2025 Civil 3D Workshop Agenda

Autodesk ACC Model Coordination (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Stacey Morykin, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

TBA

Staged Roadway Design in Civil 3D  (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Eric Arneson, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Experienced - 3D experience, have used Civil 3D extensively 

Roadway projects with earthwork often need to be constructed in stages. This effectively turns one design into many designs. Just to make things interesting, design changes can be for the final design or one or more stages. This class will cover the best practices for planning, implementing, and maintaining the necessary inputs and outputs of staged roadway design all the way up to plan and model delivery.

Learning Objectives:

• - Learn how to plan corridors for staging.
• Learn methods for splitting, sharing, and modifying staged corridors.
• Learn how to minimize duplication of corridor data and effort needed for edits to design.

Structures Plan Production Tips and Tricks (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Danielle DeTennis, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Beginner - 2D experience only, just starting in Civil 3D (Awareness of the WisDOT Structures profile)

This class will cover tips and tricks, best practices, and solutions to common problems gathered from the Bureau of Structures Civil 3D user group meetings over 3 years.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn tips and tricks and best practices for structures plan production.
• Understand how to effectively maintain and clean drawings.
• Review solutions to common problems and methods for troubleshooting.

Civil 3D Subassembly Composer for Conditional Design Needs (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Russ Nicloy, MACER Technologies

Target Skill Level: Experienced - 3D experience, have used Civil 3D extensively (Civil 3D corridor design experience will be helpful)

During a design it may be found that designers could use customized subassemblies to complete complex designs more efficiently. The Subassembly Composer allows for the creation and use of custom created subassemblies and their use in Civil 3D corridor designs. A major tool in Subassembly Composer that is often overlooked is the Switch function which creates conditional subassembly functionality. In this session we will look at the construction of custom subassemblies including a Switch function. We will also look at using the custom subassembly in a Civil 3D design and how to include it in the project deliverable.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to create inputs and targets for a custom conditional subassembly.
• Learn how to use the Switch tool to create a conditional subassembly.
• Learn how to integrate a custom subassembly into a Civil 3D project.

Efficient Earthwork Design and Analysis in Civil 3D (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Brad Blum, Jacobs

Target Skill Level: Experienced - 3D experience, have used Civil 3D extensively (Civil 3D corridor modeling, basic cross section creation and modification, generation of WisDOT earthwork cut/fill values)

• Introduction to Earthwork in Civil 3D: Understanding the fundamentals and importance of accurate earthwork calculations. 
• Volume Calculations and Material Management: Techniques for precise volume calculations and effective material management to optimize project costs.
• Staged Surface Earthwork Generation: Implementing staged surface generation to manage complex earthwork projects in phases, improving accuracy and project management.
• Excavation Below Subgrade (EBS) and Marsh Excavation Quantities: Generating accurate quantities for excavation below subgrade and marsh excavation to address unique challenges in various terrains.
• Structural Backfill Quantities: Calculating structural backfill quantities to ensure precise planning and resource allocation.
• Incorporation of Earthwork Data into WisDOT Plan Sheets: Integrating earthwork data seamlessly into Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) plan sheets for compliance and effective project documentation.

Learning Objectives:

• Manage Large/Staged Earthwork Models Efficiently,
• Learn to determine and quantify structural backfill quantities; separate from roadway earthwork.
• Create professional presentations of earthwork data/production sheets. 

Lisp Writing Basics and Automation Options (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speaker: Eric Gates, EnvisionCAD

Target Skill Level: Everyone (User must know how to interact with the command line in C3D and use a text editor)

Together you will explore with the instructor the customization and efficiency opportunities creating basic lisp functions and scripts can bring to you. Beyond just the overview of ways you can use lisp, you will learn the basic structure to begin writing your own functions. You will discover ways to have your lisp routines load automatically and even how to add and use lisp and scripts in a palette along with a few other ways to share your lisp files. Lisp routines can be used for simple repetitive task where you just need to string a few commands together, to triggering Dynamo scripts, to importing Plan sheets and layouts. See how lisp can fit in as a another tool in your toolbox.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to write basic lisp functions to automate repetitive task.
• Understand how to make custom lisp files load at startup automatically.
• Grasp the procedures to add lisp functions to a palette. 

Reality Capture Is for Everyone—Even More So with ReCap Pro 2026 (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Ramesh Sridharan, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

TBA

WisDOT 2026 Subassembly Updates and Changes  (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Eric Gates, EnvisionCAD

Target Skill Level: Everyone (Know what subassemblies are in Civil 3D)

This session will review the WisDOT Civil 3D 2026 Subassemblies. We will show what subassemblies have been modified, which subassemblies have been deprecated as legacy, and what subassemblies have been updated from .Net to SAC versions. This session will show updated workflows for using the WisDOT subassemblies.

Learning Objectives:

• Know which subassemblies will not be included in the WisDOT 2026 Civil 3D configuration.
• Become familiar with new workflow options.
• Understand new point code naming options and parameters.

Improve Design Surface Breaklines with Custom Subassembly Point Codes  (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Steve Popke, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Experienced - 3D experience, have used Civil 3D extensively  (Experience with corridor design)

WisDOT standards require Civil 3D corridor surfaces be defined solely by corridor feature lines, which serve as the source for design surface breaklines delivered to contractors. However, corridor feature lines generated from generic subassembly point codes can sometimes jump to other locations with the same point code, and currently, Civil 3D does not provide a consistent way to correct this across an entire corridor. Since continuous and clearly identifiable breaklines are essential for construction activities, WisDOT has developed tools and workflows to enhance corridor feature line creation through custom subassembly point codes. This class will teach you how to create unique subassembly point codes and apply them in design and plan production.

Learning Objectives:

• Produce custom point codes with WisDOT subassemblies 
• Create project specific code set styles for design and plans production
• Understand how unique feature lines are used in project delivery 

Dynamo for Civil 3D: Build Your Own Way  (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Russ Nicloy, MACER Technologies

Target Skill Level: Experienced - 3D experience, have used Civil 3D extensively 

Dynamo is an Autodesk platform that provides visual programming tools for creating customized workflows for users. In the past Dynamo focused on Revit functions but it has now been expanded to cover use in Civil 3D. This session will look at the Dynamo programming platform focusing on the new Civil 3D functionality. This will include building code for Civil 3D design use, a look at how to troubleshoot the code, and how to run it in Civil 3D through the Dynamo Player.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to create a Dynamo graph that includes new Civil 3D-related nodes.
• Learn how to troubleshoot and edit Dynamo graphs.
• Learn how to run Dynamo graphs in Civil 3D using the Dynamo Player. 

Optimizing Your Civil 3D Data Pays Dividends in Production  (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Alex Schaub, Foth

Target Skill Level: Beginner - 2D experience only, just starting in Civil 3D (How XREF and Data Shortcuts work)

Have you ever struggled to locate and manage project data, spending hours just to understand where everything is stored? In this session, we will explore how to optimize your data management using a 3-tiered file management system in AutoCAD Civil 3D. Discover how to effectively utilize XREFs and reduce the reliance on data references in your sheet files. We will break down the 3-tier system, explaining its structure and the types of data that should be stored at each tier. Learn how this workflow enhances other Civil 3D tools, such as the Sheet Set Manager, to streamline plotting and produce clean, efficient plan sets. By leveraging XREFs to construct your plan sets instead of data references, you can minimize the risk of corrupted or slow drawings. The 3-tier system ensures your files are optimized for digital delivery direct to your client, eliminating unnecessary data and simplifying the process of sharing specific data sets without the need for extensive cleanup.

Learning Objectives:

• Organize & Optimize Data for Plan Production.
• Leverage Sheet Set Manager for fast and efficient plotting.
• Efficient digital delivery to clients.

Plat Drafting 101  (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speaker: Ryan Malueg, JT Engineering

Target Skill Level: Beginner - 2D experience only, just starting in Civil 3D (Some survey background is helpful to understand the components)

Will go through the workflow of drafting a TPP plat sheet and Title sheet, using points for the traverse, point tables with sta/offsets for Fee/TLE areas, existing monumentation tables, course tables using data links, closure reports, dynamic labels for labeling.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand Plat Requirements and/or Standards.
• Create Accurate Plats using Civil 3D Tools and Best Practices.
• Learn how to quickly make updates to Plat when design changes.

Autodesk AI and 2/3 Practical Applications (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Speaker: Edmundo Herrera, Autodesk

Target Skill Level: Everyone

TBA

Bringing Web GIS Data into Civil 3D (9:40 - 10:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Eric Arneson, WisDOT

Target Skill Level: Everyone (Experience with GIS data helpful)

There is a ton of public GIS data on the internet. Did you know that a lot of it can be brought directly into Civil 3D (without downloading files)? This class will focus on the best tools to do that and how to use them. We will focus on finding and getting the GIS data into where you’re doing your design work to help you make the best decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Best tools/methods for getting web GIS data into Civil 3D.
• How to find web GIS data.
• Learn what is possible with different raster and vector sources of data.

Feature Lines in Civil 3D (10:50 - 11:50 a.m.)

Speaker: Ryan Bailey, Benesch

Target Skill Level: Everyone

Learn from a Civil 3D user just like you on how to best use one of Civil 3D's most important tools - feature lines! Utilize them for creating surfaces around structures (Structure abutment/wingwall grading for contours and quantities). Design Curb ramps (gradings, pedestrian curb, overall design). Plus, analyze driveways and check utility conflicts, and more!

Learning Objectives:

• Review the importance of the feature lines tool in Civil 3D.
• Discover all the ways the tool can be used.
• Understand the most important, common workflows.
• Learn some tips and tricks to use when you get stuck.

Surface Editing (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Speaker: Nat Kitzrow, Mead & Hunt

Target Skill Level: Everyone (a basic understanding of surfaces)

This class will focus on the Edit Surface pull down menu on the contextual ribbon. This would include the basic surface editing tools, simplifying a surface, smoothing a surface, and pasting a surface.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the basic surface edit tools.
• Discover how to leverage tools in your surface design or existing surface. 
• Understand the use case and process of creating pasted surfaces. 

ACC Civil Project Setup, Standardization + Collaboration (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)

Speaker: Eva Helps, ATG

Target Skill Level: Everyone

This presentation explores how to effectively set up and manage a civil project using Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). Learn how to establish project standards within ACC, including folder structure, permissions, templates, and naming conventions to ensure consistency across teams. We’ll cover how to onboard internal and external collaborators, manage shared data environments, and streamline communication between disciplines. Discover best practices for setting up roles, coordinating workflows, and maintaining version control to avoid rework. Whether collaborating across departments or with outside consultants, this session provides practical guidance for creating a connected, organized, and collaborative environment that supports efficient project delivery from concept through construction documentation. 

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to set up a civil project in Autodesk Construction Cloud with standardized folder structures, permissions, and templates to support project consistency.
• Understand how to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external firms using shared data environments and coordinated workflows in ACC.
• Identify best practices for managing roles, version control, and communication to streamline collaboration and minimize rework throughout the project lifecycle.

C3D Tips and Tricks (3:20 - 4:20 p.m.)

Speakers: Caryn Mellom, RH Batterman

Target Skill Level: Everyone

The audience favorite session is back! Join the discussion and pick up a few new options to help your daily drafting and modeling with Civil 3D. Everyone benefits when tips and tricks are shared!

Learning Objectives:

• Learn some forgotten or newer commands.
• Learn basic customization to suit your drafting style.
• Learn new ways to save yourself clicks.