Insert

Here you will find functions related to the modules‘ shading effects.

Various predefined objects can be inserted as shadow-casting elements. Depending on the object, you can set its length, height, and width in the dialog that appears. We describe this in detail in Section „Shadow Objects“.

Only the wall object requires a predefined polyline. Its options dialog allows you to set the segment length for the surface base points and the height above ground.

You can also register your own objects. For more details, please refer to Section „Shadow Objects“.

Command Group Shadow Objects

Insert tree

Inserts a tree as shadow object.

Insert pillar

Inserts a pillar as shadow object.

Create wall alongside polyline

Generates a wall for shadow calculation alongside a polyline that needs being created in advance. This can also be used as abstract simplification for fences or forests.
It’s recommended to use big segment lengths and split surrounding walls into pieces for faster calculations. The result lines might be arranged better as well.

Insert bush

Inserts a bush as shadow object.

Insert house

Inserts a house as shadow object.

Register as shadow object

Registers an AutoCAD object as shadow object.

Insert box

Inserts a box as shadow object.

Command Group Insert objects

Create rectangular surface

A new Insert option is available for retrieving a surface from the web with a low resolution. This function imports data from https://www.gpxz.io/, which is an included alternative to third-party plug-ins that can be added to Autodesk Civil 3D.
If a coordinate system is set and the Bing map shows in the background, you can navigate to a location and select the area you want to retrieve data for with a rectangular selection.
The function is located in the “Insert” page on the Helios 3D palette as displayed below.

Starts the import command and shows the following prompts in the AutoCAD command line.

The user can pick the first corner of the area which immediately leads to the next prompt.

The result will be a rectangular TIN surface at a maximum size of 10 km². The surface immediately is ready to be used for creating a layout.

The surface immediately appears to the array placement page as the next picture shows.

Offset surface border

Offsets the DTM border inward. After clicking, you will need to enter the offset distance in the command line.
Since the DTM border is a 3D polyline, the standard offset function in Civil 3D does not apply.

Create fence

Calls the dialog for creating a fence along a polyline. Before the dialog is displayed, you get prompted to select the polyline in the command line.
The following figure illustrates the parameters provided for this fence:

• Max. Segment Length
  Here, you can specify the maximum segment length in meters. All segments will adhere to this length, except for those at the corners of the fence, where the segment length will be shortened to fit.
• Fence Height
  Please enter the height of the fence in meters here.
• Use Post
  If you activate (check) this option, you can choose a post definition from the list. The selected post will be displayed in the drawing after insertion.
  If necessary, you can refresh the list by using the refresh button.
• Fence Type Hatch / 3D-Area
  Here you can choose a display type for the fence. The ‚hatched fence‘ is a simpler display option, while the <3D-Area> display type is more detailed and realistic, though it is more resource-intensive.
  The following figure illustrates the difference between a fence with minimum display accuracy (hatch without posts) and maximum display accuracy (3D-area with posts).

Create intersection line

Creates a polyline out of the intersection between either two polylines or a polyline and the DTM border.
First, select a polyline, then select the second polyline or the DTM surface. The command line will display the required instructions.

Create road along polyline

This opens a dialog for creating a road along a 2D polyline. The polyline must be selected, unless it is already preselected. The road will be created as a 3D volume.
Additionally, you can optionally create an exclusion zone around the road.

• Width
  Define the road width.
• Thickness
  Specify the thickness of the 3D volume.
• Use Custom Profile
  Activates the selection button to choose a 2D polyline as the profile for the road.
• Select in Drawing
  Select a polyline in the drawing to use as the road profile. The width, thickness, and volume of the road will be generated accordingly.
• Create Exclusion Zone
  Creates an exclusion zone with the specified name and offset value set below.
• Name
  Enter the name for the exclusion zone.
• Offset
  Enter an offset distance for the exclusion zone. The polyline will be created around the road.