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Civil 3D

Civil 3D

Overview

What is Civil 3D?

Autodesk's Civil 3D is a computer aided design (CAD) application designed to support a variety of civil infrastructure projects including rail, roads and highways, land development, airports, drainage, storm and sanitary, and civil structures.

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Learn from top reviewers

Autodesk Civil 3D All-in-one

Rating: 10 out of 10
May 20, 2022
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Autodesk Civil 3D is used for the design of roads and civil services, i.e., stormwater, sewer & water reticulation. It is also used to complete earthworks designs. We use ...
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Verified user
Engineer
Autodesk Civil 3D2 years of experience

Interactive design program

Rating: 8 out of 10
October 26, 2021
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Autodesk® Civil 3D® software is a civil engineering design and documentation solution that supports Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows on civil infrastructure proje...
Continue reading
Mahmoud obaid
Engineer - Engineering
Graduate Mechanical Engineer
AECOM
Autodesk Civil 3D2 years of experience

Autodesk Civil3d Review

Rating: 8 out of 10
October 26, 2021
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
AutoCAD Civil 3D is used by the drafting and design department to create design drawings, design models and maps. The models produced with the program are used for communicati...
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Verified user
Professional
Autodesk Civil 3D10 years of experience

A great product for modeling utilities or site development!

Rating: 10 out of 10
October 25, 2021
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Most of the entry and mid-level engineers in my group use this program to create plan sets, model pipe networks and produce exhibits. I think this is the most widely-used and ...
Continue reading
Verified user
Engineer
Autodesk Civil 3D7 years of experience

Urban underground design

Rating: 10 out of 10
October 25, 2021
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Land surveying is being carried out using RTK GPS so surface points could be collected. After that, these points are imported to Civil 3D and Digital Terrain Models can be bui...
Continue reading
Halan Bastos Oliveira
Manager - Engineering
Urban Infrastructure Engineer - BIM Manager
Brazilian Army
Autodesk Civil 3D4 years of experience

Powerful tool that I would recommend personally

Rating: 10 out of 10
March 23, 2021
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Facilitates site grading and utility design, dynamic, so many tools available to the user, still discovering new ways to use it to make my work easier. Generates excellent wor...
Continue reading
vijay kumar
Employee - Research & Development
Sr Lighting Artist
Labyrinth cinematic sollutions pvr.ltd
Autodesk Civil 3D2 years of experience

style governs more than just the appearance of the finished drawings

Rating: 9 out of 10
January 22, 2020
IncentivizedVetted ReviewVerified User
Our organization use three main software of Autodesk, which are Autocad for product design and plan payout (if we need). Architecture mainly for plan design and Autodesk Civil...
Continue reading
Shanti Sharma
Executive - Engineering
Engineering Executive
Watashi infrastructure(formally know as witcom industry's)
Autodesk Civil 3D2 years of experience
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Pricing

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Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.autodesk.com/products/civil…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $335 per month
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Product Details

What is Civil 3D?

Autodesk’s Civil 3D is a civil engineering design tool for engineers, architects, and designers, featuring tools to improve drafting, design, and construction documentation. The tool supports the design and visualization of an array of projects, like rails, bridges, pipes and sanitary systems, corridors, and works with a variety of surfaces and sites.


Civil 3D is available standalone with a number of licensing options. It is also available as part of Autodesk’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) Collection, a solution that includes Civil 3D with other CAD and BIM tools including Revit, AutoCAD, InfraWorks, and Navisworks Manage, in a discounted bundle for engineering and construction firms. This package also includes professional grade support and unlimited cloud storage for project files, and all the applications in a common data environment.


Many of Civil 3D’s features are enhanced or completed by inclusion in the AEC Collection. For instance, users can conduct grading design studies based on project constraints. Grading Optimization is available in Civil 3D only as part of the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection. Project Explorer is also an extension available in Civil 3D through the AEC collection, and enables users to simplify design review and modification and validate design objectives.


On its own, Civil 3D does support various design projects; popularly, road design can be done in Civil 3D with what the vendor describes as dynamic, flexible 3D models of road corridors that enable users to simulate driving and evaluate sight distance, as well as manage road rehabilitation projects and drainage design. Civil 3D also supports surface modeling, stormwater and wastewater analysis, and the software enables users to download, create, analyze, and adjust survey data, and conduct topographical and terrain modeling.


Autodesk announced expansions to the AEC Collection, including the additions of updated collaboration, project management, and document management tools, particularly Autodesk Docs, a document management tool available exclusively through the AEC Collection to improve approval workflows and data management, and an updated BIM Collaborate and BIM Collaborate Pro, presented as a tool to help teams execute on design.


Civil 3D Features

  • Supported: Collaborative Working Environment
  • Supported: Bridge Design
  • Supported: Surface Modeling
  • Supported: Railway Design
  • Supported: Road Design (materials, intersections, road rehabilitation)
  • Supported: Site & Survey
  • Supported: Corridor Modeling
  • Supported: Storm & Sanitary
  • Supported: Plan Production & Documentation
  • Supported: IFC Import & Export

Civil 3D Screenshots

Screenshot of Civil 3D - Infrastructure Software from AutodeskScreenshot of Civil 3D - Rail Alignments

Civil 3D Video

Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Overview

Civil 3D Integrations

Civil 3D Competitors

Civil 3D Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Autodesk's Civil 3D is a computer aided design (CAD) application designed to support a variety of civil infrastructure projects including rail, roads and highways, land development, airports, drainage, storm and sanitary, and civil structures.

Civil 3D starts at $335.

MicroStation, OpenRoads Designer, and ARCHICAD are common alternatives for Civil 3D.

The most common users of Civil 3D are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(33)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users of Civil 3D frequently recommend the following:

  • Attend training and stay updated with tutorials: Many users advise attending training to better utilize Civil 3D for 3D modeling. They recommend staying updated with tutorials on new features to make the most out of the software.

  • Utilize online resources and forums for learning and troubleshooting: Users suggest utilizing online resources, forums, and training to learn and troubleshoot with Civil 3D. They recommend learning different commands and tips from others to fully utilize the software.

  • Expect a learning curve for beginners: Several users mention that there is a learning curve when starting with Civil 3D. They advise newcomers to watch online videos and participate in forums to seek help and overcome challenges during the initial stages of using the software.

Reviews

(1-7 of 7)
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Autodesk Civil 3D All-in-one

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
May 20, 2022
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
2 years of experience
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Autodesk Civil 3D is used for the design of roads and civil services, i.e., stormwater, sewer & water reticulation. It is also used to complete earthworks designs. We use it to design new infrastructure or determine the most appropriate and feasible upgrade solutions to existing services. Drawings are completed on Autodesk Civil 3D for the various stages of each project. This includes Preliminary Design, Detail Design, Tender drawings, construction drawings, and ad-built drawings.
Pros and Cons
  • Ease of functionality
  • Templates make design and drawings easier to complete
  • The ability to design and setup drawings simultaneously, where the drawings will be updated as the design is updated should there be changes
Likelihood to Recommend
I only have good reviews for Autodesk Civil 3D currently. It is very useful for completing designs, in my case, mostly the design of civil services such as stormwater, sewer, and water. Creating long sections and analyzing the long sections while analyzing the plan at the same time is a huge help. Updating the plan updates the long sections rather than having to recreate long sections etc. Updating input data automatically updates the long section results as well. Drawings are easy to create. Creating templates for different design scenarios is extremely helpful, especially when working on multiple projects of the same nature.

Interactive design program

Rating: 8 out of 10
Incentivized
October 26, 2021
Mo
Mahmoud obaid
Graduate Mechanical Engineer
AECOM (Civil Engineering, 201-500 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
2 years of experience
View profile
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Autodesk® Civil 3D® software is a civil engineering design and documentation solution that supports Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows on civil infrastructure projects, including roads and highways, rail, site development, airports, and water. Civil 3D helps civil infrastructure professionals improve project delivery, reduce risk, errors, and omissions, and respond faster to project changes. Additionally, users can streamline time-consuming tasks such as corridor design, (road and rail), intersection design, parcel layout, site grading, and piping design with specific tools and customizable design standards.
Pros and Cons
  • Very useful for projects that contain rail alignment in such showing profiles along with the utilities that the rail is crossing it
  • Manage GIS data along connecting the design to documentation in order to support the productivity
  • Provide team coordination along using visualizing, simulation, and analysis that integrates with the design process to improve the delivery
Likelihood to Recommend
It is well suited when you are planning to create profiles, this is very helpful in such by generating these profiles, it becomes greatly interactive without wasting time in addition to the visualization tools that make understanding the project easier. It would be less appropriate if you are using it for a big-sized project since it may crash or take time to open but still it is somehow reliable. Also, it would be difficult to learn quickly since it requires proper training thus a company must have a fair amount of experts before starting any project based on Civil3D

Autodesk Civil3d Review

Rating: 8 out of 10
Incentivized
October 26, 2021
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
10 years of experience
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
AutoCAD Civil 3D is used by the drafting and design department to create design drawings, design models and maps. The models produced with the program are used for communicating ideas to key stakeholders, as well as using approved models in the field to build earthen structures. In addition, construction survey data is imported for design checks and quality assurance.
Pros and Cons
  • Mapping
  • Design shell models
  • Topographic modeling
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Civil 3D is well suited for: Site grading exercises that are limited to specific bounded areasSurvey checksShell models for existing, proposed and as-constructed civil structures (i.e. Basic roads, Dams, ditches)Creating site mapsAutodesk Civil 3D is less appropriate for: Large scale grading exercises management of large topographic data setsAnything that is not civil infrastructure related

A great product for modeling utilities or site development!

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
October 25, 2021
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
7 years of experience
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Most of the entry and mid-level engineers in my group use this program to create plan sets, model pipe networks and produce exhibits. I think this is the most widely-used and widely-known software for land development projects. It is very intuitive and easy to pick up. It is mostly command-focused, so if you want to draw a line, type "line". If you want to measure something, type "measure".
Pros and Cons
  • pipe networks
  • site plans
  • topography
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Civil 3D is well suited to site development, modeling pipe networks, and topography. It is also great for converting surfaces over into other formats. I find that it is mostly used on the land development and aviation side. It is less useful if you are doing heavy roadway or highway modeling. Most DOTs require different software for transportation models.

Urban underground design

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
October 25, 2021
HB
Halan Bastos Oliveira
Urban Infrastructure Engineer - BIM Manager
Brazilian Army (Civil Engineering, 10,001+ employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
4 years of experience
View profile
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Land surveying is being carried out using RTK GPS so surface points could be collected. After that, these points are imported to Civil 3D and Digital Terrain Models can be built through TIN surfaces. Once Digital Terrain Models are finished, engineers start to analyze water discharge points from flow paths created from water drops. With these discharge points, they can create each catchment from the surface, and, consequently, obtain surface hydraulic length, slope, and area and water flow rates. The next step was to create stormwater pipes and structures according to the discharge points and check their dimensions. When stormwater project is ready, the same process is taken with wastewater, but catchments are no longer necessary. In the end, interferences are verified with an interference check tool, so systems won't touch each other and lower excavation volume is needed. The land survey Team and Urban Infrastructure Design Team are responsible for these tasks.
Pros and Cons
  • Digital Terrain Modeling
  • Catchment and water discharge points' identification
  • Urban Drainage Systems design and excavations' volumes
Likelihood to Recommend
Civil 3D is the ideal software for infrastructure design, like earthworks, roads, excavation, drainage and sewers systems. However, it would be an even better product if it was possible for the users to create pipe networks parts in an easier way. It is extremely difficult to create pipe diameters or structures' dimensions when you need to design underground systems.

Powerful tool that I would recommend personally

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized
March 23, 2021
vk
vijay kumar
Sr Lighting Artist
Labyrinth cinematic sollutions pvr.ltd (Motion Pictures & Film, 11-50 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
2 years of experience
View profile
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Facilitates site grading and utility design, dynamic, so many tools available to the user, still discovering new ways to use it to make my work easier. Generates excellent work product. Facilitates detail orientation. The aesthetics of the program layout are also a bonus. The ability to use the program for various utilities applications is also beneficial as is its integration with other programs like StormCAD. This is a great tool for anyone looking to get into Surveying/Engineering or further their design skills and shorten the design time with association of AutoCAD Civil 3D software tools. Revisions are made quick, easy and efficiently. Creating a surface is made with less that a few click of the mouse from the toolspace, which contains all the necessary tools and command settings. Once your surface is made, now you can open up to new designs. Examples like changing an alignment of a road, storm structure or any other alignment allows the profile to change along with the modifications made. If you have structures, corridors and labels associated they too will be adjusted as well. If you are looking for a great efficient, effective and essential software for surveying and/or engineering, this is the one for you.
Pros and Cons
  • We use this software for the optimal and advanced design of pipelines and complex structuring, or it can also be said that we use it mainly for a geotechnical model, due to its high definition of the large proportion of the works that are carried out through of this application, since the tasks that are used with Civil 3D require extreme patience, precision and a lot of time to develop a model in its entirety, but we managed to acquire all the necessary and strategic points, to establish and start the production of a prototype digitized in particular.
  • Easy to export to normal AutoCAD or collaborate with most Autodesk products.
  • Vehicle Turning Simulation and Stormwater analysis is great addition to the package. Ability to use the all familiar AutoCAD tools, as well as LISP and SCR to automate some processes is one of the greatest advantages of the software.
Likelihood to Recommend
Well suited:
  1. Simple and self-explanatory user interface.
  2. Inter usability between other software such as MicroDrainage and Bentley CivilStorm.
  3. Autodesk customer service.
  4. Easily customizable.

Not suitable: The software is still very resource intensive on the machines and often crashes when too much data is being shown. Though significant improvements have been made in other Autodesk software like Revit, older applications like AutoCAD and C3D seem to be stuck on old, inefficient source codes.

style governs more than just the appearance of the finished drawings

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized
January 22, 2020
SS
Shanti Sharma
Engineering Executive
Watashi infrastructure(formally know as witcom industry's) (Civil Engineering, 201-500 employees)
Vetted Review
Verified User
Autodesk Civil 3D
2 years of experience
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Our organization use three main software of Autodesk, which are Autocad for product design and plan payout (if we need). Architecture mainly for plan design and Autodesk Civil 3D for pipe and structure design, or you can say we use it for geotechnical modeling mostly, Because of its accuracy in complicated Autodesk Civil 3D designs. We all know that the design of intersections, roundabout, corridor, pipeline, etc. are very time-consuming tasks. They have very little parts that cannot be done on Autocad. So, I can say that we use it to test the accuracy of our project in design for transportation, land development, and geospatial analysis.
Pros and Cons
  • The best part of using Autodesk software is that all of its software is connected, which helps us to switch according to our project use.
  • Pipe Network Part Replacement is very easy. It analyze the gravity flow and recommends the size accordingly. It also helps to understand the pressure parts.
Likelihood to Recommend
Most land design related software mimicked the paper-based 2D workflow, which has some error and is not very useful in reading. Autodesk Civil 3D shows a very effective 3D base plan design.
For example- For street and road design, Autodesk Civil 3D uses assemblies to generate cross-sections, with multiple cross-sections strung together along an alignment and profile to form a corridor. Because all Autodesk Civil 3D objects are parametric, their parameters can be edited to associate with different alignments. The style-based design and documentation automation and change-management features of Autodesk Civil 3D make the process transition worthwhile for any member of the land-design team. In my consulting work with design firms, I see that the more of these disciplines a firm combines under one professional service umbrella, the greater the practice benefit of Autodesk Civil 3D's integrated, dynamic-modeling approach.
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