////// Creating Surface Profiles

Creating Surface Profiles

posted by on March 06, 2018
One of the first steps in designing the vertical aspect of a linear feature is to analyze the shape of the existing terrain along that feature. You’ve learned how surfaces are used to create 3D models of the shape of the ground. You’ve also learned that there are many potential uses for surfaces other than displaying contours or labeling spot elevations. One of these uses is the creation of profiles from surface data, which helps with the design of linear features such as roads, channels, pipelines, and so on.

When a profile is created based on the data within a surface, it is aptly named a surface profile. A surface profile maintains a dynamic link to the surface that it references. In fact, a surface profile is tied to both the alignment and the surface that were used to create it. If either one changes, the surface profile is updated.

To create a surface profile, complete the following steps:
  1. Open the drawing named Surface Profile.dwg located in the Chapter 07 class data folder.
    Tips :Since the majority of the work in this discuss is done in profile view, the drawings are not configured with multiple viewports.
  2. Click the Jordan Court alignment in the drawing, and then click Surface Profile on the contextual ribbon tab.
  3. In the Create Profile From Surface dialog box, verify that Jordan Court is selected as the alignment.
  4. Under Select Surfaces, select EG.
  5. Click Add, and then click OK.
  6. On Prospector, expand AlignmentsCenterline AlignmentsJordan CourtProfiles. You should see EG – Surface (1) listed under Profiles.
    7. Tips :You should also notice a small orange triangle next to Jordan Court. This indicates that there are objects in the drawing that are dependent upon this alignment. In this case, the dependent object is the profile you just created.
  7. Right-click EG – Surface (1) and select Properties.
  8. On the Information tab of the Profile Properties dialog box, change the Name to Jordan Court EGCL. Click OK.
    9. Tips :EGCL stands for existing ground centerline.

A Note about Units

Throughout this discuss, you’ll notice that two values are provided for units of measurement. The first value is provided for the imperial system that is used in the United States, and the second value, in parentheses, is provided for the metric system that is used in many other countries. These values most often represent imperial feet and metric meters. It is important to note that, generally, only the numeric values are entered in the software, not terms like feet or meters. Also, you should know that the two numbers provided are not necessarily equal. In most cases, they are similar values that are rounded to work efficiently in their respective measurement systems.

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