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Workflow Processes:

• Prepare Drawing

  To prepare your Grading Optimization project use your project’s grading drawing or consider creating a new drawing file. In the Grading Optimization drawing you’ll need a comparison surface, which in most cases is the existing ground surface. You will need open and closed CAD geometry to define the grading objects, and in some instances, you will need Civil 3D points to define low points and/or bounded points. Ideally, this CAD geometry will have already been created, otherwise you’ll need to construct it as you go.
  When drafting the closed areas for Zones note that the borders can share a common boundary, and each zone will stitch itself to the neighboring adjacent zone. If the Zones over lap, the Zone priority that you set will determine which Zone has priority over the conflicting zones.
  Curbs and Retaining Walls will inherit the elevations from the underlying zone they reside on. For example, if you have a Parking Lot zone, and a Curb Island placed on the Parking Lot, the low side elevation of the curb will inherit the Parking Lot grade. The high side of the curb will then be graded from the low side curb.
  The image below is an example of typical CAD geometry prepared for Grading Optimization. The CAD geometry that will be used to define Zones must be closed. The CAD geometry used for shaping the terrain can either be a line or an open polyline. And Civil 3D points will be used to define low and bounded points.

  Prepare_Drawing_001

  NOTES:
  The CAD geometry for zones and shaping features cannot overlap itself.

  REFERENCES:
  To help you understand these concepts better, view the how-to videos on:
  Prepare Civil 3D Drawing for Grading Optimization

• Assign Grading Objects

  To attach grading constraints and set parameters for Grading Optimization, grading objects need to be assigned. This is done by tagging CAD geometry and/or Civil 3D features with grading data. When an object is tagged, it will show up in the Grading Object browser. Selecting a tagged grading object in the drawing, or in the Grading Object browser, will load the Properties palette where you can set and/or edit the grading constraints and parameters directly.

  Grading Optimization has a number of different grading objects that can be assigned, with many of them being very similar. Zones are a common grading object and include a handful of preconfigured options; Grading Limits, Parking Lots, Accessible Paths, and Sidewalks. These grading objects are all considered zones, but have different defaults for slope constraints and modeling criteria. Building Pads and Ponds have unique grading constraints and parameters, as do the grading objects used for shaping the terrain.

  The Grading Object tool palette will be needed to assign the grading objects to CAD geometry. After a grading objects have been assigned they will appear in the Grading Object browser. Use grading object properties to view and/or edit the grading constraints and parameters.

  NOTES:
  To edit a grading object select it in the Grading Object browser or from the drawing. This will open the respective Properties palette. (see below)

  Assign_Grading_Objec_006

  To identify and/or locate a tagged grading object select it in the Grading Object browser. On the contextual menu, select zoom to. This will center the object within the view window.

  Assign_Grading_Objec_009

  To remove the grading object from the CAD geometry, use the contextual menu. Remove individual or multiple grading objects using the contextual menu.

  Assign_Grading_Objec_005

• Perform Grading Optimization

  With Grading Objects assigned to CAD Geometry, and a comparison surface established, you are now ready to perform a Grading Optimization. Changes made to grading objects in Grading Optimization will updated in the Civil 3D drawing.

  There are three types of optimization settings that you can use to adjust to best optimize your grading project: model rendering settings, global constraint and objective defaults, and visualization settings. Review each of these before moving forward on new projects.

  Model Settings
  You can adjust rendering settings in Grading Optimization to improve either performance or quality during the optimization process. To adjust how the TIN surface is optimized in the grading process, click Model Settings on the Optimization Toolbar.

  TIP: For more information about Model Settings see Autodesk Grading Optimization online help.

  Global Optimization Settings
  At the project level, you can specify global grading constraints and project objectives that must be considered for your Grading Optimization project. These are the default settings for your grading project that will take effect unless overridden by grading objects. To set these global properties, click Optimization Options on the Optimization Toolbar.

  TIP: For more information about Global Optimization Settings see Autodesk Grading Optimization online help.

  Visualization Settings
  Use the Visualization Settings dialog to modify contour and slope visualization settings. Click Visualization Settings on the Visualization Toolbar to open the Visualization Settings dialog.

  TIP: For more information about Visualization Settings see Autodesk Grading Optimization online help.

  REFERENCES:
  To help you understand these concepts better, view the how-to videos on:
  Perform Grading Optimization
  Send Optimization Results to Drawing