About Exchanging Data Between AutoCAD Civil 3D and Autodesk InfraWorks

You can bring InfraWorks data into AutoCAD Civil 3D by referencing a local InfraWorks model or an IMX file that was exported from InfraWorks. You can bring AutoCAD Civil 3D data into InfraWorks by linking to an AutoCAD Civil 3D DWG file as a data source.

Data Exchange Workflow

You can complete your conceptual design with InfraWorks and then bring the InfraWorks model into AutoCAD Civil 3D to complete the detailed design. When you want to refer to the updated design from within InfraWorks, you can link to the AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing as a data source.

Alternatively, you can start your project in AutoCAD Civil 3D and then bring it into InfraWorks when you want to create a design presentation.

Use InfraWorks to complete your conceptual design

Design road created in InfraWorks

Open the model in AutoCAD Civil 3D and select the data to bring into AutoCAD Civil 3D

Alignment created when the InfraWorks design road is brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D

Use AutoCAD Civil 3D to complete your detailed design

Corridor and corridor top surface created in AutoCAD Civil 3D from the alignment and profile

Open the AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing in InfraWorks and configure the data

Terrain modeling created when the AutoCAD Civil 3D corridor surface is brought into InfraWorks

Coverages created when the AutoCAD Civil 3D link styles that are used in the corridor are brought into InfraWorks

For more information about how to bring an AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing into InfraWorks, see About Exchanging Data with AutoCAD Civil 3D and To Add AutoCAD Civil 3D Data to an InfraWorks model.

Application Requirements

The data exchange functionality is available in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015 Productivity Pack 1 and the 2015.3 release of InfraWorks and InfraWorks 360.

You do not need to have InfraWorks installed on the same computer as AutoCAD Civil 3D in order bring InfraWorks data into AutoCAD Civil 3D. However, the option to open a local InfraWorks model (SQLITE file) is only available if you have InfraWorks installed on the same computer. If InfraWorks is not installed, you can bring InfraWorks data into AutoCAD Civil 3D using an IMX file that was exported from InfraWorks.

Within InfraWorks, the option to use a local AutoCAD Civil 3D DWG is available if AutoCAD Civil 3D is installed on the same computer as InfraWorks. If AutoCAD Civil 3D is not installed, you can reference an AutoCAD Civil 3D DWG from the cloud.

Coordinate Systems and Units

When preparing to exchange objects between an InfraWorks model and an AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing, it is recommended that you use the following guidelines when setting coordinate systems and units:

Object Settings

An object settings file specifies what types of InfraWorks objects will be brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D and also specifies settings for the objects. You can set up multiple files to handle different scenarios.

Pre-defined object settings files are provided in the following folders:

The following pre-defined object settings files are provided:

InfraWorks Data that Can Be Brought Into AutoCAD Civil 3D

The following table lists what types of InfraWorks model objects can be brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D and what types of AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing objects they become.

InfraWorks Model Objects AutoCAD Civil 3D Drawing Objects Data Exchange Notes
Terrain surfaces TIN surfaces
  • Terrain surfaces are brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D as AIW_Existing_Ground, AIW_Existing_Transportation, and AIW_Proposed_Ground.
Planning utilities Pipe networks (Utility Type = Undefined)
  • Planning utilities in InfraWorks are pipelines with generic pipeline connectors (instead of inlets or manholes) and have an undefined Utility Type.
  • A new property called Utility Type has been added to pipe networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D and this property is set to Undefined for planning utilities that are brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D from InfraWorks.
  • All pipes are created using the first part in the selected pipe catalog.
  • All structures are created as null structures.
Planning roads Alignments
  • Planning roads are roads that are created with the Add Roads tool in InfraWorks, or are created when data that reflects existing conditions is brought into a model.
Design roads Alignments, finished ground profiles, existing ground profiles (optional)
  • Design roads are roads that are created with Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360.
  • The option to create existing ground surface profiles is specified in the object settings file.
Intersections Intersections with curb return alignments
  • InfraWorks intersections are converted into static curb return alignments in AutoCAD Civil 3D instead of intersections in the following situations:
    • If the intersection contains more than four legs
    • If the intersection uses the Simple Curve with Taper curb return
    • If the centerlines of a T-shaped intersection do not actually intersect
    • If the offsets that are on the same side of a road in the intersection are not equal, such as in the following illustration, where offset 1 is wider than offset 2:

Drainage networks Pipe networks (Utility Type = Drainage)
  • Drainage networks in InfraWorks are pipelines with inlets and manholes instead of generic pipeline connectors and have a Utility Type of Drainage.
  • A new property called Utility Type has been added to pipe networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D and this property is set to Drainage for drainage networks that are brought into AutoCAD Civil 3D from InfraWorks.
  • Manholes are assigned a Cover property and inlets are assigned a Grate property in the AutoCAD Civil 3D structure properties.
  • A new part catalog has been included in AutoCAD Civil 3D for use when you bring InfraWorks inlets and manholes into AutoCAD Civil 3D. Inlet and manhole structures will use the equivalent parts in the imperial or metric version of this new catalog.
  • Pipes will use the closest matching pipe shape, material, and size from the specified pipe catalog.
  • A pipe network part list named Import is created when the InfraWorks model is opened in AutoCAD Civil 3D. This parts list contains only the parts that are needed.
Coverages (terrain modifying) 3D polylines
  • Only the coverages that modify the InfraWorks terrain are included.
Water areas 3D polylines  
Note: Alignments that are created in AutoCAD Civil 3D from InfraWorks data are not assigned to a site.

AutoCAD Civil 3D Data that Can Be Brought Into InfraWorks

The following table lists what types of AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing objects can be brought into InfraWorks and what types of model objects they become.

AutoCAD Civil 3D Drawing Object InfraWorks Model Object Data Exchange Notes
TIN surfaces Terrain surfaces
  • Each surface will be listed in the Data Sources panel in InfraWorks. If a surface that you bring into InfraWorks obscures other surfaces, you can adjust the order of the terrain surface layers by using the Surface Layers dialog box, which you can access from the Data Sources panel.
Alignments and profiles Design roads (horizontal and vertical geometry)
  • Only Centerline type alignments can be brought into InfraWorks as design roads.
  • You can import a set of style rules in InfraWorks to use for default AutoCAD Civil 3D alignment styles. If you use custom alignment styles, you may need to create create style rules.
  • A single profile is used in InfraWorks for each design road. The first finished ground profile that was created in the AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing is used. You can use the Profile View tool in InfraWorks to review the profile geometry.
  • The design roads that are created in InfraWorks from AutoCAD Civil 3D objects may be read-only.
  • Best fit profile entities are not brought into InfraWorks.
Corridors and corridor surfaces Coverages and terrain surfaces
  • To visualize corridors properly in InfraWorks, it is recommended that you create one or more corridor surfaces in AutoCAD Civil 3D to bring into InfraWorks (for example, a surface that represents the top of the corridor). The corridor surface is what models the ground in InfraWorks.
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D link styles are used to create coverages in InfraWorks, which show the materials of the corridor. The coverages allow you to stylize the different corridor components like pavement. You can import a set of style rules in InfraWorks to use for default AutoCAD Civil 3D link styles. If you use custom link styles, you may need to create create style rules.
Pipe networks Pipelines with inlets and manholes or pipeline connectors
  • If a structure in the AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing has a Utility Type of Drainage specified, and it uses a part from the new part catalog, then it will be assigned a part from the new part catalog when it is brought back into InfraWorks.
    • If the Part Family and Size IDs match a part within the InfraWorks part catalog, then the same exact part will be used. 
    • If the Part Family and Size IDs do not match a part within the InfraWorks part catalog, then a default part will be used (the first manhole part found).
    Important: If are using parts from the new catalog in both InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D for pipeline connectors/structures, and the network has a Utility Type of Drainage, the same part will be used in both applications.
  • If a structure in the AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing does not have a Utility Type of Drainage specified, then the part will be created as a generic pipeline connector.

Related Concepts

Related Tasks