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INTRODUCTION
This company engaged ARKANCE to conduct a Rapid Review of their AutoCAD Civil 3D environment. The engagement included a structured two-hour virtual session, supported by a detailed review of their Civil 3D project template and recent project files. Our technical specialists assessed how the software was configured and applied in practice, identified opportunities for improvement, and provided targeted recommendations to streamline workflows and reduce inefficiencies.
CUSTOMER PROFILE
A 12-person consultancy delivering land development and infrastructure projects using AutoCAD Civil 3D across multidisciplinary teams.
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KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED
Project data stored locally with no version control, increasing risk of overwrites and data loss
Inconsistent use of Civil 3D templates (.dwt), causing manual rework on styles and settings
Poor Survey Coordinate System usage
Manual creation of pipe networks, profile views, and corridor assemblies across projects
No use of Data Shortcuts or Xrefs, leading to duplicated models and risk of redundancies
Exploded plan and profile sheets with limited use of the Sheet Set Manager
ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
45 minutes saved per project by using standard templates and drawing settings
30 minutes saved per survey-based project through consistent coordinate system practices
1.5 hours saved per project by using Data Shortcuts and Xref workflows
1 hours saved per corridor project by streamlining corridor modelling practices
4 hours saved per project through automated sheet production
1 hour per user per week saved via improved drawing management and QA procedures
Combined, the team was projected to save approximately 1,400–1,600 hours per year, equating to $70,000–$80,000 in annual productivity gains based on standard billable rates.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Implement standard project templates and folder structures to ensure drawing consistency
Configure shared Civil 3D Templates and styles for surfaces, labels, and alignments
Standardise geolocation and coordinate system workflows to streamline survey data integration
Introduce Data Shortcuts (DREFs) to minimise duplication and improve model stability
Automate plan and profile sheet creation using Plan Production Tools and the Sheet Set Manager
Upskill users in corridor modelling and grading tools to reduce rework and inefficiencies
CONCLUSION
This Rapid Review provided the team with a clear roadmap of high-impact configuration changes. Many of the opportunities identified could be addressed through short-term interventions such as template refinement, training, and automation scripting. The recommendations serve as a foundation for scaling consistent Civil 3D usage across future projects.