Creating Parcels from Objects

One way you can create parcels is to use lines, arcs, and polylines that already exist in your drawing and convert them into parcel segments. This technique is often used when the parcel geometry is especially complex or must be drawn based on other geometry in the drawing. Civil 3D provides a few tools for drawing parcel segments directly, but there are many more drawing and editing commands available within the AutoCAD® part of Civil 3D. For this reason, you may find it easier to create the necessary geometry using the AutoCAD drafting commands rather than the Civil 3D commands.

Converting basic AutoCAD entities to parcel segments is relatively simple. You launch the command from the ribbon; select the lines, arcs, and/or circles that you would like to convert; and then provide some information about the parcel segments that you are about to create. If the selected objects intersect to create closed shapes, Civil 3D will take care of the rest. You will know that the parcels have been created when the labels appear in the drawing area and the parcels are listed in Prospector.

To create parcels by converting basic AutoCAD entities, complete the following steps:

The Exercise File can be downloaded at the end of the article  

1. Open the drawing named Creating Parcels from Objects.dwg located in the Chapter 12 class data folder.

   Tips:Since parcel layout is a 2D design, the drawings in this chapter are not set up with multiple viewports, as in other discuss.


2. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click ParcelCreate Parcel From Objects.
3. Click the green polyline representing the overall parcel boundary.
4. Click the magenta polyline representing the southern right-of-way of Emerson Road. Press Enter.
5. In the Create Parcels From Objects dialog box, click OK to accept the default settings. The area is hatched, and a parcel label appears near the center of the property indicating that a new parcel has been created.

   Tips:The hatching is a function of the parcel style that has bee

6. Open Prospector and expand SitesLot Layout. Right-click Parcels and select Refresh. A plus sign should appear next to Parcels, and a parcel named Basic : 1 should be listed in the item view area of Prospector (see Figure 12.4).

   Figure 12.4  The newly created parcel shown in Prospector


7. If the item preview icon at the top left of Prospector is not depressed, click it.
8. Right-click Parcels, and verify that there is a check mark next to Show Preview. If there is not, click Show Preview.
9. Expand Parcels, and then click Basic : 1 listed beneath it. A preview of the shape of the parcel is shown in the item view area.
10. Click one of the red polylines in the drawing, right-click, and choose Select Similar. You may need to zoom in closely to pick one of the red polylines among the hatch lines.

    Tips:The red polylines represent the backs of the parcels. Selecting them will subdivide the property into several large pieces. These pieces will be subdivided further to create individual lots.


11. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click ParcelCreate Parcel From Objects.
12. In the Create Parcels – From Objects dialog box, change Parcel Style to Property and click OK. Two new parcels are created, as shown by the areas where the hatching has been carved away.
13. In Prospector, right-click Parcels and select Refresh. Preview the parcels in the item view window as you did earlier with the Basic : 1 parcel.
14. Click one of the dashed right-of-way lines, right-click, and then pick Select Similar.

15. Once again, on the Home tab of the ribbon, click ParcelCreate Parcel From Objects. Click OK to dismiss the Create Parcel – From Objects dialog box with default settings.
16. Refresh and preview the parcels in Prospector once again. Now there are seven parcels in all (see Figure 12.5).

    Figure 12.5  Seven parcels are now listed in the Prospector item view.

Download Exercise File :

• C12 - Creating Parcels from Objects - Metric     --- ( 630.68 KB )
• C12 - Creating Parcels from Objects - Imperial  --- ( 978.69 KB )