Assessing AutoCAD Civil 3D skills

Another new addition to the KS test library went live this week - AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011, module 1.

Now I'm not a believer that you can reliably create a 'general' Civil 3D test, so we're taking a slightly different approach with this one.

Because the KS tools offer AEC firms a tremendous amount of flexibility, in the way they can customise test content, we are giving firms the final say on what modules their version of the C3D test will contain. The daisy-chain feature, which allows admins to link a series of individual modules together to form a longer test, means that firms can mix & match the C3D content in a wide variety of ways.

So how are we approaching this task? Well, first, we're working with leading C3D author, Eric Chappell, to create 4 overall test modules, covering a range of C3D tools and commands. Each module will contain c.25 test questions, with the usual mix of task-based and knowledge-based exercises.

These are the main topics, which will be covered across the 4 modules:

• Surfaces
• Alignments
• Profiles
• Points
• Sections & quantity take offs
• Assemblies & Subassemblies
• Corridors & intersections
• Parcels
• Grading
• Pipes & pipe networks
• Plan production
• Data exchange
• Rendering
• Survey
• Hydraflow

Module 1 is now available, covering Profiles, Alignments and Surfaces. Work has already begun on module 2, which will be finished in March. Module 3 will follow in April/May. The last module will be written in the summer; we'll review progress to date at that point and take feedback on any remaining features which haven't been addressed in modules 1-3.

Enterprise customers will see the new C3D content appear in their accounts this week. As always, we welcome your feedback on the material and also any topics you'd like to see covered, which are not mentioned in the summary list above.

R