[Todd W]

First, I will warn you all that I am a Civil/Site Engineer that stumbled upon this site while looking for discussions on CAD layers. I have found this site to be very informative on the thought processes of LA’s and just wanted to return the favor but letting you know some of the thoughts behind CE’s madness.

We do name our files in the “cryptic” method, which I honestly didn’t question until I read this forum. On the outside looking in, I can definitly see how it appears as almost a random assortment of numbers and letters. A typical file for us could read “10-146.C3.0.GP.dwg” which is basically “project number.sheet number.sheet description.dwg”. We see no need for project name in the file because the names are typically large and the projects are organized in the server by folders titled with project number and project name. I have always assumed that if I am sending you a file that I would reference what project it is associated with in the e-mail.

Nick, I would actually prefer that you send me the planting and grading design because if I have to come back and add a lightpole or a sanitary lateral I would rather choose a path that doesn’t interfere with your design. In the same sense, typically I send the LA all the utilites (existing and proposed) and storm sewer info so they don’t put a tree directly above a storm inlet, water line, etc. It just cuts down on the revisions that each party would need to do, which keeps your costs and my costs down.

There were a few comments on xrefs and sending files out. My thoughts are that if I had nothing to do with the design, I dont send it out. Which means that if you receive a drawing from me it will not have the proposed building xrefd into it. It may have a single line outline of the building but that will be on a layer that doesn’t print.

I think almost all civils will be using xrefs. In my experience, I typically have at least 4 separate dwg files that we work in because they either have different data (i.e. demo plan requires a different base than the site plan) or have so much data it doesn’t make sense to load a single huge drawing for a small change. Also having a basic xref of the curbs, sidewalks, islands, etc. makes it easy for us to change plans if a client tells us they want to slightly change a curb line.

Sorry for the lengthy response.

[Author]

Posts