Civil Site Design V26 is packed with powerful improvements designed to enhance speed, control, and usability across CAD environments. Whether you’re working in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or BricsCAD, this release introduces tools that streamline core tasks and give users more flexibility in how they design, manage, and export data.
Faster, Smarter Point Cloud Handling
Working with large surface data is now easier thanks to a completely redesigned point cloud import system. Users can import multiple LAS files in one go and take advantage of voxel-based downsampling—a process that reduces point density while maintaining essential detail. For those working with high-resolution scans, the adaptive decimation feature automatically simplifies surface models in real time, preserving system performance even with millions of points.
AI-Based Vertical Grading Optimiser
A standout feature in V26 is the Vertical Grading Optimiser. This AI-powered tool lets users define key parameters like target grades, cut/fill depths, and K values, to automatically generates a first-pass vertical profile. The optimiser uses generational logic—running hundreds of iterations to find the best fit solution based on user-defined priorities. It’s a powerful way to jump-start vertical design, optimised using design constraints you control, without starting from scratch.
Custom Variations: Organised and Expandable
Custom variations are now organised into folders such as “Modify,” “Task Specific Varitations,” and “Standard Variations,” making it easier to locate and reuse them. Users can now activate or deactivate variations, rename files without conflicts, and even download a fresh set of standard scripts directly from the cloud. One custom variation added to the collection is the new Parking Bay with Dish variation—a one-click solution that builds complex kerb and dish geometry automatically.
Improved Project Storage and Version Control
Project storage has been restructured for greater flexibility. Users can now choose whether to enable storage at the start of a project. When enabled, the system saves design data with the drawing, creates local versions for offline work, and allows rollback to previous versions. This ensures greater confidence in project tracking and history management.
Best-Fit Alignment Tools (AutoCAD and BricsCAD users)
New alignment tools for AutoCAD & BricsCAD, make geometric layout far more intuitive. The Best-Fit Alignment tool allows users to generate a fully editable alignment from a polyline or COGO points, ideal when working from survey data or existing CAD geometry. Users can adjust curve detection, radius constraints, and tolerance settings to refine the result.
Clone String (AutoCAD and BricsCAD users)
The Clone String tool streamlines the process of copying both the horizontal alignment and vertical profile design of a String, including an option to apply an offset to the alignment geometry. This is perfect for designing parallel roads, shoulders, or edge features with consistent geometry. It’s also a benefit for users who want to copy a String to explore design scenarios.
Subgrade Enhancements and Wildcard Support
Subgrade pairing has been made smarter with support for wildcards in code names. This is especially helpful when working with repeated elements like benches, where subgrade layers can now be applied across multiple codes with a single rule. Subgrades can also be defined with zero thickness, providing section materials to include in subgrade models and IFC exports.
Better Export Options: Corridor and IFC
Exporting designs for review or further modeling is now more flexible. The Corridor Export tool has been optimised to create leaner, faster outputs with fewer assemblies. Meanwhile, IFC Export supports 4.3, material layers, classifications, and solid volumes—providing structured, data-rich files suitable for BIM and 3D viewers.
Final Thought
Civil Site Design V26 isn’t just an update—it’s a toolkit expansion. With AI, smarter sampling, refined exports, and intuitive controls, this version delivers a smoother design experience from start to finish.
We know parking bays come in all shapes and sizes, and that many of them deserve an independently designed string (with cross sections attached to the string to describe the kerb shape of the parking bay). For those parking/bus or widening bays that can be readily described with cross section edits, we’ve got you covered […]
Non-linear design is when a typical, cross section-based design does not generate the intended result. Typically for designs that are non-parallel, such as driveways, car parks, commercial / Industrial, residential & retaining wall projects. In this webinar, our expert, Jonathan Taylor will show you how to use the Civil Site Design tools to tackle these […]
The Civil Site Design Driveway Checker can be used to assist designers with determining clashes on existing & proposed Civil Site Design project designs. In this webinar, our expert, Jonathan Taylor, will be focusing on using the Driveway Checker to check B85 & B99 vehicles over different crossing points on the project, and exploring the […]
