Civil 3D MCP Server

Quick Start Installation Guide

Installation Complete!

You're 3 steps away from using Claude with your Civil 3D drawings.

You'll need: Your license key from the email you just received.

Prerequisite: Claude Desktop Required

Surveyor Pro integrates with Claude Desktop, the industry-leading AI platform renowned for its advanced reasoning capabilities and domain expertise. Claude's sophisticated analytical engine excels at complex engineering tasks, delivering unprecedented accuracy in design validation, compliance checking, and technical decision support.

Organizations choose Claude for its exceptional performance in professional applications, offering enterprise-grade security, consistent reliability, and the deep contextual understanding required for mission-critical civil engineering workflows.

Don't have Claude Desktop yet? Download it below (free tier available):

Download Claude Desktop

Step 1: Setup in Civil 3D

Open Civil 3D 2026

Open any drawing (or create a new one)

Type these commands in order:

LOADMCP

(Follow the prompt)

REGISTERLICENSE

(Paste your license key when prompted)

STARTMCPSERVER

You should see: ✓ Server started successfully

Step 2: Restart Claude Desktop

  • Close Claude Desktop completely
  • Reopen Claude Desktop

Step 3: Test It!

In Claude Desktop, try asking:

"List all surfaces in the drawing"

If Claude responds with surface data, you're all set! ✓

What Can You Ask?

Surfaces

  • "What's the elevation of [surface] at coordinates X, Y?"
  • "Calculate the grade between two points on [surface]"

Alignments

  • "Show me all geometry for [alignment]"
  • "Convert station/offset to XY coordinates"

Profiles

  • "What's the elevation at station [value] on [profile]?"
  • "Check grades on [profile]"

Pipe Networks

  • "Show pipes in [network]"
  • "Check pipe slopes in [network]"
  • "Trace flow from structure [name]"

And much more! Ask Claude naturally about your Civil 3D drawing.

Troubleshooting

Problem: "Can't find my license key"

• Check the email from surveyor-pro.com

• Still missing? Visit https://surveyor-pro.com to request a new one

Problem: "No license key found"

• Run REGISTERLICENSE in Civil 3D and enter your key

Problem: "Claude can't see Civil 3D tools"

• Make sure you restarted Claude Desktop completely

• Verify STARTMCPSERVER shows "Server started successfully"

Problem: "Service won't start"

• Make sure you ran LOADMCP first

• Make sure a drawing is open in Civil 3D

Need More Help?

  • Check the full documentation in your installation folder
  • Visit https://surveyor-pro.com/support
  • Contact support at support@surveyor-pro.com

Installation Location

Your files are located at:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Civil3D-MCP\

Complete Tool Reference

46 Available Tools

General Information (1 tool)

  • get_drawing_info - Drawing name, path, units, and object counts

Surfaces (4 tools)

  • list_surfaces - List all surfaces with type and statistics
  • get_surface_elevation - Get elevation at any X,Y coordinate
  • get_surface_grade - Calculate grade/slope between two points
  • get_surface_stats - Detailed statistics: area, elevation range, coordinate extents

Alignments (5 tools)

  • list_alignments - List all alignments with station ranges and lengths
  • get_alignment_geometry - All tangents, curves, and spirals with detailed parameters
  • convert_xy_to_station_offset - Convert X,Y coordinates to station/offset
  • convert_station_offset_to_xy - Convert station/offset to X,Y coordinates
  • check_alignment_curve_radii - Check horizontal curve radius compliance

Profiles (7 tools)

  • list_profiles - List all profiles on an alignment with type and ranges
  • get_profile_elevation - Get elevation at any station on a profile
  • get_profile_grade - Get grade percentage at any station
  • get_profile_geometry - All tangents and vertical curves with K-values, PVIs
  • check_vertical_curve_k_values - Check K-value compliance for crest and sag curves
  • check_profile_grades - Check tangent grades against max/min requirements
  • get_profile_high_low_points - Get all PVIs and vertical curve high/low points

Corridors (2 tools)

  • list_corridors - List all corridors with baseline information
  • check_corridor_grades - Check corridor grades against maximum threshold

Sample Lines & Sections (4 tools)

  • list_sample_line_groups - List all sample line groups on an alignment
  • get_sample_lines - Get all sample lines in a group with stations
  • get_section_data - Get cross-section data at a specific station
  • calculate_section_volumes - List materials and QTO configuration

Pipe Networks (10 tools)

  • list_pipe_networks - List all networks with pipe/structure counts
  • get_network_pipes - All pipes in network with length, slope, diameter
  • get_pipe_properties - Detailed pipe data: geometry, flow direction, connections
  • get_pipe_inverts - Invert elevations and drops for any pipe
  • get_network_structures - All structures with rim elevations
  • get_structure_properties - Structure details: rim, sump, position, connected pipes
  • check_pipe_slopes - Check minimum slope compliance for pipes
  • check_pipe_coverage - Check cover depth compliance from surface
  • check_structure_drops - Check for excessive drops across structures
  • trace_network_flow - Trace flow path downstream from any structure

Feature Lines (3 tools)

  • list_feature_lines - List all standalone feature lines
  • get_feature_line_points - Get all points with X,Y,Z coordinates
  • get_feature_line_grade - Calculate grade between two points on feature line

Points & Point Groups (6 tools)

  • list_point_groups - List all point groups with point counts
  • get_points_in_group - Get all points in group with coordinates and descriptions
  • get_point_properties - Detailed point properties: name, easting, northing, elevation
  • query_points_by_description - Search points by description pattern (supports wildcards)
  • query_points_in_region - Find points in rectangular bounding box
  • export_points_to_csv - Export point group to CSV format

Parcels (4 tools)

  • list_parcel_sites - List sites with parcel counts
  • get_parcels_in_site - Basic parcel info: name, number, area
  • get_parcel_properties - Parcel details (limited - see limitations)
  • get_parcel_segments - Returns limitation notice (not available in .NET API)

Known Limitations

The Civil 3D MCP Server uses the modern .NET API provided by Autodesk. Some functionality is not yet available in the .NET API and requires the legacy COM API. These limitations are imposed by Autodesk, not by this tool.

Grading Functionality - NOT AVAILABLE

Grading groups and grading objects cannot be accessed through the .NET API.

Missing capabilities:

• Cannot list grading groups

• Cannot get grading properties (slope format, offset, etc.)

• Cannot access grading surfaces

• Cannot calculate grading volumes

Workaround: Grading data can sometimes be accessed indirectly through feature lines or section sources.

Parcel Functionality - SEVERELY LIMITED

Parcels have minimal support in the .NET API.

Available properties:

✓ Parcel name

✓ Parcel number

✓ Parcel area

Missing capabilities:

• Cannot get parcel perimeter

• Cannot get parcel segments (boundary geometry)

• Cannot get address block information

• Cannot access detailed parcel properties

Write Operations - NOT YET AVAILABLE

The current version is read-only for safety and compliance checking. Write capabilities are planned for a future release.

Not currently available:

• Create new objects (surfaces, alignments, etc.)

• Modify existing objects

• Delete objects

• Change drawing settings

Technical Specifications

  • Total Tools Available: 46
  • Total Code Lines: 4,795
  • HTTP Endpoints: 45
  • Supported Civil 3D Version: 2026
  • .NET Version: 8.0
  • API Type: Civil 3D .NET Managed API
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