CAD/D
Welcome to the CAD/D Section
This area contains the documentation for the Department's Computer Aided Drafting/Design (CAD/D) system.
The CAD/D section has two primary functions: supporting and training the Department's MicroStation and OpenRoads users, and providing project visualization and photo rendering services.
Select one of the options below to view available information in that particular area.
This section contains general information and documentation that could be useful at multiple stages of the design process.
PDF Documentation
CAD/D Documentation Introduction updated May 9, 2025
MicroStation Documentation updated May 9, 2025
CAD/D Basics
MicroStation Connect Drawing Names
OpenRoads Designer Drawing Names
Specialized Tasks
Creating DXF Files For Construction
Tips for Creating Color Plans & Public Hearing Plans
Working With LiDAR Data
- Part 1 - Acquiring LiDAR Data
- Part 2 - Creating a Terrain from LiDAR Data
- Part 3 - Creating Complex Terrain
NHDOT CAD/D documentation for survey and design procedures primarily using OpenRoads Designer for developing roadway layouts and 3D models of proposed projects. The links from here will inform the reader of the various components in this process.
Survey
OpenRoads Survey Feature Codes
OpenRoads Designer Documentation (Survey) updated May 13, 2025
Extracting Drainage and Utility Information updated November 21, 2024
Converting 2D Elements to 3D Features (draping to get 3D elevations)
Design
Horizontal and Vertical Geometry
Drainage & Utilities - Proposed Drainage
Drainage & Utilities - Utility Poles
Cut Sheet Creation - Cross Sections - 2023
Cut Sheet Creation - Cross Sections-21R2
Cut Sheet Creation - Drainage Profiles
Data from External Sources
Creating a Rock Surface from Sections
Production Tools
Creating Contours for Plans from Terrain
Creating Features from ENV and ROW Elements added March 14, 2025
Displaying Dynamic Cross Sections
Welcome to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation CAD/D File Library.
CAD/D workspace setup for MicroStation & OpenRoads Designer 2023
nhdot-workspace_ms-ord_2023.zip 407 MB. Updated March 27, 2025.
Civil seed files, feature libraries, roadway templates, macros and other associated files for MicroStation and OpenRoads Designer 2023. For help installing the workspace, see the "read me" file included within the download.
2023-seed-project.zip 3.8 MB. Updated December 27, 2024.
Sample seed project for MicroStation and OpenRoads Designer 2023.
CAD/D workspace setup for MicroStation update 16 & OpenRoads Designer 2021-Release 2
nhdot-workspace_ms16_ord2021-r2.zip 133 MB. Updated March 26, 2024.
Civil seed files, feature libraries, roadway templates, macros and other associated files for MicroStation update 16 and OpenRoads Designer 2021-Release 2.
2021-r1-2_connect-seed-project.zip 3.5 MB.
Sample seed project for MicroStation update 16 and OpenRoads Designer 2021-Release 2.
For help installing the workspace, see nhdot_connect-installation-readme.pdf
NHDOT CAD/D Procedures and Requirements
This document lists the current procedures and requirements to be used when drafting NHDOT CAD/D projects.
2025 CAD/D Procedures & Requirements
Previous versions of NHDOT CAD/D standards.
Excel sheet to create OpenRoads Designer parametric constraints for developing guardrail platforms.
Excel sheet to calculate culvert elevations for placement in OpenRoads Designer.
ACEC-NHDOT CADD User Group, June 20, 2025
The next ACEC & NHDOT CADD User Group Meeting will an in-person event at NHDOT Headquarters, 7 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH from 9:00 am until noon. No virtual option will be available.
Meeting agenda:
- File Management, Structure and Federation - This session will present some different approaches to file management for projects of various sizes and share best practices. Attendees are encouraged to inform the audience about their own experiences and practices.
- Group Roundtable - Training - Inform your peers about how your organization trains new staff to use CAD/D software.
- Break
- Plan Set Management - Two approaches to preparing plan sets will be presented. Attendees are encouraged to share their own experiences in this area.
- Group Roundtable - Pain Points - What challenges do you experience while using OpenRoads Designer? This is your opportunity to convey solutions & share best practices to help others conquer these difficulties.
ACEC-NHDOT CADD User Group, January 24, 2025
The ACEC & NHDOT CADD Steering Committee hosted this meeting using Microsoft Teams.
Meeting Agenda:
- Review Updates to NHDOT's CAD/D Workspace and ADCMS Grant - Bill Caswell, NHDOT
- Drainage Profiles - Eric Milliken, NHDOT
- Estimating Tools Demos - Aidan Cleaves, VHB & Eric Milliken, NHDOT
- VTrans Colchester Project – E-delivery and Models as a Legal Document (MALD) - Jeff Bachiochi, VHB & Andrew Lemieux, VTrans
- Questions & Discussion
A recording of the meeting is available to NHDOT staff and design consultants.
ACEC-NHDOT CADD User Group, August 2, 2024
Recent Updates:
- May 8, 2025 - Documentation about preparing Public Hearing Plans is now available.
- April 22, 2025 - The 2025 CAD/D Procedures & Requirements document is now available.
- March 14, 2025 - Documentation for Creating Features from ENV and ROW Elements has been added.
- January 24, 2025 - Minor updates have been made to the MicroStation and OpenRoads Designer 2023 workspace files.
- Older news articles...