreds of projects across the country.
During his vast career, Shawn has trained thousands of CADD users, helped hundreds of civil
infrastructure companies and major Department of Transportations implement new
technologies, standardize workflows and enhance productivity. Shawn has been a part of 100's
of Drone and LiDar scanning projects, ranging from simple roadway scans to complex
contaminated land restoration projects consisting of 1000’s of acres.

No matter which hat Shawn is wearing, his goal is the same, to empower organizations with the
information and skills they need to improve their workflow, differentiate themselves and drive
measurable results.

Shawn is a contributor/author for several local, national and international publications. His
forward thinking and professional insights have been published in UC&D magazine, Informed
Infrastructure and AUGI magazine to name a few. Shawn has traveled the US and Canada as
guest presenter/key note speaker for many user groups and industry-specific conferences. He
has also been a sought-after presenter at Autodesk University over the past several years.

In addition to being a highly sought-after industry consultant, outside of the office, Shawn enjoys
spending his personal time with his family and being in the outdoors. He also believes in giving
back to his community. Shawn sits on many local advisory boards and volunteers his time with
incredible organizations like the Boys & Girls club of America, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Boy
Scouts of America and the Special Olympics.
About the co-speaker
At ProSoft, Bryson admins all aspects of the internal IT infrastructure, and oversees ProSoft’s IT
Consulting and custom workstation and server division. With his knowledge and experience in IT,
he consults with companies worldwide on the planning, implementation, and training of
Autodesk data management and collaboration software. As well as assisting customers with the
licensing, installation, and deployment of Autodesk products.
 ADDITIONAL
DOCUMENTATION

Session ID: CES500127

Session Title: Grading Optimization in Civil 3D 2022 –

A Residential Development Success!
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D
Grading Optimization automates the time-
consuming terrain grading design workflow

 Conduct grading design studies based on

project constraints
 Generate multiple grading options for
consideration
 Monitor constraint violations in real time
 Deliver a balanced grading plan that
meets your customer’s intent
You can find this download in your portal at manage.autodesk.com as a
separate installation from Civil 3D.

!! AEC COLLECTION ONLY !!

 Grading Optimization for Civil 3D
User Interface Reference

1. Grading Object Tool Palette. This tool

palette allows you to tag drawing elements
as grading objects for optimization. Each
object listed contains default constraint
data. You can right-click any object tool to
edit the default values applied when used,
or create additional customized objects.

2. Grading Objects Browser. This tree

directory categorically displays each object
tagged from the drawing. Selecting a
grading object will display the currently
specified constraints assigned to it.

3. Visualization Display. This is the viewing

area for the optimized grading data.
Several display themes are available to
view the surface during and after
optimization. The slide to the left of the
display exaggerates the contours of the
surface to help view subtle changes in
elevation.

4. Optimization Toolbar. This bottom band of

tools allows you to specify global
constraints, mesh and triangle quality,
visualization options, and convergence
plotting views. Once everything is
specified, click Optimize to begin the
process.
 Grading Optimization for Civil 3D – Object Browser
This tool palette allows you to tag drawing elements as grading
objects for optimization. Each object listed contains default
constraint data. You can right-click any object tool to edit the
default values applied when used, or create additional customized
objects.

These tools include:

• Elevation Offset. Specifies elevation constraints along a line
• Low Point. Specifies a specific location as a low point. with the first point being the higher end, and the second being
the lower end.

• Bounded Point. Specifies elevation constraints at a specific

location. • Zone. Specifies properties and constraints for a closed
geometric shape representing a region of the surface.

• Aligned Edge. Forces surface triangles that touch a line to align

in the same direction. • Exclusion Zone. Specifies properties for exclusion zones in
which surfaces will not be optimized.

• Bend Line. Relaxes surface triangle constraints that touch or

cross a line. • Pond. Specifies properties and constraints for a closed
geometric shape representing a dry or wet pond.

• Drain Line. Specifies a line as a directional constraint for

drainage. • Curb. Specifies constraints for curb lines that work to break
and step terrain.

• Building Pad. Specifies constraints for a closed geometric

shape representing the building pad.

• Reveal. Specifies properties to delineate a desired reveal along

the edge of a Building Pad.
 Grading Optimization for Civil 3D – Visualization Display
1. Visualization Toolbar. Several display
themes are available to view the surface
during and after optimization. 1
See Visualization Toolbar.

2. Vertical Exaggeration Slide. The slide to 3

the left exaggerates the elevations of the
surface to help view subtle changes in
elevation. See Contour Slide.

3. Legend Bar. The bar to the right displays

the color depictions of the different ranges 2
of information in each visualization. These
can be modified in the Visualization
Settings dialog.

4. Optimization Status. This status window

displays the current surface data during 4
the optimization process.

5. Cursor Position. The XYZ surface 5

coordinates of the position of the cursor.
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D – Optimization Toolbar

1. Model Settings. Opens the Preferences dialog in which to specify surface geometry
rendering settings.

2. Visualization Toolbar. Opens the toolbar at the top of the Visualization Display in which
you select Themes, Hydrology, and Topology options for the optimization.

3. Convergence Plots. Opens the Convergence Plots dialog in which you can monitor the
active optimization feasibility, cut/fill volume, and terrain smoothness.

4. Opens the Optimization Options dialog in which you can specify global slope
constraints, optimization iterations, and objective weights.

5. Send Optimized Result. Updates the source drawing with the optimized surface grades,
feature lines, and points.
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D
Preparing your Drawing for Grading Optimization
This workflow describes a typical workflow for using Grading
Optimization.

1. Prepare your drawing.

2. Assign grading objects to your drawing geometry.

3. Open Grading Optimization.

4. Define the system settings for your project.

5. Verify your grading object constraints.

6. Begin optimization

7. Visualize the optimization

8. Return the optimized surface, feature lines, and points to the

drawing.
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D

Project Setup Surface (EG)

2D Layout (Concept)

Sidewalk/Transition
Zones Exclusion Zones Building Pads Drain Lines Detention Ponds Low Point(s)
Zones

Area of no
Overall Disturbed Streets (From Crown Building Envelope COGO Point / Low
disturbance Flowline (Curb) Zone or Sidewalk
Area to Curb) (Setbacks) Point Inlet, etc
(Wetlands/Back Lots)
 PAVEMENT
AREA
BUILDING (CATCHMENT)
POND
PAD

LOW POINT ZONE

(COGO) (ADDITIONAL EXCLUSION
BUILDING DRAIN LINE ZONE
AREA) SIDEWALK
(FLOWLINE OF
(CATCHMENT)
CURB)
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D
Placing Grading Objects
Grading Optimization for Civil 3D
Example / Demo
 AUTODESK
UNIVERSITY

Autodesk and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2021 Autodesk. All rights reserved.