CES-468549

Autodesk Civil 3D, Dynamo or the API. Why and

When?

Phuc Le Hieu Hong (Ken)

Technical Specialist, Autodesk

Learning Objectives
• Learn how automation can helps us achieve more, better with less in Civil
3D
• Learn how to use Dynamo for Civil 3D to automate repetitive tasks
• Learn how to develop an Autodesk Civil 3D add-in with the .NET API
• Understand which solution is more suitable to do tasks in some typical
cases

Description
Are there some tasks you want to automate for more precision and speed while working
in AutoCad Civil 3D software? When should you flex Dynamo’s abilities or develop a
custom Add-in with .NET API? If you have ever wondered when or why you should use
one solution over the other, then this session will help clarify your choices. Some typical
scenarios will be discussed, examining two options, and assessing their pros and cons.
In this session, you will be inspired and equipped to bring automation to your AutoCAD
Civil 3D models.

Speaker
Phuc Le is a Digital Consultant, BIM Advisor, BIM Application
Expert & Forge Developer.
He currently serves as a Technical Specialist at Autodesk
Asean, supporting firms and organizations in the AEC sector
to successfully implement Building Information Modelling,
Cloud Collaboration, Computational Design, and Generative
Design.

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Table of contents

Autodesk Civil 3D, Dynamo or the API. Why and When? ...................... 1
Learning Objectives ..................................................................................................... 1
Description ................................................................................................................... 1
Speaker........................................................................................................................ 1
Autodesk Civil 3D......................................................................................................... 3
1. Overview ............................................................................................................... 3
2. Automation............................................................................................................ 3
Dynamo for Civil 3D ..................................................................................................... 4
1. What is Dynamo ................................................................................................... 4
2. Why Dynamo ........................................................................................................ 4
The .NET API ............................................................................................................... 6
1. What is Civil 3D API .............................................................................................. 6
2. Why .NET API....................................................................................................... 7
Examples ..................................................................................................................... 8
1. Dynamo for Civil 3D .............................................................................................. 8
2. .NET API ............................................................................................................... 8
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 9

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Autodesk Civil 3D

1. Overview

Civil 3D is a civil infrastructure design and documentation software supports BIM

(Building Information Modeling) with integrated features to accelerate design
efficiencies, automate construction documentation, and improve project delivery.

Please visit https://www.autodesk.com/products/civil-3d/overview for more: top features

and what’s new.

2. Automation

Automation is happening. Actually, it’s been happening for several centuries, which has
been cause for both great rejoicing and great consternation. But it’s happening faster
now, as more and more of the tasks of our daily and professional lives are handled by
machines. That means we’ll have to change how we do things—and how we do our
jobs. Automation will enable us to do more, do it better, and do it with less time and less
effort.
With Automation in Civil 3D, users can increase productivity and enhance project
outcomes.
Users can:
• Rapidly test, iterate, and study multiple design options in less time
• Solve complex geometric problems, no programming experience needed
• Automate repetitive tasks for more precision and speed
• Manage risk by exposing tradeoffs and understanding systems and connections
at the conceptual phase
• Generate sophisticated designs from simple data, logic, and analysis

When you consider there are typically several ways to do automatic tasks in Civil 3D
and that there are other options available such Macro, Dynamo (and Dynamo Player)
and the .NET API, you need to consider which solution is the most suitable.
This session aims to review the pros and cons of working with two popular solutions that are
integrated with Civil 3D: Dynamo and the .NET API.

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We’ll briefly review each option against a common set of considerations:
• Description
• Intended Use
• Benefits & Limitations
• Build Skills & Time
• Flexibility
• Robustness
• Deployment

Dynamo for Civil 3D

1. What is Dynamo

Dynamo for Civil 3D is a visual programming application that can automate tasks in Civil
3D. This was introduced in Civil 3D 2020 as a separate add-on installation. It is an open
sourced graphical tool for design and documentation.

2. Why Dynamo

Dynamo is intended to develop a wide range of creative workflows, from processing

data to generating geometry.
The primary benefit of Dynamo is that it opens up the power of the .NET API without the
need to write code.
Another key benefit of Dynamo over the other solutions is that Dynamo scripts are
flexible. We can be quickly edited to suit the varying needs of different projects.
Using Dynamo has both positives and negatives; lots of new features and fixes, but that
means lots of updates to both Dynamo version and its packages which have to be
managed.
Dynamo Player is a simpler way to interact with Dynamo’s Visual Programming
capabilities from within Civil 3D. Dynamo Player is intended to expose Dynamo’s power

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to lower skilled users through a very simple interface. It is a way to share more powerful
workflows with a wider group of users within your company.

The hierarchy of Dynamo for Civil 3D (included Dynamo for AutoCad)

Learn more about Dynamo:

https://dynamobim.org/learn/
https:\\DynamoNodes.com
https:\\Dictionary.dynamobim.com

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The .NET API
1. What is Civil 3D API

.NET API allows you to write plug-ins to AutoCAD® Civil 3D® in any .NET language.
The Civil 3D.NET API Reference provides critical documentation for your development.
This reference contains the exposed namespaces, classes, and members specific to
the AutoCAD Civil 3D application. From here, you can understand what is available to
plan your solution.

In addition, the Autodesk Civil 3D API Developer’s Guide contains helpful elaboration on
application-specific concepts including how to get started. Microsoft Visual Studio is a
powerful (and suggested) environment in which to develop your ideas. This is official
Autodesk help material to make sure you have the right tools for the job.

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 2. Why .NET API

The API can be used to create custom tools and features that plug directly into
Autodesk Civil 3D, extending its functionality.
You can automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks and extend core features without
leaving the Civil 3D environment. These add-ins can typically be accessed in Civil 3D
from the Add-Ins tab of the ribbon.

You can find a lot of Civil 3D add-ins in Autodesk App Store

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One of the limitations is that the API isn’t as flexible as Dynamo.
And the API requires a higher level of coding with most users typically working in Visual
Studio. Either C#, VB.Net, or other .NET compliant languages need to be learned to
successfully use the API.

Examples
1. Dynamo for Civil 3D
• Road Design
• Site Design
• Rail Design
• Integration
• Civil 3D Toolkit
…
2. .NET API

V3 Tools by Trung Truong

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Conclusion

The goals and complexity of your task, along with many of the factors discussed will
help you decide which option (Dynamo or .NET API) is most suitable for your team and
situation.

If one solution can do what you want, it doesn’t mean it is the best solution, it is just a
suitable solution for you at that time.

“Begin with the end in mind” is a good way to let you know what you really want.

And don’t forget to KEEP LEARNING to improve knowledge and skills.

Let’s extend Civil 3D’s capability with the power of Dynamo and the API!

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