Civil 3D

Score9.5 out of 10

34 Reviews and Ratings

What is Civil 3D?

Autodesk's Civil 3D is a computer aided design (CAD) application designed to support a variety of civil infrastructure projects including rail, roads and highways, land development, airports, drainage, storm and sanitary, and civil structures.

Categories & Use Cases

Media

Screenshot of Civil 3D - Infrastructure Software from Autodesk

Screenshot of Civil 3D - Rail Alignments

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Screenshot of Civil 3D - Infrastructure Software from Autodesk

#1 most frequent

Construction

28.4%

2,581 installations of 9,088

#2 most frequent

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

23.9%

2,169 installations of 9,088

#3 most frequent

Manufacturing

5.7%

521 installations of 9,088

Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology (201-500 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

This is an integral part of designing and maintaining consistency across different infrastructure projects, such as bridges, dams, and buildings. It helps in importing survey data, such as CSV files, and GPS data corresponding to the infrastructure. It also helps in planning Pipeline networks along with 3D views with pressure point representations. Its output can also be used in various Autodesk applications to provide a comprehensive ecosystem support.

Pros

Standard tool for Civil Infrastructure Planning.
Integrated and Dynamic model updating on the go.
Strong connection with GIS and BIM tools.

Cons

Some Hydraulic tools are limited.
Learning curve is steep.
Data connections with other Autodesk products can be improved.

Return on Investment

Positive ROI.
Experienced users provide an efficient workflow.
Consistent and helpful in a team environment.

Usability

Alternatives Considered

OpenRoads Designer, Trimble AutoBid Mechanical and ArcGIS

Other Software Used

OpenRoads Designer, ArcGIS, Autodesk InfraWorks

Mahmoud obaid View profile

Graduate Mechanical Engineer in Engineering at AECOM (201-500 employees employees)

Pros

Very useful for projects that contain rail alignment in such showing profiles along with the utilities that the rail is crossing it
Manage GIS data along connecting the design to documentation in order to support the productivity
Provide team coordination along using visualizing, simulation, and analysis that integrates with the design process to improve the delivery

Cons

The processing of huge sized files in such in big projects, the delay of opening a sheet in Civil3D would burn time
Sometimes, it crashes while opening or processing
The vast number of tools and functions which make it difficult to use at times hence decent amount of training may be required

Most Important Features

Infrastructure design
Creating profiles
Grading for roads

Return on Investment

Reducing time spent on creating profiles
Taking a lot of time to publish PDFs and opening some sheets
Make visualizing the project easier

Alternatives Considered

Revit and AutoCAD

Other Software Used

Revit, AutoCAD, AutoCAD mobile (formerly AutoCAD 360)

Halan Bastos Oliveira View profile

Urban Infrastructure Engineer - BIM Manager in Engineering at Brazilian Army (10,001+ employees employees)

Pros

Digital Terrain Modeling
Catchment and water discharge points' identification
Urban Drainage Systems design and excavations' volumes

Cons

Specific tools for sewers design
Possibility for the users to choose other rainfall data and parameters
Possibility to create vertical pipes in gravity networks

Most Important Features

Digital Terrain Modeling
Pipe networks design
Volumes calculation

Return on Investment

Possibility to analyze different scenarios of underground infrastructure design
Fast material volumes and quantities reports
Easiest way to achieve BIM mandate's objectives

Other Software Used

AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS

vijay kumar View profile

Sr Lighting Artist in Research & Development at Labyrinth cinematic sollutions pvr.ltd (11-50 employees employees)

Pros

We use this software for the optimal and advanced design of pipelines and complex structuring, or it can also be said that we use it mainly for a geotechnical model, due to its high definition of the large proportion of the works that are carried out through of this application, since the tasks that are used with Civil 3D require extreme patience, precision and a lot of time to develop a model in its entirety, but we managed to acquire all the necessary and strategic points, to establish and start the production of a prototype digitized in particular.
Easy to export to normal AutoCAD or collaborate with most Autodesk products.
Vehicle Turning Simulation and Stormwater analysis is great addition to the package. Ability to use the all familiar AutoCAD tools, as well as LISP and SCR to automate some processes is one of the greatest advantages of the software.

Cons

There is nothing to improve in Civil 3D, I personally use Autodesk products like Maya, max and other including Civil 3D and Autodesk has a separate R&D team for tools development which they do their jobs perfectly.

Return on Investment

Underrated and undervalued application.

Alternatives Considered

Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Fusion 360 and Autodesk Maya

Other Software Used

Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Fusion 360

Shanti Sharma

Engineering Executive in Engineering at Watashi infrastructure(formally know as witcom industry's) (201-500 employees employees)

Pros

The best part of using Autodesk software is that all of its software is connected, which helps us to switch according to our project use.
Pipe Network Part Replacement is very easy. It analyze the gravity flow and recommends the size accordingly. It also helps to understand the pressure parts.

Cons

When you are using Autodesk Civil 3D with Navisworks, things get a little complicated, and Autodesk Civil 3D has no tutorials for that, and I think they need to address those little bugs.
There is no automatic file saving feature in it, so after making every tiny change, we have to save that manually, which is so annoying for me.

Return on Investment

In term of accuracy our firm has some positive impacts , mainly in pipeline design.
When design changes have to be made: change any aspect of the corridor, whether alignment, profile, or any cross-section, and Autodesk Civil 3D automatically recalculates and redraws everything else affected by that change. Due to this, we can save more time.

Other Software Used

Bentley Navigator, Bentley ProjectWise

OpenRoads Designer

MicroStation

ARCHICAD

Civil 3D

What is Civil 3D?

Categories & Use Cases

Media

Most Frequent Users

Construction

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Manufacturing

Reviews

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Return on Investment

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Pros

Cons

Most Important Features

Return on Investment

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Pros

Cons

Most Important Features

Return on Investment

Other Software Used

Pros

Cons

Return on Investment

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Pros

Cons

Return on Investment

Other Software Used

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