Module05 Points

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NOTES

Module 05

Points

In this module, you learn how to work with points in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Points are single locations in space with attributes such as point number,

northing, easting, elevation, and description. Civil 3D points are represented

by point objects. There are other types of points in Civil 3D. A few examples

include Land Desktop points and AutoCAD points.

Points are one of the most fundamental elements in a site development project.

They can be used to represent existing conditions and proposed construction

locations. Point data that represents existing conditions is usually created from

survey data files. Points used for construction are created by engineers and

construction personnel. Once a design is completed, engineers extract point

data from the design and then send this to the field for construction staking.

Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Import points to AutoCAD Civil 3D from an external text file.

Assign point styles and point label styles using the description key editor.

Create points using manual input methods.

Organize points by creating point groups.

Edit point data in a table and graphically.

Control the graphical display of point data.

Create a point table that shows point data.


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AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Education Curriculum NOTES

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Notes

Data for this module resides in the \AutoCAD C3D 2009 Education

Curriculum\Module 05 - Points\folder.

It is assumed that you have already completed Module 2, which discusses

point styles and point label styles.

Student Exercises

The following exercises are provided in step-by-step format. Open the Civil

3D program prior to beginning the lesson by double-clicking the Civil 3D icon

on your desktop.

You working in the Imperial system should use the drawing files beginning

with the letterI, while those working in the metric system should use the

drawing files beginning with the letterM. You are provided with a drawingfor each exercise in the lesson.

You are also provided with a text file calledI_Points.txt (M_Points.txt)

containing point data.

You must use the drawings provided with each exercise.

The exercises in this module are as follows:

1. Import Points from Text File

2. Create Description Keys

3. Create Points Manually

4. Create Point Groups

5. Edit Point Data in a Table and Graphically

6. Use Grips to Control Graphical Point Display

7. Create a Point Table


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Module 05 - Points NOTES

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Points

Points are fundamental for civil engineering planning, design, and construction

projects. In common terms, a point represents a singular location in space. It

is usually characterized with an X and Y (easting and northing) coordinate pairin two-dimensional (2D) space, or an X, Y, and Z (easting, northing, and

elevation) coordinate triplet in three-dimensional (3D) space.

Points are used throughout all phases of a site development project. During

the topographic survey, points are used to represent survey sideshot

observations of existing conditions. The points you work with in Module 05

are existing survey points.

Points are also used during the design process. Engineers often create points

to represent finished design elevations. These points are then connected to

create a plan showing the proposed design. Design points can also be used to

created finished design surface models. For example, an engineer may createpoints to represent the proposed grading scenario for a subdivision design

project.

Finally, points are used during the construction phase of a project. Points

created during the design are uploaded to GPS and Total Station survey

equipment, and used for construction staking.

There are a few ways to represent points in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

1) AutoCAD Points

2) Land Desktop Points

3) AutoCAD Civil 3D Point Objects

The AutoCAD point is a singular AutoCAD entity with no intelligence.

Inherent properties of an AutoCAD point entity are the X, Y, and Z coordinate

values. AutoCAD points can be used to create surface models if they have a

representative Z insertion coordinate.

Land Desktop is the predecessor to Civil 3D. Land Desktop points are point

objects and can be used in Civil 3D if necessary.

The most common way to represent a point in Civil 3D is the point object. The

point object is an intelligent object with the following properties:

Number

Description

Elevation


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Northing

Easting

Point objects are as shown:

The Civil 3D point object consists of a marker and a label. The display of the

marker is controlled with a point marker style. In this illustration, you can seehow different marker styles can be used to show different types of points. The

display of the label is controlled with a point label style. Different label styles

can be used to show specific point data.

Key Terms

Point A point is a singular location in space. A 2D point is a location on a plane andidentified with an X,Y coordinate pair. A 3D point adds an elevation

coordinate and is identified with an X, Y, and Z coordinate triplet. Points areused to represent existing and proposed features.

Point Group A point group is a collection of similar points in Civil 3D. Point groups can be

created using both inclusion and exclusion criteria. You can create point

groups based on point number range, descriptions, graphical selection, and

elevation ranges. Point groups are useful for manipulating large groups of

points with a single edit. You can assign point styles and point label styles to

point groups. Point groups are required for surface modeling.

Point Style The point style controls the display of the point node. You can use AutoCADblocks to create customized point styles for different types of points.

Point Label

Style

The point label style controls the display of the point label. You can create

different point label styles to show different types of point data.

Raw

Description

The raw description is the description a surveyor assigns to a point in the field.

Raw descriptions are abbreviated alpha or numeric descriptions. Surveyors


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prefer these types of descriptions because it simplifies the actual entry of the

description in the field.

Full

Description

The full description is an alternative point description that is assigned to a

point. The full description expands on the abbreviated or numeric raw

description assigned by the surveyor. Civil 3D description keys automatically

assign a full description to a raw description.

Description

Keys

Description keys are lookup tables in Civil 3D that automatically assign a full

description to points. They also automatically assign point styles and point

label styles to points. Description keys are stored in a description key set.

Survey Point A survey point is created from the survey database. Survey points are edited by

making modifications to the survey observation data. When you change survey

observation data, survey points are updated. Survey points appear with a

symbol in the point list.

Manually

CreatedPoint

A manually created point is created using a number of different point creation

tools. Manually created points can be edited directly and appear with asymbol in the point list.

Reduced

Coordinates

Reduced coordinates are created from survey observation data. Reduced

coordinates indicate northing, easting, and elevation.


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EXERCISE 1:IMPORT POINTS FROM TEXT FILE

In this exercise, you import points from an external text file to the drawing.

The point data used in this module was collected by survey crews. The

designers then realized that additional points are required near the south end of

the site for the design. These additional points reside in the text file.

Points that reside in a text file are usually represented with reduced

coordinates. Text files containing point data can use a number of different

formats. The format used in this exercise is PNEZD (Comma Delimited). An

explanation of the file contents is as follows:

P Point Number

N Northing

E Easting

Z Elevation

D Description

If point numbers are not provided in a text file, Civil 3D will automatically

assign point numbers for you.

For this exercise, open\Module 05 Points\I_Points-EX1.dwg (M_Points-

EX1.dwg).

You first review the point data file.

1. Using Windows Explorer, browse the \AutoCAD C3D 2009 Education

Curriculum\Module 05 - Points\folder.


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2. OpenI_Points.txt(M_Points.txt)using any text editor.

3. Note the format of the data in the text file.

The values represent point number, northing, easting, elevation, and

description and are separated by commas.

4. Close the text editor.

Now you import the points to the drawing.

5. Zoom to the south end of the southernmost intersection.

Notice that there are no trees or ground shots in the vicinity.

6. Click Points > Create Points.

The Create Points toolbar contains commands to create points using a

number of different methods.

7. Click the down arrows on the toolbar buttons and review the commandsavailable for creating points.


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8. Click Import Points on the right side of the toolbar.

9. Click the drop-down list and ensure the format is set to PNEZD (comma

delimited).

10.Click Add File and browse to the \AutoCAD C3D 2009 Education

Curriculum\Module 05 - Points\ folder.

11.SelectI_Points.txt(M_Points.txt).

12.Click Open.

13.Select Add Points to Point Group.

14.Click to create a new Point Group.

15.Enter Additional Survey Data.


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16.Click OK.

17.Click OK to import the points.

Civil 3D creates several ground points (description = GP) and tree points

(descriptions = TRL and TRR) in the drawing.

18.Review the point data in the drawing.

19.Close the Points toolbar.

20. In Toolspace, click the Prospector tab.

21.Click the plus sign (+) and expand the Point Groups tree.

22.Click Additional Survey Data.

Civil 3D displays the point data in the Item View area of the Toolspace

Window.


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23.Right-click any of the points in the Item View window and select ZoomTo in order to inspect the additional point added.

24.Close the drawing and do not save the changes.


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EXERCISE 2:CREATE DESCRIPTION KEYS

Description keys are used to automate the base plan creation process. Description keys are

lookuptables assigned to pointsfield descriptions (Raw Description) to do the following:

Assign an alternative description (Full Description) to the point. Assign a point style to each point.

Assign a point label style to each point.

Scale and rotate points based on additional description parameters.

The dataset for this module contains point data shown with symbols in the drawing.Automatic symbol assignment is accomplished using description keys. Description keys arelocated in a description key set.

In this exercise, you create additional description keys in an existing description key set.

For this exercise, open \Module 05 Points\I_Points-EX2.dwg (M_Points-EX2.dwg).

Begin by reviewing the existing description key set.

1. In Toolspace, click the Settings tab.

2. Expand the Point and Description Key Sets trees.

Notice the existing description key set named City of Vancouver.

3. Right-click City of Vancouver and click Edit Keys.

The Panorama window shows the DescKey Editor with the existing description keys.

4. Right-click any column header and clear every column except Code, Point Style, Point


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Label Style, and Format.

Add a description key for catch basins.

5. In the Panorama window, right-click any description key and click New.

A new description key entry appears at the bottom of the Panorama window.

6. Click the row for the new description key, and for Code, enter CB.

7. Select Point Style and select STM CB in the Point Style dialog box. Click OK.

8. Select Point Label Style and select Description Only. Click OK.

9. Change the format to CATCH BASIN and press ENTER.

10.Click the green check mark to close the Panorama window and save the changes.



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EXERCISE 3:CREATE POINTS MANUALLY

In some circumstances points need to be manually added to the drawing because the survey

data is incomplete. The location of manually created points is often identified by a position

relative to two other points, or a position relative to an intersection curb return.

In this exercise, you add catch basin points on the curb returns of an existing intersection.


First navigate the graphics to the area where the points are needed.


2. Click the Points tree.

3. Click the Point Number column header in the Item View window to sort the points by

point number.

4. Scroll down to point 342.


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5. Right-click 342 and click Zoom To.

Civil 3D zooms to show point 342.

6. Use the mouse wheel and zoom out slightly.

Notice points 350 and 351 on the northwest corner of the intersection. Also notice

points 279 and 280 on the southwest corner of the intersection.

Catch basin points are required on the curb returns midway between these points.

7. Click Points > Create Points.

8. Click the first icon drop-down arrow and select Manual.

9. With your cursor in the graphics area, press SHIFT, right-click, and click Midpoint.

10.Hold the mouse over the polyline running between points 350 and 351.

11.When you see the triangular midpoint object snap marker, click the polyline.


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12.For a point description, enter CB. Press ENTER.

13.For the elevation, enter 268.6(81.8 m). Press ENTER.

14.Repeat the step and add a CBpoint between 279 and 280 using the elevation 267.5

(81.5m)

15.Press ENTER to end the command.

Civil 3D creates two catch basin points. Notice that the point style shows the catch

basin symbol and the point label style shows just the description.

16.Close the Create Points toolbar.

The description key created in the previous exercise automatically assigned the point

style and the point label style to the points.



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EXERCISE 4:CREATE POINT GROUPS

Site development projects usually involve thousands of points. These points are used for a

number of civil engineering tasks including survey data reduction, base plan creation,

surface modeling, design, and construction. Point data management becomes a task itself.

Point groups are used to organize points based on common properties. You can create point

groups using a number of different criteria including description, point number, graphical

selection, and elevation ranges. You can even create point groups from other point groups.

Point groups are also required for surface definition. In this exercise, you organize point

data by creating point groups.



2. Click the plus sign (+) to expand the Point Groups tree.

Notice the Additional Survey Data point group and the _All Points point group. The

_All Points point group always exists, is not editable, and contains all of the points in the

drawing.

You now create a point group for the pavement edges.

3. Click the _All Points point group.

4. In the Item View area of the Toolspace window, adjust the columns so that you see Point

Number, Northing, Easting, Raw Description, and Full Description.

5. Click the Raw Description column header to sort the list by Raw Description.

6. Scroll down to the edge of pavement shots.

The edge of pavement shots have a raw description of EPL and EPR.


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You now create a point group for the pavement edges, which includes points with the

EPR and EPL descriptions.

7. Right-click the Point Groups tree.

8. Click New.

9. Click Information.

10.For Name, enter Existing Pavement Edges. Click Apply.

11.Click Raw Desc Matching.

12.Select EP*.


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The Raw Desc Matching tab shows entries in the description key set. It is easier to create

point groups when a description key set exists.

13.Click the Include tab.

Notice that With Raw Descriptions Matching is toggled on and that there is an EP*

entry.

Alternatively, you could go directly to the Include tab, select With Raw Descriptions

Matching and enter EP*.

The asterisk (*) is a wildcard indicating that all descriptions with an EP prefix are

included. Alternatively, you could enter EPR, EPL.

14.Click the Point List tab and observe that the points with descriptions EPL and EPR have

been included in the point group.

15.Click OK.

A new point group is created and appears under the Point Groups tree.

16.Right-click Existing Pavement Edges.

17.Click Properties.

18.Explore the Point Group Properties dialog box.

19.Click Cancel.

20.Right-click Existing Pavement Edges and note the other menu options.

Now you create a point group for surface modeling.

21.Right-click the Point Groups tree.

22.Click New.


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23.Click Information. For Name, enter EG Surface.

24.Click the Exclude tab.

25.Select With Raw Descriptions Matching.

26.Enter MON*, LP, FH*.

An exclusion criterion is used to exclude certain points from the surface model. These

points are the monuments, lead plugs, and fire hydrants. The elevations of these points

are not suitable for surface modeling because they do not adequately represent theexisting terrain elevation.

27.Click Point List and note that these points are not in the list.

28.Click OK.



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EXERCISE 5:EDIT POINT DATA IN A TABLE AND GRAPHICALLY

In some circumstances, it is necessary to edit point data. You may need to edit point data to

change the descriptions or change elevations based on updated information from the

surveyor, or you may be using design points for grading purposes.

There are a number of methods for editing point data in AutoCAD Civil 3D. You can edit

point data graphically or you can edit point data in a tabular format.

In this exercise, you learn how to edit point data in a table and graphically.



2. Right-click Points and click Edit Points.

Civil 3D shows all the points in the Point Editor of the Panorama window.

3. Right-click any column header and make only the following columns visible:

Point Number

Northing

Easting

Point Elevation

Raw Description

Full Description


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4. Click and drag the column headers to the left and right so that the order is the same as

shown in the previous illustration.

Next, you modify points.

5. Scroll down to point 38.

6. Right-click point 38 and click Zoom To. Civil 3D shows the location of point 38 in

the drawing area.

7.

Click Raw Description and change the value to TRR .5D. Press ENTER.

8. Click the green check mark to close the Panorama window.

9. Notice that point 38 in the graphics display updates with the new description.

You may need to enter REGENat the command line to see the screen change.

10.Click and select point numbers 179, 297, 37, and 35 in the drawing area.

The points are displayed as selected.


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11.Right-click and note the menu options.

Aside from standard AutoCAD commands, there are commands specific to point

manipulation.

12.Click Edit Points.

The four selected points are shown in the Point Editor of the Panorama window and can

be edited simultaneously.

13.Click the green check mark to close the Panorama window.

You now change the description for several points.


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14. In Toolspace, click Points.

15. In the Item View area of Toolspace, click the Point Number column and sort the data by

point number in increasing order.

16.Scroll down until you see points 167 through 170.

17.Click point number 167.

18.Hold the Shift key down and click point 170.

Points 167 through 170 are selected.

19.Right-click over the selected points and click Edit Points.

Civil 3D shows the points in the Point Editor of the Panorama window.

20.Right-click the Raw Description column header and click Edit.

21. In the first Raw Description cell, change the value to TRL 1D. Press ENTER.

The D represents diameter. Notice that the description of all the points changes.

22.Click the green check mark to close the Panorama window.



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EXERCISE 6:USE GRIPS TO CONTROL GRAPHICAL POINT DISPLAY

In AutoCAD Civil 3D, drafting is a direct by-product of the design process.

Points are useful for base plan creation, surface modeling, and design tasks. In

many circumstances points are also used on plotted drawings to portray both

existing conditions and the design.

In this exercise, you learn how to graphically control the display of point

objects in Civil 3D.

For this exercise, open \Module 05 Points\I_Points-EX6.dwg (M_Points-

EX6.dwg).


2. Click Points.

3. In the Item View area scroll to point number 771.

4. Right-click 771 and click Zoom To.


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Notice that there are a number of points with overlapping text.

5. Click point 771 in the graphics area.

Notice that square and circular grips are shown. In the previous figure, the

square grip on the point node is the Drag Point grip. Use this grip to move

the point and change the coordinates. The green circular grip is used to

rotate both the point symbol and the label.

6. Hover your mouse over the other grips and notice the tooltips.


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The Drag Label grip enables you to drag the entire label away from the

point. The Toggle Subitem grip enables you to move the point attributes

independently.

7. Click the square drag label grip and drag the entire label away from the

point.

8. Right-click and click Reset Label to restore the label to its original

location.

9. Click the point again to show the grips.

10.Click the circular Toggle Subitem grips.

11.Click a blue diamond grip.

12.Move the mouse to a new location and click again.

You may want to turn off object snaps for more accurate placement. Civil

3D moves the individual sub item to a new location.


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13.With the point still selected, right-click and click Reset Label.



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EXERCISE 7:CREATE A POINT TABLE

In some circumstances it is useful to create a point table in the drawing to show point data.

In this exercise, you create a point group for survey control and then display the survey

control point group data in a point table.


First create the Survey Control point group.


2. Right-click Point Groups and click New.

3. Click the Information Tab. For Name, enter Survey Control.

4. Click Apply.

5. Click Raw Desc Matching.

6. Select LP and MON*.


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7. Click Point List to verify the data.

8. Click OK.

Now create the point table.

9. Enter ZE(Zoom Extents) on the command line. Press ENTER to zoom to the extents

of the drawing.

10.Click Points > Add Tables.

11.Make sure the Table style is PNEZD format.

12.Click the icon to the left of No Point Groups Selected.

13.Select Survey Control in the Point Groups dialog box and click OK.

14.Click OK again.

15.Click a point in the drawing.

Civil 3D creates a point table in the drawing that shows the point data. The table is

dynamic. This means that if the point data changes, the table automatically updates.


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Quest ions

1. Name three methods for creating points in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

2. What controls the display of the point node?

3. What controls the display of the point label?

4. Why would an engineer use point groups on a civil engineering project?

5. What is a common use for point groups?

6. Name three criteria you can use to create a point group.

7. Explain the difference between raw and full point descriptions.

8. Name three specific functions of description keys.

9. Explain why an engineer would want to use description keys.

10.When you select a point graphically, a square grip and circular grip appear.

Explain the significance of these grips.

Answers

1. To create points in Civil 3D, you can manually create points, import points

from an external text file, or you can create points from a survey database.

2. The point style controls the display of the point node.

3. The point label style controls the display of the point annotation.

4. A civil engineering project typically involves thousands of points. Point

groups allow engineers to organize points with similar characteristics.

5. A common use for point groups is surface modeling.

6. You can create a point group using point number ranges, descriptions, and

elevation ranges.

7. The raw description is used by surveyors to assign descriptions to points.The raw description is usually an abbreviated or numeric description. The

full description is used in the office and expands on an abbreviated raw

description.

8. Description keys assign point styles, point label styles, and alternate or full

descriptions to points.


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9. Description keys assist with the automatic creation of the pre-engineering

base plan.

10.The square grip is the Drag Label grip. This enables you to drag the entire

label away from the point. The circular grip is the Toggle Subitem grip.

This enables individual grips for the point attributes. The individual gripsenable you to drag the individual attributes away from the point. The

second circular grip is the Rotate Point grip, which is useful for rotating

the point marker symbol.


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Module Summary

In this module, you learned how to work with points in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

At the beginning of the module, the drawing contained points created from

Civil 3D survey functionality. The next step was to import points from anexternal text file.

You then created description keys to automatically assign a point style, assign

a point label style, and assign an alternate description. The next steps

involved manually creating points and point groups.

Finally, you learned how to edit point data graphically and tabularly, control

graphical point display with grips, and create a point table.

Module05 Points

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