Cross-sections

Use this function for the following:

• Viewing and analyzing the results of calculation (road and terrain cross-sections).
• Access the following function for editing the road model.
  • Select any surface (road surface, pavement layer, sodding, landscaping) from the graphic area by clicking on it and activate the shortcut menu to access the respective functions.
  • 'Road Surfaces' for editing the road surface description.
  • 'Road Pavement Description' for editing the road pavement description.
  • 'Roadbed' for defining/editing Roadbed.
  • 'Sodding' for modifying the sodding surface description.
  • 'Landscaping' for modifying the landscaping surface description.
  • The cross-section viewer will be updated automatically when the button 'Apply' on the above dialog boxes is evoked.
• Recalculating the active cross-section or all the cross-sections.

Having the 'Cross-section' and 'Perspective' views active, makes a powerful tool to optimize the alignment (horizontal and/or vertical).

• All projections of road project can be viewed when both the views are active.
• Remember to run 'Refresh all stations' from 'Cross-section Viewer', when changing the alignment or road model.

Several cross-section viewers can be displayed simultaneously by activating the dialog box from the menu several times.

• This means that two or a number of different road profiles can be displayed simultaneously

The cross-section viewer represents the model (e.g., road, railway, etc.) including the design objects and also display the following elements from the active terrain model:

1. Other alignments encountered within the search width
2. Surface edge lines - objects/lines used as surface edges in the road surface description
3. Existing objects encountered within the search width
   • refer Groups and Feature Code Settings to define existing objects
   • refer Other Elements for convention symbol of existing objects
4. Wire-frame encountered within the search width
5. External Model
6. Design Objects
7. Terrain surfaces
8. Sub-surface layers

• Groups and Feature Code Settings influence the display of the data available in the active terrain model

Scrolling through the cross sections:

• The scroll-bar on the right side of the dialog enables to browse through the cross-sections.
• Or use the arrow button at the field 'Station' of the dialog.
• Or specific stations can also be accessed from the field 'Station'. Enter the station number.
• Or use the arrows keys/page up/page down keys on the keyboard.

The size of the window can be adjusted manually or maximized.

• The last setting is automatically displayed every time it is activated.

Run the function from the following locations of the floating window 'Road Model':

Toolbar: View Cross-sections
Menu: View > Cross-sections…

The dialog box 'Cross-section Viewer -<Active Road Project>' will pop up.

• The dialog box has two main areas; one is graphic area and the other is properties area.
  • The properties area can be switched 'On'/'Off' with the icon 'Properties' from the toolbar area.
  • Or double click on the top border of information frame.
  • Properties area displays the properties of the active surface.
  • The active surface will be blinking in the viewer.
• Extended subsurface layers will be shown as dashed lines, which makes it very easy to see what is exact terrain data and what is extended (extrapolated) terrain. See the dialog box shown below:

• Use this icon to run cross-section calculations.
• Through this icon evokes the dialog box 'Building Activities', only the cross-section (terrain and road) calculations are performed, Quantity calculation and building wire frame model cannot be performed.

• Having the cross-section viewer active, if the alignment and/or the road model are modified ('Road Surfaces', 'Road Pavement Description' and 'Roadbed'), only the active road cross-section in the viewer is recalculated.
• This icon has the same action as that of the button 'Apply' on the dialogs 'Road Surfaces', 'Road Pavement Description', and 'Roadbed'.
• Only the active road cross-section in cross-section viewer is fully calculated after modifying the road model or alignment.
• All other road cross-sections, terrain cross-sections are deleted if it has not been specified from the function 'Options'.
• If other profiles are activated in cross-section viewer using its scroll options, program has to calculate the profile and then present it in the viewer.
  • The performance of the viewer will be slower then usual.
  • This is because the program needs to recalculate each section every time.
• This option is an effective tool when a problem involving only one road cross-section and repeatedly manipulating several input data.
• When a satisfactory result has been met, the whole project should be recalculated using the icon 'Refresh all Stations'.

Select the details that are to be displayed in the cross-section viewer:

1. Current Road - pavement layers, terrain sub-surface layers, and road boundary lines
2. Terrain - The source for terrain can be terrain surface or current surface for quantity calculation
   • Terrain surface - existing wire-frames are not considered as terrain surface
   • Current surface for quantity calculation - existing wire-frames are treated as terrain terrain surface
3. Other Elements
4. Information
5. Illustration Objects

• The viewer will be updated dynamically in relation to layer selection.
• As for illustration symbols, these must be activated from feature code in the dialog box for feature code setup. Refer 'Novapoint Base'.

• The interval for scrolling through the cross-sections in the viewer can be selected from this icon.
• By default, the quantity calculated stations (if quantity calculations are performed) would be shown in the viewer, else stations with interval as defined for cross-section calculation.
• The profiles to be shown in the viewer will also depend on the setting 'Calculation Interval' 'Settings' (tab - Accuracy).
• User can modify this by activating the dialog box 'Cross-section steps' and selecting 'Walk along these Stations'.
• Following are the profiles which can be viewed:
  • Cross-section at an interval as defined in the dialog box 'Settings'.
  • User specified intermediate stations - intermediate stations, which are to be calculated for some reason, are to be defined in the dialog box 'Settings'.
  • Stations at surface break points: For every change in the road surface description and alignment elements (horizontal and vertical) surface breakpoints are added.
• Mark the desired profiles, which are to be shown in the viewer.

• Use this icon to switch 'On'/'Off' the vertical and horizontal rulers.
• The ruler depicts the width for 0.5m steps, depending on the scale”.
• Option to display the elevation relative to reference surface or absolute elevations can be selected from the icon 'Elevation' or 'Relative Elevation'.

• Use this icon switch 'On'/'Off' the grid in the graphic area.
• The grid size is in 1.0 X 1.0 meter.

• Use this icon to switch 'On'/'Off' the properties in the bottom part of the viewer.

• Use this icon to measure diagonal, horizontal, vertical distances, and gradient.
• Click the icon, pick the first point, and move the cursor to the second point.
• Activate the 'AutoSnap to points' (End and Mid) to point precisely.

• Use this icon to obtain the coordinates dialog box.
• The dialog box displays the coordinates (North, East, and Elevation) of the cursor location.
• Point the cursor to the point, coordinates of which are to be known.
• Use 'AutoSnap to Points' (End and Mid snap modes) to point precisely.

• Use this icon to turn 'On'/'Off' the snap modes.

• Use these icons for pan and zoom actions.
• Use the icon 'Zoom Road' to zoom the actual road profile quickly.
• If the pan or dynamic zoom is active, shortcut menu is available for other zoom and pan functions.

• Use this icon to customize the display (colors and linetypes) of different surfaces (road, pavement layer, terrain, etc.,).
• Use the 'Reset' to return to default settings.
• Mind the background color of the viewer while assigning colors to different surfaces.

• This area displays the properties of the profile (road surfaces, pavement layers, terrain, etc.).
• Notice that by holding the mouse over a field, description of the field is displayed.
• The properties of the active surface (selected in the graphic area) will be displayed.
• Select the desired road surface or desired subsurface (pavement layer) or the terrain surface.

Station: Displays the cross-section station number.

• Enter the desired station number to view the cross-section.
  • If the desired cross-section is not previously calculated, this is done before it is displayed.
  • Note that any desired cross-sections can easily be calculated with this function.
  • Such cross-sections are not added to the road model, but only generated for viewing.
  • When a full cross-section calculation is performed these profiles will disappear.

Subgrade type: This field displays the Subgrade Type of the active cross-section.

Elevation: The road surface elevation, calculated at the innermost part of the reference road surface.

Gradient: Gradient of vertical alignment.

Horizontal position of cursor: Horizontal distance of cursor relative to centreline.

Vertical position of cursor: Elevation of cursor (relative or absolute depending on the setting of ruler).

Slider: Through this slider one can browse through the surfaces of the surface group active at 'Surface Group'.

• This is a very useful function if there are surfaces with small widths in the cross-section.
• Select the surface group from the pull down menu at 'Surface Group' and use the slider to browse to the desired surface.
• The properties of the surface will be displayed at 'Properties' area.

Surface name: Number and name on the active surface.

Surface groups/type: There are 8 different surface groups/types, which can be toggled active or deactivate. Select the desired surface from the pull down menu.

Width: Width of the horizontal projection of the active surface.

Slope: Cross Slope of active surface in meter/meter

Elevation: The elevation on the outer edge of the active surface.

Horizontal distance: The horizontal distance from the alignment to the outer edge of the active surface.

Vertical distance: The vertical distance from the alignment to the outer edge or the active surface.