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Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Welcome to the new era for civilcad!! Started in 1982 as Civildes, civilcad has grown and earned its reputation and loyality from surveying and civil engineering professionals for its simplicity, performance and support. First of its kind, civilcad is delivered on USB key and can be executed without installation. To start off the new decade, Topcon proudly announces that civilcad 7 will be release in 2010. Topcon is also proud to announce the release of three Master Series software modules; SurveyMaster Lite, SurveyMaster and SiteMaster. Based upon the strength of civilcad engine, the Masters software is currently sold internationally. The end of parallel dongles! With the removal of parallel dongle support from civilcad 7, our development team can now move to new technology path as to take advantage of the increasingly popular 64-bits operating systems and multiple core CPUs. We have been trialling civilcad 7 on Windows 7 64-bits operating systems and all is well. Note: civilcad 7 will only support USB key. There will be changes for Maintenance Plan 2010 in both price and structure. This is the first change for more than 10 years. Civilcad 7 will be available to all users with 2010 Maintenance Plan. Civilcad support will be closed over the festive season from 23rd December 2009 and reopen on the 11th January 2010. Normal civilcad support hours run from 8am to 4pm (EST). Calls can be logged between 9am to 5pm.

civilcad newsletter produced by

TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS (AUST) PL ABN 73 106 465 294

PO Box 6150, Silverwater Business Centre NSW 2128 HOTLINE SUPPORT (Free call): 1 800 068 007 Fax: 02 9647 2926

[email protected] www.civilcad.com.au

Contents…

If you haven’t… Convert to

USB key NOW!

Well done everyone! Network keys

The network lock is in… Christmas trading

Civilcad support will be… Civilcad annual CDs

Traditionally, civilcad new…

Maintenance renewal changes

There will be an…

Windows 7 compatibility

The new Microsoft operating…

Welcome to civilcad 7

Welcome to another new... New Features for civilcad 7

Point Attributes Filter string points DGN Import/Export

Display contours Auto contouring Merge Multiple DTM Pavement Check Report

New 3D Viewer Vertical Curves from Road strings Manual Road Entry

New Elevation options

Drape Object Set Elevation by Intersection with

other Entities Set Elevation from Text Set Elevation by Increment Start End Elevation

Contacts – civilcad Representatives

December 2009 edition

Civilcad News

Topcon Positioning Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 73 106 465 294 PO Box 6150, Silverwater Business Centre NSW 2128 AUSTRALIA

•Phone 1800 068 007 •Fax +61 2 9647 2926 •Email: [email protected] •Website: www.civilcad.com.au

Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Network keys The network lock is in the form of a USB key, which can be plugged into the server computer. This runs a small application on the server which provides details and allows control of which computer is accessing the licence. To run civilcad from a workstation computer, access to the server will be required at all

times. The option to convert your existing parallel or USB keys to the network key is available for all current maintenance holders. Due to popular demand, we have changed the minimum requirement to convert to the network licence to a 3 licence minimum. As this is a conversion, the old parallel or USB locks will need to be returned back to Topcon to complete the transaction.

Each computer will initially need to be registered to the network key. Once this is established, civilcad will automatically connect to the network key on start up. For users already on the network key, we would recommend to update the ccNetkey software (small program run on the server) when updating to the latest civilcad 7. More details will be enclosed with civilcad 7 CDs. For further information on whether the Network key is suitable for your organisation, please do not hesitate to contact the civilcad support team.

“It works,

reliably, and it is simple to

implement.” Micheal Miles, IT - WSC

If you haven’t… Convert to USB key NOW! Well done everyone! It’s been over 5 years since the USB key was launched, and a majority of users are now using the USB key. If you are still holding onto the parallel lock, please take careful note that civilcad7 DOES NOT run with the parallel dongle. There is no reason not to convert as the latest civilcad software is able to open v5 jobs and z00 files. Additionally, we have a special offer to exchange your old parallel dongles to USB key for $110.00 for all users under the maintenance plan (this is normally $165.00). Alternatively, if you have a number of licences, you may consider the benefit of the network key (See below for more info). Download the form to exchange from www.civilcad.com.au/forms

The parallel locks have now been out of production for many years due to its outdated technology, and users are also finding it increasingly difficult to purchase a new computer with a parallel port. It is also not supported on Windows operating system Vista and Windows 7. So after nearly 20 years of parallel dongles, it's finally time to say "Good Bye"!

Christmas trading

Civilcad support will be closed over the Christmas and New Year break from

4pm 23rd December 2009 and reopen 9am 11th of January 2010.

Normal civilcad support hours run from 8am to 4pm (EST) However, calls can be

logged between 9am to 5pm.

The civilcad team wishes all a safe and memorable festive season and look forward to catching up with everyone

again in the New Year!



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Civilcad annual CDs Traditionally, civilcad new release CDs have been sent out at the end of the year and updates provided for maintenance holders throughout the following year. We have changed this method and will now be sending out CDs at the beginning of the year to all users who are up to date with their maintenance for that year. Mid year release CDs were sent out in 2009 to act in response to this change, and in addition, we have also sent out the end of year CD (v6.91) to all users with 2009 maintenance. 2010 renewal notices will be sent out in the next few weeks followed by the civilcad 7 CD to all users who renew in 2010.

Maintenance renewal changes There will be an increase to base civilcad maintenance renewal pricing from 2010. The increase for maintenance will be an additional $100 (ex GST) of the previous cost (except Base module). There will also be a change in structure on the pricing. Previously the base maintenance renewal cost allowed up to 5 licences to be covered, however, this has been reduced to cover up to 3 licences. Additional licences thereafter will incur subsequent licence surcharge the same as previous years. If you have not renewed civilcad maintenance for over 3 months, the upgrade fee will become a flat rate depending on the module held. Previously this price was dependant on how many years the user was out of maintenance but we have now changed this to simplify the fee structure.

Windows 7 compatibility The new Microsoft operating system was released in October and we can confirm civilcad can run on the new Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System including the 64bit system. Please note only the USB key can be used to run civilcad 7, and the old parallel dongle CANNOT be used. However, due to a change in the Autoplay (Autorun) from USB keys on Windows 7, civilcad will not start up automatically as

“Plug and Go”. This just means the user will need to open explorer and double click on the

civilcad7.exe file located on the root directory of the USB key or create a desktop shortcut. From a Windows operating system point of view, this is a positive change to avoid viruses which are spread via USB keys. For civilcad users, it just means one extra double-click on the mouse. Civilcad can still be run direct from the USB key without installation or registration. This means the software can continue to be run anywhere and anytime at your convenience. To convert your parallel lock to the USB key, please contact the civilcad support team. Don’t forget that the new civilcad version will only run with the USB keys, so convert your old dongles over today!

“civilcad can run on

the new Microsoft Windows 7

Operating System”



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Welcome to Civilcad 7

Welcome to another new release of civilcad! The CAD package designed for surveyors and designers continues to grow and provide user friendly software built on user request and feedback. We thank all our users for the many contributions made over the year. Civilcad 7 includes more exciting new features while maintaining the original solid structure you have known and embraced over its lifetime. Outline of selected new features include:

• A series of additional “Compute Elevation” options to assist in generating heights for points and strings.

• After a recent increase in requests we have also included a “Pavement Check Report” which provides a report of the difference in height between nominated Design and As built levels with a tolerance check for conformance.

• The reporting system in general is going through some changes providing a means of setting finer parameters within reports if required. You will not see any changes from the front end, however some enthusiasts may like to know that the reports are now becoming XML based (previously hard-coded) and report columns, heading and precision can be manipulated if required.

• Importing of Civil3D files has been included and AutoCAD export now supports annotations to be exported as AutoCAD attributes.

• Civilcad 7 also includes DGN import and export.

Some improvements in ver 6.91

• Increased performance in point properties editing.

• Supports Topcon 3D-Office project file.

• Improved import GENIO to process multiple models.

• Traverse reduction report includes adjusted details

• Improvement in network site

registration.

New Features include: � Import/Export DGN Files � Import Civil3D files � Export Autocad files with annotations as attributes � New 3D Viewer � Multiple DTM merge � Improved Breakline insertion � Display Contours � Auto Contouring � Point Attributes � Attributes, Description and Note imported from TopSURV and ASCII files � Pavement Check Report � Update to Traverse and Network adjustment editors to protect input data � Additional Compute Elevation options � Filter String Points � Replacement of chords with vertical curves for road strings � Profile view of imported alignments � Transfer of imported vertical curves to road design � Import of cross section data from other packages

(See since.txt for list of changes)



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

New Features for civilcad 7

Point Properties

Civilcad point properties have been expanded to cater for Point Attributes and Descriptions. Point attributes recorded in the field in Topsurv can now be reduced and saved within each point. Therefore where the term “Attributes” was used previously in the software, has now been replaced with “Properties”. (Eg: Set Attributes is now called Set Properties) Point Attributes can be entered in manually within each point individually. Alternatively for users already utilising this feature within their data recorder, you will be prompted if Attributes are to be transferred when reducing Raw Data Editor (Neutral file) back to the survey module. There is also a new field for Description allowing the user to add more details if required without being a point Code or Attribute. Note: “Memo” in the point has been renamed to “Notes”.

Filter string points

Filter Point in String under the Modify> String menu is a new option to allow string points to be filtered out by a nominated tolerance distance based on the position of points before and after each string point.

Excess string points may result from importing data from other softwares. This feature enables the user to “Clean up” some of those excess points.

DGN Import/Export

Import and export Microstation DGN files direct from civilcad is now available. When importing a DGN file, the program will prompt a Point Creation feature. This allows the user to decide whether points are to be generated for 2D Polylines (Polylines with no height) or not. Tick the box if points are to be created.



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Display contours

Display Contours is a new On/Off toggle button under the Surface menu. When the display is On, it will display contours of the current DTM. However, if there is no DTM, it creates a new DTM from displayed points using default settings, automatically inserting breaklines and without creating an error report. If you wish to check and set DTM setting prior to its generation, the Surface> Create DTM should be used.

Auto contouring

There is now a new way to generate DTMs automatically when data is imported. When data is imported into the current project, a DTM will be formed and breaklines inserted automatically. An example of this is if an XYZ points file is imported, civilcad will automatically generate the DTM after import. This setting can be switched on under the File> Program settings> Preferences. Please note this function may not be suitable for some situations and users, as it uses the data imported as is. We recommend DTM creation is applied after all survey data editing (including breakline check, height adjustment, translate/rotate etc) has been completed. Auto contouring will also only be applied provided the data contains contourable points.

Merge Multiple DTM

Civilcad 7 has introduced the facility to merge up to 5 DTMs at a time. DTMs to be merged are selected in the order the merge will take place. The Design DTM listed at the top will take precedence over the following DTM’s (in order top to bottom), and are finally merged with the Existing DTM listed at the end.

Pavement Check Report

This option generates a report (spreadsheet format optional) comparing as-built points against design points along a nominated alignment. Upper and lower tolerances are specified, and points exceeding this value will be labelled with an asterisk (*) beside the level difference column. The Depth value is used to allow for pavement depth and is incorporated into the level difference



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

New 3D Viewer

The 3D Viewer is now capable of displaying multiple surfaces from the project. Go to View> DTMs to switch on the DTM you wish to have displayed. The surface is displayed on a grid (View> Grid) for easier perception and understanding of the surface. We have also included an option to display colour graduation based on height. It will display graduation from the lowest to highest point used in the DTM with a legend on view to the left of the screen. The display can be changed under Settings> DTM Filling. If there is an alignment in the job, the View> Alignment in the 3D viewer can be used to “drive” along it.

Settings on how to navigate around the 3D Viewer are under Help> About 3DViewer 2009 (as listed on the right). To enter the 3D viewer, a DTM is required in the project. Use the View> 3D View (selection of what entities to be displayed can be made prior), the 3D viewer will open and display the DTM nominated. 3D Viewer files can also be saved from the civilcad Survey module by utilising the File> Export option and saving the file as a .W3D file format.



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Vertical Curves for Road Strings

In the Roads module, there has been an enhancement to Long Section> Compute VCs option by computing the IP’s based on the curve of the long section profile instead of computing just at the cross sections. This means long sections computed from the design CL IPs will adopt a more similar profile.

If recomputing existing IPs which were previously computed at cross sections, please note the old IPs will be overwritten.

Manual Road Entry

Did you know you can actually enter and edit a Road alignment manually into civilcad? Use the Design> Road> Manual Roads Entry to enter. Here you can create an alignment from scratch, or select an existing alignment to make any changes. Furthermore, offset strings and vertical long sections can be entered here. Use the File> Save Alignment to update the alignment in Survey view. Note: This is a manual entry option. Alternatively the Survey view can be use to graphically edit and create alignments. The Roads View can also be used to complete the Road design.



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

New Elevation options There has been an increasing number of users who are receiving drawing data from clients in 2D which needs to be brought back to 3D. In civilcad7, we have added a number of features to make this awkward issue easy to recover. A few mouse clicks and a bit of know how will bring those 2D drawings back to 3D ready for contouring. These new options can be found under the Survey> Compute elevations menu.

Drape Object

This routine will interpolate heights from a nominated DTM and create points along any string or polyline selected. The user is prompted to nominate any existing DTM within the job to interpolate heights from, and select a layer for the new points to be created for the selected polyline.

Strings may also be selected to interpolate heights for, however, the string points will remain in its original layer. Points are created and heights interpolated where the string/polyline intersects the DTM triangle sides as seen in the diagram. Existing points along the string will also have heights interpolated.

Set Elevation by Intersection with Other Entities

This sets the elevation of entity points by interpolating heights from intersecting lines. New points will be created at these intersection points.

Set Elevation from Text

This routine will set heights to Points and Polylines based on a numerical text selected. Use the Survey> Compute Elevations >Set Elevation from Text. The program will prompt to select an object. If the entity selected is not a Point or Polyline, the linked points will be used. In the example, a line and the text “FL 82.56” was selected.



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Furthermore while running the routine, there is a feature in the context menu (right click) to “Set Base Elevation”. This will allow

the user set a base elevation which the selected text value will be added to. Note: Any Text selected which includes alpha characters will be read without the alpha characters.

Set Elevation by Increment

This command sets the elevation of entities by specifying a base elevation and then an increment as it intersects with the nominated path. This can be used to generate heights for contour drawing lines (2D). When prompted, use the mouse to draw the yellow path ensuring it intersects the entities to be adjusted (in this case the contour lines), then press ESC key. The Start elevation and Increment needs to be entered. The Start elevation will be assigned to the first entity the drawn path intersects with, and the Increment value will be added to each following intersecting entity.

Start End Elevation

This option is used to adjust point elevations along and/or the end points of a nominated string, polyline, line or arc. A start and end elevation is entered which is applied and point elevations are computed along points on the string based on the relative distance. Note: If a polyline is selected, it will be converted into a string with points.

Note: With any of these Compute elevation options,

please be aware that existing point heights will be overwritten. However, if any points are flagged “Locked”

they will not be edited.



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Help File: Data Transfer with Pocket 3D and TopSurv

civilcad with Kevin Wong of Position Partners Transfer of data to and from civilcad with Topcon’s gear (Fig1) is now just one mouse click away. Gone are the old days of uploading & downloading, where users must recognise which com port and handshake communication settings, worrying about what data format etc .This provides a win win situation to current Topcon users and new users coming on board. Having said that, full credits must go to the development team for recognising the importance of the way data is managed from office to field... This article will cover how to transfer survey and design data from civilcad to Pocket-3D and TopSURV.

Step One

Install or update to current version of civilcad (v6.9) and most importantly install microsoft ActiveSync. See link details below. (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/activesync-download.mspx)

Step Two

Connect the device via usb cable to the laptop or desktop PC.

Step Three

In civilcad select the option File->Export, then select file type 3DMC (*.pt3,*.Ln3,*.Tn3,*.rd3) or TopSURV (*.tsj). [Fig2]

Step Four

Select Mobile Device button [Fig2] then navigate to the desired data directory on the mobile device and enter the jobname to be exported and click OK [Fig3]

Step Five

Check the appropriate export screen (PD3 [Fig4] and TopSurv [Fig5]), make sure all selected entities will be export. Then select OK.

Fig 1

Fig 3

Fig 2

Fig 4

Fig 5

Data exported to PD3 Data exported to TopSURV



Civilcad News

Civilcad News

Contacts – civilcad Representatives

Western Australia POSITION PARTNERS STADIA INSTRUMENTS

PTY LTD Unit 1, 11 Geddes Street Balcatta, WA 6021 Ph 1300 TOPCON Fax 08 9240 7320 Email gmacphail@ positionpartners.com.au Contact Person: Garry

MacPhail WA civilcad Support Don Weldon: 08 9240 7440

Victoria and Tasmania

POSITION PARTNERS LASERBEAMS Dandenong Office 146 Williams Road Dandenong, VIC 3175 Ph 1300 TOPCON Fax 03 9701 7360 Epping Office 7 Transit Drive Campbellfield, VIC 3061 Ph 1300 TOPCON Fax 03 99930 7122 Mob 0417 364 047 Email kwong@ positionpartners.com.au Contact Person: Kevin Wong

New South Wales and

Australian Capital Territory

FIELDER INSTRUMENT CO

PTY LTD 253 Princes Highway Arncliffe, NSW 2205 Ph 02 9597 6666 Fax 02 9597 6600 Mob 0419 237 349 Email [email protected] Contact person: Gary Fielder POSITION PARTNERS

LASERQUIP 16 Mary Parade Rydalmere, NSW 2116 Ph 1300 TOPCON Fax 02 9898 0070 Mob 0423 559 968 Email awickham@ positionpartners.com.au Contact Person: Andrew Wickham

Queensland POSITION PARTNERS ABC LASERS

17 Learoyd Road Acacia Ridge, QLD 4110 Ph 07 3717 2111 Fax 07 3717 2121 Mob 0409 074 201 Email mthomas@ positionpartners.com.au Contact Person: Matt Thomas

Northern Territory and

South Australia PETER HAESE AND

ASSOCIATES PTY LTD PO Box 86 Smithfield, SA 5114 Ph 08 8254 6777 Fax 08 8254 6777 Mob 0418 842 875 Email [email protected]

Contact Person: Peter Haese

POSITION PARTNERS ROSS INSTRUMENTS

Adelaide Office 483 South Road, Regency Park, SA 5010 Ph 08 8346 1180 Fax 08 8346 1140 Mob 0412 194 135 Darwin Office Unit 5, 27 Bishop Street Stuart Park, NT 0820 Ph 08 8981 1800 Fax 08 8981 1818 Contact Person: Craig Fleming

civilcad news - style creative · manual road entry new elevation options drape object ... civilcad...

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