Tuesday 13 April 2010

Point - Block - COGO

A colleague recently asked me how to convert points to blocks.  Skilled programmers can easily produce a Lisp routine or a VBA code to do this but it can also be done using out-of-the box utilities in Civil 3D.  Rather than posting one conversion, I included other possible conversions users might need.

Points - COGO
Menu: Points > Utilities > Convert from Autocad Points
Ribbon: Home tab > Create Ground Data panel > Points > Convert Autocad Points

Blocks - COGO (UKIE contents tools)
Toolspace: Toolbox tab > UK and Ireland Reports > Additional Tools > Convert Blocks to COGO Points.

If you don’t have UK and Ireland tools, you’ll need to install the UKIE Content Pack.  Autodesk’s Dana Probert posted steps to add content packs in her blog.

COGO - Blocks
Menu: Points > Utilities > Create Blocks from COGO Points
Ribbon: Home tab > Create Ground Data panel > Points > Create Blocks from COGO Points

Points - Blocks
Points to COGO then COGO to blocks as above.

Blocks - Points
Create a Surface model using the blocks and amend the style to only show surface points. 
Menu: Surfaces > Utilities > Extract Objects from Surface
Ribbon: Click the surface > Surface Tools panel > Extract Objects
Tick (check) Points and either choose Select All or Select the points you want converted.

COGO - Points
Similar to converting blocks to points, create a Surface model using the COGO points and amend the style to only show surface points.  Extract the points from the surface using the steps above.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Google Map Street View in 3D

My colleague just noticed this today.  Google Map Street View now can be viewed in 3D.  Cool!

Here's the Street view of Cardiff Castle.  Click the pegman to view in 3d.  I need to find my 3d glasses when I get home!



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