Pipe and Pressure Pipe Networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Focused Skill. Real-World Application.
Utility design is one of the most common deliverables in civil engineering, and Civil 3D has the tools to do it right. This focused course covers everything you need to build, annotate, and document pipe networks and pressure pipe networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D, from creating the network to producing a plan-and-profile sheet ready for construction.
Whether you are a working professional who has always done utilities in 2D and is ready to make the jump to 3D, someone looking to fill a gap in your Civil 3D skillset, or a project manager who wants to understand how this work gets done, this course was built for you.
- 3 Hour Focused Training: a structured learning path covering pipe networks, pressure pipe networks, object styles, annotation, and drawing setup.
- Premium Learning Portal Access: one full year of access to the Reach360 portal, optimized for any device.
- Multimodal Instruction: high-definition video demonstrations paired with professional text and audio voiceovers for every lesson.
- Hands-On Exercise Files: downloadable Civil 3D files so you can practice the workflows in a real project context.
- Interactive Knowledge Checks: quizzes and activities to verify your understanding of key concepts.
- Permanent Reference Toolkit: downloadable course PDF to keep as a lifelong professional resource.
- Private Community Access: entry into the Oxsen Learning peer forums, a low-pressure space to ask questions and connect with others.
This course is built on the same methodology as the full AutoCAD Civil 3D Basics library: multimodal, practical, and grounded in how engineers actually work. Every concept is taught in context, not in isolation.
- High-Definition Video: every workflow is demonstrated step by step.
- Text and Audio: read along, listen on the go, or do both. You choose.
- Active Engagement: interactive elements verify your understanding as you go.
This course follows a build-first, understand-why-second structure. You will see the full workflow in action during the network lessons, then the later lessons give you the reasoning behind the style and annotation decisions you already watched being made.
- Lesson 1: Welcome and Course Overview: who this course is for, what you will build, and how the lessons fit together.
- Lesson 2: Pipe Networks: creating a gravity pipe network in Civil 3D, editing the design, and displaying it in plan and profile.
- Lesson 3: Pressure Pipe Networks: building a pressure pipe network, adding fittings and appurtenances, and annotating the result.
- Lesson 4: Object Styles: the reasoning behind how utility objects are styled in plan, profile, and section view. Existing versus proposed, and why it matters.
- Lesson 5: Annotation: label styles and tables for gravity and pressure networks. What information belongs where and how to handle projects without profiles.
- Lesson 6: Drawing Setup: how to organize your files, set up profiles for production, and structure your plan sheets so the project is manageable from start to finish.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Create gravity pipe networks and pressure pipe networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Display networks in both plan and profile view
- Apply object styles that clearly distinguish existing from proposed utilities
- Annotate networks with the right labels and tables for the project type
- Organize your drawings and profiles for production-ready deliverables
- Device Independent: access the portal on desktop, tablet, or phone. Progress is saved automatically across devices.
- On-Demand: no live sessions or scheduled meetings. Work through the content at your own pace within your one-year access window.
- Flexible Learning Modes: watch the video, listen to the audio, or read the text. All three are available for every lesson.
- Hands-On Practice: to follow along with the exercises, you will need access to a computer running AutoCAD Civil 3D. The visual demonstrations are valuable even without software access, but hands-on practice is strongly recommended.
- Prerequisite Knowledge: this course is designed for those who already have a working knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D, including surfaces, alignments, and profiles. If you are comfortable with those fundamentals and want to go deeper on utility design specifically, this course is for you. If you are brand new to Civil 3D, the recommended path is AutoCAD Civil 3D Basics, which covers utility design as part of the full curriculum.
- Software Version: this course was developed using Civil 3D 2025. Concepts apply to other versions, though some interface differences may exist.
Laura Oxsen is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 10 years of experience in civil engineering, including public utility design across water, sewer, and storm systems. She currently serves as the Organizational Development Lead at Grayling Engineers, where she leads technical training and mentors young engineers. Her teaching approach is grounded in real project experience, not just software mechanics.
- At an assumed $100/hr entry-level billable rate, a learner only needs to save 2 hours of rework or inefficiency to fully recoup the $200 investment.
- For firms training staff on utility design workflows, this course eliminates the need for senior engineers to walk through the basics, keeping their time focused on project delivery.