If you create a surface in Civil 3D, and it doesn’t show in model space, but does in the layouts, with all the layers thawed or turned on, you probably have a corrupted drawing.

Please follow the directions below for a solution to this problem.

A: Insert the drawing into a new and empty drawing vie INSERT (with explode option)

B: Recover the drawing following the steps below:

  1. Opened brand new drawing created from your template
  2. Run IMPORTSTYLESANDSETTINGS command and imported all items from your troubled file
  3. Open your troubled drawing and right-click in drawing area
  4. From Clipboard choose Copy with Base Point and type 0,0,0 and then select all objects 
  5. Open the drawing you created in steps  1 and 2 and right-click in drawing area
  6. From Clipboard chose Paste to Original Coordinates
  7. Zoom>Extent to confirm the objects are in there
  8. Type XREF to get to XREF manager and reload desired drawings
  9. Synchronize or repair desired references from Prospector tab and save the drawing

This should fix your issues with the surface, and allow you to continue with your drawing.

If you have questions, please comment below or email me at [email protected]