37919 05 ch05 193. - cengage€¦ ·...

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CHAPTER 5 Alignments INTRODUCTION This and the next four chapters focus on roadway design and its documentation. This chapter concentrates on roadway plan design. The next three chapters focus on the road- way profile and section views and the roadway model (the corridor). As with all Civil 3D objects, styles affect how roadway components display and are annotated. OBJECTIVES This chapter focuses on the following topics: Alignment Settings Alignment Styles That Affect the Roadway Look and Design Criteria Alignment Design Parameters Modifying Stationing and Adding Station Equations Alignment Reports Alignments Right-Of-Way (ROW) Points from Alignments Alignment Parcel Subdivision OVERVIEW The Alignments, Profiles, Corridors, and Sections commands create, analyze, edit, and annotate a roadway model. The roadway design process is a sequence of steps using 2D elements and views, alignments (plan view), profiles (side view), and sec- tions (views to the alignments left and right) to create a 3D road model (a corridor). In Civil 3D a site and its parcels can be related to alignments. If an alignment is a site member, it can subdivide the site and its parcel(s). With this association, alignments, profiles, and sections are a part of the site branch. If you do not want an alignment, its 193 © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

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Page 1: 37919 05 Ch05 193. - Cengage€¦ · profiles,sections,andcorridorstointeractwithasiteanditsparcels,donotassignthe alignment a site. An alignment is dynamically linked to all of its

CHAPTER

5

Alignments

INTRODUCTION

This and the next four chapters focus on roadway design and its documentation. Thischapter concentrates on roadway plan design. The next three chapters focus on the road-way profile and section views and the roadway model (the corridor). As with all Civil 3Dobjects, styles affect how roadway components display and are annotated.

OBJECTIVES

This chapter focuses on the following topics:

• Alignment Settings

• Alignment Styles That Affect the Roadway Look and Design Criteria

• Alignment Design Parameters

• Modifying Stationing and Adding Station Equations

• Alignment Reports

• Alignment’s Right-Of-Way (ROW)

• Points from Alignments

• Alignment Parcel Subdivision

OVERVIEWThe Alignments, Profiles, Corridors, and Sections commands create, analyze, edit,and annotate a roadway model. The roadway design process is a sequence of stepsusing 2D elements and views, alignments (plan view), profiles (side view), and sec-tions (views to the alignment’s left and right) to create a 3D road model (a corridor).In Civil 3D a site and its parcels can be related to alignments. If an alignment is a sitemember, it can subdivide the site and its parcel(s). With this association, alignments,profiles, and sections are a part of the site branch. If you do not want an alignment, its

193

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profiles, sections, and corridors to interact with a site and its parcels, do not assign thealignment a site.

An alignment is dynamically linked to all of its dependent elements. When one de-sign element is changed, the change cascades down to the corridor and its sections.The progression follows the Alignments’ or Sites’ Alignment branch. Changes travelfrom the list’s first dependent element to the last (i.e., from alignment to profile, tothe corridor, and finally to the section views). The dependency chain includes sur-faces. A surface provides elevations to profile and section. If something should changein a surface, the dependent roadway elements adjust their values to accommodate thesurface change.

The roadway design process produces a design model (the corridor) and a documen-tation set. Civil 3D uses design views, plans, profiles, and sections to document the2D aspects of this 3D model. The roadway design process reduces the roadway’s 3Daspects to three 2D components (see Figure 5.1). This traditional design methodol-ogy means projecting the 3D model (the corridor) onto planes showing its 2D road-design portion. This same process occurs when designing a roadway on paper. Thepaper is the 2D plane on which the designer represents the three respective roadwaydesign model views. It isn’t until you create a corridor that the road design appears asmodel. The road model documentation includes roadway earthwork volume estima-tions and roadway material volumes.

Ribbon’s Home tab, Create Design panel’s, Alignment drop-list has the horizontaldesign commands (see Figure 5.2). The Profiles drop-list contains the vertical toolsand the cross-sections are in the Sections lines and Section view drop-lists. The Cor-ridors drop-list contains the roadway modeling tools. When developing a verticalframe of reference (profile and cross-section views), the routines sample surface eleva-tions along or to either side of the roadway centerline.

Surface(s)

AlignmentsHorizontalRoadwayAlignment

ProfilesVerticalRoadwayAlignment

Roadway Volumes

CreateAssembly

Cross SectionsCorridor

FIGURE 5.1

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The design process is not overly flexible. Users cannot design a horizontal roadwaycenterline and then jump to creating a corridor. An assembly following along a cen-terline also depends on a vertical alignment developed in profile view. What occurs atany point along the road-design process depends on what occurred before the pro-cess’s current stage.

The Corridor (roadway model) is beneficial to roadway analysis and editing becauseof the relationships among the model’s design elements. If you want to try an align-ment in a new position and view its resulting existing ground profile, all you need todo is grip-edit the alignment, and the profile redrafts itself to the new alignmentlength, resamples its elevations, and redraws itself within an adjusted profile view.With each alignment change, the vertical design DOES NOT change. Each timeyour relocate an alignment, you must edit or redraw the vertical design.

Roadway design goals vary from project to project. Generally, the goals include to notmove more spoil material than necessary and to use the road-design elevations to startoverall site grading. Rarely is this process a single pass through the design steps; morelikely, it is an iterative process. All initial design element values give the designer astarting point from which to optimize the final model. To modify a design or an ele-ment means you must return to a point in the design process and change the values orelements at that point. After making the change, it ripples through the model down-ward from the change point toward roadway sections.

Unit 1The horizontal alignment object styles are the first unit’s topic. The alignment objectstyles control basic design parameters and its component and characteristics’ visibil-ity. An alignment object type focuses on the alignment type: existing, proposed, etc.As with other styles, these styles can be saved to a template, and when selected for anew drawing, the styles become a part of the drawing. Design checks notify the userthat an alignment has not met minimum or has exceeded maximum design values.

FIGURE 5.2

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Assigning AASHTO values to an alignment guides the designer in creating align-ments following AASHTO standards.

It is difficult to separate alignment objects and their labeling. Alignments can beannotated as they are created or after defining them. There may be different stylesapplied when designing them and when documenting their final values.

Unit 2A centerline alignment is a single object composed of tangents, curves, and possiblyspirals. A centerline alignment has five creation methods. The first method is to im-port a LandXML file. The second method is to import from a Land Desktop (LDT)project’s alignment definitions. These two methods, LandXML file and LDT proj-ect, can import one or more alignments, and when importing them they can selectwhich alignments to import. The third method is to convert objects or polyline intoan alignment. The next method creates an alignment from the least squares analysisof points. The last method is to create an alignment with the Alignment LayoutTools toolbar commands. The toolbar tools draft alignment tangent and curve ele-ments. Drafting and defining the roadway centerlines are the focus of Unit 2. In Civil3D there are other types of alignments; offset, widening, and curb return.

Unit 3Unit 3 focuses on the centerline’s design values analysis. Most engineers design bycalculations or design criteria. Lines and arcs do not convey their values easily to thedesigner. The design numbers are found in alignment editors or in alignment reports.

Unit 4Many times a design changes or needs additions (station equations or speeds). Whenan alignment is being edited, the alignment editor vista displays essential data the de-signer needs to make a design change. An alternative editing method is to graphicallyrelocate alignment elements. An alignment is a collection of fixed, floating, and/orfree elements. When an alignment has these segment types, it has a predictable be-havior when graphically manipulated. Editing alignments and adding station equa-tions are the fourth unit’s subjects.

Unit 5Centerline annotation is the topic of Unit 5. There are two basic alignment annota-tion styles: parallel to and offset to, and perpendicular to and on the centerline. Civil3D provides an extremely flexible alignment annotation system.

Unit 6The last unit reviews creating new objects from a centerline, station and offset labels,points, and parcels (ROW).

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UNIT 1: ROADWAY STYLES

An alignment’s drawing appearance depends on settings and object and label styles.

EDIT DRAWING SETTINGSEditing Drawing Settings’ Object Layers panel sets the alignment object’s base layername (see Figure 5.3). The alignment name can be this layer’s prefix or suffix. Settinga modifier and entering an asterisk (*) includes the alignment’s name in the layername and creates a unique layer for each alignment. The layer’s purpose is to tie thealignment object to the drawing. You differentiate the alignment as existing or pro-posed, when assigning the alignment an object style.

The Abbreviations tab sets critical alignment geometry points codes and value for-mats (see Figure 5.4). What codes a company uses vary greatly from region to regionand it is here that one enters codes specific for his or her region. If you are workingwith clients using different codes, these codes can be changed to address each client’scode values. This section’s values affect Civil 3D listing routines. These codes are forlisting and data entry prompting. The alignment’s label styles document the align-ment object with your region’s standards.

FIGURE 5.3

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EDIT FEATURE SETTINGSAlignment’s Edit Feature Settings dialog box identifies default styles and design op-tions (see Figure 5.5). The Default Styles section identifies object and label styles forspecific alignment elements. The list includes an alignment label set. A label set is anamed group of label styles (e.g., Major Minor and Geometry Point). A label set’seffect is labeling specific alignment geometry with a single selection.

The Default Naming Format section defines how an alignment gets its name (align-ment followed by a sequentially assigned number). The Station Indexing value setsthe interval for stationing annotation.

FIGURE 5.4

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The Superelevation Options section assigns the default parameters, lane and shoul-der slopes and methods, and number of lanes to an alignment (see Figure 5.6). If thelane is planar, you set the default high side to right, left, or even. The percent onTangent sets the amount superelevation achieved when entering a curve. The de-fault is 66 percent. When entering a curve from a spiral, the default is 100 percentsuperelevation.

FIGURE 5.5

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The Automatic Widening Around Curves section sets default widening values forthe Add Automatic Widening command. WhenWidening is on, it uses the numberof lanes values and applies the widening to the alignment’s inside, outside, or both.When setting this value to inside or outside only, the opposite side does not have anywidening.

The Wheelbase Length is used in the formula calculating the widening and usingdesign standards. This value is not used when manually creating a widening.

Widen by sets the design method as being Through Design Standards or Manualdesign methods. Manual Widening Width sets the default width for a wideningand Manual Transition Width sets the default transition width distance.

The Criteria-Based Design Option section sets a design speed and toggles on the useof criteria lookup tables (see Figure 5.7). Criteria tables are AASHTO or user-createdtables that affect minimum radii, superelevation attainment methods, and superele-vation cross slope tables. Design Checks are expressions that affect Tangents, Curves,Spiral, or Tangent Intersections. Check files define minimum radii or minimum tan-gent lengths for a road.

The Dynamic Alignment Highlight Options set colors for editor and previewhighlighting of alignment types and segments.

FIGURE 5.6

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ALIGNMENT STYLESThe alignment object style sets basic design parameters and visibility for its compo-nents. As with all styles, these styles can be saved to an office template, and whenselecting the template for a new drawing, its styles become a part of the drawing.

Object StylesAlignment object types differentiate existing and proposed alignments.

The Information tab names, describes, and assigns a modification date for the style.

The Design tab’s Enable radius snap toggle enables a radius snapping value that affectsan alignment’s curve graphical editing. With this toggle and graphically editing analignment, resulting curve radii are divisible by the Radius snap value (see Figure 5.8)

FIGURE 5.7

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The Markers tab sets marker styles identifying critical alignment points. Markerstyles are from Settings, General, Multipurpose Style branch. The panel’s bottomdefines the alignment direction arrow (see Figure 5.9).

FIGURE 5.8

FIGURE 5.9

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The Display tab assigns layers and their properties to each alignment component (seeFigure 5.10).

Label StylesWhen creating an alignment, the Create Alignment dialog box also assigns a labelset. As with other label sets, they can be saved to a template, and when selecting thetemplate for a new drawing, the styles become a part of the new drawing.

If you want to assign labels, you have the choice of adding individual labels or assign-ing a label set. A label set is an alias containing several label style types. Assigning alabel set to an alignment applies all its styles to the alignment.

Major Minor and Geometry Points Label Set

The Set’s Labels tab assigns the style types and label styles. The Major, Minor, andGeometry Points Label Set labels the major stations with text parallel to centerlineand label the minor stations with ticks (see Figure 5.11). The Geometry Points labelattaches to a line perpendicular to the alignment point. The increment values set thelabels’ intervals and ripple through to profile view labeling.

FIGURE 5.10

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Geometry Points has an ellipsis when clicked, and it displays a geometry points list.By toggling on or off the items, a user sets labeling for the checked alignment points(see Figure 5.12).

Major Stations: Perpendicular with Tick. Perpendicular with Tick, a major stationlabel, places a tick at an alignment’s major station (1þ00). The station’s value is adja-cent to the tick (see Figure 5.13).

FIGURE 5.11

FIGURE 5.12

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Minor Station: Tick. The Tick style places a block (line) at the minor station intervalset in the label set (see Figure 5.14).

Geometry Point: Perpendicular with Tick and Line. This style places a tick, a line,and text anchored to the line labeling centerline geometry points (see Figure 5.15).Geometry points are at a curve’s or spiral’s beginning or ending point, at a compoundcurve tangency point, etc.

FIGURE 5.13

FIGURE 5.14

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Profile Geometry Point. Profile Geometry Point identifies critical vertical designpoints on an alignment (see Figure 5.16). These points include beginning and endof vertical geometry, beginning and end of a vertical curve, high or low points, etc.

Station Equation. Station Equation annotates an alignment point where stationingchanges. Usually a station equation is where roadway responsibility changes (a statetakes over from a municipality). There is an ahead and back stationing from this point(see Figure 5.17).

FIGURE 5.15

FIGURE 5.16

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Design Speed. Design Speed labels the alignment’s segments’ design speed (seeFigure 5.18).

FIGURE 5.17

FIGURE 5.18

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Add Label StylesThese styles are post-alignment creation labels. The Add Labels dialog box assignsthese labels to an alignment. See the Unit 5 discussion on the Add Labelscommand.

Station and Offset

The Station Offset labels document station and offsets relative to an alignment. Thestation and offset – Fixed point labels do not move if alignment stationing changes.The label is updated to show the new station value. Station and Offset labels move,thus retaining the alignment’s original station value.

Line Labels

Line labels annotate tangent segments and are similar to those labeling parcel linesegments.

Curve Labels

Curve labels annotate arc segments and are similar to parcel curve labels.

Spiral Labels

Spiral labels annotate spiral segments.

Tangent Intersections

Tangent Intersections labels annotate PI, spiral in and out, and curve parameters (seeFigure 5.19).

FIGURE 5.19

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DESIGN CHECKSDesign Checks set a minimum or maximum tangent, curve, or spiral values definedby an expression. Design Check Sets is an alias for a collection of tangent, curve, orspiral parameters (see Figure 5.20). Each parameter is an expression. For example, aminimum radius is an expression Radius>100, a maximum radius is Radius<300,or a minimum tangent is Tangent>100 (see Figure 5.21). When an alignment seg-ment violates a check, in the drawing and the editing vistas, it is marked with awarning icon.

FIGURE 5.20

FIGURE 5.21

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SUMMARY

• Edit Drawing Settings’ Object Layers assigns alignment base layer names.

• If you have more than one alignment, use either a layer prefix or a suffix to placean alignment on a unique layer.

• Alignment annotation is usually assigned when creating an alignment, but theannotation can also be assigned after creating an alignment.

• An alignment label set contains user-specified label styles.

• Alignment labels change immediately when you change or add label set styles.

• Design checks are expressions applied to an alignment.

• Any segment that violates a design check will cause the display of a warning iconin the drawing and in the alignment vistas.

UNIT 2: CREATING ROADWAY CENTERLINES

A centerline is composed of tangents (lines), curves (arcs), and possibly spirals. Thereare five methods of creating an alignment. The first method is to import a LandXMLfile and the second method is to import an LDT project’s alignment definition. Bothimport one or more alignments. Each method displays an alignment list and the userselects which alignment(s) to import.

The third method is to convert objects or polyline into an alignment. A drawback ofthis method is that the stationing corresponds to the first object’s or polyline’s direc-tion. However, when defining the alignment the routine prompts the user if thealignment’s direction needs to change. If you decide later the alignment directionneeds to change, there is a reverse alignment direction command. A second drawbackto these three methods is that the alignments are composed of fixed alignment seg-ments. Fix segments are not dependent on a before or after alignment segment; theyare drawn by selecting points or by import. Because they are not dependent on anyadjacent existing segments, when editing them, they do not maintain tangency to ad-jacent segments.

Another method of creating an alignment is by using points, lines, and/or featurelines to define an alignment by least squares. One example of using this method isto define an alignment from survey data.

The next method is to draft an alignment using the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.The Alignment Layout Tools toolbar routines create tangent, curve, and spiral seg-ments. Each segment can be fixed, floating, or free. Another alignment designmethod is to sketch controlling geometry and use Alignment Layout Tools com-mands to trace or convert them to alignment segments (see Figure 5.22).

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Whether creating an alignment from objects, polyline, or from the tools in the Align-ment Layout Tools toolbar, each method displays the Create Alignment dialog box.The General tab sets the alignment name, its description, starting station, site, style,layer, and alignment label set (see the left side of Figure 5.23). The Design Criteriatab sets the design speed, toggles criteria checking, sets AASHTO (superelevationparameters), and sets the design check set name (see the right side of Figure 5.23).

FIGURE 5.22

FIGURE 5.23

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How the alignment is displayed is a result of two associated styles: the alignment andlabel set styles. The alignment style sets the display of line work and its curve radiiconstraints as existing or proposed. The label set annotates alignment line work.

ALIGNMENT CREATIONThe Ribbon’s Home tab, Create Design panel has the Alignment icon and when click-ing its drop-list arrow displays the alignment creation commands (see Figure 5.2).

Create Alignment from ObjectsCreate Alignment from Objects converts lines, arcs, and a polyline into an alignmentthat has all fixed segments. These objects can be in the current drawing or selectedfrom an xrefed drawing. With a polyline, the alignment’s direction is the polyline’sdirection. The command prompting indicates the alignment’s direction and givesyou the opportunity to reverse the alignment’s direction. If you do not reverse thealignment’s direction at this time, the Ribbon’s Modify, Alignment panel’s Modifysection drop-list menu Reverse Direction command will reverse its direction. At thebottom of the Create Alignment from Objects dialog box are settings affectingthe curves’ creation at each PI. When drafting an alignment, all segments must havethe same direction. If you draft individual segments, even if separated, they all musthave the same direction to connect with other segment types. If a segment has thewrong direction, the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar has a reverse segmentcommand.

Best Fit AlignmentThis routine uses cogo points, AutoCAD points, lines, arcs, and polylines. Whenusing points representing a centerline, the routine determines a logical connectionbetween the points and will reverse the direction of any alignment segments. Whenusing this routine with a set of parallel points offset from the centerline, the routinecreates an AutoCAD spline connecting the points. Next the routine projects a linefrom each point on each side and where the projected lines intersect is a point on thecenterline.

The next step is creating centerline arcs. The routine uses sequential points and amaximum radius. If the arc exceeds the maximum radius, a PI is created. Otherwise,the routine creates an arc. If the curve creation process includes spirals, the routinecreates symmetrical spiral pair from the tangents to the curve. When creating curveswith spirals and toggling on Match Tangents, the routine will create asymmetricalspirals and adjust tangents as necessary to create the spirals.

Create Alignment from Existing AlignmentThis routine creates a new alignment from all or portions of an existing alignment.The routine prompts for the starting and ending stations on the existing alignmentthat is the starting point for the new alignment. You then can add new segments tothe end of the new alignment.

This routine is ideal for exploring new alignment segments between two portions ofan existing alignment. You can create a new alignment using several non-contiguousalignment station ranges or alignment sub-entities. When using portions of an exist-ing alignment for the new alignment, the stationing of the new alignment matchesthe original alignment stationing.

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Alignment Creation ToolsThe Alignment Layout Tools toolbar commands create tangent and curve segments(see Figure 5.24). The tangent and curve segments can be fixed, floating, or free. Thesesegment types define an alignment with the user’s desired behaviors and when edited,create an alignment that solves several constraint and relationship issues.

At times, certain segment properties need to be held (for example, always tangent,always attached to two entities, etc.). Fixed, floating, or free segment types can main-tain a complex alignment that has specific segment connection relationships.

Tangent Lines Only and Tangent with Curves

The first icon stack at the toolbar’s left side draws centerlines with or without curvesegments (see Figure 5.24). When you click the icon stack drop-list arrow, it displaysthe command choices. All tangents are fixed segments (two selected points with nobefore or after dependencies) and when you are using Tangents with Curve, thecurves are free segments (dependent on the before and after tangent). Curve andSpiral Settings set the curve radius or spiral lengths for each free curve or spiral. Ifyou are using spirals, Civil 3D supports Bloss, Clothoid, Cubic (JP), and Sine Half-wave Diminishing Tangent spiral types.

FIGURE 5.24

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PI Management

The toolbar’s next three icons in from the left insert, delete, and break apart PIs.These commands add a PI to a tangent segment where there is none, relocate anexisting PI, and separate tangents at a PI to create space for a new tangent.

Individual Tangent and Curve Entities

The Tangent and Curve icon stacks provide tools to create specific tangent and curvesegment types (see Figure 5.24). Each segment can reference existing alignment seg-ments, use the transparent command direction overrides (bearing, azimuth, etc.), oruse object snaps. When connecting to a segment, use an object snap.

Alignments have three segments types: fixed, floating, and free.

A fixed segment:

• Is defined by selecting points and, if a curve, possibly by specifying a radius.

• Is editable only by adjusting its segment coordinates (line endpoints or thethree curve points).

• Does not depend on another alignment segment for its geometry or tangency.

• Does not maintain tangency when edited.

The first rule states that two points (line), three points (curve), two points and aradius, etc., specify a fixed tangent. The second rule implies you can change only thecoordinates of the line or curve (three points define the curve). The Alignment Editorvista or sub-entity editor presents the segment’s coordinates (see Figure 5.25). Theblackened values indicate editable values.

The third rule states that the entity is not attached to any alignment segments(tangent to, from the endpoint of, etc.). The fourth rule states that if drawn initiallytangent to another object, editing the entity breaks the original tangency between theobjects.

NOTE When describing fixed segments, think zero dependencies.

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A floating segment is:

• Dependent on and always attached to the before alignment segment.

• Always tangent to the attached before entity.

• Defined by user parameters.

• Attachable only to another fixed or floating entity.

The first and second rules state that a floating segment attaches to a before alignmentsegment and is tangent. The third rule states that after attaching to the before seg-ment, the user must specify other parameters to complete the segment’s definition.The last rule states that the segment attaches only to fixed or floating alignmentsegments.

NOTEWhen describing floating segments, think one dependency.

A free segment is:

• Dependent on two alignment segments for its geometry.

• Always tangent to the before and after segments.

FIGURE 5.25

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• Connected between two fixed, two floating, or one fixed and one floatingsegment.

• Defined by before and after segment geometry and additional user-specifiedparameters.

The first and second rules state that a free entity requires two existing entities and istangent to both. The third rule states that a free entity connects only to combinationsof fixed and floating segments. The last rule states that after attaching a free segment,the user enters additional parameters.

NOTE When describing free segments, think two dependencies.

Spiral Segments

The Alignment Layout Tools toolbar has three icon stacks for creating spirals: Float-ing Line and Spiral, Floating and Free Spiral-Curve-Spiral, and Fixed and FreeCompound or Reverse Spirals. A fixed spiral does not depend on any alignment seg-ments and when edited does not retain tangency. A floating spiral attaches to an ex-isting segment’s end and remains tangent when edited. The default method is spiral,curve, and spiral (S-C-S). Any spiral’s length can be 0 (zero). This makes the curvetangent to its connecting segment. The default in and out spiral settings are set in theTangent/Tangent Curve icon stack at the toolbar’s left, Curve and Spiral Settings….

STATION EQUATIONSAlignments may change stationing at one or more points along their path; this is astation equation. The alignment stationing changes at this point, and from this point,the stationing may increase or decrease. An alignment may have several station equa-tions. Station equations are defined and managed as an alignment property.

DESIGN SPEEDSWhen defining an alignment, it potentially has design speeds. The Alignment Prop-erties dialog box manages design speeds. A design speed is a necessary value whendesigning roads with superelevation.

IMPORTING LANDXMLLandXML files can contain alignment definitions (see Figure 5.26). The file con-tains the alignment’s coordinates and segment geometry. This allows transferring de-sign data between applications without losing design fidelity. If the file contains morethan one alignment, the user can select which alignments to import.

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IMPORTING FROM LAND DESKTOPImporting an LDT project’s alignment is similar to importing a LandXML file. TheLand Desktop command, found in Ribbon’s Insert tab, Import section, displays adialog box where the user selects a project path and a project name (see Figure5.27). After selecting the project path and project name, the dialog box displays theLDT project data as a list, including alignments. From the list, select the alignment(s)and, when you exit, the alignments are imported to the drawing.

FIGURE 5.26

FIGURE 5.27

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ALIGNMENT TYPESCivil 3D defines several alignment types; Centerline, Offset, Curb Return, andMiscellaneous. The Offset alignment’s purpose is to control the location of a subas-sembly point. For example, an offset can widen the travelway or widen a shoulder.Curb return alignments are for intersection design.

An offset alignment can be static or dynamically linked to the centerline. These align-ment types are discussed and used in the Chapter 9 of this textbook.

SUMMARY

• One or more alignments can be imported when reading a LandXML file or an LDTproject.

• The Create Alignment from Objects routine converts objects or a polyline into analignment.

• Imported and Converted entities are fixed alignment segments.

• If a segment has the wrong direction, the Reverse Direction command changesits direction.

• The Alignment Layout Tools toolbar icons draw tangents and curves.

• Alignment segments do not need to be connected to be recognized as segmentsof the same alignment.

UNIT 3: CENTERLINE ANALYSIS

Engineers design by calculations or design criteria. Alignment graphics do not revealall of these numbers. An alignment’s values are displayed in its properties dialog boxor in its Alignment Layout Tools toolbar editors. To display a drafted alignment’seditors, select an alignment in a drawing, press the right mouse button, and fromthe shortcut menu, select Edit Alignment Geometry…. Another method of editingan alignment is by selecting it in the drawing and the ribbon changes to an alignmentediting panel. Or, from the Ribbon’s Modify tab, Design panel, select the Alignmenticon and a new panel displays the Geometry Editor command. To identify the align-ment to edit, select an alignment segment in the drawing. Two toolbar editors displaythe alignment’s numbers: a Sub-entity editor (a selected segment) or Alignment gridview (an overall view).

As seen in the previous unit’s exercise, design criteria icons that mark violations area visual review tool. Also, the Toolbox publishes alignment reports to the screen orto files.

EDIT ALIGNMENT GEOMETRY – ALIGNMENT GRID VIEWThe Alignment Layout Tools toolbar’s Alignment Grid View icon displays all of analignment’s critical geometric values in the Alignment Entities vista (see Figure 5.28).Only the values in black are editable.

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EDIT ALIGNMENT GEOMETRY – SUB-ENTITY EDITORThe Alignment Layout Tools toolbar’s Sub-entity Editor icon displays a selectedalignment’s segment’s values. To use the Sub-entity Editor, first display it by clickingits toolbar icon (second icon in from the right), click the Pick Sub-entity icon (thirdin from the right), and select an alignment segment (sub-entity). When selecting asub-entity, its values appear in the Alignment Layout Parameters dialog box (see Fig-ure 5.29). To view another sub-entity’s values, select another alignment segment andits values replace those currently in the dialog box. Only the values in black areeditable.

FIGURE 5.28

FIGURE 5.29

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DESIGN CHECKDesign Check icons display tooltips that report the criteria violated (see Figure 5.30).

TOOLBOX REPORTSThe Toolspace’s Toolbox creates several alignment reports (see Figure 5.31). The re-ports include station, station and curve, stakeout, design criteria, etc. Some reportsprompt for additional information before creating a report (see Figure 5.32).

FIGURE 5.30

FIGURE 5.31

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INQUIRY TOOLSThe Ribbon’s Analyze tab, Inquiry panel’s Inquiry Tool command displays anInquiry Tool palette and its alignment inquiries report station, offset, and elevationvalues (see Figure 5.33).

FIGURE 5.32

FIGURE 5.33

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SUMMARY

• Edit Geometry displays the alignment’s Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, havingan Alignment Grid View and Sub-entity Editor icons.

• The Alignment Entities vista and Alignment Layout Parameters dialog boxes dis-play all alignment segment values.

• In an alignment editor, editable values are in black; when changing their value,update the alignment.

• Toolbox creates the alignment reports.

UNIT 4: EDITING A HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT

Designs change, need tweaking, or need new properties (station equations). Youedit an alignment by using three methods: graphical, sub-entity, or grid (overall).Graphical uses alignment grips and relocates or changes a segment’s parameters(see Figure 5.34).

The Edit Alignment Geometry routine displays the Alignment Layout Tools tool-bar. The Alignment Layout Tools toolbar displays the Alignment Layout Parametersdialog box or Alignment Entities vista. The Alignment Layout Parameters dialogbox requires a selected alignment segment, and, after selecting a sub-entity, will dis-play its values. The Alignment Editor vista contains all alignment values. Both edi-tors display editable values in black and update the alignment after edits have beenmade.

FIGURE 5.34

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GRAPHICAL EDITINGWhen graphically editing an alignment, first select the alignment to display its grips,select a grip, and then manipulate its location by moving it. Depending on the type oftangent (fixed, floating, or free), it has grips at its endpoints and possibly at its mid-point. Curve segments have grips at the beginning (PC) and end (PT), midpoint, andPI. If locating a grip that the alignment cannot correctly resolve, the alignment willnot allow that point to be selected.

The sub-entity types (fixed, floating, and free) influence how an alignment “drags”and resolves at the selected location. The fixed, floating, and free entity rules andthe entity type before and after the active grip all affect the resulting edit. For exam-ple, fixed entities do not guarantee tangency, but floating and free do. Users need tobe aware of each segment’s behavior before or during edits. If these behaviors are notconsidered, the edit may create non-tangent segments and curves, unanticipated tan-gent extensions, and other unforeseen effects.

If you select a floating curve’s PC or PT grip, the only edit is to lengthen the curve. Ifyou select its midpoint grip, the adjustment affects its radius and changes the attachedtangent’s bearing.

When you are graphically editing an alignment converted from a polyline, the editingoptions are limited because all tangents and curves are fixed segments. If you are ma-nipulating fixed segments, they do not retain tangency.

EDIT ALIGNMENT GEOMETRYThe Alignment Layout Tools toolbar has two editors: Sub-entity and AlignmentGrid View (overall).

Alignment Grid ViewThe Alignment Entities vista displays all values critical to alignment segment in asingle vista. Only values in black can change; editing a value and pressing ENTERcause the alignment to update.

Sub-Entity EditorThere are two steps to using the Sub-entity Editor. The first step is to display theAlignment Layout Parameters dialog box and the second step is to select a segmentwith the sub-entity selection tool. Only parameters in black can change; after chang-ing its value and pressing ENTER, the alignment is updated to match the new values(see Figure 5.29).

When selecting a curve segment, the Sub-entity Editor displays all of its values.Depending on the curve type (fixed, free, and floating), users can change a curve’slength, radius, chord, mid-ordinate, and the external ordinate or secant values.Changing a value and pressing ENTER updates the curve (see Figure 5.29).

When selecting a spiral segment, the vista displays values pertinent to a spiral. Editsavailable include length, the in and out A value, and the circle’s radius (S-C-S) (seeFigure 5.35).

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DELETING AND INSERTING SEGMENTSTangents, curves, and spirals cannot be deleted in the editors. They can be deletedonly by using the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar’s sub-entity delete command (fifthicon in from the right). The segment types affect what sub-entities can be deleted.For example, if you want to delete a tangent attached to a free curve, the free curvemust be deleted first, and then the tangent can be deleted.

Alignment Layout Tools toolbar PI routines include inserting, deleting, and breakingapart a PI, so additional or new sub-entities can be added.

ALIGNMENT PROPERTIESAlignment properties adds, modifies, and reports stationing, station equations, de-sign speeds, labeling sets, and superelevation parameters. It also reports which pro-files and profile views depend on the alignment.

Station ControlStation Control sets an alignment’s location (reference point) and stationing infor-mation. By default, the starting station is at reference coordinates. In Reference point,

FIGURE 5.35

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users can define a new beginning station or alignment beginning point (see Figure5.36). If a new beginning station value is assigned, the station information area isupdated.

Station EquationsAt times, an alignment’s stationing changes at a station equation (see Figure 5.36).This happens for many reasons, such as a new road connecting to an existing one, achange of jurisdiction controlling the centerline, and so on. A station equation pointsignals the end of one stationing system and the beginning of another. The stationson the other side of the equation can be totally different and can even decrease alongthe remainder of the roadway.

The two Station Equation icons create and delete equations.When you select an Addstation equation, the dialog box hides, the command line prompts for a station, and astation jig appears, sliding along the alignment. To select a station, select a point inthe drawing or enter a station in the command line. After identifying the station, theProperties dialog box reopens and lists the station. To finish the equation, modify thestation back to its earlier state (if necessary), enter the station ahead, and set the in-crease/decrease value. If you are defining a station equation, the original stationing isknown as Raw stationing.

MaskThe Mask panel lists the masks used in conjunction with alignment intersections.

FIGURE 5.36

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Design CriteriaIf you are using design criteria, the initial alignment has a uniform design speed. Ifyou want to add speeds for different alignment sections, at the panel’s top left clickthe Add design speed icon to create a new design speed entry and modify its values.You can also delete any design speed entry.

The panel’s right half toggles on and off design criteria and design check set; it alsoresets the criteria files and the check set name (see Figure 5.37).

SuperelevationCalculating Superelevation parameters is now a separate calculator. After using thecalculator the parameters display in the alignment properties dialog box.

The Superelevation is covered in Chapter 9, Unit 3.

SUMMARY

• Users can graphically relocate alignment segments.

• When graphically editing an alignment, segments react to any changes and willnot allow an incorrect solution.

• When graphically editing an alignment, the segment types (fixed, floating, andfree) determine how they react to the changes.

• The Alignment Grid View vista displays all alignment geometric numbers.

• The Sub-entity Editor displays only the selected segment’s geometric numbers.

• When editing in a vista, values in black are editable.

• The Alignment Properties dialog box lists all profiles and profile views referenc-ing the alignment.

FIGURE 5.37

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UNIT 5: ALIGNMENT ANNOTATION

When designing or creating an alignment, it is automatically annotated based on theassigned label set. A label set is an alias for a collection of label style types. Users canchange assigned label styles by changing a set’s labels list or by adding or removinglabel types and styles with Edit Alignment Labels. A label set’s label styles are specif-ically for annotating an alignment’s segment geometry. All label sets and their stylesare listed in the Label Sets and Stations sections under the Alignment Label Stylesheading (see Figure 5.38).

A second labels group annotates alignments or locations near them after creatingalignments. These labeling types appear in the Add Labels dialog box. The styles ap-pearing in Add Labels are in Settings’ Alignment Label Styles branch after the LabelSets and Station headings. These labels include Station Offset, Line, Curve, Spiral,and Tangent Intersection.

All labels adjust their size when they change or set a viewport plot scale. All labelsreact to alignment changes (geometry and stationing). Civil 3D templates provideseveral “starter” styles; however, users can modify them to accommodate companystandards.

ALIGNMENT LABEL SETS AND STYLESLabel sets are a collection of label style types grouped under an alias. When assigninga label set, the alignment uses the styles appropriate for its current definition. Userscan change the assigned set or assign new styles to an alignment. See the discussion ofthese styles in this chapter’s Unit 1.

FIGURE 5.38

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ADD LABELSThe Add Labels dialog box adds labels to an existing alignment (see Figure 5.39).Alignment’s Edit Feature Settings dialog box sets the default label styles. See the dis-cussion of Edit Feature Settings in this chapter’s Unit 1.

To change a label type, click its drop-list arrow and select the desired label type.When you change the label type, the dialog box displays the available label typesand any other appropriate selections.

ALIGNMENT TABLEAlignment tables list line, curve, or spiral segments (see Figure 5.40). You must labelthe alignment first, because each table entry corresponds to its alignment segmentlabel (line, curve, and spiral).

FIGURE 5.39

FIGURE 5.40

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SUMMARY

• When creating an alignment, the label set automatically annotates critical align-ment values.

• All labels are scale- and rotation-sensitive.

• All station and offset labels update their station and offset values in response toalignment changes.

• Alignment segment labels are similar to parcel segment labels, but are defined inthe Alignment branch.

• Users can create an alignment table listing line, curve, and spiral segment values.

UNIT 6: OBJECTS FROM ALIGNMENTS

After defining alignments, Civil 3D has routines to create new objects to referencethose alignments. Most routines create points and are in the Create Points toolbar.

POINT SETTINGSThe Create Points’ toolbar Expand Create Points Dialog can affect many new pointvalues. The dialog’s Elevations and Descriptions affect how points are assigned de-scriptions and elevations. If description and elevation are set to Manual, a routineprompts for these values before the point is created. If descriptions and elevationsare set to Automatic, a routine assigns the current value to each point withoutprompting the user.

When you create points and you want to use the alignment’s name as the description,set Prompt for Description to Automatic – Object. By selecting this option, thealignment’s name becomes the point’s description.

CREATE POINTS — ALIGNMENTThe Create Points toolbar — Alignment icons stack references to an existing align-ment (see Figure 5.41).

FIGURE 5.41

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Station/OffsetStation/Offset places points at specific stations and offsets along a selected alignment.When using this routine, you are prompted for an alignment. After selecting thealignment, a station jig appears and reports the stations and offsets. You use this jigto locate the station and then locate the offset. Instead of using the jig to locate a sta-tion and offset, users can enter the station and offset values.

Divide Alignment and Measure AlignmentDivide Alignment and Measure Alignment place points on the alignment at inter-vals. Divide places points to reflect the number of user-specified segments (for exam-ple, 10 equal segments). Measure places points at a user-specified distance (forexample, every 20 units).

At Geometry PointsAt Geometry Points places points at critical alignment locations. The critical pointsare PC (point of curve beginning), PT (point of curve ending), SC (point of spiralcurve intersection), RP (radial point), CC (compound curve points), and spiral curveintersections.

Radial or PerpendicularRadial or Perpendicular routine places points on an alignment that are radial or per-pendicular to user-selected points away from the alignment. Radial and Perpendicu-lar use a station jig to locate the points.

Import from FileImport from File reads an external file and creates points using an alignment’sstationing. The file formats contain station and offset values and other values. Thefollowing file formats are used by the routine:

Station, Offset

Station, Offset, Elevation

Station, Offset, Rod, Hi

Station, Offset, Description

Station, Offset, Elevation, Description

Station, Offset, Rod, Hi, Description

The Rod and Hi are for level surveys. The Rod is the prism elevation, and the Hi isthe instrument height. The file can be space- or comma-delimited.

CREATE POINTS — INTERSECTIONCreate Points toolbar’s Intersection icons stack contains routines to place points atthe intersection of alignments and directions, distances, other alignments, and otherobjects in the drawing (see Figure 5.42).

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Direction/AlignmentThis routine places points that are at the intersection between an alignment and adirection from a known point. The intersection can be an offset from both the direc-tion and alignment or either the direction or alignment.

Distance/AlignmentThe Distance/Alignment routine creates points at the intersection of a distance froma known point and an alignment. There can be an offset from the alignment.

Object/AlignmentThe Object/Alignment routine creates an intersection point at the intersection of anobject (line, circle, or spiral) and an alignment. Both the object and the alignment canhave an associated offset.

Alignment/AlignmentThe Alignment/Alignment routine creates a point at the intersection of two align-ments. There can be an offset from both or either alignments.

LANDXML OUTPUTLandXMLExport creates a file that describes an alignment’s geometry (see Figure 5.43).This file transfers an alignment’s geometry to other applications without loss of coor-dinate and design fidelity.

FIGURE 5.42

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CREATE ROW (RIGHT-OF-WAY)Create ROW is in the Parcels menu and creates right-of-way parcels (right and leftside of the alignment) that encompass the alignment and any intersecting align-ment. When running the routine, Create ROW displays a dialog box that sets filletor chamfer values for intersecting ROW lines from intersecting alignments (seeFigure 5.44).

Most Civil 3D objects react to or are linked to other objects, allowing them to interactwith one another. Unfortunately, the ROW parcel is not linked to its alignment andas a result will not change its geometry to match any changes to the alignmentdefinition.

A ROW parcel can be a parcel frontage boundary.

FIGURE 5.43

FIGURE 5.44

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SUMMARY

• Users can create points to reference an alignment’s geometry or stations andoffsets.

• Users can create points that intersect an alignment by using other alignments,directions, or distances.

• Users can import points from a file containing station and offset values (plus ad-ditional data).

• Users can create a Right-of-Way parcel based on an alignment’s definition.

• A Right-of-Way parcel is not linked to an alignment and will not react to anychanges in the alignment’s geometry.

An alignment is a roadway’s horizontal centerline. An alignment is a collection ofsegment types that understand basic rules about their connection with segments be-fore and after them. If you graphically adjust or manually edit segment values, theentire alignment adjusts to accommodate the changes. When you create alignments,they can include station and geometry annotation.

The next chapter focuses on the elevations along a centerline’s path, the profile.

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