Creating 3D PDFs from AGTEK

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  • Creating 3D PDFs from AGTEK

    Posted by David Cutler on July 14, 2025 at 8:38 am

    We work with a consultant who performs our earthwork analysis (cut/fill/site balance, etc.). They provide “cut/fill” maps which graphically shows depth of cuts and fills with shading – pink indicates cuts, yellow indicates “on-grade”, greens indicate fills. Basically a heat map of the site.

    They also provide isometric plots, but they are a fixed view.

    I’d like to have them provide a 3D PDF so we could move through the site and look at various areas more closely, but since I don’t have access to the software to experiment with it I figured I’d ask here. I’ve seen demonstrations that create 3D PDFs from Revit, but not from AGTEK. So, has anyone done this?

    Doug McLean replied 2 weeks, 4 days ago 3 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • Doug McLean

    Member
    July 14, 2025 at 12:00 pm
    Points: 16,844
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt I UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt I

    To create a 3D PDF you need to export either a .u3d or an .ifc file. These are the 3D file types that Revu supports.
    As long as that software can export that, its really just a Drag & Drop.

    • David Cutler

      Member
      July 14, 2025 at 12:52 pm
      Points: 29,458
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II

      Trading emails with my guy sounds as if he is using a “legacy” product that does have the option of exporting into a .IFC format…

      Guess I’ll have to lean on him to upgrade… 🙂

      • Troy DeGroot

        Organizer
        July 14, 2025 at 9:26 pm
        Points: 25,768
        Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

        I wonder if their file could be imported into another software, maybe Civil 3D, and then exported as an ICF… where there’s a will, there’s a way.

        • David Cutler

          Member
          July 14, 2025 at 10:13 pm
          Points: 29,458
          Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II

          I’m pretty sure that the consultant we use for our GPS model on awarded jobs can provide the .IFC file when they finish the model development, but that isn’t available at the bid phase…

  • David Cutler

    Member
    July 15, 2025 at 7:55 am
    Points: 29,458
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II

    Morning update. My guy was able to provide an .IFC file. Revu seems to be choking on it though… Following the steps to create a new 3D PDF and all I’m getting is the spinning “I’m thinking” wheel in the 3D Model Tree. No image on the screen.

    I can save the file and re-open it, still the same spinning wheel in the 3D Model Tree.

    The .IFC file is 8,228 KB. Is this too large? My guy is asking if perhaps I only need certain layers as opposed to the full model.

    Any thoughts?

    • Troy DeGroot

      Organizer
      July 15, 2025 at 4:44 pm
      Points: 25,768
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

      Civil models can have an extremely large number of points and surfaces. If he could provide just the right layers, it should reduce the file size. Maybe you’ll have more success with that…?

      I’m excited to see it when you make it work.

      • David Cutler

        Member
        July 16, 2025 at 5:08 am
        Points: 29,458
        Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt II

        I was pleased that he was able to create the .IFC file as previously he didn’t think that he could. That’s an important first step. I’ll keep you posted. 😎

    • Doug McLean

      Member
      July 16, 2025 at 1:55 pm
      Points: 16,844
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt I UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt I

      most likely.
      The bigger the model, the bigger the 3D PDF

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