Is LDD for me?

[whiskytown]

I occasionally do civil drawings such as for street, and drainage improvements, and have been staggering along in Map fairly well. I suddenly realized that LDD is at my disposal, and see the alignment features, which brings me at least one small step forward in the automation area. Can I plot features with respect to the alignment (eg., 1+00, 6.5 left). Are there features for creating sections with respect to an alignment as well? Is LDD designed for civil design and surveying at all, or do I need to be in something else, such as Civil3D or a non-Microsoft, uh, I mean Non-Autodesk program.
John

[rkmcswain]

I occasionally do civil drawings such as for street, and drainage improvements, and have been staggering along in Map fairly well. I suddenly realized that LDD is at my disposal, and see the alignment features, which brings me at least one small step forward in the automation area. Can I plot features with respect to the alignment (eg., 1+00, 6.5 left).

Yes.


Are there features for creating sections with respect to an alignment as well?

Yes, if you have Civil Design


Is LDD designed for civil design and surveying at all, or do I need to be in something else, such as Civil3D or a non-Microsoft, uh, I mean Non-Autodesk program.

LDT (Land Desktop) includes alignments, surfaces, points, parcels, labels, etc.
CD (Civil Design) includes profiles, sections, hydrology, pipes, sheet manager, etc.
For details on Survey see the Autodesk website. CSD [ http://www.carlsonsw.com/PL_CS_surveydesktop.html ]is a better option IMHO

C3D (Civil3D) will end up replacing LDT when it includes all the functionality of LDT. IT currently does not.