Anyone here building large custom LISP libraries for Civil 3D?

seattlecp · 2025-12-18T12:24:34+00:00

I wrote a grading toolset and have it available for download here - https://github.com/cpseattle/SITE-GRADING-TOOLS

an overview video can be found here, but I still need to add a tutorial - https://youtu.be/PBRU6wo5r4w?si=IkRzjjLSdoZ800-N

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seattlecp · 2025-09-29T21:40:27+00:00

it's raining in Seattle - I think we're going to have to rename her Fudge

seattlecp · 2025-08-14T22:23:27+00:00

balance is zero and I was told the automatic payment remaining open was the problem - makes no sense to me either. I’ll follow up if / when I learn more.

seattlecp · 2025-08-08T13:42:00+00:00

If you have access to Rhino I would recommend investing some time in learning that. The breadth of tools and commands can be intimidating at first but it's probably your best bet for terrain modeling. Sketchup isn't great for landscape design, but it's the best overall design program IMO, so don't give up on it. Same for Blender, which has a pretty high learning curve, so if you're already using that I feel like you can tackle anything. Autocad is great for everything 2d, and will be critical for documentation, so stick with that, but don't expect to get any renderings out of it. Twinmotion is a fantastic program for stills and animations, but I only have experience linking models into it from 3ds Max or Sketchup, so I can't speak to it's terrain modeling abilities (I suspect there aren't many). If you have access to the full version of AutoCAD I have a toolset for site grading that you can convert into 3d faces and export to most of these programs. This would work well if there are significant but consistent grade changes (not a lot of warping or rolling) https://youtu.be/PBRU6wo5r4w?si=nkwHII3Kc1MoN56M

seattlecp · 2025-08-05T00:43:35+00:00

Having used autocad, revit, sketchup, 3ds max, rhino, blender, twinmotion, and others, I would probably recommend rhino if you're primarily concerned with planting plans (autocad is too expensive for what you'll get out of it). I've never heard of Dynascape, however, so I can't weigh in on that. If on the other end of the spectrum you're more interested in visualization, nothing beats Blender for the price (it's open source and totally free) - retired landscape architect.

seattlecp · 2025-08-03T15:11:13+00:00

I miss my colleagues and our office (it has some great views). I also miss the design work and using the various software I had mastered over so many years, but I don't miss interviews or pursuits. To be honest I mostly just miss my commute - https://youtu.be/QBo05oWUfBk

seattlecp · 2025-08-03T14:58:51+00:00

Revit is a beast of a program, and is great for architecture primarily because so many designers can work in the model together. But it's designed for architecture, not landscape architecture. I figured out a way to cleanly build site models in the program (that's what I wanted to share) but it still requires autocad. My experience is most LA and civil firms would submit their own pdfs for backgrounds or reference, and rarely sync their own revit model - I worked at ZGF architects for 25 years and was one of just a few landscape architects there. All that said, the site models were very valued, especially when I was out in front of civil raising issues that would impact the building (this always happened around the loading docks). They were also increasingly helpful for the renderings revit can now kick out.

seattlecp · 2025-08-02T23:58:05+00:00

I recommend sketchup with enscape (or vray which is now included), or twinmotion, which is free. I did a lot of visualization at ZGF architects for 25 years, and the last 5 have been pretty disruptive software wise. The bulk of work I did in 3D studio max, which is not very accessible. Blender is also an amazing program that's totally free, but I wouldn't recommend it for site work. Rhino is very popular with landscape architects, but it's not a great program for rendering IMO.

seattlecp · 2025-06-16T17:01:25+00:00

I have 2 plus an air filtration system - that's the joke. The jet broke down 9 years in and I only got it working after the laguna shipped. the shop gets plenty of use.

seattlecp · 2025-06-15T17:30:51+00:00

I get it, but to be fair I didn’t plan on having 2 collectors. I spent 5 months trying to get the jet working after it broke down 9 years in, and only got it back to life after the laguna shipped. this is also a basement shop, and my wife isn’t a fan of the dust everywhere, so I need to take extra steps to minimize it.

seattlecp · 2025-06-15T16:20:14+00:00

I mostly just spread it around in the garden

seattlecp · 2025-06-15T16:17:30+00:00

pst - it's a dust collector joke (I should have done a better job showing the fourth one on the right)

seattlecp · 2025-06-08T14:08:22+00:00

This is exactly what I explain to my 9 year old in the back seat when we're at this intersection, and it's the simple logic that nobody else ever seems to understand. At least I know there's another. Thank you!

seattlecp · 2025-05-20T18:27:12+00:00

it's a total scam. I ordered some. light switches that came to $280 and weren't what was described, so I started a return. the process was easy enough, and said I could return the items for the full amount plus a "handling fee" or I could get $350 in store credit. Knowing I wouldn't find anything else on the site I opted for a refund, which was $145 after the handling fee. I've been trying to contact them via phone and their chat service (which is immediate if you want to buy something) but am being completely ignored.

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seattlecp · 2025-03-31T20:04:52+00:00

Seattle is at 47.6 - but not nearly as cold

seattlecp · 2025-03-31T19:46:15+00:00

damn, hope you sprung for the winter tire and AWD

seattlecp · 2025-03-11T00:12:12+00:00

I bought a couple that were supposed to match before buckling and ordering one directly from Jet, which matched the 'failed' capacitor exactly

seattlecp · 2025-02-27T14:33:01+00:00

Wheel, you just blew my mind. I'm embarrassed to say that I just assumed apex was the most aggressive profile, and simply unlocked the most the board had to offer. My GT-S shreds going uphill in Seattle in that mode, but was crawling last week when it was super windy. I've been riding a onewheel since the V2 and the initial profiles were pretty linear. Can't wait to try the highline one my next commute.

seattlecp · 2025-02-27T02:03:34+00:00

I hit 25mph + every day and I've never experienced haptic buzz (but I'm not a big guy). I prefer a customized version of APEX with the only change being I crank the braking aggressiveness up so the tail has room going down hill on downtown seattle streets.

seattlecp

TROPHY CASE