Want to create a real-life Civil 3D surface? This tutorial will show you how to use Plex-Earth's Imagery and elevation data.
Plex-Earth offers worldwide elevation data, from providers like Google Elevations, as well as high-quality satellite and aerial Images from a great range of providers like Google Maps and Nearmap, which can be helpful for your Civil 3D models.
Step 1. Georeference your drawing
Firstly, you will need to georeference your drawing. You can do so by using Plex-Earth georeferencing tools or built-in Civil 3D tools like GEO or GEOCASSIGN, which Plex-Earth automatically recognizes.
Step 2: Import Imagery
To import a high-resolution image, click on the Create Mosaic button from the Create Imagery dropdown → specify the cover area → choose the preferred Imagery provider → select the resolution. Click on this link for the full tutorial.
The next step is to insert a local copy of the imagery as a raster image so that this can be used from Civil 3D. To do so, click on the Insert button in the Mosaic Editor, and the raster Image will automatically be saved on your computer. Visit this link to see the full guide on how to insert a raster image.
Step 3. Insert a Civil 3D Surface
If there is an existing TIN surface, skip to the next step. If there is no TIN surface, we can create one using Plex-Earth. Click on Import Terrain, specify the cover area, and select Civil 3D surface as surface type. Check out the tutorial for detailed information regarding the procedure of importing a terrain model.
Step 4: Drape Image onto Civil 3D Surface
Select the Civil 3D Surface in your drawing for the Civil 3D Surface ribbon tools to appear. Then select the Drape Image command. On the pop-up window, select the raster mosaic created in Step 2 and the Civil 3D Surface inserted in Step 3.
To make your 3D model visible, first, switch your Visual Style to Realistic. Optionally, you can delete or hide your raster image to get a clearer visualization. Another adjustment could be to disable specific surface components, like points, to optimize your 3D model appearance further (keep in mind that the Triangles of your surface should be enabled as a component in the Surface Style Properties, for the drape to be visible). Lastly, in cases of large surface models, you may need to enable the level of detail view to enhance Civil 3D performance.
Conclusion
Plex-Earth is the go-to tool for obtaining really quick, accurate imagery and elevation data to use in your Civil 3D models.
We hope that you have found this tutorial on how to create a real-life Civil 3D Surface using Plex-Earth Image and Elevation data helpful. Feel free to contact us at support@plexscape.com for any questions you may still have.
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