3D-MC: Creating a surface profile from a polyline

How to create a temporary alignment from a selected polyline in 3D-MC

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3D-MC: Creating a surface profile from a polyline

This feature was added to 3D-MC in v12.2.340 released with the X-53x excavator system

Users can create temporary alignments or surface profiles from existing linework in 3D-MC. The surface profile is created by defining a template that is draped over the selected linework.

First, select a line in 3D-MC by pressing and holding on the line. When the line is selected, it should be dashed and interval points will be highlighted with small white boxes.

It is important that the selected polyline has accurate vertical information. If the elevation of the linework is set to 0.00, the surface profile will originate from an elevation of 0.00.

Now, tap and hold on the linework again.

In the pop-up menu, go to Polyline > Apply grade > Surface profile...

 

You will now need to create the template.

Selecting the Import... button will import existing templates from an RD3 file.

Selecting the Add button will give you the ability to create a template from scratch.

For this example, we will create a template from scratch.

First, give the template a name. In this example, it is being called Pave.

Hit the Add button to begin building the template.

Now, you will need to create the pieces of the template. 

The following fields can be entered for the template:

  • Feature name: Name of the feature that will be shown when selecting a steer point or viewing in cross section view.
  • Horizontal distance: The horizontal distance from the selected line to the end of the feature.
  • Vertical distance: Vertical change from the selected line to the end of the feature.
  • Grade: Slope grade in percent of the template feature.
  • Slope distance: The slope distance from the selected line to the end of the feature.

Not all fields need to be entered. For example, entering the Horizontal distance and Grade will populate the other two fields automatically.

In the example, your linework is the edge of an existing road, and you want to build a 12' widening that has a 2% cross-slope.

3D-MC will now give a preview of the template you built. Highlighting a segment in the list and hitting the Edit button will allow you to modify that piece of the template.

You can add as many segments as you want. For this example, the following has also been added to the template:

  • EPS: 4.00' @ -4.00%
  • FL: 5.00' @ -33.33%
  • TS: 10' @ 33.33%

Once the template looks acceptable, hit the OK button.

Additional templates can be made by hitting the Add button. To proceed to the final step, select the template you want to use and hit Next.

The Apply drop-down box is used if you want to apply this template to the Left, Right, or Left & right side of the selected linework. For this example, the Pave template is applied to both sides.

You can also specify a horizontal or vertical offset from the selected polyline.

Hitting the Finish button will create the surface profile.

You should now see the created surface profile in all views. This will be shown in the Active alignment and surface menus as Polyline alignment.

The individual segments of the surface profile can be steered to as well by changing the Alignment feature in the Steer Indication menu located under Control > Steer Indication.