We have been using Carlsons since 95??, now using 2020(2018). Recently Hired?ÿa new CAD guy that has only used autodesk civil 3D. ?ÿI??ve considered this before. For those of you that use it - what??s the different between 2d(cheaper) and 3D Autocad from Autodesk?
Other than the obvious....
One big thing is that in C3d (almost) everything is contained within the .dwg file. There are no separate files for DTM or points, etc.?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ
Although in the long run, it's more efficient to have the DTM and the points that make it, in a separate .dwg, and then reference the DTM (surface) into the "main" drawing.
Anyway, I've been using Autodesk's AutoCAD since 1995 (R14 I think I started with). When I went my own way in 1997 I decided to always be secure and not be dependent on the "Firm" providing the right stuff, so thereafter I bought my own laptop and AutoCAD, starting with I think was probably a Pentium/3.5GBstorage/no-idea-of-RAM/Windows3.1? and AutoCAD-LT. Did a sh*t load of work on that $4,000 combo for about 4 years - it was with me in NZ, UK, and lastly Fiji. It got stolen from the "Firm's" office in Fiji, recovered by the Police, but the drive was wiped, lent it to a local employee of the "Firm", returned with a cracked screen and door hinge glued on - trashed it. Bought probably six since then, they last about 2 years, all now trashed and I don't buy my own anymore.
I've been using AutoCAD Civil 3D since 2007, beginning in its dark days of 32 Bit and endless random crashes, and the Vault. I wrote to Autodesk, and our Supplier, saying that for the umpteenth time I've touched a line and it's crashed and 2 weeks work is corrupted and now all I just want to ... Autodesk never replied, but our supplier did saying "You are correct, and I know how you feel, but 2011 is out and the 64-bit is sweet". It was.
Anyway, AutoCAD-LT is 2D. AutoCAD is 3D. AutoCAD Civil 3D is AutoCAD plus a whole lotta routines to automate what you can draw manually with AutoCAD - particularly DTM modelling. If you know AutoCAD, then you're half way there for AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Recently (2 years ago I think), Autodesk dropped "AutoCAD" from AutoCAD Civil 3D, so it is now just Civil 3D - to identify that it is quite different from AutoCAD. It is, but it isn't.
From the many threads I've read and some I've been part of here, as a Carlson user and fan, I'd say that if you're happy with CS, stick with just that.?ÿ
If you have clients complaining or demanding that you provide deliverables in C3D, instead of sending them xml files, then maybe you should look into that.
I don't think that I'd be getting C3D just to satisfy a new CAD person's preferences.?ÿ CS with embedded ACAD is 95% the same ACAD, as far as straight drafting ability.
I have not used the most recent version of either software, (version 2014) for both, but I have been using Carlson for 17 years and C3D for 7 years. I prefer Carlson for 2D drawing and boundary work, and C3D for 3D work. Between the versions I have used, C3D is much better for grading and building models. Until you have used it, or seen it in action it is hard to describe, but by changing one elevation or slope the whole surface updates without tearing it down and re-building it.?ÿ Also, at one point I was able to install Carlson over C3D (2011), so I had the best of both worlds, until they changed the dwg file format.
Civil3d is the way to go, that way you're not limited. Granted, it's not cheap. Good luck!
