GRA Civil 3D Grading Tutorials

Grading Tutorials

Grading Definition
Grading, in terms of Computer Aided Design or Building Information Modeling, is the process of digitally altering a terrain model (i.e. a topographical surface) to meet watershed, drainage, and access requirements for a site. As an exercise in terrain modeling has its roots firmly planted in an understanding of breakline placement, points, lines, and planes (as well as other types of AutoCAD & Civil 3D objects), each can be used as modeling tools.

The algorithms that do the math behind the scenes do the hard part. It’s human intervention that adds accuracy to a network. And you’ll notice I don’t make a distinction between “existing” ground, or “proposed” ground. The software doesn’t care, it’s just doing mathematical analysis. Therefore, you can use all the tools at your disposal to model both. Of course in modeling existing ground, you are limited by features that physically exist. But in modeling proposed ground, you’re limited only by your creative approach and knowledge of the software.

The following tutorials include, but are not limited to, 98 pages of grading documents.

Grading Tutorials

GRA102 Site Grading Techniques with Softdesk Earthworks. This is one of the great “old school” documents regarding approaching grading challenges. While it was initially written for Softdesk, the same concepts apply in Land Desktop and Civil 3D. 19 Pages in .pdf format
GRA101 Pond Grading Techniques. Terminology, process, and walk-through. 33 Pages in .pdf format
GRA100 Pad Grading Using Grading Objects
This tutorial walks through the process of grading a rectangular pad using a grading object. A polyline is converted to a feature line, graded, and the elevations are edited. Topics include infill, cut first/fill first, grading group creation, quick profile, elevation editing. Runtime 00:11:13

Related Tutorials

DTM105 Digital Terrain Modeling: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
Covers digital terrain modeling and corridor modeling. Was written using Civil 3D 2009 but is a good reference for other releases, and generally speaking, the same principles apply. Includes: Terrain Modeling & Delaunay Triangulation, Breaklines, DTM Visulaization Techniques, Terrain Modeling & Vertical Faces, Weeding Factors, Maximum Triangle Length, STRM Surface Data & Google Earth, Importing Contours From an ArcView Shapefile, Setting Up Point Styles, Description Keys & Point Groups, Corridor Modeling: Terminology, Assembling a Complex Corridor Model at an Intersection, Corridor Modeling: Generic Links. 46 Pages in .pdf format

Grading Links