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Civil 3D Design Consultant

Publishing standards and requirements for Civil 3D workflows

Publish

Upload Civil 3D surfaces, drawings, and site data to share with the project team

Requirements

BIM Collaborate Pro license and Civil 3D required for publishing

1 Purchase BIM Collaborate Pro

Required for cloud worksharing and publishing Civil 3D files to the project.

Purchase

2 Request Project Access

After purchasing BIM Collaborate Pro, request access to publish to the specific project.

Request Project Access

Access Request Form

Autodesk Account Emails

Enter the email addresses associated with your Autodesk accounts that need project access.

Cancel

How to Publish Civil 3D Surfaces

Follow these official Autodesk steps to publish Civil 3D surfaces to Autodesk Docs for reference into Revit models:

  1. 1

    Install Desktop Connector for Windows

    Before publishing surfaces, you must install the Desktop Connector to enable Autodesk Docs integration:

    • • Download and install Desktop Connector for Windows from Autodesk
    • • Follow the preparation steps in the Autodesk Revit Help documentation
    • • Ensure you have proper authentication and connection to Autodesk cloud services
    • • Verify the Desktop Connector appears as a connected drive with a cloud icon
  2. 2

    Enable Project in Desktop Connector

    Configure Desktop Connector to display the specific project you need to publish to:

    • • Open Desktop Connector and ensure you're signed in to your Autodesk account
    • • Navigate to the project settings and turn on the specific project you need
    • • Verify the project appears in your file browser with the correct hub and folder structure
    • • Confirm you can see the Autodesk Docs\<hub>\<folder>\<subfolder> path structure
  3. 3

    Access the Publish Surfaces Command

    In Civil 3D, navigate to the Publish Surfaces tool using one of these methods:

    • • Go to Output tab → Export panel → Publish Surfaces
    • • Or use Collaborate ribbon tab → Publish Surfaces
    • • Or use Surfaces contextual ribbon tab → Extract From Surface dropdown
    • • The Publish Surfaces dialog box will open
  4. 4

    Select and Configure TIN Surfaces

    Choose which surfaces to publish and configure the output settings:

    • • Select the TIN surfaces you want to publish from the list
    • • Note: Grid surfaces and large surfaces cannot be published and are filtered out
    • • Under "Specify Output File," click the browse button
    • • Navigate to an Autodesk Docs folder: Autodesk Docs\<hub>\<folder>\<subfolder>
  5. 5

    Specify File Name and Publish

    Set the output file name and complete the publishing process:

    • • Specify a file name (defaults to current drawing name with .shared.dwg extension)
    • • Example: drawing1.dwg becomes drawing1.shared.dwg
    • • All selected surfaces will be saved in the same file
    • • Click Save, then click OK to begin publishing
  6. 6

    Handle Surface Style Updates (If Required)

    If surface style modifications are needed for accurate representation:

    • • If prompted, click "Publish the Surface with the Updated Style"
    • • This automatically updates the style for publishing without changing your current drawing
    • • The surface style in your Civil 3D drawing remains unchanged
    • • Wait about one minute before republishing if using the same file name and location

Using Published Surfaces in Revit

  • • Link Topography: In Revit, go to Insert tab → Link panel → Link Topography
  • • Surface Import: All surfaces in the .shared.dwg file will be linked as topography
  • • View in Docs: Published drawings can be viewed and managed in your Autodesk Docs account
  • • File Format: Surfaces are automatically formatted for optimal Revit integration

Important Publishing Requirements

  • • Desktop Connector Required: Must be installed and connected before publishing
  • • TIN Surfaces Only: Grid surfaces and overly large surfaces cannot be published
  • • Autodesk Docs Location: Must publish to a specific Autodesk Docs folder structure
  • • Processing Time: Wait ~1 minute between republishing operations for processing completion
  • • Project Membership: Must be added to the Autodesk Docs project by an administrator

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions about BIM collaboration standards

What if I need a different folder structure?

Reach out to BIM@gutvann.com to discuss your specific requirements. All folder structures must be approved to maintain consistency across projects.

Can I use Dropbox instead of ACC?

No. All files must be published directly to ACC per project standards. This ensures proper version control and collaboration capabilities.

Who maintains the Live folder?

Each consultant is responsible for their own Live folder. You must ensure only the current, link-ready version is maintained in this folder.

How often should I update my Live folder?

Update your Live folder whenever you have a new version ready for coordination. Archive the previous version before uploading the new one.

What happens if I upload the wrong file type to Live?

Contact BIM@gutvann.com immediately. Incorrect file types can disrupt the coordination process for other consultants.

Can I create subfolders within Live?

No. The Live folder must contain only the current files without any subfolders to maintain linking consistency.

Still have questions?

Our BIM team is here to help with any additional questions or setup assistance.

Contact BIM@gutvann.com