When you run an interference check, you can enable or disable 3D proximity checking criteria.
If you enable the 3D proximity checking option on an interference check, you can identify pipe network parts that are too close to one another in their 3D representation, according to a specified distance or a scale factor. You can check a single pipe network or two pipe networks.
When you use proximity checking on a single pipe network, interferences are created for parts that are less than a specified distance from one another. When you use this feature to check two pipe networks, an interference is created for any parts from one network that are less than a specified distance or scale factor from any parts in the second network.
You can use the 3D proximity check feature to ensure that the distance between two different types of utility networks meets a certain requirement. For example, a sewer and water crossing typically requires that the water line be a minimum of 18 inches above the sewer line. Running an interference check with the Use Distance option set to 18 inches identifies any parts that were less than 18 inches away from the other pipe network.
The following illustration shows how the distance and or the scale factor 3D proximity checking value is used to determine proximity interference violations. The darker shaded outlines represent the actual parts in the selected pipe network. The lighter shaded parts represent the area that is used to identify interferences.
When you choose to enter a specified distance to perform the proximity check, you can enter a value that is used to perform the proximity check. When you run the check, interferences are created for any pipe network part that is less than the specified distance away from any other part in the specified network(s), in any direction.
When you use the Use Scale Factor option is selected, you can enter a value that is used as a scale factor. When you enter a scale factor value, AutoCAD Civil 3D calculates the limits of the part (the pipe or the structure) multiplied by the scale factor value that is specified. For example, if the pipe diameter is 600mm, and you specify a scale factor value of 2, AutoCAD Civil 3D identifies any interferences within a distance of 1200mm (or the pipe diameter, which is 600, multiplied by the scale factor value, which is two). When the interference check is run, any pipe network parts within that distance away from each other (in any direction) are marked as an interference.
To define 3D proximity check criteria
- In the Create Interference Check dialog box, click 3D Proximity Check Criteria.
- In the Criteria dialog box, click Apply 3D Proximity Check to enable this feature.
- Do one of the following:
- Click Use Distance to enter a distance. When the interference check is run, interferences are created for any pipe network part that is less than the specified distance away from any other part in the specified network(s).
Click Use Scale Factor to enter a scale factor. When the interference check is run, any pipe network parts within that distance away from each other (on any side) are marked as an interference.
- Click OK in the Criteria dialog box.
- Click OK in the Create Interference Check dialog box to run the interference check.
The following prompt is displayed:
Interference check created. Number of interferences found: X.
- Click OK at this prompt.
To view the results, in Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Interference Checks collection, and then select the interference check. The Interference Check data is displayed in the Panorama window and Toolspace item view. See Viewing Interference Check Results for more information.
