Placing Grading Objects

You place grading objects by assigning them to Civil 3D drawing elements. Once assigned, the grading object information is saved as Property Sets in the drawing.

  1. Open your drawing.

  2. Click Analyze tab > Grading Optimization panel > Grading Object Tools to open the Grading Object Tools Palette.

    This tool palette is similar to others in Civil 3D. You can right-click a tool to cut/copy, paste, and rename to create your own preconfigured tools. Right-click and select Properties to set the default settings for the tool in the appropriate Grading Object Tool Properties Dialog.

  3. To place a grading object in your drawing, use the following table to reference the steps and criteria for the object geometry.

    New Grading Object Select in the Drawing Select in the Tool Palette Press Enter Adjust Settings in Dialog
    Building Pad Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Building Pad Press Enter Building Pad Properties Panel
    Reveal Reveals are placed on the edges of building pads. Refer to the Reveals topic for the placement procedure. Reveal Press Enter Reveal Properties Panel
    Pathway line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line. Pathway Press Enter Pathway Properties Panel
    Pond Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Pond Press Enter Pond Properties Panel
    Retaining Wall Can be open or closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Retaining Wall Press Enter Retaining Wall Properties Panel
    Curb Can be open or closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Open geometry creates curbs and closed geometry creates islands. Curb Press Enter Curb Properties Panel
    Parking Lot Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Parking Lot Press Enter Zone Properties Panel
    Zone Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Zone Press Enter Zone Properties Panel
    Exclusion Zone Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Exclusion Zone Press Enter Exclusion Zone Properties Panel
    Grading Limit Must be closed geometry: polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, feature line, hatch, or parcel. Grading Limit Press Enter Grading Limit Properties Panel
    Aligned Edge line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line Aligned Edge Press Enter Aligned Edge Properties Panel
    Bend Line line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line Bend Line Press Enter Bend Line Properties Panel
    Drain Line line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line. Note: Drain lines cannot be a closed loop to work correctly. Drain Line Press Enter Drain Line Properties Panel
    Ridge Line line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line. Note: Ridge Lines cannot be a closed loop to work correctly. Ridge Line Press Enter Ridge Line Properties Panel
    Low Point COGO point, AutoCAD point Low Point Press Enter Low Point Properties Panel
    Bounded Point COGO point, AutoCAD point Bounded Point Press Enter Bounded Point Properties Panel
    Offset Points line, polyline, 2D polyline, 3D polyline, or feature line. Note: As sketched, the start of the line will be the higher elevation and the end of the line will be the lower elevation. Offset Points Press Enter Offset Points Properties Panel
    Note: Geometry cannot intersect with itself to be an eligible Grading Object.

  4. Continue adding grading objects in your drawing.

    Tip: If you need to go back and change constraints on an object that you created, select it in the Grading Objects Browser. You can press and hold Ctrl while selecting multiple objects of the same category. Use the Grading Object Properties panel to edit their properties.

  5. To reference all the grading objects as you refine your drawing, use the Grading Objects Browser. Click Analyze tab > Grading Optimization panel > Grading Objects Browser.

    Tip: You can click Analyze tab > Grading Optimization panel > Grading Objects to display both the Grading Object Tools Palette and the Grading Objects Browser.

  6. Be sure to save your drawing periodically.

Note: To remove a grading object from a drawing and maintain the geometry, select the object in the Grading Objects Browser, right-click it in the drawing area, and select Remove < object >. Press and hold Ctrl to select multiple objects. This removes property sets from the geometry.