Prerequisite: Your DWG must be linked to an Allsite.ai project. See the setup guide here.
Level AI Workflow
Configure the project’s default settings in Allsite.ai, including Cut/Fill settings.
Make sure the correct coordinate system is assigned.
Select the existing surface for your site.
Create roads using one or more of the following three approaches, depending on whether you are using full corridors, partial corridors, or preliminary site design with only alignments. You can combine these approaches, for example when modeling both car parks and roads:
If you are using corridors, create road corridors and intersections, then update any longitudinal grade information on the assemblies. See the supported methods for creating corridors and road elements here.
For preliminary site design, you can use Allsite.ai’s basic right-of-way corridor. Convert road centerline alignments or polylines into Allsite.ai roads, then run Layout Assist to generate the corridor. Follow the guidance here.
If you are using corridors but not complex Civil 3D objects such as intersections, cul-de-sacs, or knuckles, use Allsite.ai road objects to define those areas. Follow the guidance here.
Add parcels, and set the type for residential parcels to NORMAL.
Optional: Add existing sanitary and storm networks, set their status to “EXISTING,” and populate invert levels. This helps Level AI grade the ground so gravity networks can function correctly.
Add your Earthworks Extent. This tells Level AI where it is allowed to modify the ground surface.
Add other Level AI grading elements, such as grade breaks, ponds, overland flow paths, and buildings. See Allsite objects below. If these elements already exist in your DWG, select the item and convert it.
You are now ready for your first Level AI Run.
After reviewing your run results, you can add more grading elements and potential grade breaks before the next run.
Default Level AI settings
Your DWG is linked to a project in Allsite.ai. The project settings define defaults for many Civil 3D and Allsite.ai objects. To view the default settings, open the project properties, go to the Settings tab, and apply the Level AI filter. Detailed explanations of individual Level AI settings are provided on the detailed grading pages.
Service AI Workflow
Configure the project's default settings in Allsite.ai.
Make sure the correct coordinate system is assigned.
Select the existing surface for your site.
Select the proposed surface for your site. This can be a surface produced by Level AI or you may supply your own.
Select your storm and sanitary networks via dropdowns.
Add parcels, and set type for residential parcels to NORMAL.
Add existing sanitary and storm networks, set their status to “EXISTING,” and set invert levels (this informs Level AI how to grade ground for gravity networks to work).
Add your Servicing Extent. This tells Service AI where it can place pipes and manholes. Make sure the servicing extent is within the coverage of your existing and proposed surfaces.
Make sure roads are set up as either Civil 3D corridors or Allsite.ai simple roads. See the Level AI workflow above.
Optional: Add other Service AI elements (see Allsite objects below) such as ponds and catchments.
Set up sub networks (subnets) on existing infrastructure.
You are now ready for your first Service AI run.
After your run is complete, run Service AI results, this loads the proposed storm and sanitary pipes.
Default Service AI Settings
Use the “Service AI” filter to view the settings required for Service AI. These settings are copied from the closest matching template project when the project is created in Allsite.ai.
Existing Surface
Set your existing surface. It should extend at least 7 feet beyond your Earthworks Extent. Level AI uses the existing surface as the starting ground surface and modifies it as little as possible while still achieving earthworks balance and engineering design constraints. The more accurate the existing surface is, the more accurate the site balance will be. The existing surface can be referenced into the DWG using a Civil 3D data shortcut. For Service AI, also set the proposed surface.
DEM surfaces are fully supported.
Note - for Non DEM surfaces there is a limit of 2.5million triangles, use the simplify surface tool to prune points down (non destructive).
Setting up the Coordinate system
Level AI models require accurate spatial information. Use the MAPCSASSIGN command to configure the coordinate system of your DWG.
If you are using a non-standard EPSG code but a valid Esri-supported WKID coordinate system, define the WKID code in the project’s Spatial settings.
You can also provide Grid to Ground offsets in your Allsite.ai project settings. This helps project thumbnails and 3D digital twins display in the correct location.
If your data is not spatially located within 20 miles of the project location created in Allsite.ai, validation will fail.
If the thumbnail or digital twin is misaligned with GIS data, the project may be missing a Grid to Ground scale factor or reference point.
Allsite.ai Objects
Allsite.ai works natively with Civil 3D objects. When Civil 3D objects are created or linked, Allsite.ai data is appended as extended data:
Parcels - Grading and servicing data added to parcel objects.
Road Corridors - Road longitudinal information is added to corridor regions through road assembly and subassembly objects.
Gravity Pipes - Additional information required for Service AI and Level AI is added to pipe and structure objects.
You can also add Allsite.ai objects to your model. These objects can be created from scratch when no model item is selected, or converted from an existing selected item. Only compatible item types can be converted. For example, a grade break must be converted from a polyline, and a building must be converted from a closed polyline or a block reference containing a closed polyline.
Earthworks Extent - Defines boundary of your Level AI model.
Grade Break - Defines a wall or a slope.
Ground Control - Allows custom control of ground areas, including grading, locking, and other constraints.
Grading Relationship - Define relationships between objects in your Level AI model.
Manual Feature Lines - Lock areas of the site to specific elevations.
Impervious Proposed - Defines impervious surface areas, such as roads, driveways, and sidewalks, and controls their grading.
Lots
Buildings - Add buildings to your model.
Building Tie-Ins - Adds controls along the edge of a building for fine adjustment of garage and building interfaces.
Drainage
Ponds - Adds detention or retention ponds with sizing information.
Overland Flow Paths - Informs Level AI where low points can occur in the road network or where a drainage ditch is located.
Servicing
Catchments - Defines servicing catchments and boundaries that can be set as high points for Level AI runs.
Servicing Extent - Defines where Service AI can place pipes and structures. All existing connections must be within the servicing extent to be included in the model.
Geotech
Geotech Data Points - Bore logs that are built into a surface with grading parameters.