Information for new Civil 3D users

FDM 15-1-5 Sample Plan: Improvement Projects

This section has sheet type specific requirements and many sample example sheets. The examples are all available on the c3dkb at Sample plan sheets with associated training when available. These samples are intended to depict CAD standards and minimum requirements. Production sheets on specific projects will likely require more details.

FDM 15-5 Methods

This section focuses on folder, file, and object structure, naming, and content for Civil 3D projects.

• FDM 15-5-2 CADDS Preparation Standards

• FDM 15-5-3 CADDS Directory and File Name Convention

  Requirement: Please familiarize yourself with the folder, file, and object naming conventions in the links below to save yourself future headaches.

  • FDM 15-5 Attachment 3.1 CADDS AutoCAD Civil 3D Project Folder Structure Standard
  • FDM 15-5 Attachment 3.2 CADDS AutoCAD Civil 3D File and Object Naming Abbreviation Standard

  • FDM 15-5 Attachment 3.3 CADDS AutoCAD Civil 3D File and Layout Naming Standard

• FDM 15-5-7 Design Models WisDOT has data deliverables for roadway design. This section details what 3D data needs to be delivered and it's requirements.

FDM 19-10-43 Digital Data Exchange

This section details the development and delivery of design data and the construction data packet to the Department. The tables in the following sections detail the requirements for these deliverables.

• FDM 19-10-43.4 File Formats

• FDM 19-10-43.5 Categories of Digital Data Exchange

Training courses for new users are available. They are defined by typical job types and are intended to give users enough knowledge and experience to be comfortable working in Civil 3D. Training courses do not include all of the topics in the C3DKB. There are many intermediate, advanced, and reference topics. These topics can be found through navigation and search and referred to when needed.

When using the training courses online, the breadcrumbs will not show the training course. They will show the structure in the C3DKB. Use your browser's Back functionality to get back to the training course from a topic.

Excel spreadsheets are provided for each training course and the entire C3DKB. The intent of the training course spreadsheets is that you can download a personal copy and track your progress. The spreadsheets also contain a "Last Updated" field. This can be used to see what material has been updated since new user training. For example, if you completed new user training in January 2016, you can check C3DKB updates or you can download the C3DKB spreadsheet and sort by Last Updated newest on top to find updated material.

These are identified best practices for increasing the success of new user training in Civil 3D.

1. Timing: Try to complete new user training right before needing to use Civil 3D. Training too far before needing to use the software in production will not be remembered as well.
2. Session duration: Plan for 1-4 hour blocks of training at a time. Less than an hour at a time will not have continuity of topics. Most people's focus will start to fade after the 2-4 hour range.
3. Course schedule: Training courses have the total amount of video time reported on them. Actual time spent training will be more than this. With reviewing content and doing exercises, a good estimate is 1.5-2 times the total video time for total training time. This total training time should be planned to be completed in 6-8 weeks. Training that takes longer than this will likely not get completed. Shorter training time frames will likely require longer sessions that don't fit well into a work schedule or are not absorbed as well.
4. Focus:Manage your surroundings to increase your retention and understanding of training material.
   1. Use times and locations that are conducive to training. Choose times when you typically don't have meetings, phone calls, or people stopping by. Consider training away from your workspace if there are too many distractions.
   2. Shut down the web, social media, email, and the phone. "Keeping an eye on email" or responding to phone calls is typically too much distraction for people to retain technical training.
5. Complete training: The new user courses are structured to be an introduction to Civil 3D. Completing a course gives you a base level of preparation to use it in production. Not completing a course will leave you unprepared and not fully understanding the purpose of early topics and how they impact later ones.
6. Have an open mindset: Attitude is critical to learning anything new. Whether you believe you will succeed or not, you're probably right. Give yourself the opportunity to make mistakes, learn, and grow.
7. Practice with the instructor:"The only way to really know it, is to really do it." While some of the training may seems simple to retain by just watching the instructors or reading the text, it is critical to retention to actually do the exercises. No one learns everything about swimming, riding a bike, or playing a musical instrument by reading text and watching videos. Doing a task provides a whole level of comprehension beyond reading about it or watching someone else.
8. Train on exercise data, not live projects: It can be very tempting to "train" on live projects. It can increase engagement and seems like an efficient approach. However, the likelihood that you will make mistakes in new user training is extremely high. The downstream costs of poor data management or workflows that do not provide dynamic links between data can be extremely high later on. Allow yourself the time to learn prior to applying that knowledge. You'll likely save yourself time and headaches in the long run.