Create Grading

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Create Grading

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Introduction

Grading Strings are the same as other Strings, with the following differences:

Grading Strings are created directly from polylines

The horizontal, vertical and cross sectional geometry is updated automatically when the polyline is edited (grip edited or otherwise)

Grading Strings contain cross sections that automatically trim internal bends. External bends can apply either a chamfer, radial or mitred join. Corner trimming is limited to adjacent segments through the bend, and updates from any vertical or horizontal edit

Grading Strings can be edited vertically via a grid view editing window - IP's created or edited in the grid view automatically update the Vertical Grading Editor, and vice versa

Grading String surfaces can be set to infill internal areas

Grading Strings can be used for various design tasks, such as: lot grading, detention basins, building pads, retaining walls and car parks.

Once a polyline is selected for a Grading, a directional arrow is drawn to show the direction of the grading calculations. Initially, the polyline direction is used for the grading direction.

It is intended for multiple Grading Strings to be built into surfaces using the Model Builder command, to be combined with other grading strings and other design strings. In the case that the grading forms part of a broader collection of strings forming an overall design surface, it may be preferred to tick on the No Surface option to not create a surface from the grading.

Any 2d polyline on any layer can be used for a grading. Use this command to convert a 2D polyline into a Grading String.

This form contains three (for Civil 3D users) or four tabs:

Create Grading: You use this tab to create the grading by applying a Template and starting elevation, amongst other controls.

Vertical Grading: This is the grid view of the vertical design, and includes buttons to automate the addition of vertical IP's based on different horizontal and vertical geometry, as well as tools to raise/lower IP's in the view.

Breaklines (excluding Civil 3D platform): This tab provides functionality for the designer to force breaklines from one side the grading to another. Breaklines only form where they cross the grading string and are intended for designs such as lot grading, where the designer is forcing triangulation between the frontage and rear-age of the lots.

Volumes: This provides surface comparison volume information between two Civil Site Design surfaces.

Breakline Notes: Overlapping breakline entries is not recommended as unexpected triangulation results can occur. When breaklines overlap, elevations will be taken from one of the two breaklines. Breaklines do not need to share any elevations where they cross so triangulation results can be undesirable in overlap situations.

Notes:

Use the Create/Edit Section (Create/Edit Template) command to create cross sections to apply around the Grading. After creating the Grading, opening the Design Data Form from the Vertical Grading Editor form for the string will enable editing of the cross section shape along the string length

Use the Paste Surfaces command to create combined TIN surface/s. This can then be used as a base surface for further design, and to create a single composite surface of designed and existing parts.

Use the Model Builder command to construct user defined surface models combining any and all Strings and codes, with user control over all code trimming for the surface.

When editing in the Vertical Grading tab, a marker will display at the location of vertical IP highlighted in the list of IP's. The marker displayed is managed in the CSD Settings folder - a drawing file located in the Settings folder named GradingMarkerActive.dwg is applied. Users can edit this .dwg to change the marker.

Grading and Model Viewer

It is common to use multiple Grading Strings in the construction of an overall surface. In Model Viewer, rendering is applied to the triangles using the Codes assigned to each triangle edge. These Codes come from the String cross sections.

Typically, the code C.L. is used to represent the centreline of a road and is rendered accordingly in Model Viewer. It may be advantageous if the centreline code of Grading is not defined with the code of C.L. to prevent unexpected material rendering results.

If the option is used, users can opt to have a prefix section, main replacement name section and suffix section in the Code. Format is: prefix@main$suffix

Volumes Tab in Civil 3D

For Civil 3D users, the Volumes tab will not operate unless both the base surface and the grading surface are Civil Site Design surfaces (not Civil 3D surfaces). Users have two options for obtaining volume information between a grading and base surface:

Use the Civil 3D Surfaces command to create a Civil 3D surface from the grading and then use Civil 3D surface volume tools to compare

Use the C3D to CSD Surface command to convert the Civil 3D 'base' surface into a Civil Site Design surface equivalent. Once that is done it can be used as the base and the volumes tab will work as expected.

Details

Upon selecting the command and graphically selecting a polyline in the drawing, the following form is displayed:

Basic Settings Tab This tab is used for creating Grading Strings and making edits such as changing the Target Surface (surface for batter projections)

Grading Controls Sets out the grading string controls to apply when Create/Update is selected

Name Type in a name for the Grading String.

Template Assign a cross section Template to apply around the Grading String.

Edit Template This button opens the Create/Edit Section form. Inputs are as per the Create/Edit Section command.

Target Surface Surface to project batters (daylight) to. Batter positions are calculated at sample intervals along the grading string.

Initial Elevation Type in an initial elevation for the Grading String. When the Create/Update button is selected, this value is applied to the string.

Type Select a location on screen to input the elevation.

Polyline Length Non-editable field detailing the total length of the selected polyline.

Spacings Sets the sampling of sections along the grading. All geometry points of the polyline will be sampled.

Corner Angle Increments Angle (in degrees) between sampled sections through an external bend that does not include a horizontal curve.

Outside Corner Method Set how to treat external bends that don't include a horizontal curve. Options:
- Radial: Radial 'fan' calculated around the bend, using the Angle Increment at Corners value
- Mitre: Extends the offset codes straight out from their last calculated positions before the bend (using the incoming and outgoing tangent directions) until they meet
- Chamfer: Creates a chamfer (line) running through the bend
- Clover: Creates a clover leaf shape calculating offsets

Surfaces

      No Surface Creation If ticked, a surface will not be created directly from the Grading String sections.

      Infill Interior Areas If the Grading String (polyline) is closed, ticking this on will include the internal area in the volume calculation report generated from the Grading form.

      Cut Volume Factor Set to 1 for no change - allows for adjustments to the calculated cut volumes. Applied in the in the volume calculation report generated from the Grading form.

      Fill Volume Factor Set to 1 for no change - allows for adjustments to the calculated fill volumes. Applied in the in the volume calculation report generated from the Grading form.

Name Prefix Adds a prefix to the Name assigned for the string. Useful for grouping by name.

Edits

    Move Select a new position for the grading. This relocates the polyline and recalculates the grading

    Rotate Select a new rotation for the grading. This rotates the polyline and recalculates the grading.

    Reverse Reverse the polyline (and grading) direction

Surface Code Substitution This allows for replacement of the C.L. code with a unique code, to improve material rendering assignment in Model Viewer

    C.L. Replacement Type in a Code to apply instead of 'C.L.'

    Prefix Add a prefix to the Code. This is separated from the main C.L. Replacement input by a @

    Reverse Add a suffix to the Code. This is separated from the main C.L. Replacement input by a $

Create/Update Click to create or update the Grading String. Changes to Template or Initial Elevation will be applied upon updating.

Vertical Grading Tab This tab is used for creating Grading Strings and making edits such as changing the Target Surface (surface for batter projections)

Grid View Displays the vertical design in a grid view. As each item is clicked on a marker is displayed in plan at the vertical IP location. List items are described below

Distance chainage along grading string for IP location

Level (Elevation) Elevation of the IP

Elevation Change Elevation difference from the current IP to next IP

Back Grade % Grade from the current IP to the previous IP

Forward Grade % Grade from the current IP to the next IP

VC Length Type in a vertical curve length to apply at the IP. Leave at .001 for no Vertical Curve to be applied

Add IP by selection Pick a location in the drawing along the grading string - an IP will be added at that location

Add IP by Reference Adds a vertical IP from a reference point selected in the drawing.
At the command prompt, select a location in the drawing to use as a REFERENCE point for elevations to a new IP.
The following form will display:

List View of Elevations at the location selected.

Objects Found Lists Surfaces and Strings located in proximity to the selected point

Chainage/Station, Offset, Elevation Other columns describe the information type (Ch for chainage/station, Off for offset from alignment, Lev for level/elevation, z for surface elevation).
Users must select an elevation to apply (highlighted with a yellow background)

Select Apply the selected elevation to the x,y position selected. This sets the Reference Point x,y,z position

Cancel Exit the command without creating a new IP

Set Level Tick on to override the elevation to a user specified value. Type in a value in the cell provided

Show Tick on to draw text for the elevation of the Reference Point

Zoom to Point Zoom to the selected x,y point

Refresh Refresh enquiry tool and drawing display

Upon clicking Select, the user is prompted ('Pick point on String for new elevation) to graphically locate the location along the string C.L. to create the new IP. Upon selection the following form displays:

Chainage/Station Confirm the location along the string to create the new IP. Overtype as required

OK Proceed to next step

Cancel Cancel the command

Upon clicking OK, the user is prompted to select a grade/slope to apply from the REFERENCE Point to the selected location on the string.

Grade 1: or % Slope Toggle to select the method for setting the final elevation of the IP. Input the value required (note: a Grade of 1:0 is not allowed)

OK Create a new IP

Cancel Cancel the command

Add IP's at horizontal geometry Adds vertical IP's at horizontal geometry points along the polyline. The following form will display:

Yes Adds extra IP's at the horizontal geometry points, keeping the existing design IP's

No Replaces the current vertical design with IP's only at the horizontal geometry points.

Cancel Do not add IP's at horizontal geometry points

Add IP's to Match Surface Levels at Selected Sections Creates IP's at all sampled sections around the grading string and sets the elevation of the IP's to match the surface

Delete IP Deletes the first highlighted IP in the grid view

Raise/Lower All IP's Raises/Lowers all IP's by a user defined amount. Inputs are as follows:

Input Type in an elevation change (positive up, negative down)

OK Apply elevation change

Cancel Do not apply and exit form

Edit Multiple IP's Select multiple rows in a column to edit that column. Options are:

bbcvb
bbcvb
bbcvb

  Level column cells are highlighted

Input Type in an elevation change (positive up, negative down) to apply to all highlighted cells

OK Apply elevation change

Cancel Do not apply and exit form

Grade % cells are highlighted

Input Type in a single grade (%) to apply to all highlighted cells

OK Apply grade (%) change

Cancel Do not apply and exit form

  VC Length column cells are highlighted

Input Type in a VC length to apply to all highlighted cells. VC length will be truncated to prevent overlapping IP's or other VC's as required.

OK Apply elevation change

Cancel Do not apply and exit form

Edit Elevtion by Reference This is an EDIT command. Before running this command, users must first highlight the IP to edit, then select this command.
At the command prompt, select a location in the drawing to use as a REFERENCE point for elevations to the selected IP. A graphic line shows the position of the current IP and the mouse location of the reference point. Click to select the reference point location.
The following form will display:

List View of Elevations at the location selected.

Objects Found Lists Surfaces and Strings located in proximity to the selected point

Chainage/Station, Offset, Elevation Other columns describe the information type (Ch for chainage/station, Off for offset from alignment, Lev for level/elevation, z for surface elevation).
Users must select an elevation to apply (highlighted with a yellow background)

Select Apply the selected elevation to the x,y position selected. This sets the Reference Point x,y,z position

Cancel Exit the command without creating a new IP

Set Level Tick on to override the elevation to a user specified value. Type in a value in the cell provided

Show Tick on to draw text for the elevation of the Reference Point

Zoom to Point Zoom to the selected x,y point

Refresh Refresh enquiry tool and drawing display

Upon clicking Select, the user is prompted ('Pick point on String for new elevation) to graphically locate the location along the string C.L. to create the new IP. Upon selection the following form displays:

Chainage/Station Confirm the location along the string to create the new IP. Overtype as required

OK Proceed to next step

Cancel Cancel the command

Grade 1: or % Slope Toggle to select the method for setting the final elevation of the IP. Input the value required (note: a Grade of 1:0 is not allowed)

OK Update the IP elevations

Cancel Cancel the command

Increment Chainages Increments all Chainages/Stations/Distances for highlighted rows. Type in an increment and the selected IP's will be shifted by the set amount.
A warning message will display if the shift will result in IP's overlapping any vertical curves or other IP's and the edit will not be applied.

Input Type in an increment (+ or -) to adjust the chainage/station of the highlighted IP's.

OK Apply increment to chianages/stations.

Cancel Do not apply and exit form

Zoom IP Zooms to the selected IP in the drawing

Zoom All Zooms to the extents of the grading string

Auto Update Tick on to update the Grading Surface and other affected surfaces whenever a change is applied in the grid view.

Volumes Tab This tab displays volume information for the grading surface.
Note: this command requires two Civil Site Design surfaces. Civil 3D customers have options (noted in the Introduction section) to obtain volume results.

Output View This screen displays the output volumes. Users can select text from this screen and copy to other applications

Compute Volumes Updates the Output View with volume output data for the current grading design.
Click to update the volume output after making a change to the design

Open Vertical Grading Window This opens the Vertical Grading Editor window to enable graphical editing of the string elevations.
Command inputs are as per the Open Vertical Grading command, with exception to the grid view icon (this will request the user to refer to the create/edit grading form.

Open Surface Manager Click to open the Surface Manager, to set all display options for the ARD Surface created for the Grading String (as well as any other surfaces and model linework). The full details of this form are described in the Create/Edit Surface command.