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Civil Site Design V26.00

Civil Site Design is available for:

  • AutoCAD 2021 to AutoCAD 2026
  • BricsCAD V21 to BricsCAD V26
  • Civil 3D 2021 to Civil 3D 2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION– Updated Licensing

The License Manager has been upgraded from V25.  As well as including a new interface, added functionality and improved visibility to license information, Cloud licensing has now been included.

To upgrade from V25 to V26, a new license key is no longer required.  The update will be automatic, following installation of Civil Site Design V26 and operation of the software.  If license messages display, open the CSA License Manager and click on the Refresh button.

Home Use License Keys will no longer be issued. Customers wishing to access their Single User license across two computers will need to move to Single User Cloud Licensing.

Full installation and licensing details are contained in the Installation and Licensing Guide.

Moving to Cloud Licensing Models

The Subscription Manager for valid license/s at each organisation will have been emailed instructions on initiating a license switch from computer-bound licensing to Cloud licensing.

Software Evaluation Process

The Evaluation process has changed in V26.  Previously, a ‘generic’ key was automatically issued to enable 30 day operation of the software. Now users will need to: 

  • Open the CSA License Manager 
  • Click on the Evaluation tab 
  • Pick the product to evaluation and input your email and name
    • Your evaluation key will be sent to your email
  • Activate your license using the Activation tab and inputting the Activation key

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

CIVIL SITE DESIGN

You will need a valid subscription or maintenance of Civil Site Design to update to V26.

Following installation, operation of the software should automatically switch your current V25 license to V26 (if you have a current Civil Site Design subscription/maintenance.

Full installation and licensing details are contained in the Installation and Licensing Guide.

Subscription customers can obtain their V26 license keys, and manage their user access and licenses, directly from the Civil Survey Applications Customer Portal:

CUSTOMER CENTRE

New Features and Enhancements

New Features:  

  • Vertical Grading Editor – New Optimise tab:
    • New Optimise tab added to the Vertical Grading Editor interface
    • Applies AI profile optimisation to create an initial vertical design (profile) balancing design criteria such as cut/fill depth, minimum/maximum grade and desired k value.
  • IFC 4×3 Export:
    • This enhancement enables users to export models in the IFC 4×3 format, facilitating better interoperability with other BIM (Building Information Modelling) software.
  • Sectional Volumes Models Support:
    • Users can select a Model to display the String sections relevant to the Model. This accounts for volume changes from any code removal/s applied to the String from the Model.  
  • Import Cogo Points (by Alignment):
    • This new command allows users to import Cogo points based on alignment chainage and offset, making it easier to bring in data defined by chainage/offset to an alignment.
  • LAS Point Cloud Surface:
    • This tool enables users to create surfaces from LAS point cloud data, making it easier to work with raw point cloud data and convert it into useful models.
  • String Profile Optimizer:
    • This new command applies AI profile optimisation for multiple road strings in a single operation.  Roads can be ordered to ensure optimization of primary roads occurs first and that secondary road/s optimize within the intersection constraints from the primary road/s​
  • Custom Variations UI – New Folder System:
    • Introduces a new folder system for better organization of custom variations.
  • Sections By Layer now supports multiple layer entries:
    • This update allows for greater flexibility when creating sections by layer, as multiple layer entries can now be included, improving control over section representation.
  • Import/Export LandXML CSA Alignments & Profiles:
    • Facilitates bidirectional data exchange of CSA alignments and profiles using the LandXML format.
  • Best Fit Alignment (CSA Alignments):
    • A new tool for generating best-fit alignments, allowing users to automatically create the optimal alignment that fits the available data for CSA (Civil Survey Alignment) models.
  • Subgrade Model Manager polyline output (layer control):
    • New polyline output form added when using output from the Subgrade Model Manager, providing control over layers used in output of polylines to the drawing​

Improvements:  

  • CSA Surface Adaptive Decimate:
    • This feature automatically reduces the density of surface data, improving performance and reducing file size while maintaining critical surface detail.
  • Corridor Exchange
    • Fewer Assemblies & improved Performance:
      • Optimised assembly creation to match typical customer processes
      • Improved speed and performance
      • Improved the accuracy of Corridor models for selected models.
  • Automatic CSD String Renaming (Civil 3D)
    • Automates the renaming of CSD strings when alignment names are changed in Civil 3D.
  • Subgrade Model Manager 
    • Improved performance 
      • Enhancements to the Subgrade Model Manager ensure that when referencing Model Builder models, the trims are represented correctly, resulting in more accurate subgrade designs.
    • Added ability to attach user breaklines to center-line code
      • Enhances breakline workflows within the Subgrade Model Manager. ​
  • Model Viewer
    • Sight Distance Tables Copy Option
      • Added a copy option to the Sight Distance Tables, enabling users to quickly duplicate table data for improved efficiency.
    • Enhanced Sight Distance Analysis
      • Improved the Model Viewer’s sight distance analysis by refining calculations. This update ensures that grade corrections are applied accurately and that the minimum sight distance is checked in both directions.
  • Project Storage – Prompt to pack on Quit
    • Adds an automatic pack prompt when exiting the application to reduce file bloat. ​
  • Projected Profiles command 
    • Main Alignment selection
      • Allows picking the main alignment during Projected Profile Group creation for greater flexibility. ​
    • Auto-append IP at end of profiles
      • Streamlines profile generation by adding a final interpolation point automatically. ​
  • Vertical Grading Editor
    • Delete by Range performance optimized
      • Speeds up the “delete by range” command on large datasets. ​
    • Design Data form – entry highlighting in drawing
      • When hovering over an entry in the Design Data form users will now see a highlight displaying the applied chainage range of the entry.
  • Surface Manager
    • Elevation Range Analysis 
      • Supports more entries for splitting elevation ranges.  Previously this was limited to 50 entries. ​
  • Resample Sections –
    • Use Layers option
      • Now allows users to add multiple layers for sampling of strings.
  • COGO Point Labels – Station formatting (0+000) applied
    • Improves chainage clarity by enabling station formatting. 
  • Toolspace
    • Toolspace Settings – Refresh button Thread option
      • Users can now assign a Thread to apply on Refresh from the toolspace.  This gives users greater control over corridor EZ refresh operations. ​
    • Cogo-point selection tool added (excluding Civil 3D)
      • Streamlines survey-point workflows directly in Toolspace.

Bug Fixes:

  • Projected Profile Main Alignment
    • Fixed an issue where, when adding a Project Profile group whereby users could not pick the main alignment. The selection now works as intended.
    • Resolved an issue where an extra IP was being appended at the end of projected profiles.
  • Driveway Checker GUID Display
    • Corrected the grading strings issue in the driveway checker so that GUID values are no longer mistakenly displayed.
  • Satellite Surface Creation
    • Resolved a problem that prevented the creation of satellite surfaces.
  • Pasted Surfaces
    • When extracting points from a pasted surface the point extraction is limited to user-pasted surface points, excluding extraneous triangulated mesh points.
  • Vertical Grading Editor
    • Fixed an issue with the ‘X’ button in the vertical grading editor’s “Enquire any point along the profile” function.
    • Fixed an issue that caused an extra IP address to be prepended to strings when refreshing in VGE.
  • Surface Manager
    • Range Table Entry Count
      • Corrected an error where the number of entries shown in the surface analysis range table was inaccurate.
    • Fixed an issue where the surface manager was closing automatically instead of waiting for user action.
  • Toolspace 
    • Position Memory & Toggle
      • Fixed a bug where the toolspace did not remember its last position or toggle correctly.
  • Model Viewer
    • Missing Button in Material Group Editor
      • Added the missing button in the Model Viewer’s Material Group Editor to allow users to open the image folder.
    • Linemarking Length Rules in Model Viewer
      • Fixed an issue that prevented the correct application of linemarking length rules in the Model Viewer.
    • Aborting Material Group Creation
      • Ensures that cancelling material group creation properly aborts the process without leaving partial data.
  • Intersection Auto Template Code
    • Resolved an issue where the auto template code for intersections was blank.
  • Subgrade Model Manager
    • Duplicate Sections
      • Corrected the display error in the Subgrade Model Manager that showed duplicate sections for deleted kerb elements.
    • Surface Resolve Direction
      • Fixed a calculation error in surface resolve direction within the Subgrade Model Manager.
    • User Breakline Slope Value Retention
      • Fixed a problem where slope values for user breaklines were not being retained in the form.
    • Adding User Breaklines in Model Manager
      • Resolved an issue with adding user breaklines in the Subgrade Model Manager.
  • COGO Points Selection in Toolspace
    • Fixed an issue with selecting COGO points within the toolspace.
  • Script X Offset & Level Calculations
    • Fixed a bug affecting the Script X functionality for calculating offsets and levels.
  • CSD Pack Mode Timestamp
    • Restored the functionality of the timestamp in CSD Pack Mode.
  • Pipes
    • Create Sewer Design Table failure in Civil Site Design
      • Fixes an error where the “Create Sewer Design Table” command would fail to generate the table.
    • Service types defaulting to PIPE EDITING 
      • Corrects the default assignment of service types, which were previously all set to “PIPE EDITING.”

Special Notes

  • Pack Mode
    • Pack mode will be defaulted off in V26.

Known Issues

  • Nahimic Software may interfere with Model Viewer
    • We have found that the software ‘Nahimic’ may prevent Model Viewer from displaying – the installation of Nahimic creates a conflict in Eyeshot (the graphics engine we use in Model Viewer).
    • If Model Viewer will not open, please check if Nahimic is installed. If so, updating Nahimic may resolve the issue. Uninstalling it will resolve the issue.
    • Nahimic software provides enhanced audio (typically for gamers) and is commonly installed with gaming laptops. More information about Nahimic can be found here: https://www.nahimic.com/gamers/
  • When you update your Windows if you experience this issue. Windows 11 Version 24H2 issue
    • The Windows 11 Version 24H2 Update introduces an error into the scale applied to images rendered onto a base surface in Model Viewer.  After installing this Windows update, the image will display at 200% scale in Model Viewer, measured from the top left corner of the image.
    • We recommend rolling back your Windows Update (or trying a newer update) if you experience this issue.
  • AutoCAD 2025, Civil 3D 2025 and CSD Plus V25
    • When using Load CAD, Model Viewer will not display Polyface Mesh, 3D solid or Region objects .  Recommendation is to convert these 3D object types to 3D faces before loading.
  • Section Volume command
    • Roundabouts display under the String group of ‘String’ in the Section Volumes command.
  • Project Storage
    • Versions will only be stored to the nearest minute – this is as designed
    • If any of the files in the -Data folder (CSA Data folder) are not available for read/write (which happens if you plot to file for long sections and xref back into the same drawing) then the software will not be able to pack
    • Some outputs (ie: Long Section > Plot to File) are made directly to the current CSA Data folder.  Given that the software creates uniquely named CSA Data folders whenever you save and reopen a packed project, the folder path to the latest data changes when you save, close and reopen the drawing.  It is recommended that any file being referenced (xreffed) be copied to a static folder location.
  • Using the Toolspace to turn surface contours and/or triangles on/off is not remembered when you close and reopen the drawing.
  • Cadastral Lines command
    • If duplicate point numbers are created in a drawing, the software will automatically use one of the duplicates only
    • Mixing traverse lines and side shots will result in the ‘traverse’ polyline being removed up to the first side shot.  It is recommended to separate traverse lines and side shots into different groups
  • Acronis anti-virus and malware applications may assume that the Pack Mode process (whereby we zip the software data folder and include it inside the drawing file) is a possible malware threat.  This is a false positive and can be added to the allowlist.
  • If you run Save As on an unpacked Stringer project:
    • In AutoCAD/BricsCAD or CSD Plus
      • The Sampled Surface will display as a block in the drawing, able to be deleted.  
      • If you have created Profile Strings (for long and cross section output, and point setout) the Sampled Surface (usually the surveyed surface) used when the Profile String was created will display as a block in the drawing, able to be deleted..  
      • Drafting linework will reside in the drawing – running Cleanup will remove the drafting.
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