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drtwrk Documentation

website·Indexed 30 days ago

https://docs-staging.drtwrk.io

An automated lot grading platform for civil engineers that integrates with Autodesk Civil 3D. The platform provides a cloud grading engine and a Civil 3D plugin to automate the grading process for residential land development, including 2D/3D linework checks, preset-based grading rules, and a web dashboard for tracking jobs.

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What's inside drtwrk

  1. Overview of the drtwrk grading workflow

    drtwrk is a cloud platform that automates the grading process for residential land development by connecting Autodesk Civil 3D workflows to a cloud grading engine. This allows for the generation of lot, block, and zone grading without manual surface editing. The standard workflow consists of four main steps: installing the plugin, preparing linework, generating 3D grading, and reviewing results via a web dashboard.

  2. Overview of drtwrk automated lot grading

    drtwrk is an automated lot grading platform designed for civil engineers, land developers, CAD technicians, and project managers. It connects directly to Autodesk Civil 3D to automate repetitive and error-prone parts of grading design for residential or commercial projects, ranging from single lots to entire subdivisions.

  3. Overview of drtwrk Civil 3D plugin functionality

    The drtwrk Civil 3D plugin extends Autodesk Civil 3D by connecting it to the drtwrk cloud grading engine. Upon installation, it adds a 'DRTWRK Tools' ribbon tab to Civil 3D. The plugin provides the following capabilities:

    • Adds specific commands: 2DLINEWORK, 3DLINEWORK, and LOTZONEGRADING.
    • Serializes lot linework into drtwrk format and uploads it to the drtwrk API for grading.
    • Retrieves and imports completed graded surfaces back into the drawing.
    • Uses a web-based modal (via WebView2) for configuration and review workflows within the Civil 3D environment.
    • Includes a 'drtwrk Toolbar' Windows tray application for authentication, updates, support, and crash reporting.

  4. Understand the drtwrk project hierarchy

    drtwrk organizes land development work into a four-level hierarchy to manage grading jobs and site organization:

    • Project: The top-level container for a land development site. All blocks, lots, zones, and grading jobs belong to one project. Projects are created automatically the first time you run 2D Checks on a new drawing in Civil 3D.
    • Block: A group of lots sharing common boundaries, treated together during grading. Block membership is extracted from Civil 3D and sent to drtwrk during grading job submission.
    • Lot: A single parcel of land within a block, consisting of boundary lines (outer perimeter) and interior lot lines (side/rear yard lines). Lots are created automatically during grading job submission based on polyline labels or layer names.
    • Zone: A grading area processed independently of individual lots, used for areas like parks, pond buffers, drainage easements, or open space corridors.

  5. Understand the 3D Checks processing workflow

    The 3D process transforms validated 2D linework into 3D geometry through the following steps:

    1. Collection: Selects linework from configured layers and collects assigned Civil 3D surfaces.
    2. Geometry Processing: Performs splitting and cleaning (similar to the 2D step).
    3. Graph Construction: Reconstructs the node adjacency connectivity graph.
    4. Feature Line Creation: Generates permanent feature lines in a specified Civil 3D site (these are not deleted).
    5. Endpoint Extension: Extends unconnected endpoints to the nearest projection surface to derive elevation.
    6. PI Point Calculation: Inserts points of intersection (PI) and projects them onto surfaces for accurate elevations.
    7. Error Identification: Flags feature line, extension, and elevation errors.
    8. Data Export: Serializes 3D geometry to JSON for the grading engine.

  6. Understand drtwrk presets and their scope

    A preset is a saved set of grading rules that defines how drtwrk grades a lot or zone, including slope limits, boundary setbacks, and wall permissions. Presets are shared across a company; all users can apply them, while administrators can create, edit, and delete them.

    Preset Scopes:

    • Public preset: Available to all users in the company for standardizing grading parameters.
    • Custom preset: Scoped to an individual account for personal or project-specific configurations. Admins can promote custom presets to public presets via the web application.

  7. Update your drtwrk profile details

    To update your account information:

    1. Log in and click your avatar or name in the top-right corner.
    2. Select Account from the dropdown menu.
    3. Update your name, email address, or password.
    4. Save changes.

    If the email address is changed, a verification email will be sent to the new address. The old email remains active until the new one is confirmed.

  8. Manually adjust elevation points in Grading view

    Manual edits allow for small, targeted adjustments to individual elevation points without rerunning the entire grading job. Every edit is logged with the user, timestamp, and before/after values, which can be viewed in the History tab of the lot detail panel. If site geometry or grading parameters change significantly, a full grading job should be rerun via the Civil 3D plugin instead.
    1. Click Edit in the grading view toolbar.
    2. Click a point in the 3D view to select it.
    3. Enter the new elevation value in the right-hand edit panel and press Apply.
    4. Click Submit edits to create a new manual-edits job.

  9. Prepare 2D linework for grading

    Use the 2DLINEWORK command (or the 2D Checks button in the DRTWRK Tools ribbon) to validate 2D geometry. You must map CAD layers to geometry types (e.g., lot lines, curbs, road centerlines, edge of pavement, edge of swale, and right-of-way) in the Layer Review modal. The tool automatically splits lines at intersections, removes duplicates/short segments, and builds a node adjacency graph. Errors such as overlapping lines or open endpoints are flagged in the Grading Prep Review panel and can be resolved using AutoFix or by using Focus to locate the issue manually.
    2DLINEWORK

  10. Join a company workspace in drtwrk

    drtwrk accounts must belong to a company workspace to access projects and upload data for processing. Accounts are typically connected to a company automatically upon activation. If your company has an existing subscription, your administrator will send an invitation link via email; click this link to accept and join the workspace. For issues regarding incorrect company assignment or missing permissions, contact support@drtwrk.io.

  11. Manage drtwrk account and plugin support

    The following commands handle account access and plugin maintenance:

    • DRTWRKACCOUNT: Sign in to your drtwrk account (required before using other commands).
    • DRTWRKUPDATES: Check for and install plugin updates.
    • BUGREPORT: Submit a bug report from inside Civil 3D.
    • TUTORIAL: Open the in-plugin introduction to the tools.

  12. Execute the main drtwrk grading workflows

    The plugin follows three primary workflows to achieve automated grading:

    1. 2D Linework Validation: Collect, clean, and validate 2D linework from configured CAD layers.
    2. 3D Feature Line Creation: Promote validated 2D linework to permanent 3D feature lines using elevations from projection surfaces.
    3. Lot and Zone Grading: Configure grading parameters in the grading modal and submit the job to the drtwrk cloud grading engine.