Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Manual

 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Civil Site Design

Civil Design for your CAD Environment
Civil Site Design provides a template and string based design environment for creating Roads and land re-grading
inside AutoCAD, as well as pipe design including stormwater drainage and sewer.

Here’s how Civil Site Design can benefit you:

✓ Integrates design and drafting on your CAD platform
✓ One change – multiple updates. Modern software with dynamic relationships between objects. Automate
revision control by keeping your objects co-ordinated
✓ All-in-One Program – Get Surface, Alignment, Road and Pipe tools in the one program
✓ Easy to learn – leverage your CAD skills
✓ Low cost – resides on top of your drawing application
✓ Intuitive commands follow workflow process
✓ You never leave the CAD environment using Civil Site Design.
✓ Design aids include road, drainage, sewer and grading design.
✓ Works inside BricsCAD, Autodesk's AutoCAD, MAP or Civil 3D.

Quick Start Tutorials

We welcome you to try it out! See below for some quick start tutorials that will showcase the fundamentals of Civil
Site Design for delivering a total design solution for all your surface, road and pipe design needs.

You can learn more from our YouTube page, the Civil Site Design website, the Civil Site Design eLearning portal
and via the Getting Started page accessed from the Civil Site Design menu in your CAD application.

Multi Platform Support

Civil Site Design operates inside AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D and BricsCAD environments. Civil Site Design Plus
also runs as a totally standalone product, in-built into the Autodesk AutoCAD OEM platform.

Developed by:

Sales: [email protected]
Ph: 1300 254 004 (Australia)

Head Office: 1/29 Business Park Drive, Notting Hill, Vic

 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Data

Before you Start – Please start your CAD application and open the Quick Start Tutorial.dwg training
file.

Note: The training files can be downloaded via the General ➢ Getting Started command and are also installed on
your computer on C:\CSSS Training Data\Civil Site Design|For <CAD Platform>. .

Surfaces
You can create Surfaces (also known at DTMs and TINs) from multiple inputs such as 3D faces, polylines,
AutoCAD points, point files and more. Surface display is easily managed, directly in the drawing, with
user control over contours, triangles and shading display.
Users are encouraged to make as many surfaces as required. Surfaces are also derived from String
designs – we have automated surface tools for road networks, and you can create surfaces from your own
grouping of strings.
Other surface tools include: Surface Paste (combining multiple surfaces together), Modify Surface (to
simplify or expand surface extents), Satellite Surface (creating a surface from satellite information)

Note to Civil 3D Users

If you are working on AutoCAD Civil 3D, this portion is optional. In Civil 3D, Civil Site Design can work
directly with the Civil 3D surface objects. The training data in Civil 3D will already contain a Civil 3D
surface in the drawing.

Let’s have a look at creating a surface from 3D faces, or from CAD points in the drawing. Follow through
Steps 1-7 for creating a surface from 3D faces. The CAD Points option is shown as an example of using
other data sources.

Creating a Surface from 3D Faces

In the example shown, right, we are using 3D faces as the
data source. If you are using the imperial version, you are
likely to have CAD points as the data source.

If you have triangles (3D faces) in the drawing, the first step
is to convert these into a TIN Surface. The 3D faces for this
data set are located on the layer SURF
Also included are layers for other objects as follows:
• Alignments – ALIGN
• Drainage – PIPES-DRAINAGE
• Sewer – PIPES-SEWER

Let’s get started and make a surface from the 3D faces

Step 1: From the ribbon, click on Surfaces ➢ Create Surface.

Step 2: At the dialogue box to Select Required Drainage Settings file, just click OK.
Step 3: At the prompt for a surface name, type NS and click OK. The Create/Edit Surface form will
display:
This form consists of three tabs:
- Inputs: use the tabs to select input data for the
surface
- Outputs: manages the display of contours, contour
labels, slope shading, direction and height shading
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

- Statistics: lists the statistics of the surface – you can copy this information across to use as inputs
elsewhere
Note: This form is ‘modeless’ – you can position it where you want, leave it open and still work in AutoCAD.
Step 4: From the 3D Faces tab, click on the pick box and select the layer SURF from the list (the
software filters to display layers containing 3D
faces)
Step 5: Click on the Add button to add this layer of data to
the inputs list.
Step 6: Click on Build Surface – the software will
immediately build a surface from the inputs and
display in the drawing.
Note: You can turn off the triangles (3D faces) now, for better clarity
in the drawing.
The surface is a single object in the drawing – there are
export tools to generate base AutoCAD entities of the
triangles and contours, for final presentation.

Creating a Surface from CAD Points

In the example shown, right, is an example of AutoCAD
points being used as a data source. You can combine
multiple data sources in the one surface: 3D faces, points,
breaklines and point files.
These are the steps to create a surface from CAD points.

• From the ribbon, click on Surfaces ➢ Create

Surface.
• At the prompt for a surface name, type and click OK.
The Create/Edit Surface form will display:
• From the Points tab, click on the pick box and select
the layer GROUND_PTS from the list (the software
filters to display layers containing CAD point objects)
• Click on the Add button to add this layer of data to
the inputs list.
• Click on Build Surface – the software will
immediately build a surface from the inputs and
display in the drawing.

Adding a Surface Boundary

Step 1: Click on the Inputs > Boundaries tab. From here you can apply any closed 2D polyline as an
outer boundary for the surface, as well as hiding internal triangles.
If desired, draw a closed polyline in the drawing,
then click on the Add button – pick the polyline
and then from the list set the Type to Outer. Click

on Build Surface to rebuild the surface with

the boundary – you can also click on this button to update the surface after moving the boundary polyline.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Surface Display Controls

Click on the Outputs tab – from here you
can manage how the surface displays.
You control what displays as well as what
layers are used – CSD will create the
layers as required and you can manage the
available layers from the CSD Layer
List found under settings in the alignments
tab.
All of the display controls can be saved to
the CSD Settings folder and then be
recalled on any project. Let’s start by
changing the display using a saved Style:

Step 2: Click on Load Style.

Step 3: In the list of available styles,
select Existing-Contours-5m &
1m intervals.SDF and click OK

Surface Contour Display

The surface display immediately changes in the
drawing. Let’s have a quick tour of the user
controls
Step 4: The Contours & Mesh tab allows
you to set the layer and mesh
(triangle) display. Make the following
changes:
a. Tick on the Mesh
b. Change the Major Contours to
10
c. Change the Minor Contours to
2
d. Change the colours as desired
As changes are made, the surface display automatically updates. Click on Update Display if desired.

Contour Labels
Contour labels can be applied at the edges
of each contour, at regular intervals internal
to the contour line, and along user selected
lines. You get to control colour, layer, text
style and text size.
Step 5: Click on the Outputs > Contour
Labelling tab
Step 6: For the Major contour labels, tick
ON the Mid labels and then click
Update Labels. Note extra
labelling at regular intervals along
the major contours – the Spacing
parameter controls the distance
between the contour labels.
To add your own contour labels where you want:
Step 7: Tick on the option Label by Line, then click on the Add button.
Step 8: In the drawing, click on two locations inside the surface – contour labels
will be added along the line between the two points.
Labels will be created along the line.
This line displays when the Create Surface form is displayed – moving the line
using AutoCAD grips will move the contour label locations.

Note: You can change the Type and click on Update Labels to update the labels in the drawing.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Slope Arrows
Sometimes it’s helpful to see the direction of
flow as well as see ‘at a glance’ the steep and
flat areas across the surface – this is done by
displaying slope Arrows
Step 9: Click on the Outputs > Slopes &
Arrows tab and tick on Show Slope
Arrows
Step 10: Click on the Update Display button
and note the slope arrows display in
the drawing
Step 11: Type in different slope ranges,
change range colours (by clicking on
the colour swatch) and click Update
Display
Step 12: Untick Show Slope Arrows and
click on Update Display.
You can also select an AutoCAD table style,
set the column widths and click on the
Create Table button to add an AutoCAD table in the drawing

Height Shading
It is often helpful to display the surface with
different colours representing elevation ranges.
Step 13: Click on the Outputs > Height &
Directions tab and tick on Show Height
Shading
Now to set up the height ranges – the Set Up
Table button allows you to do this easily.
Step 14: Click on the Set up Table button and set
the following:
a. Under Region Split Metho, tick
on the option By Increment and
set the increment to 5.
b. Click on the colour swatch and set the colour to Red.
c. Click OK to apply the colour ranges, and then click on Update Display.
Step 15: Untick Show Height Shading and click on Update Display.

Surface Statistics
Step 16: Click on the Statistics tab
Step 17: Click on the Update button and review
the outputs. The Print button will generate a
text file output

That concludes this quick tour of surfaces.

Step 18: Tick on the cross at the top of the form to

close the Create Surface form

Civil 3D Users and Alignments

If you are working on AutoCAD Civil 3D, this portion is not required. In Civil 3D, Civil Site Design works
directly with the Civil 3D alignment objects. This applies both to reading and writing Civil 3D alignments
into the drawing. The training data in Civil 3D will already contain a Civil 3D surface in the drawing.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Alignments
In Civil Site Design for AutoCAD/BricsCAD, alignments are created from polylines. The alignment
creation/editing form includes full IP editing tools to add and edit curves (with or
without spirals). Labelling occurs as the design changes – you get to control the layer,
text size, orientation and spacings for labelling. You can immediately create AutoCAD
tables of the alignment from the same form from which you create or edit the
alignment.
In CSD, every alignment can be given vertical geometry (turned into a String object).
The software also understands how to manage particular strings in a road network –
these are Roads, Kerb Returns, Cul-de-sacs and Knuckles. These are special strings
you can make from the alignments.

Let’s start by creating an alignment.

Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Alignments ➢ Create Alignment.
At the prompt, click on the red polyline (on layer ALIGN) on the left side of the surface. The alignment
runs north-south.
Upon selection of the polyline, the Create/Edit Alignment form will display. From here we can name the
alignment, control the display and generate output tables.

Geometry Edits
Step 2: In the Geometry tab, fill out
the following:
a. Name: Delawn
b. Object Type: Road
Leave Delete Existing Object ticked
on to replace the polyline with an
alignment.

The Edit Tools allows you to

immediately edit the geometry of the
alignment – move IP’s around, add
IP’s, delete IP’s, and change curve
radii using the editing tools.
Let’s change the first curve radius.
Step 3: From the Edit Tools frame, click on
Edit Curve and click on the first curve on the
alignment.
The Edit Tools panel will now change to display the details
of the alignment IP selected and to allow editing of the IP
details:
Step 4: Click on Curve Radius - change the radius to
250m and click Apply
The alignment will immediately update in the drawing –
the new alignment geometry will be drawn and the
labelling will update to suit. The original alignment
geometry will display in a different colour, and will be
removed upon exit from the alignment form.
Step 5: If desired, click on Move an IP from the Edit Tools
a. Click to select the first IP at chainage zero
b. Click to select a new IP position – note that the curve updates to maintain tangency
Let’s review the annotation of the alignment
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Alignment Annotation
Step 6: Click on the Annotation tab
The Annotation tab allows you to fully control the alignment
labelling. Different geometry along the alignment can be
controlled by assigning Annotation Styles – these set out the
text positions, orientation, layer, number of decimal places
and more. You can make your own annotation styles using
the Annotation Style Editor.
Let’s keep it simple by changing the Major Chainage interval:
Step 7: Click on the Major
Chainage Spacing value
and change it to 50m
Step 8: Click on the Refresh
button – the labelling updates
in the drawing

On the left is the labelling at

original spacings – 50m
spacings shown on the right.

You can save the annotation configuration as

an Alignment Annotation Set and apply it to any alignment.

Alternative Labelling Options for the Alignment

The label annotation above assumes interval
labels displaying perpendicular to the alignment.
For many regions it is customary to show the
labels parallel to the alignment. Tick on the
Dynamic Drawing Labels option in the Geometry
tab to explore an alterative option for adding
alignment labels.
These newer labels are able to be directly grip
edited in the drawing – they will remember their
relative positions to the alignment.

Alignment Display - Layers

Step 9: Click on the Colours tab. Here you can set the layers (and colours and linetypes) to apply to the
different geometric components of the alignment – lines, curves and spirals. When you are
editing the alignment, you can set different layers to apply to the edited alignment – this allows
you to see the original alignment geometry when edits have been applied.
The Alignment Colour Style enables the layers to be assigned to the alignment. The Alignment and Code
Layer List allows you to set up layers for CSD to create and use (in both the Alignment Colour Style and in
the display of drafting in plan)
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Alignment Tables
Alignment Tables can be readily created and customised by you. Alignment Tables are created as
AutoCAD tables in the drawing and get updated whenever you click on the Create Table button.
Step 10: Click on the Alignment Table tab
Step 11: From the Report Format pick list, select Ch+East+North+Rad+CSV (or other available)
Below the pick list is the table configuration – you can edit this as desired to add more columns to report in
the table and to customise the data and heading output.
You can add more Report Formats to establish your preferred tabular display.

Step 12: Click on the Create Table button and pick a

location to the right of the surface. An AutoCAD
table will be created in the drawing and will contain
all of the alignment details.
This is an AutoCAD table – you can customise the colours,
layers, text size and text style by changing the AutoCAD Table
Style.

Curve Tables
Some designs require curve tables to be created. Curve tables
describe each curve on an alignment.
Step 13: Click on the Curve Table tab
Step 14: From the Report Format pick list, select Method 1
The Table Layout list allows you to select different parameters of
the curve to display. A number of ‘standard’ arc setout methods
are included and can be included in a curve table.
You can create one table for all the curves, or separate curve
tables at each curve along the alignment.

Step 15: Click on the Create Table button – AutoCAD

tables will be inserted at the start of each curve, as well
as a block describing the ‘method 1’ curve setout
parameters. Move the tables where you want them – clicking on the Create Table button
again will update the tables where you have relocated them.

Step 16: Click on OK to create the Alignment.

You can click on the on Alignments ➢ Edit Alignment command to reopen the Alignment Details
form and edit the labelling, geometry or table outputs.

Creating Multiple Alignments

Repeat the above process for creating alignments to create alignments from the other four polylines in the
drawing (no need to edit the geometry or generate tables).

Creating them Singly

Step 17: From the Ribbon, click on Alignments ➢ Create

Alignment.
Select each alignment from the drawing and assign the following from
the Geometry tab:
1. Marin Street:
a. Name: Marin
b. Object Type: Road
2. Stawell Street
a. Name: Stawell
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

b. Object Type: Road

3. Sydney Street
a. Name: Sydney
b. Object Type: Road
Each alignment starts or ends at another alignment centreline, where tee intersections are to be formed.
Stawell Street and Sydney Street cross each other, with the intention to form a crossing intersection.

Auto Creating all Alignments at Once

As an alternative to the above the Auto Create command will create alignments from all the polylines
in the one command – when you run the command you choose whether to use the Dynamic Labels (yes)
or the Annotative Labels (no), agree to use all the polylines on the layer and then name all the alignments
in a single form.
There are now four alignments created in the drawing – the next step is to start making some Roads.

About Civil Site Design Strings

In Civil Site Design alignments control horizontal geometry. Strings control the vertical geometry and
cross section geometry for an alignment. Civil Site Design has three string types which perform different
functions depending on your design requirements.
Road String Profile String Grading String

Start with: Start with: Start with:

Civil Site Design or Civil 3D Civil Site Design or Civil 3D Polyline

Alignment Alignment

When to use: When to use: When to use:

Create an intersection between Control the level of a code on a Creation of shapes:

multiple roads template

Building Pads, Lots, Car Parks,

Connect to the following road Drape a template to another Driveways
string objects: surface

Kerb Returns Plot cross sections through part

Cul-de-Sac of a site
Knuckle
Roundabout

Other outcomes: Other outcomes:

Other outcomes:

Creation of an automatic surface No interaction with other string

types Polyline can still be edited,
model - Totalmodel
including with grips

No automatic surface creation

Option to create a surface model
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Creating Road Strings

A Road is a particular type of String – as well as having its own vertical geometry and
cross sections assigned at each sampled section, when one Road String meets
another, or two Road Strings cross each other, they will share levels (elevations)
where they intersect. In all cases of intersecting Roads, there is a ‘Main’ Road and
a ‘Side’ Road. The Main Road does not get adjusted through the intersection
zone; however the Side Road String vertical grading will adjust to adopt the
design of the Main Road cross section, normally between the left and right
edges of the Main Road. The cross section Code that is used to define
the edge of Main Roads is controllable by you – the default is to look for
the LEB and REB codes on the Main Road cross sections.

Typical Cross Sections - Templates

Let’s start by looking at the Template Editor. The Template Editor allows you to create ‘typical’ cross
sections to apply to a String. The ‘template’ normally provides a starting point for your design – after the
template is applied and cross sections are created, users then edit the cross sections based on their
design requirements
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Roads

➢ Create/Edit Section.
Step 2: Because two alignments are
crossing, CSD needs to be told
which one is the Side Road.
Accept Stawell as the Side Road
and click OK.

The Template Editor form will now display. The Template Editor consists of:
• A spreadsheet view at the top for
you to create Sections (aka Legs)
left and right of the String to which
it will be attached. Each Section is
defined by an offset distance, as
slope/vertical and a Code
(describing the end of the Section).
The Plot option sets whether or not
the Code will be textually
described at the time of plotting
cross sections.
• There is a visual display below the
spreadsheet view – this updates
as geometry is changed
• Function controls to the right
o Use the arrows at the top to cycle through Templates
o Click on Template Options to make new Templates
o Click on Create Section or Create Kerb to create Sections (complete with subgrade
layers)
o Click on Let Side and Right Side to assign some starting batters.
o Controls to set subgrades to be assigned if new Codes are inserted on the String.
Step 3: Set the current template to Local Road – 6m.
Step 4: Changing the Width of Section 1 will change the width of the road pavement (LEB and REB
codes)
Step 5: Set the width of Section 6 will change the width of the footpath/sidewalk (LFPO and RFPO)
Step 6: Clicking on the button Left Side will allow changing the slope – you may wish to change the
value to 1:2 cut and 1:2 fill (slopes are always defined by Rise:Run)
Step 7: Clicking on the the button Right Side will allow setting the Slopes to apply on the right side of
the template.
You can make as many Templates as you need by clicking on the Template Options button and selecting
to Create New Template in Local Library.
We will use the Road – 6m Template for our Road cross sections.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Road Creation
Step 8: From the Ribbon, click on
Roads String ➢ Road String.
Step 9: At the prompt, pick the Delawn
alignment in the drawing. The Add
String form displays:
Step 10: Set the Template to Road – 6m and
click on OK.
In the drawing, the road linework will immediately
display, representing the extrusion of the cross
sections along the String vertical grading and the
alignment horizontal geometry.
The Vertical Grading Editor Window will also
display. The Vertical Grading Editor provides a
comprehensive set of tools for designing the
string vertical grading. Create/delete IP’s, set IP
levels/grades and assign vertical curves from the
Vertical Grading Editor interface.
As well as managing the string vertical grading,
the Vertical Grading Editor also allows the user to open cross section windows to review the cross
sections as well as allowing cross sections to be edited.
The Design Data form allows you to fully customise your cross sections along your string, and can be
accessed from the Vertical Grading Editor or directly from the Ribbon.
Note: The colours of the linework can controlled from the ribbon command Roads Tab > Plan Production Panel >
CAD Output dropdown > Assign Layers.

Vertical Grading
A view of the initial design and layout is shown below:

Move the Vertical Grading Editor (VGE) window where you want in the drawing and resize the window to
suite. Note that the software has applied an automatic best fit design, creating multiple IP’s inclusive of
vertical curves. You are encouraged to edit the vertical design.
As the design changes, the linework in the drawing will update.

Step 11: In the Vertical Grading Editor, click on the Delete IP button up the top, near the left.
Step 12: Click in the display window of the Vertical Grading Editor at around chainage 150 – the vertical
IP is removed and the design updated.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Step 13: Click on the Move IP Anywhere button and click on the
IP located at around Chainage 50 in the VGE display
window. Move the IP around and click to set a new position.
Upon selecting a new location the information updates in the VGE
window and the linework in the drawing updates – have a look at the
new batter offsets.
Step 14: Click on the Edit IP button and click on the IP just edited. This
opens the IP Editor form.
Step 15: Change the VC Length to 75m and click OK.

You can click on the Add IP button to create more IP’s. The ‘snap’ IP buttons ( and ) will create
IP’s that are snapped onto the sampled (existing) surface.

The Raise Lower All IP’s icon allows you to set a cut/fill volume outcome – once you click OK the
software raises and lowers the string to achieve the required volume result.
Note: Use the middle scroll button to zoom and pan in the Vertical Grading Editor display window. Roll the middle
mouse to zoom and hold it down to pan.
There are many more IP editing tools – hover over each item to read what each does.

One great way to edit the design is to use the Grid Editor. Click on the Grid Editor button to open the
Grid Editor.

Use the grid view to directly edit IPs:

- Distance
- Elevation
- Grade in (changes the elevation of
the previous IP)
- Grade out (changes the elevation of
the next IP)
- Vertical curve length

Cross Section Display

You can display as many cross section windows as you like, sized and positioned to suit. The quickest
way to display these is directly from the Vertical Grading Editor window.
Step 16: Hover in the Vertical Grading
Editor window at around the
location of the IP you edited
and press the right mouse
button
Step 17: Resize and reposition the
cross section window.
You can show more cross section
windows by clicking on the
Display Cross Section Window

Step 18: Click on the Move IP Anywhere button on the Vertical Grading Editor and click on the IP
you have previously edited. Move the IP around and watch the cross section window/s. All
open cross section windows automatically update as design changes are made.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Use the arrows to navigate to different chainages or use the pick list to change the chainage to
display. Right clicking on the VGE will reset the chainage for the cross section window opened with the
right click.
Note: Use the middle scroll button to zoom and pan in the Cross Section display window. Roll the middle mouse to
zoom and hold it down to pan.
Close and open cross section windows by clicking on the X top right.

You can edit the applied Templates directly from the VGE – just click on the Create/Edit Template
button on the left of the VGE. Any strings using the Template will automatically update.

Cross Section Editing

You can edit cross sections directly from the Cross Section Window simply by right clicking near a Code
you want to edit (Direct Section Editing). You can also review all edited cross sections using the
Design Data Form button.
Step 19: From the Cross Section Window, right click near a code.

The shortcut menu flyout lists the options to edit individual codes on the cross section (such as draping
one of the codes onto a surface), change the batter slopes and open the Section Design Data form to
review the edits applied at a particular cross section.
Step 20: From the shortcut menu, select Add Batter Override > Insert Slope Batter. This opens up a
form with inputs for this adjustment
Step 21: Set the Start Left Cut Slope and Start Left Fill Slope to, say, 5. If you right-clicked with your
mouse on the left of the centreline then the Side to Apply will default to Left. Otherwise, change
the Side to Apply to Left
Step 22: Click Apply and note the crossfall of the batter on the left side is now at 1:5.
The Add Variation flyout will allow you to manipulate other Codes on the cross section – you can set the
elevation of a code to match a surface, an alignment or another designed String, as well as other edits.
See the list below for a view of the Direct Section Edits available from the Cross Section window.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Cross Section changes available from the cross section window are as follows:

Insert Section: Inserts a new Section Code inside or outside of the nominated Reference Code,
between a specified Chainage range, at a specified width and elevation or slope.
Section

Insert Section and Interpolate Level: Inserts a new Section Code inside or outside the
Insert

nominated Reference Code, between a specified Chainage range, at the level of a selected
Alignment or Code.

Insert Section and Match to Surface: Inserts a new Section Code inside or outside the
nominated Reference Code, between a specified Chainage range, at the level of a nominated
surface along a nominated Alignment.

Delete Section: Removes the selected Code, between a specified Chainage range.
Section
Delete
Add Variation

Delete Sections Behind Code: Removes the selected Code and all Codes to the outside of it,
between a specified Chainage range.

Delete Sections Conditionally: Removes the Code(s) between selected Codes, between a
specified Chainage range if the cut/fill conditions of a Code are met, between a specified Chainage
range. Note: the Trigger Code must exist and occur outside of the codes to be removed.

Match Code to Alignment: Matches the selected Code’s alignment and optionally it’s level to a
nominated Alignment between a specified Chainage range.

Match Code to String: Matches the selected Code’s alignment and optionally it’s level or slope to
a nominated Road String between a specified Chainage range.

Match Code to Surface: Matches the selected Code’s level to a nominated Surface and optionally
Section
Modify

it’s alignment to a chosen Alignment, between a specified Chainage range.

Match Section Slope to Surface: Gives the Code a level along a specified Alignment to maintain
the slope of a nominated Surface at a chosen location, between a specified Chainage range.

Vary Section Slope and Width: Adjusts the Code by a specified offset and optionally at a
specified slope, between a specified Chainage range.

Copy Codes: Copy multiple Codes to a nominated Road String’s Codes position or optionally, just
their level, between a specified Chainage range.

Step 23: To see all the edits applied, for the entire road, you can open the Design Data form (from the
VGE or the cross section window)
In the Design Data form the Add Entry button is used to add more controls – this allows you to change
Templates along the Road string. Every edit available from the Cross Section window will be represented
in the Design Data form.
Step 24: Close the Design Data Form window by clicking on the X at the top right of the form.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Surface Creation
As well as creating a surface for the current String, you can create an ‘Automatic Road Network Surface’
model – this type of surface model automatically includes the Road, Kerb Return, Cul-de-sac and Knuckle
Strings in one trimmed surface model. To set this type of surface
up:

Step 1: From the Roads Ribbon, click on Roads ➢ Auto

Model. A surface model of the current Road string is
automatically created.

Note: Use the Surfaces ➢ Create Surface command to edit the

display of the surface, or edit some aspects of the display directly from
the VGE
Step 2: From the VGE window, click on the
Control Surface Display button
Step 3: On the Surfaces tab, you can quickly turn the mesh or
contours on/off, and change contour intervals. Click on
the Models tab
Step 4: For the TotalModel, tick on the option Auto Rebuild and click OK
This sets CSD to automatically update the surface as changes are made in the VGE.

You can test this by using the the Move IP Anywhere function to move an IP and reviewing what
happens in the drawing as each edit is made.

Understanding your Model – 3D Viewing

While you are designing you can review your design in a fully rendered 3D model, in real time. Model
Viewer provides another window into your design outcomes, updating as you make changes to the design
surfaces. As well as providing you a fast review of the design in context with the built environment, you
can:
✓ Exaggerate at the click of a button
✓ Display the contours and triangulation
✓ Run sight distance analysis
✓ Add linemarking based on the road centrelines and polylines in the drawing
✓ Drive the roads
✓ Add trees and other 3D objects
✓ Display the pipe network
✓ Right click to open the design windows and run plot outputs
✓ Generate videos and screenshots.
Step 5: From the Roads Ribbon,
click on Roads ➢ Select
Panel ➢ Model
Viewer.
Step 6: The Toggle Display form
will show to allow you to
select the surface/s to
display as well as the
render materials to apply.
Leave these to defaults
(TotalModel surface as the
Primary Design and NS as
the Base surface) and click
OK
Model Viewer will display. Use your left mouse to navigate and your middle mouse to zoom and (hold
down) orbit.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Quick Volumes
At any time during the design of any String, you can extract a quick volume summary of your string
design.
Step 1: From the VGE Home tab, click on the button

Compute Volume Summary Report. A

form will display for immediate review of the
earthworks volumes.
For imperial customers, you may wish to change the

unites. To do this click on the Settings button and

change the Units to Cubic Yards, Save Settings and
click on the Sync button on the Volumes form
Step 2: Close the VGE window for Delawn by clicking
on the OK button.

Plotting and Outputs

Let’s generate some long and cross sections for the Delawn Road string.

Long Sections and Profile Views

Use the Long Sections command to create published outputs of your vertical designs, and the
Cross Section Plots command to generate sheets of your cross section design.

Some countries may prefer a grid-based presentation output, and can use the Profile Views and
Section Views commands to generate grid framed outputs.

Long Sections
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Roads ➢ Long Section. Click on the Delawn alignment in the
drawing.
Step 2: In the Select Sections to Plot form, click on Selected Sampled Sections.
A preview long section displays in a new Layout and a form displays for you to edit and manage the
display of your long section. From here you can set up the layers, scales and assign a title block. You
can also fully customise the data displayed on the long section and in the rows at the bottom.
Saving styles provides a quick means of recalling long section output displays, ready for immediate
plotting output.
Step 3: Click on Load Style, select the style
QS A1 Title and click OK. The long
section presentation will immediately
update.
Step 4: Click on Plot to Layout to create
new AutoCAD Layouts in the
drawing – the long section will span
multiple sheets (layouts) as
required. A model view can also be
included in the output.

Go back to the Model tab.

 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Cross Section Plots

Step 5: From the Ribbon, click on Roads ➢
Cross Sections. Click on the Delawn
alignment in the drawing.
Step 6: In the Select Sections to Plot form, click
on Selected Sampled Sections.
Step 7: Click on Load Style, select the style QS
A1 Title and click OK. The cross section
presentation will immediately update.
Step 8: Click on Plot to Layout to create new
AutoCAD Layouts in the drawing – the
cross sections will span multiple sheets
(layouts) as required.

Setout
Step 9: Go to the Model Tab and
from the Ribbon, click on
Roads ➢ Multi Object
Setout.
Step 10: Click OK at the next form to
accept the name for the
setout.
Step 11: Click on Load Style.
Pick CL Code - P (no circle)
dwg + PENZD
table.setOutStyle and click
OK. This will establish some
Settings output controls
Step 12: From the Object and Code
Select tab, tick the Off
buttons for the Kerb s and
Cul-de-sacs so we just set out the Road centrelines.
Note: The above image displays the setout form after all roads, kerb returns and cul-de-sacs have been created.
Since only one Road String exists at this stage, setout will be limited to just showing Delawn.
You can pre-set which sampled cross sections are used in the creation of setout points. By default, the
Roads will setout every sampled section – it’s often preferred to limit this to the same sampling as the
cross sections.
Step 13: In the Objects to Set Out list, click on Delawn, then click
on the Edit button.
Step 14: In the Setout Spacing along Chainage, use the pick list
to set the spacings to Section Plots. This sets the setout
spacings to match the cross section plot sampling.
You can also set a starting point number for each Road.
Step 15: Click OK.

From the Setout form, click on the Create Setout

button.
At the prompts, click on screen to set locations for
the tables.
Point number text will be displayed in the drawing
and AutoCAD tables of the setout will be displayed
in the drawing.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Creating Multiple Roads

The Create/Edit Road can be used to create the
other Road Strings, one at a time. You can however
automate the process by using the Auto Road
Creation command.
Step 16: From the Ribbon, click on Roads ➢Road
String dropdown ➢ Auto Road
Creation.
The Add Road form will display as before, with some
command buttons removed (the ones that are unique
to individual Road Strings).
Step 17: Click on OK (Create/Update) to create all
the Roads.

Now, let’s review Stawell Street (This is the Road

running North South in the middle of the drawing) in
the Vertical Grading Editor to see the interaction with
both Marin Street at the southern end and Sydney Street in the middle of the String.
Note: Until we create Kerb returns, the automatic surface model that updates will be incorrect at the intersections – as
we make kerb returns the software will neatly trim up the intersections to get rid of overlapping cross sections

Step 18: From the Ribbon, click on Roads ➢ Edit Design.

Step 19: At the command prompt, click on Stawell Street in the drawing (or press [Enter] and select
Stawell from the list of strings).
Step 20: Repeat the above two steps and open Sydney Street (This is the road that forms a cross road
with Stawell).
Stawell Street and Sydney Street both contain IP’s at the start of each String, with the IP’s describing the
cross section of the intersecting ‘main’ Road. Stawell Street also has IP’s midway along that describe the
cross section of Sydney Street where it
crosses Stawell Street.
Move Sydney Road up and down by
editing the IP closest to the vertical red
line that denotes the intersection with
Stawell Street – the vertical grading of
Stawell Street will immediately update to
match the new cross section of Sydney
Street.
Automatic vertical curves have been
created either side of the intersection –
you edit these when you create or
resample the road cross sections (they
are not editable in the VGE window).
Intersection connectivity is automatic.
The surface will rebuild as the vertical
grading of any string is edited – it’s now time to create kerb returns.
Step 21: Close all open VGE windows.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Kerb Returns
Kerb Return Strings are a special type of String – as well as supporting a vertical grading design and
cross sections, kerb return strings understand that they should connect to two Road strings, specifically to
particular Codes on the road strings. By default, these Codes are LEB and REB (representing left edge of
bitumen and right edge of bitumen).
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Road Networks dropdown ➢ Kerb Return and click on the
northern side of the intersection between Delawn Street and Sydney Street.
Step 2: From the Single Arc tab, type 12m for
the Radius
Step 3: Click on the button Create/Update
Alignment
In the drawing, a new ‘kerb’ alignment is created
as well as a Kerb String – the intersection is
automatically remodelled to include the removal
of overlapping Codes from the Main and Side
Roads and the surface rebuilt.
The cross section for the kerb return string is
automatically constructed from the matching
Codes on the Main and Side Road cross sections
– when these codes are dissimilar, users can
specify a Template for the kerb return cross
sections.
Step 4: If desired, change the Radius to 15 and
click on Create/Update Alignment.
The kerb return updates both the
horizontal alignment as well as the
String vertical grading.
Step 5: Click on Display Vertical Grading,
click OK on a message if it displays.
Step 6: Click Close to close the Kerb Definition form.
The Vertical Grading of the Kerb Return will display. The incoming IP’s and outgoing IP’s from the kerb
return are matched to the Road cross section edge of road levels.
If desired, open the VGE of the Main and Side Road – edit the Main Road IP’s and watch both the side
road and the kerb return VGE update.
The cross sections of the kerb return are ‘built’ from the main and side road cross sections.
Step 7: Click OK to close the kerb return VGE.
Note: Use the Kerb Return command to edit any kerb return string in the drawing.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Multiple Kerb Returns

You can automate the kerb creation
process.
Step 8: From the Ribbon, click on
click on Roads ➢ Kerb
Return Dropdown Arrow
➢ Auto Kerb Returns
Step 9: At the form that displays,
type 10 for the kerb return
radius and click OK.
The software sweeps through all the
Road intersections and creates kerb
return Strings at each quadrant. The
surface model and the road linework
immediately updates, including
automatic trimming of the main and
side roads to include the kerb
returns.
Note: Use the Kerb Return command to
edit the radius of any kerb return string.

Cul-de-sacs
Cul-de-sac Strings are a special type of String – as well as supporting the vertical grading design and
cross sections, cul-de-sac strings understand that they should connect to the start or end of a Road string,
specifically to particular Codes on the road strings.
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on
click on Roads ➢ Cul-
de-sac and press [Enter] at
the command prompt – this
will initiate the process for
creating a new Cul-de-sac
Step 2: Fill in the following:
- Cul-de-sac Name: MarinCDS
- Incoming Road: Marin
- Match to Code: EB
- Start Chainage: 190
- Radius 1: 15
- Radius 2: 10
- Radius 3: 15
Step 3: Click on the Create/Update
Alignment button.
The alignment creates in the drawing.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Now to establish the vertical grading controls and

the modelling controls.
Step 4: Click on the Vertical Grading Controls
button to display the vertical grading
design controls.
Step 5: For the Cul-de-sac Template pick Auto
Step 6: Click on the button Display Vertical
Control – the VGE for the MarinCDS
String will display
Step 7: Click on Close to close the cul-de-sac
form.
The cul-de-sac VGE shows the incoming and
outgoing Road levels along the edge of the Road –
you get to design the internal IP’s and levels.
Note: The Transfer Levels options allow you to set
automatic IP’s to be included in the cul-de-sac vertical
grading, with the elevations being calculated using the
road crossfalls.

The Surface
automatically
rebuilds to include
the cul-de-sac
design.

Note: Use the Cul-de-

sac command to edit
the cul-de-sac
horizontal and vertical
geometry..

Volume Reports
You can generate volume reports for each String, as well as a summary volume report across the entire
road network (this includes trimming of the roads and inclusion of the kerb returns, cul-de-sacs and
knuckles)

Step 1: From the menu, click on

Roads ➢ Reports ➢
Volume Report
Step 2: From the Volume
Calculations form, set the
following:
Step 3: Road Selection: Delawn
Step 4: Select Calculation
Settings
a. Change the units if
desired.
b. Click Save Settings
Step 5: Select Report Settings
a. Under Section by Section tab, tick on the Strip Area & Design Level columns
b. Click Save Settings
Step 6: Select AutoCAD table
a. When prompted, pick a point on screen for the location of the AutoCAD table
Step 7: Select Saveas CSV file
a. When prompted, save the CSV file in a location of your choosing
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Other Road Design Stuff

Much of the functionality of the software isn’t covered here – some topics include:
- String control, which can be applied to any cross sections
- Construction of your own model from any strings and codes
- Superelevation automatically applied at each curve
- Knuckle design tools
- Roundabout tools
- Intelligent (logic driven) batter conditions
- Slope pattern block insertion
- Road reconstruction (cross section editing) tools

Pipes - Drainage
Quickly create, edit and plot pipe networks using CSD.
CSD Pipes supports the creation and layout of stormwater
drainage pipes (Rational Method), sewer pipes, service
obstruction and general pipe networks.
Plotting and report outputs are made directly into the drawing,
so revision control is made simple.
Like Roads, the pipes module supports the display of multiple
branches along any network in separate design windows (pipe
Vertical Grading Editor windows) from which you can readily
edit pipe sizes, invert/obvert levels, insert and delete pits.
Let’s have a look a creating a quick drainage network from
some polylines in the drawing.
In the drawing command line, type LAYON and press [Enter}.
All layers will turn on – there are layers
in the drawing representing pipe and pit
locations. CSD can create pipes and
pits directly from polylines, converting
each polyline vertex into a pit.
Note the following layers in the drawing:
- PIPES-DRAINAGE
This layer contains the polylines that
represent the desired locations for
pipes and pits.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Pipe Settings
There a number of pipe settings that control the list of pits, pipes, design controls of cover and slope,
minimum and maximum flow velocities, freeboard, rainfall locations, design storm ARI’s and more. Let’s
have a look at some of the critical items for drainage design:
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on click on Pipes ➢ Active Network
Step 2: From the General Tab then click on the Defaults Tab, set the Design Surface to be
TotalModel. Top of pit levels are initially set to match the design surface
Step 3: Click on the Pipe Tables tab and review the list of Pipes – pipes are set by Pipe Class and Pipe
Type. The pipe type list allows the user to type in pipe ID’s, set pipe sizes and other geometric
and hydraulic controls.
Step 4: Click on the Drainage Tab then click on the
Design Settings tab. Items to confirm/edit
include:
a. Location: Melbourne
b. Minor Frequency: 10yr ARI
c. HGL Method: Pipe Partial Water Level
d. Pipe Flow Time Velocity: Flow/Part
Area of Pipe
e. Automatic Bypass to next Pit: Tick ON
Step 5: Click on the IFD Tables tab. Here is where
you can create new IFD tables to use.
Step 6: Click on the Pit Tables tab. Here you can set
up Pit Classes and Pit Types – for each Pit
Type you establish the performance of the pit
(eg: for on-grade pits, you specify gutter flow
vs inflow)
Step 7: Click on the Services Tab – here you create service obstruction types and set the pipe
size/shape and the clearances required around the pipe
Step 8: Click OK to save and exit the settings.

Pipe and Pit Creation

Step 9: From the Ribbon, click on click on Pipes ➢
Drainage Pipes/Pits
Step 10: In the Create Drainage Pipes and Pits
dialogue, fill in the following:
- Pit Family: 1m SEP
- Pit Type: 3%
- Pipe Class: P-Class 2 RRJ
- Pipe Type: 300
- Layer: PIPES-DRAINAGE
- Erase Existing Objects: Tick ON
Step 11: Click on All Objects on Selected Layer.
All polylines on the layer PIPES-DRAINAGE are
used to create pipes and pits, including pit junctions
where polyline vertices intersected.
Note: To remove pipes or pits, the CSD Pipe Editing tools
must be used – deleting them in AutoCAD does not remove
them from the CSD pipes/pits list.
Unless you tell it not to, when you make the pipes and
pits into a network and assign/edit catchments, CSD
will automatically resize the pipes and change the
invert levels to achieve the required design hydraulic
grade line (HGL).
Let’s have a quick look at one of the editing tools.
Step 12: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Edit Pit Properties.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Step 13: At the prompt, click on Pit number 3

(located at the head of the court
bowl)
Step 14: In the Pit Properties form, note the
icons on the left allowing control of:
a. Pit location in plan
b. Top of pit level
c. Surcharge level
d. Pipe constraints
e. Bottom of pit level
If desired, set the pit location based on the
court bowl. The process is:
Step 15: Next to Road Name at the top right,
click on the Pick icon. Pick the
cul-de-sac alignment in the
drawing, then pick for the chainage
Step 16: In the Pit Location frame, click on
From Road. Pick LTK as the Code
and type in 0.5 as the Offset from Code.
Step 17: Click OK to exit the form – the pit location (and optionally levels) is adjusted).
Now the plan location of the pit is set to be a fixed offset from the cul-de-sac design.
Other useful edits to review include Move Pit, Edit Pipe Properties and Insert Pit.

Assigning Catchments
Skip this step if you are doing a general pipe design, or you know your pipe sizes and levels.
Stormwater catchments can be created from polylines in the drawing or can be assigned areas directly.
You set the parameters of the catchment.
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Catchment Area.
Step 2: At the prompt, click on the leftmost upstream pit (pit number 1)
Step 3: In the Add/Edit Catchment Areas form, click on the Add button to make a new catchment.
Step 4: In the Create/Edit Catchments form,
set the following:
a. Catchment Name: 1
b. Method: Single C Factor
c. Total Area: 1 Ha
d. C Factor: 0.6
e. Tc (min): 6
Step 5: Click OK to create the catchment.
The catchment is created and a block is inserted
in the drawing to represent the catchment. You
are returns to th eAdd/Edit Catchment Areas
form to add more catchments to the pit.
Step 6: Click Close to stop adding catchments to this pit.
Step 7: At the prompt, select the northern pit at the head of the court bowl (pit 9)
Step 8: In the Add/Edit Catchment Areas form, click on the Add button to make a new catchment.
Step 9: In the Create/Edit Catchments form, set the following:
a. Catchment Name: 2
b. Method: Single C Factor
c. Total Area: 1 Ha
d. C Factor: 0.7
e. Tc (min): 6
Step 10: Click OK to create the catchment.
Step 11: Click Close to stop adding catchments to this pit and then press [Esc] to stop assigning
catchments.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Creating a Network
Currently you have a collection of connected pipes and pits. You now need to make them into a Network
by specifying a single downstream (outlet) pit and assigning the outlet water level. Once this is done,
CSD will route the flows through the network and determine the HGL outputs and assign pipe sizes and
levels to deal with the Minor Frequency storm.
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Create/Update Network.
Step 2: At the prompt, select the most eastern (rightmost) pit (pit 8) as the downstream outlet pit
Step 3: In the Create Drainage Network form, type in Drainage 1 for the network name and then click
OK.
Step 4: For the Downstream Water Level select Top of Pipe and click OK.
The drainage network is now formed – the pits will be circled and directional flow arrows will be presented
on each pipe, with the directions pointing toward the outlet.
The pipes and pits have now been designed based on the catchments and can be reviewed in the pipe
Vertical Grading Editor (VGE) windows.

Branch Sequencing
It’s important to tell CSD how you want to plot the pipe runs (in what order) – to do this you apply Branch
Sequencing. After you have sequenced the network you can also renumber the pits based on the branch
numbers/names.
Step 5: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Branch Sequence.
Step 6: At the prompt, select a pipe on the network
and click OK to confirm the selection
Step 7: In the Pipe Network Branch Sequencing
form, click on Auto Sequence Branches
to have the software automatically
establish branch sequencing – note that
the pipes in the drawing highlight based on
the branch order assigned. You can edit
the branch sequencing manually as well as
establish branch names.
Step 8: Click OK to save the branch sequencing
and exit.
Now to establish pipe names based on the branch
sequencing:
Step 9: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢
Network Labelling Settings.
Step 10: From the Network Labelling Settings form,
set the following:
a. Network Labelling Style: Pit Number/ Line Number
b. Defaults for Pipe Labels and Pit Labels: type a hyphen (-) in the Middle cell
Step 11: Click OK to apply pit and pipe Labels to the network.
Note: You can make your own labelling style for the pits.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Labelling the Network

You have lots of control over the plan labelling of pipes and pits in the network.

Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Labels Panel ➢ Label Plan.
Step 2: The Plan Plotting form will display. Double click on Pipe Network Labels to add labels to the
Drainage network

Step 3: Type Labels in for the Description.

Step 4: In the first line of the spreadsheet view, set the following:
a. Network Type: Drainage
b. Pipe Style: Pipe-Label_Dia(Above)+Grade(Below)
c. End Structure: Pit-Label_ID+Circle
d. 1 Out Structure: Pit-Label_ID+Circle
Step 5: Click on Add/Update Labels, then click on Exit.
Labels are added to the drawing. You can click on the block surrounding
the pit label and move/rotate it to reposition the label. Pipe label text can
be grip edited as well, and will remember their relative positions. If you
change the design, just run Pipes ➢ Labels Panel ➢ Synchronise to
update them all.

Editing Pipes in a Network

One of the most powerful tools for quickly editing your pipe network is via the Pipe Vertical Grading Editor.
The Vertical Grading Editor allows you to view and edit a pipe long section from any selected pit to the
downstream outlet – you can delete pits, insert pits, change pipe sizes/types and edit pipe invert levels
directly from the Vertical Grading Editor, and see what happens to the hydraulic grade line (HGL) as you
edit the network.
Step 6: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ VGE.
Step 7: Click on the most upstream pit on the southern side of Marin Street. All pipes from this pit to the
outlet will be highlighted for editing in the Pipes Vertical Grading Editor. Click OK to confirm
selection.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

The Pipes Vertical Grading Editor window opens.

Move the Vertical Grading Editor
(VGE) window where you want in the
drawing and resize the window to
suite. Right click on a pipe to select it
for editing. Pipes are automatically
sized and graded to meet design
requirements. A tracker in the drawing
shows the plan location while editing
in the pipes VGE. The Hydraulic
Grade Line (HGL) displays and
updates as pipes and pits are edited.
Step 8: Right click on a pipe and
note the Design Values and
details at the top of the form
Step 9: For the Downstream Pit,
click on the Lower button
to lower the end of the pipe.
Note the padlock display –
this indicates that you have
manually edited the pipe
downstream invert.
Step 10: Right click on another pipe. For the Pipe, click on the Lower button to lower the whole pipe.
Minimum pit drops will be preserved, unless you have manually edited the invert of the next
upstream or downstream pipe.
Step 11: Click in the Diameter pick box and pick a bigger pipe size – all downstream pipes will update so
they don’t downsize. Un-tick Set by User to restore the pipe size to the ‘design’ size.
From the Pipes VGE you can insert pits, delete pits and set the pipe slope, as well as other
edits.

Note: Use the buttons to cycle through the pipes and use the various zoom buttons to zoom to
particular pipes along the VGE.
There are more pipe and pit editing tools – hover over each item to read what it does.

Plotting and Reports

Long Sections
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Plot Long Section. Click on one of the pipes you
created and then click OK to confirm the selection.
A preview long section displays in a new
Layout and a form displays for you to edit and
manage the display of your long section. From
here you can set up the layers, scales, assign a
title block and customise the data displayed on
the long section and in the rows at the bottom.
Step 2: Click on Plot to Layout to create new
AutoCAD Layouts in the drawing –
the long section will span multiple
sheets (layouts) as required. The
HGL, incoming pipes and (when
created) crossing pipes will display.

Go back to the Model tab.

 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Reports
In the software you can develop your own reports to generate
tables – you pick the property to report in each column, as well as
set the heading and column widths. An AutoCAD table is created
in the drawing – there is a command line entry to force all tables
to update after you make a change to the network.
Step 3: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ General. Click
on one of the pipes you created and then click OK to
confirm the selection.
Step 4: From the Report Format pick box, select Pit Schedule
– Pit Families. The report settings list will update –
each line is setting a column to display in the table
output.
Step 5: Click on the AutoCAD Table button and select a
location in the drawing. An AutoCAD table will be
created.
Step 6: Repeat the above two steps to make the following
reports:
a. Report Format: Drainage – HGL Report
b. Report Format: Drainage – Pipe Report
c. Report Format: Drainage – Pit Report
Note: When you elect to plot a report that
contains data that is dependent on the storm
frequency (ARI), you will be prompted to select
the storm frequency/ies to output. A table will
be created for each frequency.

Trench Volumes
Step 7: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Volumes. Click on one of
the pipes you created and then click OK to confirm the selection.
Step 8: Accept the default Subgrade Depth (this accounts for pipes that run
under the road – you only backfill to the underside of the Road
pavement) and click OK.
A text report is created, listing the volume of material removed and backfilled.
At the bottom of the report is a summary of the volumes as well as a summary
of the pipes used.
Note: You can change the backfill conditions for the pipes by using the Set Pipe
Backfill Lengths command.

Data Share
You can share your network (including catchments and bypass) geometry to Watercom Drains or PC
Drains directly. With Watercom Drains there is also the capacity to receive the results from the Drains
analysis and plot the pipe, pit and HGL changes using CSD Pipes.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Service Obstructions
Crossing services are a significant design consideration in any pipe network. In CSD, you create service
pipe networks directly from polylines – these will show up on your
drainage, sewer and other service obstruction networks when viewed in
the Pipe Vertical Grading Editor – the pipes are colour discriminated to
highlight clashes and insufficient pipe clearances
Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Service Pipes/Pits with
Levels.
Step 2: In the Create Service with Levels form, set the following:
a. Service Type: Gas 225
b. Name: Gas-225
c. Depth from Surface (mm): 1000
Step 3: Click OK. At the command prompt, select the
polyline on layer Pipe-Service (the polyline crosses
the last pipe in the network).
Step 4: In the Edit Pipe Run form, you can set the levels of
each polyline segment to establish pipe levels along
the service network.
Step 5: Accept the defaults and click OK.
A service obstruction network will be created. This can be
viewed and edited in the Pipe Vertical Grading Editor.

Pipe Clash Detection

Step 1: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ VGE.
Step 2: Click on pit 6/1 of the Drainage network (pit is located at the head of the court bowl) and click OK
to confirm the selection.
Step 3: In the Pipes VGE for the drainage network, note the conflict with the crossing Gas pipes.
Step 4: Right click on a pipe where the crossing gas is in conflict.
Step 5: For the Pipe, click on the Lower button to lower the whole pipe. Minimum pit drops will be
preserved, to lower upstream and downstream pipes
Step 6: As required, right click on another and lower the pipe to avoid the services
Note: Service Pipes change colour when they are outside the clearance of both pipes.
Crossing services (and in fact any crossing pipes of any network) display on the long sections.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Pipes - Sewer
Sewer pipe design processes parallel those of drainage – the process for creating
pipes and pits, editing pipes and pits, creating networks, editing in the Pipe Vertical
Grading Editor and plotting are the same.
Where sewer differs from drainage is in regards to lot control (house connections) –
for sewer, the levels of the sewer mains are driven by the lowest connection levels
from adjoining properties.

Step 1: CSD can create pipes and pits directly from polylines, converting each
polyline vertex into a pit.
Note the following layers in the drawing:
- PIPES-SEWER – polyline representing the desired location for pipes and pits
- LOTS-SEWER – closed polylines for each property
This layer contains the polylines that represent the desired locations for pipes and pits.

Pipe Settings
There are specific settings for Sewer design – these relate to pit drop controls, pipe slop controls and
house connection controls.
Step 2: From the Ribbon, click on click on Pipes ➢ Active Network
Step 3: Click on the Sewer Tab then click on the House
Connections Tab. You can make new House
Connections and set the slope, cover and drop
behaviour of the house connection – this is used to
establish the initial house connection levels and set the
sewer pipe levels.
Step 4: Click on the Design Tables tab. The Direction
Change Pit Drops sets the pit drops to be assigned
based on the direction change through a pit. The
Junction Pit Drops tab sets the pit drops to apply at
junctions, based on the worst angle change for
incoming pipes.
Step 5: Click OK to save and exit the settings.

Pipe and Pit Creation

Step 6: From the Ribbon, click on click on Pipes ➢
Sewer Pipes/Pits
Step 7: In the Create Sewer Pipes and Pits
dialogue, fill in the following:
- Pit Class: P-Class 2 RRJ or P-PVC
- Pit Type: 300 or 225 or 150
- Layer: PIPES-SEWER
- Erase Existing Objects: Tick ON
Step 8: Click on All Objects on Selected Layer.
All polylines on the layer PIPES-SEWER are used to
create pipes and pits, including pit junctions where
polyline vertices intersected.
Note: To remove pipes or pits, the CSD Pipe Editing tools
must be used – deleting them in AutoCAD does not
remove them from the CSD pipes/pits list.
As discussed in the Drainage Pipes exercises, a range of editing tools are included to enable you to
control the position, types, sizes and levels of pipes and pits. Some key editing tools include Edit Pit
Properties, Move Pit, Edit Pipe Properties and Insert Pit.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Creating a Network
Step 9: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Create/Update Network.
Step 10: At the prompt, select the most north eastern (rightmost) pit (pit 21) as the downstream outlet pit
Step 11: In the Create Drainage Network form, type in Sewer 1 for the network name, set the Sewer
Type to Default and then click OK.
Step 12: When asked whether the system is pressurised, leave the option unticked and click OK. A
gravity sewer is created.
The sewer network is now formed

Branch Sequencing
Step 13: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Branch Sequence.
Step 14: At the prompt, select a pipe on the network and click OK to confirm the selection
Step 15: In the Pipe Network Branch Sequencing form, click on Auto Sequence Branches and click OK
Step 16: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Network Labelling Settings.
Step 17: From the Network Labelling Settings form, set the following:
a. Network Labelling Style: MH Line Number/ Pit Number
b. Defaults for Pipe Labels and Pit Labels: type a hyphen (-) in the Middle cell
Step 18: Click OK to apply the adjusted pipe and pit labels based on the branch sequencing. Pits will be
numbered MH Branch#-Pit#.
Note: You can make your own labelling style for the pits.

Labelling the Network

The same process for labelling sewer networks applies as for drainage networks

Step 12: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Labels Panel ➢ Label Plan.
Step 13: The Plan Plotting form will display. Double click on Pipe Network Labels to add labels in a new
label group, or double click on the existing label group to append the Sewer network labels
Step 14: Type in Sewer Labels for the Description, if making a new label group.
Step 15: In the first line of the spreadsheet view, set the following:
a. Network Type: Sewer
b. Pipe Style: Pipe-Label_Dia(Above)+Grade(Below)
c. End Structure: Pit-Label_ID+Hexagon
d. 1 Out Structure: Pit-Label_ID+Hexagon
Step 16: Click on Add/Update Labels, then click on Exit.
Labels are added to the drawing. You can click
on the block surrounding the pit label and
move/rotate it to reposition the label. Pipe label
text can be grip edited as well, and will
remember their relative positions. If you change
the design, just run Pipes ➢ Labels Panel ➢
Synchronise to update them all.

Creating House Connections (Lot Control)

House connections (lot controls) set minimum pipe level controls required for the sewer network.
You can draw any 2D polyline that connects to the sewer pipe and turn it into a House Connection – the
software will then set levels for the house connection network and use these to drive the permissible
sewer pipe levels.
You can also use property boundaries in the drawing (each property being a closed polyline) to draw
polylines that can be used as house connections. The tools for this include making an offset boundary (for
the easement within which the house connection line can reside), putting levels at each corner (so you
can see the high and low points) and drawing some ‘worst case’ poylines that you could immediately turn
into house connections. Let’s have a look at these tools.
Generating some Polylines for House Connections
Step 19: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ House Offsets
Step 20: Use the ‘pick’ icon to select objects in the drawing as
desired. Set the following:
a. House Lots Layer: LOTS-SEWER
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

b. Offset Required: 2m
c. House Offset Layer: PIPES-SEWER
Step 21: Click OK. Each lot on the layer LOTS-SEWER will now have an offset polyline created.

Step 22: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Levels

Step 23: Set the following:
d. Surface: NS
e. House Offset Layer: PIPES-SEWER
f. Text Height: 1
g. Text Style: ISOCP
h. Text Layer: PIPES-SEWER
Step 24: Click OK. Each corner of the offset polyline will now have corner levels shown.
Step 25: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ House
Connection Polylines.
Step 26: Set the following:
i. House Offset Layer: PIPES-SEWER
j. Auto House Connection Layer: 0
Step 27: Click OK. Polylines are drawn – these can be used for
creating House Connections as required.

Generating House Connections

Step 28: Find Lot 10 in the drawing – it is located at the northern end of the network, on the horizontally
branching pipe
Step 29: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ House Connection
Step 30: In the Create House Connections form, set the following:
k. Pipe Class: P-PVC
l. Pipe Type: 90
m. House Connection Type: DN 100
Step 31: Click Select House Polyline at DOWNSTREAM End. In the
drawing, pick the polyline that runs around the western edge of
lot 10 and hits the sewer line (pipe -16-). Click on the polyline
at the end closest to the sewer line.
Step 32: Next, give the house connection a name and
(optionally) at lot nubmer and lot area. Set the
following:
n. Name: HC-10
o. Lot Number: 10
p. Lot Area: 500
Step 33: Click OK to create the house connection.
A house connection network is created – you can edit this in
the Pipe VGE as desired (or to review the assigned levels)
Step 34: Repeat the above steps to create a House
Connection network for Lot 9, and more as
desired.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Editing Pipes in a Network

Step 35: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢
VGE.
Step 36: Click on Pit MH 3-1, which the most
upstream (and western) pit located
on the western branch. Click OK to
confirm selection.
The Pipes Vertical Grading Editor window
opens. Pipes levels are automatically
adjusted to accommodate house connection
outlets. Moving the sewer pipes above the
house connections will change their display
colour.
Step 37: Edit the pipe levels as desired.
Step 38: Click OK to exit the Pipes Vertical
Grading Editor

Plotting and Reports

Long Sections
Step 39: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Plot Long Section.
Click on one of the pipes you created and then click OK to
confirm the selection.
Step 40: Click on Plot to Layout to create new AutoCAD Layouts in
the drawing – the long section will span multiple sheets
(layouts) as required. The House Connections, incoming
pipes and (when created) crossing pipes will display.

Go back to the Model tab.

Reports
In the software you can develop your own reports to generate tables – you pick the property to report in
each column, as well as set the heading and column widths. An AutoCAD table is created in the drawing
– there is a command line entry to force all tables to update after you make a change to the network.
Step 41: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ General. Click on one of the pipes you created and then
click OK to confirm the selection.
Step 42: From the Report Format pick box, select Sewer – Pit Schedule. Click on the AutoCAD Table
button and select a location in the drawing. An AutoCAD table will be created.
There is a specific report for the house connections.
 Civil Site Design Quick Start Guide

Step 43: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Sewer House Connection Report.

Trench Volumes
Step 44: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Volumes. Click on one of the pipes you created and
then click OK to confirm the selection.
Step 45: Accept the default Subgrade Depth and click OK.
A text report is created, listing the volume of material removed and backfilled. At the bottom of the report
is a summary of the volumes as well as a summary of the pipes used.

Plan Drafting
As well as labelling the pipes and pits, as was done with the Drainage Network, you can also label the
house connections.
Step 46: From the Ribbon, click on Pipes ➢ Label House Connections. Click on one of the pipes
you created and then click OK to confirm the selection.

Step 47: Fill in the details as above and click OK.

Text is added at each House Connection.

HEC-RAS Support
You can generate sections in CSD and pass them to HEC-RAS. At the time of passing across the data
you can include ineffective areas, houses and skewed sections. HEC-RAS results can be imported back
into the drawing as 3D polylines (flooding extents) and a ‘water’ surface can be created.