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Learn How to Create Pipe Networks from Objects in Autodesk Civil 3D 2026. This tutorial explains how to convert existing AutoCAD objects into Civil 3D pipe networks for stormwater drainage, sewerage systems, and infrastructure utility design.

Topics Covered:

Create Pipe Networks from AutoCAD Objects
Convert 2D Lines and Polylines into Pipes
Create Civil 3D Pipe Networks from Objects
Assign Pipe and Structure Parts Lists
Configure Pipe Network Settings
Manage Pipe Network Structures and Connections
Civil 3D Stormwater and Sewerage Network Workflow
BIM-Based Infrastructure Utility Modeling

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#Civil3D #AutodeskCivil3D #Civil3D2026 #CreatePipeNetworks #PipeNetwork #PipeNetworkFromObjects #BIM #BIMModeling #BIMInfrastructure #BIMCoordination #StormwaterDrainage #SewerageNetwork #InfrastructureDesign #CivilEngineering #Autodesk786
Transcript
00:09From the crest of the Sycamore Heights Road, we will need to drain the road back towards
00:15Woodside View and then down Woodside View to tie in to McAllister Boulevard. We will use this
00:24polyline shown in the drawing to create the new drainage run. We could create the network
00:30directly from a polyline, but using a feature line will give us more control.
00:36From the Create Design panel, select Feature Line, then Create Feature Lines from Objects.
00:43Select the start of the white polyline and then press Enter. Set the site to None and
00:50give the feature line a name if you wish to keep it in the drawing. Select Arrays Existing
00:56Entities and Assign Elevations and click OK. We will assign elevations from the finished
01:06ground surface. Don't insert intermediate points as we only want structures at our vertices.
01:15Click OK. Now we want to edit the feature line elevations. Select the feature line and click
01:23on Elevation Editor from the Contextual Ribbon tab. The feature line elevations are currently
01:29on the ground. We need our pipes to have a cover depth so they are below the ground.
01:35Select all the rows in the editor and set the increment value to 4 feet as shown.
01:43Click the lower button to drop all of the elevations by 4 feet.
01:49Close the editor. Now we can create our new network.
01:54From the Home Ribbon tab, Create Design Panel. Choose Pipe Network, then Create Pipe Network
02:01from Object. Select the feature line at the start of the line and press Enter to accept the
02:09flow direction. Set the network name to Storm 2. Select Iowa City Storm as the network parts
02:19list. For the pipe to create, select 12 inch concrete pipe. For the structure to create, select
02:30Concentric structure 60 inch diameter. Set the reference surface to the finish ground. We will not assign
02:42an alignment. Select Erase Existing Entity. For the vertex elevations, select Use Vertex Elevations
02:52Elevations and then Choose Outside Top as the vertex elevation reference. The feature line elevations
02:59will represent the outside top of the pipes. Click OK and the network will be added to the
03:06drawing. At the junction location, we now have two manholes, one from our original network
03:13and one from the new network. Select a pipe and structure from the network. Right click
03:21and choose Select Similar. Right click again and choose Object Viewer and review the two networks.
03:33Although they appear to meet at this junction, they are in fact two separate networks. We will
03:39now need to edit our networks to create a single network and refine our design.

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