Visualize Your Surface Analysis

This is a trick that I discovered by accident when I was preparing for my Civil 3D for Hydrology class two years ago. (Find recorded version and paper from 2007 at AU Online.) I ran into a use for it again today and wanted to jot something down quickly before I forgot. And once again, if I already blogged this somewhere, or if someone else has, forgive me.

For reference, here are two posts I wrote about doing surface analysis:

• Crunch Your Surface to Learn Something
• Make a Volume Exhibit

I wanted to see a slope or elevation analysis in 3D as solid colors.

In the surface style, change the Display Type to 3D Faces.

Make sure that the analysis type is visible in MODEL view (Civil 3D 2009) or whatever the 3D view was called in 2008. (3D? My memory is short.)

Run your analysis, then switch to an isometric view.

Make the realistic visual style current.

If you don't like the shadowy grey triangles, edit the visual style to turn them off.