My expertise with BIM is centered around Revit, and now that I am incrementally focusing on infrastructure, the application of BIM in Civil 3D is one of my focal points. I endeavor to share with you my experiences in the coming months.
Many of you are probably asking yourselves what an extended property data set in AutoCAD / Civil 3D is? Well, this would be part of the answer to a BIM question like: “How do I apply a Uniclass assembly code to Civil 3D or AutoCAD entities so I can isolate them by classification in Navisworks?”
For those of you who have not yet clashed models in Navisworks, the importance is probably best explained with reference to 3D model elements within building information modelling software. The 3D is useful for us because we can clash detect and visualize. Clash detection alone typically saves us 1/5 of the construction project’s costs. Being able to identify elements by classification code may very well play an important role in the process.
In addition to this benefit of the 3D model we can also codify the model elements by attaching information to them. Many properties are included with the software as it is published. This information is useful downstream when we apply 4D, 5D, and 6D BIM, which corresponds to scheduling, costing, and facilities management respectively.
Sometimes BIM authoring software does not have the properties that you require. Because these platforms are in essence, databases, we are quite often able to define custom properties that are attached to 3D elements. This is true of Civil 3D. These properties are collectively known as extended data, are contained within data sets. Datasets can be applied to individual elements and then populated with data.
Consider for instance the pipes in the following network. It is required of us to attach the assembly code to them. We could consider a simple format like the Uniclass format, something that is commonly used on BIM Projects.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to import lists into the Property Set and one must enter the definitions one-by-one unless one uses Dynamo. I would also recommend that one must create the data set in the template.
If the property set already exists then you can consider using the SHP Import and Export Utility 2025 for Autodesk Civil 3D, which is available from your account. Once installed, the ability to export and import data sets is available from the reports tab.
While this blog is pertinent to Civil 3D, the methods are just as applicable to any AutoCAD and AutoCAD verticals. Just like with Layer States, Civil 3D Exposes additional tools in comparison to AutoCAD to manage this capability.
If you need help adopting the AEC Collection or the Autodesk Construction Cloud in your practice or you are looking to invest in hardware, please contact Micrographics so that we may be of assistance.

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