How to create a pipeline profile in Civil3D in

7 simple steps.
 Published on August 16, 2016

Derrick Koome
Projects Lead at Cheswick Surveys | Co-Founder at Corsmap | Carlson Centric Dealer
32 articles Follow

A pipeline profile is an engineering drawing that displays the surface condition of the route the
proposed pipeline is going to pass through in terms of the slope. It is an important document for
an engineer because it helps him draft an accurate bill of quantities as well as making other
decisions.

A bill of quantities for a pipeline would include the cost of pipes, excavation and pumping
stations. The pipeline profile will help the engineer visualize whether the liquid to be transported
will flow by gravity or will need the help of pump boosters on certain sections of the pipeline
route.

The following steps give me excellent results when creating a pipeline profile. They are outlined
from the fieldwork to the final output in AutoCAD Civil3D.

1. Assuming you’re using RTK to pick data, pick three points across a 10
meter width cross-section as you move at intervals of 25 meters along
your pipeline route. Pick any other necessary details like Road edges,
Structures etc. to help you put the pipeline route into perspective.
2. Once you’re done picking data in the field, export the data from your
data controller in your preferred format. I prefer excel format
with csv extension. Arrange the data into your preferred order. It could
be PNEZD, PENZD..etc. Copy the file into your PC or laptop.
3. The next step is importing data. This should be straightforward. In your
Civil3D, go to the menu bar and click…Points>Import/Export
Points>>Import Points. A dialog box appears where you should
define the location of your csv. Also select the order in which you
 stored your data (PNEZD).‘Add points to group’ and give it a name.
Make sure the box (Do elevation adjustments if possible) is checked
and then click OK. If your data does not appear go to menu bar again,
click…View>Zoom>>Extents.
4. Now that you have the data, draw a poly-line through the data
(preferably in the middle) and make sure it is one continuous poly-
line (no joints). Once that is done you might also want to draw a
boundary around the data by joining the outermost points in the data.
This will help in defining the extent so that the software does not
generalize the eventual surface. The boundary should be a loop closing
in on the point where you started the boundary poly-line.
5. The next step is to construct the surface. On the Prospector tab of
the Toolspace pallet, right click on the ‘Surfaces’ icon and select
‘Create Surface’. This should bring a dialog box. Click OK. A default
‘Surface 1’ should appear under the tree of the ‘Surfaces’ icon. Click
on the ‘+’ sign on ‘Surface 1’ and define the csv file to be used to
construct the surface. It should be the same file you imported in Step 3.
The surface should appear now as contours surrounded by a green
boundary. Under the ‘Surface 1’ icon right click ‘Boundaries’ and
click on ‘Add’. Type any word and then select the boundary you
defined surrounding the data (The cursor changes shape to a tiny
box.) The green boundary should now overlap with the boundary you
created in Step 4.
6. Once the surface has been created, the next step is to create an
alignment that will form the basis of your profile. On the menu bar
click… ‘Alignments>Create Alignment from Polyline’. After this the
cursor changes shape to a tiny box. Select the polyline you created
earlier passing through the middle of the data. Uncheck the box ‘Erase
existing line’. This will give you a chance to create another alignment
in case you make a mistake. A new green line with Chainages at
defined intervals is formed that overlaps with your polyline. This
‘Chainage line’ will help you identify the level of the slope at a
particular chainage against your profile. You can name the alignment if
you so wish.
7. The next and final step is to create the profile. On the menu bar click…
Profiles>Create Profile from Surface. A dialog box appears with a
drop-down box that lets you define the alignment with which the
 profile will be based upon. This should be straightforward since it is the
alignment you created in Step 6. Then you have to select the surface
which is also the one you created earlier (Surface 1). On the profile list
window (still on the dialog box), select the row that appears and
then OK. A subsequent dialog box appears in which case you OK all
the steps. When this is done, you’ll have to choose the origin of the
profile on the model window with the special cursor that appears.
Voila! You have your pipeline profile!
NB: To create a pipeline profile you need an alignment and subsequently the
alignment needs a surface. The three are inextricably linked; Surface, Alignment,
Profile, in that order.

Hope you learned something.