MCIntegrator has been upgraded with more functionalities with the release of MiTS version 3.1. The improvement was made with the intention of providing a better user experience in this regard.

So, what exactly can the upgrade MCIntegrator plugin do? #

The new and enhanced engine of the plugin enables users to seamlessly synchronize starting from MiTS to Civil 3D and vice versa, with the option to do so at two different levels (or modes) – CAD or Civil. This means that users can now choose to synchronize their utilities as CAD objects, Civil Objects, or not synchronize at all.

Most importantly, the advanced plugin enables users to quickly and easily exchange information between MiTS and Civil 3D, covering not just utility-related items such as pipes and drains, but also survey points, earthwork platforms, and road synchronization (Coming real soon!) with minimal time and effort required.

In addition to the introduction of the Running Network in MiTS 2 for multiple network integrations, the plugin has advanced significantly. It can now provide a more precise integration for the utility designs between MiTS and Civil 3D with the new dimension mapping for Family Parts in Civil 3D, in conjunction with the advanced features in MiTS 3 on the sumps, manholes, and fittings profiles. Not only that, but the latest plugin is also capable of resolving Civil 3D’s surface limitation when handling manmade terrain, thus reducing the inaccuracy of the CutFill volume.

Let us break it down to you with the image shown below.

What is CAD Sync, Civil Sync, and NoSync? #

From the images shown, clearly, the objects synced appear differently in Civil 3D depending on the sync mode.

CAD Sync mode #

It is the first level of synchronization and is specifically designed for the integration from MiTS to Civil 3D. At this level, the utilities’ parts, survey points, and platforms will be synchronized as 3D Solids, made up of meshes, lines, and vertices. The pipe or any civil objects’ information, such as pipe diameters or invert levels, will not be available.

However, as 3D Solids, they still preserve the geometry correctly, as you can refer here to cross-check the geometry information! The unavailable civil details will only restrict information sharing between engineers and make the BIM modeling process difficult, something that we want to prevent.

Civil Sync mode #

This sync mode works in two ways, from MiTS to Civil 3D and back and forth. Civil sync takes things a step further by synchronizing your design as actual civil entities.

Survey Points #

As for survey points in your design, it will be synced as a surface with elevations and coordinate information preserved in both MiTS and Civil 3D. With our plugin’s interface, multiple survey point groups can be synchronized simultaneously and easily managed by users under Parameters.

Platforms #

Civil Sync is also available for the integration of platforms and slopes as surfaces between MiTS and Civil 3D, with the elevations, coordinates, and shapes preserved in both.

To give flexibility in defining how the surfaces will appear in Civil 3D, there are three methods for the platform synchronization.

Which method should be opted for? #

Opting for IndividualSurface or AllSurface synchronization methods, the platforms are synced into Civil 3D as polygon meshes (polymeshes).

Polymeshes in Civil 3D are CAD entities made of triangular or quadrilateral faces that connect corner points, storing the X, Y, and Z coordinates. While they are capable of carrying elevation data, polymeshes are primarily designed to represent the 3D shape of the terrain, but not for giving intels to Civil 3D on handling the vertical drops or transitions.

These meshes are unable to accurately represent the vertical walls or abrupt elevation changes in manmade terrains, resulting in simplified surfaces with slopes between the elevation changes. This will cause inaccuracy in cut and fill volumes computations and will require users to manually adjust the polymeshes to define the vertical features of the terrain.

It’s a different story with BreaklineSurface method, as it uses breakline features – specifically the wall breaklines; A Civil objects in the form of lines that are definitely smarter as they not only provide elevation data, but also provide specific instructions to Civil 3D on where the vertical transitions occurs and how it should be dealt with to truly reflect the manmade terrains. It is crucial for users to always set the method to BreaklineSurface for the platform sync to ensure accurate integrations and volume computations in Civil 3D. This method will truly model how normal engineers use Civil 3D in doing surface design.

You may observe that the information is preserved by juxtaposing Civil 3D object information and MiTS object.

Network/Utility #

With Civil Sync, network/utility design exported from MiTS is no longer limited to lines and polylines, but can now be represented as gravity pipes (sewage and drains) and pressure pipes (water reticulation).

Our plugins, released previously, focus mainly on accurate integration of the pipes and drains, with correct mapping between MES Category and Civil 3D Family Parts. Mapping of the nodes is only for the sake of connecting pipes and drains in MiTS and Civil 3D, carrying only the X, Y, and Z coordinates.

Opting for Civil Sync in the latest plugins released with MiTS 3.1, the integration has now been perfected with the introduction of a more precise dimension mapping (based on inner or outer diameter), for both pipes and nodes. Not only is the integration able to preserve the pipe-related information such as invert levels, descriptions, pipe diameters, etc., but it now carries detailed information of the structures connected, alongside the implementation of the advanced node profiles in MiTS. It now includes dimensions and types of the structure, descriptions, and reference surface for insertion levels of the structures (Ground Level of nodes in MiTS).

NoSync mode #

Another option available for users is the NoSync mode. Just like its name, the utilities using this mode will not be synchronized at all in Civil 3D.

What’s more to the MCIntegrator plugin? #

Improved Action Panel #

The upgraded plugin also comes with an improved Action Panel. It works the same way as the verification tab in MiTS, showing entities that require further actions from the users, including suggestions. This tells you what to do when there are actions required.

You may refer to the article on verification errors and warnings here for the detailed steps of the suggestions provided.

Shown below is the Action Panel of the MCIntegrator.

Machine Settings #

The machine settings let you review critical information about the Civil 3D Part Catalog settings, so that you can ensure that your synchronization is successful. Referred to here for further understanding.

For further information #

To better help users understand the integration, we also provide you with a tutorial video, which can be found below. For the installation guideline, please refer to the link here.