In this tutorial, you will create a surface, as shown in Figure 3-54, and add point

data to it. Then, you will apply a surface style and perform edit operations on
it. (Expected time: 30 min)
The following steps are required to complete this tutorial:

a. Open a template file.

b. Create a TIN surface.

c. Add point file to the surface.

d. View the surface

e. Create and assign a new surface style to the surface.

f. Save the file.

Opening the New Template File

1. Choose New from the Application Menu; the Select template dialog box is displayed.

2. In the Select template dialog box, select _AutoCAD Civil3D (Imperial) [Link] template and choose
the Open button.

Creating the Surface

1. Choose the Create Surface tool from Home > Create Ground Data > Surfaces drop-down; the Create
Surface dialog box is displayed.

2. Click in the Value field of the Name property and choose the Browse button displayed on the right;
the Name Template dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 3-55.
3. Enter the name EG Surface in the Name edit box of the dialog box and choose the OK button to close
the dialog box.

4. Now, ensure that the TIN surface option is selected in the Type drop-down list of the Create Surface
dialog box and choose the OK button; the dialog box is closed. Also, the surface is created and added
to the Surfaces node of the Prospector tab of the TOOLSPACE palette, as shown in Figure 3-56.
Note

You cannot see the surface at this stage because it is empty and you need to add data to make it visible.

Adding Point File to the Surface

1. Expand Surfaces > EG Surface > Definition in the Prospector tab of the TOOLSPACE palette.

2. Select Point Files from the Definition node and right-click; a shortcut menu is displayed.

3. Choose Add from the shortcut menu; the Add Point File dialog box is displayed.

4. From the Specify point file format list box, select the PENZD (space delimited) option. This file format
is used for the point files that are saved with the extension .txt, as shown in Figure 3-57.

Note`

If you select the wrong format for the point file from the Specify point file format list box, Civil 3D will
display an error message indicating that the wrong file format has been selected.

5. Next, choose the button on the right of the Selected Files list box; the Select Source File dialog box
is displayed.

6. Browse to the folder c03_c3d_2025_tut and select the c03 _c3d_2025_tut01- PENZD .txt file.
Choose the Open button; the file name and path is displayed in the Selected Files list box, refer to
Figure 3-57.

7. Choose the OK button from the Add Point File dialog box; the data is added to the surface.

Viewing the Surface

1. Enter ZE in the command line and then press ENTER; the surface is displayed with a surface border
and the major and minor contours, as shown in Figure 3-58. This is due to the default surface style
settings of the template file.

Creating a New Surface Style

1. Choose the Settings tab of the TOOLSPACE palette; the items in the tab are displayed.

2. In the Settings tab, expand Surface > Surface Styles; you will notice that an orange triangular symbol
is displayed on the left of the three surface styles namely: Contours 1’ and 5’ (Design), Contours 2’ and
10’ (Background), and Contours 2’ and 10’ (Design) indicating that these surface styles are currently in
use.

3. Select Surface Styles and right-click; a shortcut menu is displayed.

4. Choose New from the shortcut menu; the Surface Styles - New Surface Style dialog box is displayed.
The Information tab is chosen by default in this dialog box.

5. Enter EG Style in the Name edit box of the Information tab.

6. Choose the Apply button; the name of the dialog box is changed to Surface Style - EG Style.

7. Next, choose the Points tab from the Surface Style - EG Style dialog box.

8. Click on the Value field of the Point Units property and enter 7.00’.

9. Next, expand the Point Display category and click in the Value field of the Data Point Symbol
property; a Browse button is displayed on the right of this field.

10. Choose the Browse button; a small window with different point symbols is displayed. Retain the
default settings.

11. Next, choose the Display tab. Make sure that the Plan option is selected in the View Direction drop-
down list of the Display tab. The settings of the surface style can only be viewed in the plan.
12. Click on the bulb icon in the Visible column and turn on the visibility of Points and Triangles. Also,
ensure that the Major Contour and Minor Contour layers are turned on so that the objects in these
layers are visible when viewed in the plan view.

13. Choose the Apply button to configure the settings for the plan view of the surface.

14. Next, select the Model option from the View Direction drop-down list.

15. In the Display tab, turn on the visibility of Points and Border. Also, ensure that the visibility of
Triangles is turned on.

16. Choose the Triangles tab and click in the Value field of the Triangle Display Mode property and
select the Exaggerate Elevation option from the drop-down list. Next, enter 5.000 in the Value field of
the Exaggerate Triangles by Scale Factor property.

17. Choose the Apply button; the settings are configured for the 3D view/model of the surface.

18. Next, choose the OK button in the Surface Styles - EG Style dialog box; the EG Style is created and
added to the Surface Styles node of the Settings tab.

Assigning the EG Style to the Surface

1. Choose the Prospector tab of the TOOLSPACE palette and expand the Surfaces node.

2. Select EG Surface and right-click; a shortcut menu is displayed.

3. Choose Surface Properties from the shortcut menu; the Surface Properties - EG Surface dialog box
is displayed. The Information tab is chosen by default in this dialog box.

4. In the Default styles area of the tab, select EG Style from the Surface style drop-down list, as shown
in Figure 3-59.

5. Choose the Apply button; a TIN surface is displayed with the surface points.
6. Choose the OK button to close the Surface Properties - EG Surface dialog box. Figures 3-60 and 3-61
show the TIN surface with the surface points and the point style selected, respectively. Note that the
surface points are represented by the symbol that was selected for the point display in the surface
style.

7. Choose the SE Isometric button from the Named Views panel of the View tab, as shown in Figure 3-
62 to view the surface in 3D view; the surface is displayed with triangles at an exaggerated elevation,
and the surface border and points are displayed at the original elevation, as shown in Figure 3-63.

Note

Figure 3-63 displays the model view of the surface using the model view settings previously defined
for surface style.
Saving the Drawing

1. Choose the Save As from the Application Menu; the Save Drawing As dialog box is displayed.

2. In this dialog box, browse to the following location:

C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025_tut

3. In the File name edit box, enter c03_c3d_2025_tut01a.

4. Next, choose the Save button; the file is saved with the name c03_c3d_2025_tut01a at the specified
location.

Tutorial 2
In this tutorial, you will create two surfaces by using the point group and
breaklines. Also, you will use some of the surface editing commands and paste
the surface, as shown in Figure 3-64. (Expected time: 30 min)

The following steps are required to complete this tutorial:

a. Open the file.
b. Create a surface by using breaklines.
c. Create a surface by using point groups.
d. Use the Delete Line tool to edit the surface.
e. Paste the surface.
f. Save the file.
Opening the File
1. Choose Open > Drawing from the Application Menu; the Select File dialog box
is displayed.
2. In the dialog box, browse to the location C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025 where
you have saved the file.
3. Select the file c03_c3d_2025_tut02.dwg and then choose the Open button to
open the file.

Creating E Street Surface using Breaklines

1. Choose the Create Surface tool from Home > Create Ground Data > Surfaces
drop-down; the Create Surface dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the TIN surface option in the Type drop-down list of the displayed dialog
box, if not selected by default.
3 Enter E Street in the Value field of the Name property.
4. Click on the browse button in the Value field of the Style property; the Select
Surface Style dialog box is displayed. In this dialog box, select the E Style option
from the drop-down list and then choose the OK button; the selected style is
displayed in the Value field of the Style property.
5. Next, choose the OK button from the Create Surface dialog box; the dialog box
is closed and a surface is created. Now, you will add data to this surface.
6. Choose the Prospector tab and expand Surfaces > E Street > Definition.
7. In the Definition node, right-click on Breaklines and choose Add from the
shortcut menu displayed; the Add Breaklines dialog box is displayed.
8. Enter E Lines in the Description text box and ensure that the Standard option
is selected in the Type drop-down list.
9. Next, choose the OK button; the dialog box is closed and you are prompted to
select the objects.
10. Select the two polylines from the drawing and then press ENTER; the
breaklines are added to the E Street surface, as shown in Figure 3-65.
Note
Breaklines are added to the Breaklines subnode of the E street surface in the
Definition node and they are also displayed in the List View.

Creating the Existing Ground Surface Using Point Groups

1. Repeat steps 1 to 4 given in the previous section and then set the following
values in the Create Surface dialog box:
Surface type: TIN surface Name: EG Style: Basic
2. Now, choose the OK button; the EG surface is created.
3. Expand Surfaces > EG > Definition in the Prospector tab of the TOOLSPACE
palette.
4. Right-click on Point Groups and choose Add from the shortcut menu displayed;
the Point Groups dialog box is displayed.
5. Select the _All Points group and choose the OK button; the point group is
added as the definition to the surface, as shown in Figure 3-66.
Editing the EG surface
1. Choose the Surface tool from the Ground Data panel of the Modify tab; the
Surface contextual tab is displayed.
2. Next, choose the Delete Line tool from Surface > Modify > Edit Surface drop-
down; you are prompted to select the surface from which you want to delete
the lines.
3. Press ENTER; the Select a Surface dialog box is displayed.
4. Select the EG surface from the dialog box and choose the OK button; the dialog
box is closed and you are prompted to select the required edges.
5. Select all the longer edges on the left side of the surface and shorter edges on
the top left corner, as shown in Figure 3-67.

6. Press ENTER; the selected lines are deleted and the surface is displayed, as
shown in Figure 3-68. Press ENTER to exit the command.
7. Before you paste the E Street surface on the EG surface, it is better to view the
surfaces in a 3D view. To do so, select the SE Isometric option from the Views
panel of the View tab; the EG surface is displayed in an isometric view, as shown
in Figure 3-69.

Pasting the Surface

1. Choose the Paste Surface tool from Surface > Modify > Edit Surface drop-
down; you are prompted to select a surface.
2. Press ENTER; the Select a Surface dialog box is displayed.
3. In the dialog box, select the EG surface and choose the OK button; the Select
Surface to Paste dialog box is displayed.
4. Select E Street from the dialog box and choose the OK button; the dialog box
is closed and the E Street surface is pasted on the EG surface. Civil 3D has now
recalculated triangulation and has built the EG surface taking breaklines into
account. Notice the change of the EG surface in the region of added breaklines,
refer to Figure 3-70.
5. Choose the View tab and then select the Realistic visual style from the Visual
Style drop-down list in the Views panel; the E Street surface is displayed, as
shown in Figure 3-71.

Note
1. E Street surface will disappear as soon as you choose another command or
zoom in or out the surface.
2. Sometimes you may not be able to paste one surface over another. This
happens due to the difference in the elevations of the two surfaces.
Saving the File
1. Choose Save As from the Application Menu; the Save Drawing As dialog box is
displayed.
2. In this dialog box, browse to the following location:
C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025_tut
3. In the File name edit box, enter c03_c3d_2025_tut02a.
4. Next, choose the Save button; the file is saved with the name
c03_c3d_2025_tut02a at the specified location.

Tutorial 3
In this tutorial, you will create a surface using a shape file, import a raster
image, and drape it over the surface, refer to Figure 3-72. (Expected time: 45
min)
The following steps are required to complete this tutorial:
a. Open a new drawing file.
b. Set the parameters of the drawing.
c. Create a surface from GIS data.
d. Insert the geo-referenced image.
e. Drape the raster image.
f. View the result of draping.
g. Save the file.
Opening a New Drawing File

1. Choose New from the Application Menu; the Select template dialog box is
displayed.
2. In this dialog box, select the _AutoCAD Civil 3D (Imperial) [Link] template;
a new file is opened.

Setting the Drawing Parameters

In this section, you will specify the drawing settings such as the coordinate
system, drawing units, and the ambient settings for the drawing.
1. Right-click on the drawing name in the Settings tab of the TOOLSPACE palette;
a flyout is displayed. Choose the Edit Drawing Settings option from the displayed
flyout; the Drawing Settings - <Drawing Name> dialog box is displayed.
2. Choose the Units and Zone tab in the dialog box. Next, select the Meters
option from the Drawing Units drop-down list and the UTM, NAD 83 Datum
option from the Categories drop-down list.
3. In the Available coordinate systems drop-down list, select the UTM with
NAD83 Datum, Zone 11, Meter; Central Meridian 117d W option and then
choose the Apply button from the Drawing Settings dialog box. The drawing is
set to UTM Zone 11 projection and the datum is set to NAD 83, refer to Figure 3-
73.
4. Next, choose the Ambient Settings tab. Expand the Coordinate node and click
on the cell in the Value column corresponding to the Unit property; a drop-down
list is displayed. Select the meter option from the drop-down list, as shown in
Figure 3-74.
5. Expand the Elevation node and click on the cell in the Value column
corresponding to the Unit property; a drop-down list is displayed. Select the
meter option from the drop-down list.
6. Expand the Lat Long node and click on the cell in the Value column
corresponding to the Format property; a drop-down list is displayed. Select the
decimal option from the drop-down list.
7. Choose the Apply button to set the parameters and then choose the OK
button; the Drawing Settings dialog box is closed.

Creating a Surface from GIS Data

1. Choose the Create Surface from GIS Data tool from Home > Create Ground
Data > Surfaces drop-down; the Object Options page of the Create Surface from
GIS Data wizard is displayed, as shown in Figure 3-75.

2. In the Name text box, delete the existing text and type LakeHenshawRegion
as the surface name. Choose the Next button; the Connect to Data page of the
wizard is displayed.
3. In the Data source type area of this dialog box, select the SHP radio button.
4. In the Connection parameter area, choose the browse button corresponding
to the SHP path edit box; the Select a SHP file dialog box is displayed.
5. Browse to the location C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025_tut and select the
LakeHenshaw-ElevationPoints file. Choose the Open button; the Select a SHP File
dialog box is closed and the path of the selected file is displayed in the SHP path
text box.
6. Choose the Login button in the Connect to Data page; the Schema and
Coordinates page of the wizard is displayed. In the Schema and Coordinates
page, notice that the LakeHenshaw-ElevationPoints file is displayed under the
Feature class column and its CRS is displayed under the Coordinate system
column.
7. Now, select the check box for the LakeHenshaw-ElevationPoints file and
choose the Next button; the Geospatial Query page of the wizard is displayed.
8. Accept the default settings in the Geospatial Query page and choose the Next
button; the Data Mapping page is displayed.
9. In the Map GIS data to Civil3D properties list box of the Data Mapping page,
click in the Civil3D Property cell corresponding to the Contour property; a drop-
down list is displayed. Select Elevation from this drop-down list and choose
Finish to exit the wizard.
10. Enter ZE at the Command prompt and press ENTER to zoom to the extent of
the drawing. The surface created from GIS data is displayed, as shown in Figure
3-76.
Inserting the Georeferenced Image
For the purpose of overlaying the raster on the surface, you shall use the
MAPIINSERT command.
1. Enter MAPIINSERT command in the command line and press ENTER; the Insert
Image dialog box is displayed.
2. In this dialog box, browse to the location C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025_tut and
select the [Link] file.
3. Next, choose the Open button; the Insert Image dialog box is closed and the
Image Correlation dialog box is displayed.
4. In the Source tab of the Image Correlation dialog box, select the World File
option from the Correlation Source drop-down list if not selected. Make sure the
values of the parameters in the Source tab of the dialog box are set, as shown in
Figure 3-77.

5. Choose OK to close the Image Correlation dialog box.

6. Select the image and right-click; a shortcut menu is displayed. From the
shortcut menu, choose the Display Order option; a flyout is displayed, as shown
in Figure 3-78.

7. Choose the Send to Back option from this flyout; the surface is now displayed
over the image, as shown in Figure 3-79.

Draping the Image

1. Choose the Surface tool from the Ground Data panel of the Modify tab; the
Surface tab is displayed in the ribbon.
2. In this tab, choose the Drape Image tool from the Surface Tools panel; the
Drape Image dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 3-80. Accept the default
values in the dialog box and choose the OK button; the dialog box is closed and
the image is draped over the surface.

Viewing the Image

1. Select the raster image and right-click; a shortcut menu is displayed.
2. Choose Isolate Objects > Hide Selected Objects from the shortcut menu.
3. Select the Realistic visual style from the Visual Style drop-down list in the View
tab in the Ribbon.
4. Choose the Orbit tool from the Navigation 2D panel of the View tab and orient
the drawing to a suitable viewing angle. Exit the Orbit tool by pressing the ESC
key. The drawing area now shows the surface with draped raster image, as
shown in Figure 3-81.
Saving the File
1. Choose Save As from the Application Menu; the Save Drawing As dialog box is
displayed.
2. In this dialog box, browse to the following folder
C:\c3d_2025\c03_c3d_2025_tut
3. In the File name edit box, enter c03_tut03a.
4. Next, choose the Save button; the file is saved with the given name at the
specified location.