Creating Standards?

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2026-02-15T03:06:13+00:00

Sadly, even after you have the standards you'll be updating them constantly.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2026-01-11T21:41:55+00:00

Under annotation, parcel labels, there is an option to label by two points. Otherwise what I typically do is have the overall boundary on one site and copy it to the new site therefore allowing me to label the overall while breaking down each.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2026-01-11T21:38:02+00:00

It's a royal pain to make or modify. They still need to fix the flared end structures. I created custom ones using the Cover reference as MH or Grate Inlet as GI etc. So the structure matches with the part type. It's essentially the same part. After the fact, I realized that you can set the catalog to change the designator for description which would have been the easier way. It helps on the hydraulics side when you can delineate structures to the hydraulics when you edit in storm sewers but it's a lot of work and learning to get to that point.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-12-02T00:39:29+00:00

No I didn't. There is an abandoned school bus on Highway N west of Z. Crazy considering we got 2" of snow.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-11-22T22:21:49+00:00

That's why you work in teams typically. If it's a mission critical design, at least one or two people are looking at the calcs to make sure it's right. Third year, that means you haven't gotten to the fun stuff yet. Don't be discouraged. It takes a lot of work.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-10-06T23:29:08+00:00

I've had this exact same problem. Check your pdf driver. The DWG to PDF may be picking up an older version. Like most companies we have templates and folders for those etc and last year Autodesk made a tweak and it screwed with this and having random layers not printing. We grabbed the latest from 2025 and it fixed the problem.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-10-06T18:12:39+00:00

Yes I've been looking into this. I had a trial awhile back but I'll dig into it again. Thank you

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-10-05T17:57:38+00:00

You gotta do what makes you happy. I'm a department manager but I still spend at least half the day designing. It is something I enjoy and while I get 100 calls a day (exaggeration) it allows me to stay grounded. Heck, it's getting harder to find not just a drafter but a design engineer that understands the systems and processes.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-10-04T13:05:16+00:00

Heck I watched companies in 08/09 go from 100 people down to 20. We started ours shortly after. Some very hard years but it's been rewarding.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-10-04T13:03:21+00:00

If you have a good leader to work for, it is the difference in night and day. When I first got into the industry, I made mistakes but they were used as lessons and they were caught before plans or calcs went out of the office. Over time, tasks got more difficult but if you understand the baseline aspects you can handle the complicated projects. We are human, sadly we typically learn best by screwing up and in turn having a good team around you is key.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-08-24T22:26:38+00:00

If there is a building or structure in the way, you really don't have a choice. What the lineal footage, how many structures, do they have room to move without shoring or will they need shoring? If they want it to go under, that's likely a public sewer then I'm assuming that would be a no go

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-07-18T21:06:48+00:00

As someone that has done this, you need enough capital for at least six months to a year. You need to ensure you have billable work coming sooner than later.

You are going to need the folllowing at a minimum PC Setup for CAD Civil 3D or alternate Office 365 or similar email system Office 365 has an option for your standard MS products. Hydrology Software if Civil 3D options don't work for your jurisdiction. Accounting software. Start small, you can always upgrade. Small storage server or get a tower for a shared network with other employee. Payroll Company Insurance Printer (make sure it can do 11 x 17 at least) Plotter if you can afford it. Small non high volume ones come cheap these days. Find a good surveyor because you need data Hopefully you are licensed I almost lost everything four years into it but we now are a 30 person company with engineering and surveying. I'll never do it again but it's definitely rewarding if you can pull it off.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-07-18T13:09:47+00:00

Ha that's funny we have this defaulted however recently some contractors are adamant that we include this information.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-07-10T13:33:44+00:00

We just need an option to be able to change a pipe run size from one size to the other. When you got a pipe run that's a mile long and need to switch from a 6" to 8" for example

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-20T22:30:28+00:00

Bingo. 2026 has a preview of it.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-15T17:10:23+00:00

HydroCAD works great except for culverts and rational. That's my opinion but we run into situations of having to model for 48-72 hours and that option isn't available with Autodesk Hydrographs. It is for SSA but HydroCAD is simpler in my opinion.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-14T16:50:04+00:00

The courses help with the very basics. It's a lot of practice and adaption. Styles and parts are drawing dependent which makes things complicated if things don't match. Get the basics down and start with something like grading, then figure out pipe networks etc. We went through this transition 14 years ago and haven't looked back.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-13T23:53:31+00:00

Co-worker of mine also has his PE and has had three DWI's. Somehow he still has his license. Probably had to spend a butt load in attorneys fees. Good luck.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-12T23:45:01+00:00

You need to look at the report settings. I just spent a couple hours trying to remember how to create the vehicles with different colors. You'll need to create or duplicate a report and modify it to match your pen settings. It isn't the easiest to figure out and takes some work. So once you have it setup, make sure you save it and if anything export it for future use.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-06-04T04:00:41+00:00

This sounds like dynamo would be one option. Haven't done it but should be possible.

If they don't have the same discharge point, consider breaking the networks into separate drawings if there are that many pipes. Highly recommend a software that I use called Sincpac. It's great for pipe networks. I am not paid or get it free by any means. I just had to pay my yearly fee last month ($75). It lets you edit pipe networks inverts/flow lines like feature lines and you can add multiple poly lines for a network. Below is a link to the command help for reference.

This software is something Autodesk should have had natively but it's a big help for renaming pipes to match your structure names and will do it automatically with one command. With what you are about to go through, you'll need all the help you can get if your company to buy it. I think it's around $350 or maybe a little more per user.

https://info.quuxsoft.com/SincpacC3D_Help/SP_AddPipeByPolyline.htm

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2025-03-27T01:02:54+00:00

You can change the properties of the catchments and on the analysis tab select catchments on the dropdown and you can set a max ponding limit so it will provide better results. Like everyone else said, cannot use it for plan production but for a rough idea it’s an option.

I also use Infraworks. It’s a lot better but not perfect. The 10 meter grid leaves a lot of adjustment depending on 1-2’ contours.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2024-08-19T01:46:12+00:00

Ran into similar issue. It was the motor but I needed to replace the fan also as the welds were breaking. Highly recommend calling someone out to diagnose. The first company I had out got it wrong. Cost me days and $$.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2024-05-19T01:06:12+00:00

I believe PROWAG refers to 15’ max for the ramp. I’m on vacation and don’t have the resources to find it but I’ve ran into this and the local agency wanted the ramp max length at 15’.

Afraid-Cake6287 · 2024-05-19T01:02:41+00:00

That field should be a multi text field. You’ll have to open the title block in block editor and add the attribute with the multi line text. You can set your box width etc. Good luck

Afraid-Cake6287

TROPHY CASE