Eric Chappell - AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 Essentials: Autodesk Official Press

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To Logan

What an amazing year it has been! I get to continue writing this series and updating it for yet another great release of Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D software. And after a wonderful 16 months on the Premium Support Services team at Autodesk, I have changed roles and Im now serving as Community Evangelist for InfraWorks 360. This new role gives me the opportunity to focus on reaching the Autodesk infrastructure software (including InfraWorks, Civil 3D, and others) community and try to be a positive force to inform and enable this great group of people.

In addition, I will be updating the entire InfraWorks 360 series of books to address all the exciting changes there. These are certainly exciting times to be involved in the civil/infrastructure design industry and to be using Autodesk products. Im blessed to be in such a wonderful position to observe and participate in the transformation that is taking place. For years, we have been talking about 3D and BIM in the civil/infrastructure industry and now were finally putting our money where our mouths are. There will be big changes over the next few years, so invest in yourself through training and learning, and hold on and enjoy the ride!

Ive said it before on past books and Ill say it again on this one: This book was a team effort. Kudos to Stephanie McComb for getting the book off the ground and for keeping it moving along throughout the process. Thanks to the wonderful editors, Christine OConnor and Kathryn Duggan, for correcting all my mistakes (there were many) and making the book hold up to the high standard of quality that is characteristic of Wiley/Sybex. It was an honor to once again work with my good friend Joshua Modglin and to know that, as technical editor, he had my back on the technical aspects of the book.

And as always, thanks to my wife, Dixie, and my four children for enduring yet another book season and all of the not-so-fun stuff that comes with it. I love you all, and I do it all for you.

Eric Chappell has been working, teaching, writing, and consulting in the world of civil engineering software for more than 20 years, and he is a recognized expert in the world of Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D software. Eric joined the Autodesk family in September 2013 as a Premium Services Specialist and has recently taken on the role of Community Evangelist for InfraWorks 360. In the 12 years prior to working for Autodesk, he wrote training materials and performed training for end users, trainers, and Autodesk employees around the globe. For several years, he has worked with Autodesk in authoring and developing two Autodesk certification exams. He also served as design systems manager for Timmons Group, a civil engineering and surveying firm based in Richmond, Virginia, where he managed software, standards, and training for more than 200 users. Eric is also a highly rated instructor at Autodesk University, where he has taught for the past 10 years.

Prior to writing and consulting, Eric spent nearly 10 years in the civil engineering and surveying fields while working for the H.F. Lenz Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. During his time at H.F. Lenz, he gained considerable practical experience as a survey crewman, designer, engineer, and CAD supervisor. Eric also holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering Technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and is certified in Pennsylvania as an EIT.

Eric is originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, but he has lived in the Richmond, Virginia, area for the past 13 years with his wife and four children. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. He can sometimes be seen playing drums for the band Sons of Zebedee, which performs at a variety of events in the Central Virginia area.