Create Alignment

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Introduction

Alignments are used throughout the software to manage the horizontal geometry for all String (vertical geometry) objects.  All String centrelines require an alignment.

In Civil Site Design, users create alignments initially from any 2D polyline in the drawing.  After creating the alignment, users are able to edit all curves as well as add, remove and move IP's (vertices). 

As soon as a 2D polyline is selected as an alignment, the alignment lines/arcs/spirals are drawn and the alignment is labelled.

The Create Alignment form allows the user to:

General Process

  1. Draw 2D Polylines representing the alignment geometry
  2. Start this command
  3. Select the polyline
  4. Name the alignment, confirm/edit the labelling and confirm/edit alignment colours/layers
  5. Edit the geometry as required
  6. OK to exit and create/update the alignment

Notes:

Annotations vs Dynamic Labels

Alignments are annotated (labelled) by applying either:

Dynamic Drawing labels include Label Styles, which can include a combination of text objects, polylines and blocks. The text inputs can include static text and alignment properties.

Legacy Annotation Labels can include a block on the alignment, a line extending from the alignment, text at a user set rotation and a border around the text.

Create Alignment vs. Edit Alignment

The Create Alignment form and Edit Alignment form are identical in terms of features, excepting that:

Details

Upon selecting the command the user is prompted to select a polyline.  Upon selecting a 2D polyline in the drawing the following form is displayed:


 
Tabbed Controls Use the tabs to manage the geometry, display and table outputs.  Details for each aspect of the alignment are as follows
  Geometry This tab controls the alignment geometry as well as alignment name and type.  Details are as follows:

 
Details Sets out the core alignment controls
  Name Type in a name for the alignment.
Note: do not use commas (,) in the name
  String Type Pick the alignment Type - this sets how the alignment can be used.  Options include:
  • [None]: leave blank if creating a generic String object (with or without cross section Codes) (String/Profile command)
  • Road: required if creating a Road String (Create/Edit Road command)
  • Kerb Return: required if creating a Kerb Return String from a user defined alignment (Kerb Return command)
  • Cul-de-sac: required if creating a Cul-de-Sac String from a user defined alignment (Cul-de-sac command)
  • Knuckle: required if creating a Knuckle String from a user defined alignment (Knuckle command)
  • Bus bay: required if creating a Bus Bay String
  • Linking Object: required if creating an Off Ramp (linking) String object (Off Ramp command)
  • Annotation: use this to create an alignment used for annotation details in the drawing (eg: recording chainages in the drawing) or as a reference alignment for setout.  Note: this type of alignment can be used to make a String)
  Description Type in a description for the alignment.
Note: do not use commas (,) in the description
  Start Chainage The Start Chainage is shown, with default set to zero.  Click on Set to edit the start chainage.  Upon selecting this button the following form is displayed:

 
New Start Chainage Type in a new start chainage for the alignment
Note: In the case of a String being associated with the alignment, the deign Vertical Grading chainages will be adjusted to suit the new start chainage of the alignment.
OK Save and exit
Cancel Exit the form without change
  Apply Dynamic drawing labels Tick on to apply labels using Label Styles.
  If ticked on, the Annotation tab will not be displayed. The Label by Range and Alignment Annotation Label Set tabs will instead be displayed.
     Sections List Pick the Named Section List to apply.  This contains all the chainages and the geometry types that could possibly be labelled.  From these, the Alignment Annotation Set determines which geometry types to use for labelling
     Edit Opens the Section Manager to edit the selected Section List
     Label Set Pick the Annotation Label Set to apply
Assign Speed Table Highlight design issues based on speed and superelevation.
  Set Design Criteria Opens the Speed Table form to establish the superelevation table, speed and maximum superelevation to apply.  This table is used to determine the minimum radius and superelevation length.
Edit Tools This frame enables editing of the alignment geometry.  Functional buttons include:
Add IP Before Start Click to add an IP before the first IP of the alignment.  Upon selecting the command the user will be prompted to select a new location for the IP in the drawing.  A temporary line will be drawing from the start of the alignment to indicate the new tangent that will be created.
Upon selecting a location a new IP will be added to the alignment
Add IP Click to add an IP along a tangent line.  Upon selecting the command the user will be prompted to:
  • locate insert tangent: pick an alignment IP to set the tangent on which the new IP is to be located
  • locate insert point: pick the location for the new IP

Upon selecting a location a new IP will be added and the tangent will be replaced with two tangents
Add IP After End Click to add an IP after the last IP of the alignment.  Upon selecting the command the user will be prompted to select a new location for the IP in the drawing.  A temporary line will be drawing from the end of the alignment to indicate the new tangent that will be created.
Upon selecting a location a new IP will be added to the alignment
Move IP Click to move an alignment IP.  The user will be prompted to select an IP.  Upon selecting an IP a temporary line will be drawn from the current IP location to the current mouse pointer location.  Pick a new location for the IP in the drawing.
Upon selecting a new location the IP will be relocated.  Any curves (including spirals) will be relocated to suit the new IP location and will automatically maintain tangency.
Press [Enter] to accept the changes.
Note: in the event that the IP cannot be inserted without resulting in illegal geometry (such as the IP being located in a curve) an error message will display and the user will be unable to insert the IP at that location.
Edit IP Click to enable setting the location of the IP as well as adding/editing of a curve.  After selecting the command the user is prompted to select an IP to edit.  Upon selecting an IP in the drawing the following information is displayed below the command button:

 
IP Position Type in the required x (easting) and y (northing) co-ordinates
Curve Radius Type in the required radius.  Zero for no arc curve.
The second column is the minimum recommended radius, based on the Speed Tables.
Start Spiral Length Type in the required incoming spiral length.  Zero for no spiral
End Spiral Length Type in the required outgoing spiral length.  Zero for no spiral
Apply Click to apply the changes to the alignment.
Note: in the event that the IP cannot be inserted without resulting in illegal geometry (such as an IP being located in a curve) and error message will display and the edit will not be applied
Cancel Cancel the edit
Delete IP Click to delete an IP before the first IP of the alignment.  Upon selecting the command the user will be prompted to select the IP to delete.  Upon selecting the IP it will be removed from the alignment geometry
Reverse Direction Click to change the direction of the alignment.
Note: In the case of a String being associated with the alignment, the deign Vertical Grading chainages will be adjusted to suit the changed direction of the alignment.
Repeat After editing an IP, this button displays to enable the user to edit the previously edited IP without having to re-select the IP again.
OK Save and exit
Cancel Exit the form without change
  Annotation (Legacy) This tab controls the LEGACY alignment annotation (labelling) along the alignment.  Users can set different Annotation Styles to apply for select geometry along the alignment, as well as regular chainage intervals (major and minor).  Details are as follows:

 
Collapse / Expand Click to collapse or expand all headings in the Annotation list
Set Annotation by Chainage Range Users can establish and apply different Annotation Sets along the alignment based on chainage range by ticking on this option.  Details are as follows:
Chainage Range Sets Establish chainage ranges along the alignment and Annotation Sets to apply.  It is up to the user to prevent overlapping ranges or gaps.  In gaps the closest next chainage range will be applied and in overlaps the top entry in the list will be applied.
  Start Ch. Type in a Start Chainage
  End Ch. Type in the required radius.  Zero for no arc curve
  Label Set Pick an Annotation (Label) Set to apply between the Start and End Chainages
Move Up Move a selected range up in the list
Move Down Move a selected range down in the list
Pick Add Add a new range by selecting locations in the drawing.
Delete Delete a highlighted range
Edit Tools TThis frame enables editing of the alignment geometry.  Functional buttons include:
Annotation Labelling List Allows the user to establish the major and minor chainage interval as well as the annotation styles to apply at geometry points along the alignment.  Details are as follows: table width="95%">
+/- Expand or Collapse Annotation Groups
Item Lists the different geometry along the alignment as well as the major and minor chainages.  Users can select an Annotation Style to apply for each.
  Standard Items Lists the primary controls.  Items include:
  • Default Style: in the event that any of the style fields are not populated, the Default Style annotation will apply
  • Start Chainage Style: Annotation style to apply at the start of the alignment
  • End Chainage Style: Annotation style to apply at the end of the alignment
  • Major Chainage: set the Annotation Style to apply at Major Chainages and the Spacing/Interval
  • Minor Chainage set the Annotation Style to apply at Minor Chainages and the Spacing/Interval
  • Geometry Points: Set the Annotation Style to apply at ALL geometry points, in the event that any of the Geometry Overrides style fields are not populated.
  Geometry Overrides Enables the user to set particular Annotation Styles for different geometry types.  Items are as noted in the list.
Note: in the event that any of these fields are blank, the Geometry Points' applied Annotation Style will be used, or in the event that this is blank the Default Style's applied Annotation Style will be used.
Data Pick an Annotation Style to apply for the selected item.
  Load Annotation Set Loads a saved Alignment Annotation Set.  Upon selecting this command the user will be provided with a list of locally saved Annotation Sets to apply to the alignment.
Note: This command is not relevant when Set Annotation by Chainage Ranges is selected. 
The CSD Settings are used to populate the local list of Annotation Sets when a new project is created.
   Save As Annotation Set After setting up Annotation Label Styles to apply for each item of the alignment, users can save this collection as an Alignment Annotation Set using this button.  The Annotation Set will be saved locally to the project.
Note: Users must use another command to transfer their project settings for alignment labelling across to the CSD Settings Folder, so it's available in all future projects.
  Edit Alignment Annotation Styles and Sets This opens the Alignment Annotation Style Manager as shown below:

The details of this form and commands is covered in the Label Settings command.
   Edit Currently Selected Annotation Style This opens the currently selected Annotation Style (from the Annotation Labelling List) for editing.  Editing done to this style affects all alignments with annotations using this style.  A view of the form is shown below:

The details of this form and commands is covered in the Label Settings command.

Note: This command is not relevant when Set Annotation by Chainage Ranges is selected. 
Reset/Edit Annotation At a Chainage Click to enable editing of individual labels along the alignment.  Alignment annotation (label) positions and angles are set relative to the alignment location and chainage.

Upon selecting this command, the user is prompted to select an alignment annotation (label) in the drawing.  Upon selecting an annotation (label) the command line reports the Chainage annotation selected for editing and user is prompted in the command line with the following options:

  • Position: type [P] and press [Enter] to allow relocation of the annotation.  Click in the drawing to set the new location for the annotation.  Note: the addition of a leader and the text orientation can be managed as part of the annotation style
  • Angle: depending on the Annotation Style, typing [A] and then [Enter] will allow the user to change the text angle
  • Horizontal: depending on the Annotation Style, typing [h] and then [Enter] will set the text to be horizontal to the alignment
  • Leader: type [L] and press [Enter] to apply a leader to the relocated annotation
  • Noleader: type [N] and press [Enter] to remove the leader
  • Reset: type [R] and press [Enter] to reset the annotation back to its default location and orientation
  • Esc: type [E] and press [Enter] to escape out and not apply edits
  • Exit: type [X] and press [Enter] to apply the changes and exit the edit
  Colours This tab controls the alignment display layers and colours. Details are as follows:

 
Alignment Colour Style The Alignment Colour Style sets out the layers to be applied to the alignment in the drawing and during editing.  Users can create as many Alignment Colour Styles as desired, then apply them to different alignments.  These styles are saved locally to the current project.
Note: the Global Colour Settings command can be used to save and edit the colour styles in the CSD Settings - the CSD Settings are copied to the project when it is started.

Use the pick list to select the colour scheme to apply
  Create New Colour Style Click to create a new Alignment Colour Style file.  Upon clicking this button the prompts will be as follows:
Name Type in a name for the new Alignment Colour Style
OK Create
Cancel Cancel without creating
  Copy Alignment Colour Style Click to create a copy of the current Alignment Colour Style file.  Upon clicking this button the user is prompted to set a new name for the copied style - form details as above.
  Edit Alignment Colour Style Click to edit the currently selected Alignment Colour Style.  A form will display to confirm the style to edit.  Inputs are as follows:
Item Users can set what layers to use to display the Tangents (Straights), Arcs and Spirals of the alignment.  The alignment can be displayed differently in 3 circumstances:
  • Drawing State: this is how the alignment looks when it is not being edited.  The Drawing state is the final, plot state
  • Edit State: when in the Create Alignment/Edit Alignment form, the edit state shows the geometry of the alignment at the time it was created or at the time the user elected to edit it.  The Edit state shows the conditions before the user makes edits
  • Temporary State: When in the Create Alignment/Edit Alignment this displays the edited position of the alignment.  As edits are made to the geometry, the alignment will draw with the Edit state layers.  Upon exiting the alignment form, the Drawing state layers will be applied.

The Frame item manages the IP extension/construction lines
OK Accept the changes and exit
Cancel Cancel without applying changes
Set Layers and Colours Allows the user to make layers to use in the display of the alignment as well as for the display of plan drafting in the drawing.  Inputs are as follows:
Layer Name Users type preferred AutoCAD layer names in here.  These layers can be applied to design objects such as alignments in Civil Site Design - Civil Site Design will create these AutoCAD layers to support display of design data in the drawing.
Colour Set the colour of the layer in AutoCAD
Line Type Set the linetype required for the layer in AutoCAD
Note: if the Line Type is set to ByLayer - Use Existing Layer Settings, then the software will NOT override or recreate the layer if it already exists in the drawing.
OK Save and exit
Cancel Exit without saving
Additional Label Chainages Allows the user insert Extra Alignment Chainages from a text file. Before proceeding, the user is required to create a text file which additional chainages created to add to the chainage list.

The following example shows additional chainages that area required on a seperate line. This file should be saved in the drawing data folder.
 
  To add a new chainage file, click Add file
 
  The user is require to pick a Chainage File (*.txt)
 
  On completion, the alignment will automatically add in the new chainages.
 
  The user can update this file and continually add more chainages. To restore the the new chainages to the alignment the user must use Edit Alignment &
  Alignment Table Details are as follows:

 
Report Format All alignment tables are saved as a Report.  Users can create as many Reports as a desired for different table outputs.  Each Report includes the columns of data required, the table layout and the geometry information to include.  Tables are outputted as AutoCAD Table objects and/or as a .csv file.  Pick a desired Report format.
Note: All Report Formats are saved to the CSD Settings folder - as changes are made these are saved to the global settings and will affect all current and future projects when opened. 
  Create New Report Format Click to create a new Report format.  Upon clicking this button the prompts will be as follows:
Name Type in a name for the new Report format
OK Create
Cancel Cancel without creating
Table Layout Users can set up the columns of data required in the table and the table formatting.  Each line in the list represents a column of data.  Top row is first column, second row is second column, etc.
  Item Select a property of the alignment.  Properties are as defined in the list. 
  Heading Text Type in the column heading
  Prefix Put a prefix on the selected property
  Suffix Put a suffix on the selected property
  Decimals For numeric property values, set the number of decimal places to display
  Column Widths Sets the column width.  Leave blank for a default width as set in the AutoCAD table style.
Note: the Coloumn Width column does not display if Separate Table for Each Curve is ticked ON.
  Text Font Select the font style to use for the column
Include Geometry Points Tick this ON if it is desired to report chainages at geometry points along the alignment.  If ticked on, the user is able to set up which geometry element/s (tangent, curve, spiral) to document in the table and what part of the geometry to report.  In this list, users can assemble what information along the alignment is important (eg: start chainages at tangents, arc start/end chainages, etc).  Inputs are as follows:
Element Select the element to report.  Elements include:
  • Tangent
  • Arc
  • Spiral
Item This sets the geometric location of the element where it is desired to report information.  Items include:
  • Start Chainage: report the start chainage of the element.  Value is fed to the Chainage Item in the Table Layout
  • End Chainage: report the end chainage of the element.  Value is fed to the Chainage Item in the Table Layout
  • IP: report the IP of the element. Relevant for Arc element.  Value is fed to the Chainage Item in the Table Layout
  • Centre: report the centrepoint of an arc element.  Value is fed to the Chainage Item in the Table Layout
Item Cancel without applying changes
Report Regular Spacing If it is desired to report details at regular chainage intervals, type in a spacing value
Note: It is not recommended to tick on Include Geometry Points as well as specify a regular spacing.  The row order is regular spacings first, then geometry points.
AutoCAD Table Style Set the AutoCAD Table Style to apply in the AutoCAD table output
CSV File Output Tick on to create a .csv file of the alignment table at the time of creating the alignment table.
Note: By default, separate XML files are output for the alignments and DTM's and are saved to the location of the Data folder, in a folder named Temp.
Create Table Creates an AutoCAD table in the drawing, if none exists for the selected road and road format.  If a table already exists, this command updates the contents.  If the CSV file output is ticked on, a .csv file will also be created.  User may be prompted to select a location for the table.  Example output:

  Curve Table Details are as follows:

 
Report Format All alignment tables are saved as a Report.  Users can create as many Reports as a desired for different table outputs.  Each Report includes the columns of data required, the table layout and the geometry information to include.  Tables are outputted as AutoCAD Table objects and/or as a .csv file.  Pick a desired Report format.
Note: All Report Formats are saved to the CSD Settings folder - as changes are made these are saved to the global settings and will affect all current and future projects when opened. 
  Create New Report Format Click to create a new Report format.  Upon clicking this button the prompts will be as follows:
Name Type in a name for the new Report format
OK Create
Cancel Cancel without creating
Table Layout Users can set up the columns of data required in the table and the table formatting.  Each line in the list represents a column of data.  Top row is first column, second row is second column, etc.
  Item Select a property of the alignment.  Properties are as defined in the list. 
There are a collection of standard methods for setout of arcs - the details of these are as displayed in the Arc Method (No.) Sketch tabs.  Review the sketch to relate the geometry being reported to the Item property.
  Heading Text Type in the column heading
  Prefix Put a prefix on the selected property
  Suffix Put a suffix on the selected property
  Decimals For numeric property values, set the number of decimal places to display
  Column Widths Sets the column width.  Leave blank for a default width as set in the AutoCAD table style.
Note: the Coloumn Width column does not display if Separate Table for Each Curve is ticked ON.
  Text Font Select the font style to use for the column
Arc Method Sketches This is a tabbed panel displaying standard curve layout methods.  At the time of outputting the curve table, the currently highlighted Arc Method can be included as a block in the drawing.
Separate Table for Each Curve Tick this ON to create an AutoCAD table for each curve.  When ticked on:
  • the data will display in rows, and there will be two columns - one for the heading and one for the data
  • the Heading will be displayed in the left column and the data/text property displayed in the right
  • each AutoCAD table will be positioned at the IP of each curve. Users can however relocate the table and when it is updated it will maintain the user relocated position. 
  • curves are automatically numbered sequentially starting from 1 and working from the start to the end of the alignment. 

Examples:

Ticked On:

 

Ticked off:
  Column Width Overrides If Separate Table for Each Curve is ticked on, these become active.  Type in the first column width for the Heading and the second column width for the data/text
AutoCAD Table Style Set the AutoCAD Table Style to apply in the AutoCAD table output
Include Sketch in Output Tick this ON to include a block in the drawing (for the Arc Method highlighted in the form) at the time of creating the AutoCAD tabl.
CSV File Output Tick on to create a .csv file of the alignment table at the time of creating the alignment table.
Note: By default, separate XML files are output for the alignments and DTM's and are saved to the location of the Data folder, in a folder named Temp.
Create Table Creates an AutoCAD table in the drawing, if none exists for the selected road and road format.  If a table already exists, this command updates the contents.  If the CSV file output is ticked on, a .csv file will also be created.  User may be prompted to select a location for the table.
  Label By Range Details are as follows:

 
Apply Ranges Tick on to apply Ranges for labelling the alignment
  Start Start Chainage to apply a Label Set and Named Section List
  End End Chainage to apply a Label Set and Named Section List
  Label Set Pick list of Alignment Annotation Label Sets that can be applied to the alignment
  Chainage File Pick the Named Section List to apply.  This contains all the chainages and the geometry types that could possibly be labelled.  From these, the Alignment Annotation Set determines which geometry types to use for labelling

Delete Row(s)

 Deletes selected row/s in the list
  Alignment Annotation Label Set Annotation Label Sets control the type of geometry to label and what label style to apply.
Current Set Label Set to edit
Add Create a new label set
Delete Delete the current label set
Default label Style Default label style to apply to selected geometry types to label

Save to Settings

 Save the Annotation Label Set to the CSD Settings folder to enable copy onto another string

Load Settings

 Load a saved Annotation Label Set
Copy Settings Make a copy of the current Annotation Label Set for the current drawing
Rename Allows rename of the Label Set

List of Geometry Types

 Select geometry to label on the alignment

   Point

 Select the geometry type from the picklist.  Major Alignment and Minor Alignment inputs are at the bottom of the list.  All inputs match up with Types that can be set in the Named Section List.

    Label Style

 Picklist of Label Styles to use to display the label

   Edit

Opens the Label Style editor to edit Alignment type label styles

   Geometry Text 

 Users can add a 'Geometry Text' property in the Label Style.  If this is done, then typing into this field will populate this property with the typed in text.  This minimises the number of label styles for alignments, where the only difference is the geometry text portion.

Delete Row(s)

 Deletes selected row/s in the list
Zoom Alignment Zooms the alignment in the drawing Refresh Redraws alignment annotation (labelling) when label styles are changed. Export XML Exports the current alignment to a LandXML file, suitable to importing into AutoCAD Civil 3D and other civil engineering design packages. 
Note: By default, separate XML files are output for the alignments and DTM's and are saved to the location of the Data folder, in a folder named XMLExchangeFiles. OK Save and exit Cancel Exit the form without change

Add any notes about the output controls and any special conditions.