Geotechnical Modeler General Workflow Overview

Managing project data and importing subsurface exploration and laboratory data into Civil 3D is one of the main jobs of the Geotechnical Modeler, and you should be aware of how your data is managed. The Geotechnical Modeler has two functions that relate to importing project data: Import Borehole Data from File and Add Boreholes to Drawing, which are both run from the Manage Data button or command. The Geotechnical Modeler separates the process of connecting your geotechnical information to a local project database from the process of generating geotechnical objects within Civil 3D.

The first step in any project using the Geotechnical Modeler is to access the Manage Data dialog box and create a new project. You provide a name for the project, and then you import geotechnical data into the database within that newly created project using the Import Borehole Data from File command. Once the Geotechnical Modeler projects are created and the data has been connected, you can add the Boreholes from the local database to the project DWG. At no point will the Geotechnical Modeler alter the original data imported into the tool as it stores all used data in a separate database location.

Once the project has been defined and populated with the proper geotechnical data, you can build strata surfaces and create sticklog profiles within the Civil 3D environment. Workflows for doing so are described in detail in the following sections.