Devotech Group

30/04/2026

𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

Recently, we encountered several drawings where the pipe and structure labels were missing from the pipe network profile view bands.

After testing, we identified the following solutions to resolve the issue:
- Recreate the profile views (this method works, but it may not be practical if the profile views are already placed on plan production sheets).
- Remove and re-add the network to the profile views (using Devotech iDAS improves efficiency by allowing you to add and remove multiple pipe networks across multiple profile views simultaneously).

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/random-missing-pipe-and-structure-labels-in-profile-view-bands

20/03/2026

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗

When adding corridor slope patterns to a road corridor, you may notice that the slope patterns cross the channels running alongside the road in cut conditions.

To resolve this issue, ensure you use the correct point codes for daylight points in both cut and fill conditions. If you are working with the iDAS® Civil 3D® template, the appropriate point codes are already included in the Corridor Code Set Style:

• Cut condition
Daylight,Daylight_Cut
• Fill condition
Daylight,Daylight_Fill

For more details, including how to assign a green colour to slope patterns in fill conditions, check out the video in our blog post. 👇
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/define-corridor-slope-patterns-for-cut-and-fill-conditions-in-civil-3d

26/02/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗

If you have ever worked with horizontal or vertical alignments in Autodesk Civil 3D, you've likely encountered the lack of a native tool to merge horizontal or vertical alignments into a single alignment object.

You may come across several workarounds online for accomplishing this task, one of which involves using LandXML (an open-standard format specifically designed to store civil engineering data).

For many users, modifying a LandXML file can be intimidating. When opened in a text editor, the sheer volume of data can appear overwhelming at first glance.
Fortunately, when dealing specifically with horizontal and vertical alignment data, the information stored in a LandXML file is logically organised, and easy to manage.

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/merge-horizontal-and-vertical-alignments-in-civil-3d

22/01/2026

𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Civil 3D alignment station equations are extremely useful when different station values are required along an alignment. Adding station equations to an alignment is straightforward and can be done in the Alignment Properties dialog. However, difficulties arise when trying to display station equation values in a pipe network profile view. Both pipes and structures display only raw station values, and there is no built-in option to label them using station equation values.

To resolve this problem, pipe profile station labels should be used at geometry points.

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇. This video also explains why a structured table may display raw station values instead of station equation values.
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/using-civil-3d-alignment-station-equation-in-pipe-networks-and-troubleshooting

12/12/2025

04/12/2025

𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲

Labeling pipe network parts may require access to properties that are not available in the pipe or structure properties window such as standard used, end connection type, valve diameter, valve class, and many other properties depending on the pipe and structure type.
In these situations, User Fields available in the pipe and structure properties window can be used.
There are several ways to modify User Fields, ranging from simple manual edits to importing values from spreadsheet applications.

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/label-civil-3d-pipes-and-structures-with-information-imported-from-text-file

17/11/2025

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗?

Civil 3D does not provide a built-in tool to convert multiple source objects into a single pipe network. The only available method is to convert each object individually into its own pipe network and then merge all the networks manually.

If you are familiar with Devotech iDAS, you may know that the Stormwater, Sewer, and Water Reticulation Wizards allow you to select multiple source objects of different types when creating a pipe network, which significantly reduces design time.

However, when creating a bulk water pipeline, the iDAS Bulk Water Wizard expects a single continuous linear object, such as a 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or horizontal alignment, since it is programmed to automatically generate a vertical alignment based on the surface profile.

So how should you approach this design task? Simply use the Devotech iDAS Water Reticulation Wizard instead. This approach is more suitable for bulk water pipelines when you have multiple source objects or if you want to assign elevations directly from the source objects, rather than allowing the software to design the vertical alignment automatically.

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇.
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/create-bulk-water-network-from-multiple-3d-polylines-in-civil-3d

18/09/2025

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗

After completing a pipe network design in Civil 3D, you may receive an updated design surface. When this happens, the pipe network reference surface and profile views must be updated to reflect the new data.
Also, the structures' rim elevations must be adjusted to match the new surface.

If possible, paste the new surface into the existing one so that the profiles update automatically; only rim elevations need adjusting. If merging isn’t feasible, you must set the reference surface, recreate profiles from the surface, and adjust rims manually.

This is where Devotech iDAS can save significant time because with iDAS you can:
• Set the reference surface for all pipes and structures in multiple networks simultaneously
• Generate surface profiles for all alignments in one step
• Update surface references in profile view bands (Profile 1 and Profile 2)
• Set all structures' rim elevations relative to a new surface

For more details, check out the video in our blog post 👇.
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/update-pipe-network-reference-surface-surface-profiles-and-rim-elevations-with-new-surface-in-civil

15/08/2025

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗗𝗔𝗦

There may be situations where you need to determine the total water demand of your reticulation network over a specific period. The analytical engine used for water reticulation network analysis in Civil 3D with Devotech iDAS does not provide this result directly.

However, you can calculate it by recording the water depth in the storage tank at the beginning and end of the analysis, calculating the change in depth, and multiplying it by the tank’s cross-sectional area (based on its diameter) to obtain the volume of water demanded.

For more details, check out the video in our blog post:

There may be situations where you need to determine the total water demand of your reticulation network over a specific period. The analytical engine used for water reticulation network analysis in Civil 3D with Devotech iDAS does not provide this result directly. However, you can calculate it by re...

16/07/2025

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽 𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗?

The short answer is, it depends. Using standard Civil 3D tools to swap structures one by one can take many minutes to complete. However, Devotech iDAS significantly speeds up the process by allowing you to swap multiple structures at once.

For our testing, we used a custom socket structure for stormwater pipes, developed in Civil 3D Part Builder. The socket structure includes the standard Civil 3D structure parameters, along with four additional custom parameters:
• Socket Ring Length
• Socket Transition Length
• Socket Transition Outer Diameter
• Socker Ring Outer Diameter

To ensure maximum flexibility, the custom parameters support hundreds or even thousands of size options. For example, the Socket Ring Outer Diameter offers sizes ranging from 1 mm to 4 000 mm, in 1 mm increments.

We were aware that the number of available sizes could impact the performance of various commands, including Swap Structures, but the extent of that impact was unclear. To evaluate this, we conducted several tests in Civil 3D 2022 and 2026, using socket structures in quantities of 10, 100, and 300. These structures were configured with varying total numbers of available sizes, ranging from 4 to 10 000 across the four custom parameters.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆
• Swapping 300 structures with 4 available sizes takes approximately 16 seconds.
• Swapping 300 structures with 1 000 available sizes takes around 19 seconds.
• Swapping 300 structures with 10 000 available sizes takes approximately 316 seconds (just over 5 minutes).

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝗗 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
• Civil 3D 2026 performs slightly faster than Civil 3D 2022 for structures with up to 5 000 sizes.
• For structures with 10 000 sizes, Civil 3D 2026 is approximately 30% faster than Civil 3D 2022.

For more information, please visit our blog post:
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/how-long-does-it-take-to-swap-300-structures-in-civil-3d

02/07/2025

Model Viewer, introduced in Civil 3D 2026, enables users to visualise 3D models during the design process. However, some clients have raised questions about why surfaces sometimes do not appear in the Model Viewer, or how to modify the surface colour. A surface style drives the appearance and the surface colour, see the video below.

For more details, check out our blog post:
https://www.devotechgroup.com/post/adjust-civil-3d-surface-style-for-display-in-object-viewer-and-model-viewer

23/06/2025

When viewing pipes and structures in 3D with the "Realistic" visual style in Civil 3D, rounded shapes may appear faceted rather than smooth. To improve the appearance, go to Civil 3D Options, Display tab, and set the Rendered object smoothness value to 0.5 or higher.

For more details, check out our blog post:
https://www.devotechgroup.com/.../improve-3d-appearance...