SurvCADD

DTM - Contour Module

Introduction
The DTM-Contour module calculates surface models as either 3D grid mesh or triangulation
networks. Contour maps, volumes and other applications use these surface models. Any point,
insert, line, or polyline with elevation may be used to define the surface.

Understanding the concept of triangulation is helpful in working with the DTM-Contour module
since nearly every routine in this module references triangulation. Even 3D grid mesh uses
triangulation internally.

Triangulation creates a triangular network from points where points are connected by edges with
each edge forming a segment of one triangle or a common edge of two triangles (see Figure 5-1).
The edges are used to interpolate elevations between the points. Generally, points are connected
to their nearest neighbors because points that are close together are more likely to be related.
Sometimes making the nearest connection is not what you want. For instance, there might be two
points that define a segment of a road, wall, or ridge. Even though these points might be far apart,
you want them connected in the triangulation because you want to interpolate along this segment
and you don't want any edge crossing this path. This can be achieved by drawing a line or 3D
polyline between the points. All the vertices in lines and polylines are included as points in the
triangulation, and all the segments become edges in the triangulation. In this way, lines and
polylines are treated as barrier lines. In fact, 3D polylines can effectively used to create surface
models. Carlson supplies several routines for creating and modifying 3D polylines in the DTM drop-
down.

As another example, consider two points high up on opposite sides of a valley. If these two points
are connected by triangulation, their high elevations would be interpolated across the valley
creating a virtual dam in the valley where none really exists. This incorrect triangulation can be
prevented by creating a barrier line through the bottom of the valley and between the high points
on the opposite sides.

Figure 5-2: Triangulation with barrier line from

Figure 5-1: Triangulation Network point 22 to point 32.

Page 5-2 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands

3D Polyline Commands
3D Polylines are used in surface modeling to repre-
sent barrier or break lines which force interpolation
along the segments of the polyline. For example a
road centerline could be represented as a 3D polyline
with a 2 percent slope. The surface model would
interpolate along this polyline and hold the 2 percent
slope. The Offset, Trim, Extend and Join commands
are described in the Modify Commands section of the
manual.

Draw 3D Polyline
Function
This command sets a user specified layer and plots a 3DPOLY which can be used to define barrier
lines and features that better define surface models. You can pick points from the graphics
screen or use point numbers from the current Coordinate File (.CRD file). Ranges of point
numbers can also be specified. For example entering "3-1,5,10" would draw 3D Line segments
from point number 3 to 2 to 1 to 5 to 10.

There is an option to use a surface model that is stored in a file which can be either a grid file (.grd)
or triangulation file (.flt). When a point is picked or a point number is entered, the program uses
the northing and easting of this point and calculates the elevation from the surface model.

The Prompt for elevations (.XY filter) option determines whether the elevation of the specified
point is used automatically. With the XY filter active, the user is asked to enter the elevation either
by directly typing the elevation or by specifying the percent slope or slope ratio from the previous
point.

Warning: When creating a 3D polyline by picking points from the screen, be careful not to miss
a point and get a zero elevation. This would create a 3D polyline that drops to zero at one point.
As points are picked, Draw 3D Polyline reports the coordinate so that you can check that the

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-3

 correct elevation was used. If you miss a point and see a zero elevation, then you can type Undo
at the next prompt.

Prompts
Layer Name for 3DPoly <BARRIER>: [Enter]
Prompt for elevations (.XY filter) (Yes/<No>)? Y
Using the .XY filter allows the user to pick the X and Y coordinate from the screen and type in the
elevation. If you use the N response then the z coordinate of the point picked will be applied.
Use surface model from file (Yes/<No>)? When a point is picked, this option calculates the
elevation of the picked point using a surface model. The surface model can be either a grid file (.grd)
or triangulation file (.flt).
Pick point or point numbers: (pick point)
Percent slope/Ratio slope/Elevation <99.15>: 99.5
Undo/Pick point or point numbers: 15 This is a point number from the current coordinate file.
Percent slope/Ratio slope/Elevation <98.75>: P For Percent slope.
Ratio slope/Elevation/Percent slope <-2.53>: -2 Sets the elevation of this point to make a 2 percent
slope from the previous point.
Close/Undo/Pick point or point numbers: Press Enter
Pressing [Enter] ends the command.

Keyboard Command: 3dpline

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly
Prerequisite: None
File Name: \lsp\3dpline.lsp

3D Polyline with Follow

Function
In addition to allowing you to draw a polyline in the same way as the AutoCad pline command, this
command can also add sections of existing polylines into the new polyline. To include part of an
existing polyline, enter S for the Select existing polyline option. Then choose the existing polyline
and pick an enter point and an exit point on the polyline. The new polyline will "follow" the existing
polyline between these two points. If the existing polyline is closed, then there are two possible
ways to go between the enter and exit points. By default the points are connected in the direction
of the polyline. The command will highlight the default way. To connect in the other direction, enter
No to the Is this correct question. There is also a 2D Polyline with Follow command in the Draw
menu.

Page 5-4 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands

Prompts
Enter polyline layer name <0>: Press Enter
Select existing polyline/End/Pick point: Pick a point
Select existing polyline/Undo/End/Close/Pick point: S (For Select existing polyline)
Select the polyline to follow: Pick a polyline
Pick entrance point on polyline: Pick a point on the polyline
Pick exit point on polyline: Pick a point on the polyline
Select existing polyline/Undo/End/Close/Pick point: E (To End)

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: follow3d
Prerequisite: None.
File Names: \lsp\follow & \lsp\poly3d.arx

Slope Line
Function
This command draws 3DPOLY lines by specifying a slope ratio and a distance or elevation to plot
to. This command can be useful in defining pads, excavations, drainage ditches and slopes from
proposed design features to meet existing site conditions. For example, if you have plotted a 3dpoly
defining a parking lot with the endpoints representing the proposed elevations. Now use the Slope
Line command to define the slopes that run off the proposed to meet the existing ground (You could
also use this command to plot the parking lot). Slope lines (3D polylines) can be used in conjunction
with Triangular & Contour (as barrier lines), Make 3D GRiD File and the Sections from Surface
Model commands to help define a surface model for contouring and/or volumetrics.
Prompts
Slope ratio + for uphill - for downhill, Start point should be 3D.
Slope Ratio (?:1) <2.0>: 2
Start Point: (pick point)
Direction Point: (pick point)
Enter Hz Distance, [P]lot to Direction Point, or to [E]levation <P>: E
At this prompt you can enter a distance. Enter P to have the slope line plotted to the direction point
you selected or as in this example, enter E and be prompted for the elevation to end the line at.
Elevation to plot to: 100
Horizontal Dist: 50.00
Start Point Elevation: 0.0
End Point Elevation: 100.0
Difference in elevation: 100.0
The command then plots the specified 3DPoly line.

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-5

2D to 3D Polyline by Surface Model
Function
This command converts a 2D polyline into a 3D polyline by calculating 3D polyline vertices at all
the intersects of the 2D polyline with surface entities (contour polylines, triangulation lines) and
by interpolating elevations from these intersections at the original vertices locations. An
application for this command is to create barrier lines. For example, a ridge barrier line could
be generated from contour lines by drawing a 2D polyline along the ridge and across the
contours. Then this command could grab the contour line elevations along the polyline to make
a ridge barrier line.

In addition to using entities in the drawing, the 2D polyline can be converted to 3D using a surface
model stored in a grid (.grd) file or triangulation (.flt) file. A grid file is created with the Make Grid
File command and a triangulation file is created with the Triangulation File option in Triangulate
& Contour.

Prompts
Source of Surface Model (File/<Screen>)? Press Enter
Select surface line and polylines.
Select objects: select the surface entities (contour polylines, barrier lines, triangulation lines,
etc)
Reading points ... 1200
Select polylines to convert.
Select objects: pick one or more polylines

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: 2dto3dp
Prerequisite: A polyline and surface lines or grid file or triangulation file.
File Names: \lsp\2dto3dp.lsp & \lsp\makegrid.arx

2D to 3D Polyline by Points
Function
This command converts a 2D polyline into a 3D polyline by using the elevations of points. At
each vertex of the polylines, the program looks for a point with elevation at the same x,y location.
The points can be Carlson points or nodes (AutoCad POINT entities). This routine can be useful
if the linework is created in 2D at zero elevation with commands like Design Polyline, and points
with elevation are located along the linework. Then the linework can be converted into 3D
polylines with this command. For example, a centerline polyline with arcs may need to be
created in 2D for stationing because AutoCad does not allow arcs on 3D polylines. To use this
polyline as a barrier line in surface modeling, this command can convert the polyline into a 3D
polyline.
Page 5-6 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands
Prompts
Select points and polylines.
Select objects: select polylines to convert and the points with elevation

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: 2dto3dpt
Prerequisite: A polyline and points
File Names: \lsp\poly3d.arx

3D Polyline by Slope on Surface

Function
This command creates a 3D polyline at a user-specified slope. The user picks the starting point and
then the polyline continues along the surface at the slope until it reaches a point where the maximum
slope at the point is less than the design slope. The surface is defined by a grid file (.GRD) which
must be created before calling this routine. Applications for this command include designing haul
roads or ditches.

Prompts
Enter the polyline layer <SLOPE_ROAD>: Press Enter
Select the Grid File dialog
Reading row> 51
Extrapolate grid to full grid size (Yes/<No>)? Y (For yes)
Pick origin point of 3D polyline: Pick a starting point
Direction of 3D Polyline (<Up>/Down)? Press Enter. The slope must go either uphill or downhill.
Direction of 3D Polyline facing up slope (<Left>/Right)? R (For right). Imagine facing uphill. Do
you want the polyline to go to the left or right?
Enter the design slope: 10 (This value is in percent slope)

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: surfpl
Prerequisite: None.
File Names: \lsp\slope_rd.lsp & \lsp\cntr_grd.arx

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-7

 3D Polylines by Slope on Surface at 10, 15, and 20 percent slopes

Mesh from 3D Polyline

Function
This command plots a mesh defined by a series of polylines. This mesh can be used to visualize
a design feature such as a road or site. The polylines used for selection could be generated by
commands like Sections to 3D Polylines.

Prompts
Layer Name for Mesh <MESH>: ROADMESH
Surface Resolution (surftab1) <40>: 20
Select polyline ([Enter] to End): (select polyline)
Select polyline ([Enter] to End): (select polyline)
Select polyline ([Enter] to End): [Enter]
Pressing [Enter] ends the command.

Keyboard Command: meshf3dp

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly
Prerequisite: Plot the 3DPoly lines to use for selection.
File Name: \lsp\meshf3dp.lsp

Page 5-8 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands

Break 3D Polyline by Surface
Function
This command breaks 3D polylines against a surface. The surface is defined by a 3D grid surface
model which can be selected from a .grd file or the user can select 3D entities on the screen from
which program internally calculates a 3D grid. This routine is one step in 3D polyline design. In
this example, a valley fill is designed using 3D polylines as follows:
1. Draw 3D Polyline - draw a 3D polyline at elevation 1450 across valley
2. Offset 3D Polyline - offset the 3D polyline at 2:1 slope and 10:1 for benches and
top
3. Break 3D Polyline by Surface - trims the 3D polylines by the valley sides
4. Draw 3D Polyline - with OSNAP endpoint, draw 3D polyline perimeter around 3D
polylines ends
5. Make 3D Grid File - create 3D grid file of fill surface
6. Plot 3D Grid - draw the 3D grid using 3D polyline perimeter as inclusion polyline
7. Viewpoint 3D - creates the last figure view

Prompts
Source of surface model (File/<Screen>)? Press Enter. The File option allows you to choose the
.grd file that models the site. Otherwise a grid will be calculated by picking the grid location and
selecting surface entities on screen (ie contour polylines). Using the File option can be quicker
because the surface is already calculated. Also the .grd file can be drawn to preview the existing

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-9

 surface. Use Make 3D Grid File to create a .grd file.
Pick Lower Left limit of surface area: pick a point
Pick Upper Right limit of surface area: pick a point
Make GRiD Setting Dialog Click OK. See Figure 5-5.
Select polylines to clip.
Select objects: pick the 3D polylines
Select surface entities.
Select objects: select objects that define the surface.
Erase polyline below surface (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter. If you answer yes, the segments of the
polylines below the surface will be erased from the intersection, if any, of the polyline with the
surface. Otherwise the polylines will only be broken into separate polylines at the intersection.
Specify layer names (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. If you answer yes, you will have the option
to place the broken polylines into different layers.

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Prerequisite: Plot the 3D Polylines to use for selection and entities that define a surface.
Keyboard Command: surfbreak
File Name: \lsp\flatpond.lsp & \lsp\pond.arx

Before and after of Break 3D Polyline by Surface

Page 5-10 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands

 3D view of fill with grid mesh

Highlight Crossing Barriers

Function
Barriers are lines or polylines that are used in surface modeling to represent a break line such as
a ridge, stream or curb. Barrier lines force triangulation between the two endpoints of the barrier
line which prevents any other triangulation line from crossing the barrier line. This forces
interpolation along the barrier line. It is important to avoid crossing barrier line in the surface model
because the program cannot force triangulation along both since holding one will cross the other.
Also the program cannot hold the interpolation along both because the elevation at the intersection
point can be different for the two barriers. For example, consider a barrier line going from 101 to 105
and another going from 107 to 109. If these lines had an intersection at the midpoint, the elevation
for one would be 103 and the other 108. This is an error that needs to be fixed by the user because
those two barriers are holding different elevations at the same point.

This command checks for intersections between the selected barriers and then identifies any
crossing barriers by highlighting them. You can then edit these crossing barriers before doing
surface modeling such as Make 3D Grid or Triangulate & Contour.

Prompts
Ignore zero elevations (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter
Select surface entities to check.
Select objects: select polylines and lines
Finding points on barriers.

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-11

 2 crossing barriers are highlighted
or
Found no crossing barriers

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: xbar
Prerequisite: Polylines.
File Names: \lsp\makegrid.arx

Report 3D Polyline Station/Elevation

Function
This command reports station or elevation information on a 3Dpolyline. If the station information
is entered the program will return the elevation at the entered station. If the elevations are entered
the program will determine and report the station at which the entered elevation occurred. If the
elevation entered occurs at more than one location along the 3Dpolyline, all occurrences of the
elevation are reported.

A prompt is provided allowing you to designate a starting station, or accept the default value of
<0.0>. All entry and values are recorded and are displayed in the Carlson Standard Report Viewer
upon completion.

Prompts
Select 3D polyline to report: pick a polyline
Starting Station <0.0>: Press Enter
Enter elevation or station (<Elevation>/Station)? S
Enter Station to calculate elevation: 100
Station: 1+00.000 Elevation: 1052.262
Enter Station to calculate elevation (Enter to end): Press Enter

Select 3D polyline to report: pick a polyline

Starting Station <0.0>: Press Enter
Enter elevation or station (<Elevation>/Station)? E
Enter Elevation to find stations: 1210
Station: 3+27.509 Elevation: 1210.000
Station: 3+56.246 Elevation: 1210.000
Station: 5+21.339 Elevation: 1210.000
Enter Elevation to find stations (Enter to end): Press Enter
Pulldown Menu Location: 3Dpoly
Keyboard Command: plreport3
Prerequisite: A 3D Polyline
File Names: \lsp\poly3d.arx
Page 5-12 DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands
Tag Hard Barrier Polylines
Function
This command tags polylines with a description so that Triangulate & Contour can identify these
polylines as hard barrier lines. The tag is invisible and doesn't change the polyline. Triangulate &
Contour will not smooth the contours as they crosses these hard barrier lines. For example you could
tag 3D polylines that represent a wall so that the contours go straight across the wall without
smoothing curves.
Prompts
Select hard barrier lines.
Select objects: select polylines
Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly
Keyboard Command: hardbrk
Prerequisite: Polylines.
File Names: \lsp\hardbrk.lsp

Untag Hard Barrier Polylines

Function
This command removes description tags from polylines. These tags are used by Triangulate &
Contour to identify polylines as hard barrier lines. Contours are not smoothed as they cross these
hard barrier lines. This routine untags polylines so that contours are smoothed across them.

Prompts
Select polylines to remove hard barrier tag from.
Select objects: select polylines

Pull-Down Menu Location: 3DPoly

Keyboard Command: softbrk
Prerequisite: Polylines with hard barrier tag.
File Names: \lsp\softbrk.lsp

DTM & Contour Module - 3DPoly Commands Page 5-13

DTM Commands
In Carlson, a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) is represented by a
grid where the grid corners are
given elevations. This grid is
equivalent to a 3D rectangular
mesh.

The D.T.M. pull-down menu is shown below with it's two

cascading sub-menus. The top section contains commands for
placing points and 3D polylines that define the surface. The
second section includes Make 3D GRiD File which is the
central routine in the DTM commands. It calculates a surface
model from 3D entities and stores the model as a 3D grid in a
.GRD file. Below the Make 3D GRiD File routine are com-
mands that apply the .GRD files. The final section has AutoCad
viewing commands that may be useful after drawing a DTM.

Interpolate Points
Function
This command divides the distance between two points and inserts one of the point symbols at
the specified distances. It can also interpolate elevations (To interpolate elevations the points
picked must be at their real z axis elevation).

Prompts
Interpolate Elevations <Y>: [Enter]
Selected points must be 3D points (must be at an acad elevation)
Point w/elevation to calculate from?
Pick point or point number: 3
2nd Point w/elevation?
Pick point or point number: (pick point)
Number of Segments/Divisions: 5
The command then locates 4 points.

Page 5-14 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Execute Drawing Setup to set defaults. Locate two points to divide between and if you
want to interpolate elevation they should have a real Z axis elevation.
Keyboard Command: divlin
File Name: \lsp\divlin.lsp

Interpolate Entity
Function
This command divides the distance of a LINE, ARC or PolyLINE and locates points at the
computed distances. It also interpolates elevations (To interpolate elevations the points picked
must have an AutoCad or real Z/elevation). The figure below shows a graphical example.

Prompts
Interpolate Elevations <Y>: [Enter]
Point w/elevation to calculate from?
Pick point or point number: 1
2nd Point w/elevation?
Pick point or point number: 2
These points don’t have to be on the entity selected to divide.
Select Entity to Divide: (pick point on entity)

After selecting the points

above new points are located along
the selected entity.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-15

 Number of Segments/Divisions: 4
The command then locates 3 points along the selected entity.

Keyboard Command: divent

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Two elevation points and the entity to divide between.
File Name: \lsp\divent.lsp

Tag Predefined Boundaries

Function
This command allows you to identify closed polylines to be used as inclusion or exclusion
boundaries. These boundaries are applied in DTM commands such as Two Surface Volumes and
Triangulate & Contour. Inclusion polylines limit processing to inside the polyline. For example
an inclusion polyline for volumes would be the limit of disturbed area. Exclusion polylines
prevent processing inside the polyline. For example a building perimeter could be an exclusion
polyline for contouring. Tag Predefined Boundaries assigns a site name to polylines and whether
the polyline is for inclusion or exclusion.

Many DTM commands will prompt for inclusion and exclusion polylines. The advantage to
Predefined Boundaries is that you don't have to select the boundary polylines each time that you
run the DTM command. Instead the program will recognize that the boundary is already specified
and will prompt Use predefined boundary Area 1 (<Yes>/No)? This lets you just press enter
to use your predefined boundary. If you want to pick the boundaries, you can type N for No. When
you have more than one set of boundaries, the program lets you choose from a list of the
boundary names (as shown in dialog).

Prompts
Boundary name <Site 1>: Area 1
Select Inclusion perimeter polylines.
Select objects: pick the closed polylines or press Enter for none
Select Exclusion perimeter polylines.
Select objects: pick the closed polylines or press Enter for none

Keyboard Command: plzone

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Closed polyline
File Name: \lsp\plzone.lsp

Page 5-16 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Untag Predefined Boundaries
Function
This command removes the predefined boundary names from the selected polylines. These
polylines will no longer be automatically recognized as boundary polylines.

Prompts
Select polylines to remove boundary tag from.
Select objects: pick the boundary polylines

Keyboard Command: nozone

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: predefined boundary polylines
File Name: \lsp\dtm1.lsp

Make 3D Grid File

Function
This command creates a .GRD file which serves as a surface model and is a prerequisite to most
of the other DTM routines. The program internally makes a triangular network of the data points
and then interpolates the elevation values of a rectangular grid at the specified grid resolution.
Data points can be either points, inserts, lines, or polylines. Lines and polylines are treated as
barrier lines in the triangulation.

The grid location is specified by first picking a lower left corner and then an upper right corner.
The screen cannot be twisted when this is done because grids always run north-south and east-
west. Then a dialog box sets the range of elevations to process, modeling method and grid
resolution. Entities with elevations outside the range to process are ignored. The modeling
method almost always should be triangulation. Polynomial, inverse distance, kriging and linear
least squares apply to random data points for surfaces like underground features. The grid
resolution is specified by either the number of grid cells or by the size for each grid cell. While
the program can handle really huge grids, a general rule of thumb is to keep the total number of
grids cells under 250,000 (500 by 500). The grid location and resolution can also be specified
by using the settings from an existing grid file. In this case, the location and resolution of the new
grid will match those of the selected grid file which is useful for routines such as Elevation
Difference and Two Surface Volumes that require two grid files with identical locations and
resolutions.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-17

 Drawn grid file with original surface points

There are four triangulation modes: AutoDetect, Triangulation Only, Intersection with Triangulation
and Intersection Only. The Triangulation Only method builds a triangulation surface out of all the
selected points, lines and polylines. All lines and polylines are treated as barrier lines. Grid node
elevations are calculated based on the triangulation.

The Intersection with Triangulation will triangulate all the selected points and the only end points
of the lines and polylines. Then a "Steepest Intersection" method is used to assign the grid node
elevations from the linework of the triangulation lines and the selected lines and polylines. This
"Steepest Intersection" method is described in the Grid from Contour Maps section.

The Auto Detect method automatically chooses between the Triangulation Only and Intersection
with Triangulation methods. If the selected surface entities are primarily made of polylines, then
the Intersection with Triangulation method is used. Otherwise the Triangulation Only method is
used.

The Intersection Only method goes directly to the "Steepest Intersection" method using the
selected lines and polylines. The triangulation step is skipped and any selected point data is not
used. This method can be used for making grids out of polylines such as a contour map as long
as the surface is defined just by contour polylines without needing spot elevation points.
Skipping the triangulation step makes this method a lot faster especially for large files.

Page 5-18 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

 No elevations are calculated on grid cells that extend beyond the extent of the data. The figure
shows an example of how the grid is calculated to the limits of the data points. Extrapolation can
be used to calculate elevations for the grid cells that are beyond the data limits. When there are
grid cells with no elevation in a .grd file, many routines will prompt Extrapolate grid to full grid
size? Extrapolation fills in all the grid cells. The method to extrapolate uses a safe calculation
that tends average out or level the extrapolated values. So extrapolated grid areas are not as
accurate as grid areas within the limits of the data. The Grid File Utilities command can be used
to apply and save extrapolation to a grid file. The Plot 3D Grid command can then draw the grid
file so that you can see the extrapolation.

The .GRD file has the following format:

Line 1 is the lower left Y coordinate
Line 2 is the lower left X coordinate
Line 3 is the upper right Y coordinate
Line 4 is the upper right X coordinate
Line 5 is the X direction grid resolution
Line 6 is the Y direction grid resolution
The rest of the lines are the Z values of the grid intersects starting from the lower left
moving in the left to right direction and ending at the upper right. If the intersect has no value,
the letter 'N' is saved instead of the Z value.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-19

Grids from Contour Maps
A grid file can be created from contours represented as polylines with elevation. The program
calculates the elevation of each grid corner by looking for contour intersections in eight
directions (N, S, E, W, NE, SE, SW, NW) and then interpolating the elevation between the two
steepest intersections.

To accurately model the surface, it might be necessary to add entities in addition to the contour
polylines. For one, spot elevation points can be added for the high and low points. Otherwise the
grid model will plateau at the last contour. Also 3D barrier polylines need to be added on long
narrow ridge and valley contours because in these areas the program will find the same contour
when it looks for intersections in the eight directions. When all eight intersections are the same
contour, the interpolated grid elevation equals
the contour elevation instead of rising up the
ridge or dipping in the valley. The 3D barrier
polylines force interpolation along the ridge or
valley. To draw these polylines, set the OSNAP
to Nearest and run 3D Polyline under Draw.
Then draw the polyline by picking the contour
polylines where the barrier polyline crosses
them. Another way to quickly create barrier
polylines is to first draw the barrier polylines as
2D polylines. Then convert these polylines into
3D polylines with the Screen option in the 2D
to 3D Polyline by Surface Model command
under 3DPoly.

Page 5-20 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Prompts
GRiD File to Create File Selection Dialog Enter a name for the grid file. The default
directory is the Carlson data directory.
Use position from another file or pick grid position (File/<Pick>)? Press Enter Using
the position from another file will apply the lower left and upper right corners and the grid
resolution of the another grid file to the current one.
Pick the Lower Left grid corner: pick a point for the lower left limit of the grid.
Pick the Upper Right grid corner: pick a point
Make GRiD File dialog box
In this dialog, you specify the grid resolution and whether or not to include data points with zero
elevations. You can specify the resolution by entering the number of grid cells in the X and Y
directions. By the Dimensions option, you to set the X and Y size for each grid cell.
Select the points, lines, and polylines to grid from.
Select objects: pick the objects that will define the surface model
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Entities that define the surface
Keyboard Command: mkgrid
File Name: \lsp\dtmmkgrd.lsp, \lsp\makegrid.dcl, \lsp\makegrid.arx

Extrapolated and drawn grid file in plan view

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-21

 Same Grid file plotted and viewed with Viewpoint 3D

Plot 3D Grid File

Function
This command draws the 3D grid mesh of the chosen .GRD file. Each grid cell can be drawn as
a 3D Face entity, Polymesh, Text or temporary lines. 3D Faces and Polymesh can be viewed
from different directions using the
Viewpoint 3D command in the
Display menu. AutoCad's Hide and
Shade commands can also be
applied to 3D Faces and Polymesh.
Also 3D Faces are used by other
routines like Slope Zone Analysis.

The Text option will label the grid

elevation at the grid corner. The
text is placed center justified over
the grid corner. To reduce clutter,
there is an option to skip rows and
columns.

The Preview Only option draws the

grid as temporary "ghost" lines. The
advantage with this method is that
it is a much faster way to view the
grid. However as soon as you do a
Page 5-22 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
 zoom, redraw, regen or plot, this plot will disappear. If you want to zoom in or change your viewpoint
after creating the preview, you can type VG for View Grid at the command prompt to bring back the
preview.

The Vertical Exaggeration option multiplies the grid elevations by this value. The View option
can change the view to one of these 3D viewing directions.

The Reverse Face Order option changes the direction of the points for a grid cell from clockwise
to counterclockwise. The order applies to shading the grid cell in 3D render viewers such as the
3D Viewer Window command. The grid cell will only appear shaded when viewing the grid cell
from the clockwise side. Viewing from the other side will show a wire frame. The default is to
show the shaded side from the top-down view. This option allows you to draw the grid so that the
underside of the grid is shaded.

Color by Elevation will color the grid based on a table of user-defined elevation ranges and the
assigned colors. This is similar to the Elevation Zone Analysis command.

Draw Side Faces is an option to draw vertical faces around the perimeter of the grid. The side
faces will be drawn vertically from the grid perimeter to the Sides Base Elevation. Draw Corners
Only will draw the side lines only at the grid corners. Otherwise side lines are drawn down each
perimeter grid cell.

Use Inclusion/Exclusion Perimeters will bring up a prompt to select closed polylines for
inclusion and exclusion areas. Only grid cells inside the inclusion polylines will be drawn. Grid
cells inside the exclusion polylines will not be drawn. Subdivide Grid Around Inclusion
Perimeter will subdivide grid cells that are partially inside and outside the perimeter into smaller
resolution grid cells.
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: a .GRD File
Keyboard Command: plotgrid
File Names: \lsp\plotgrid.lsp & \lsp\cntr_grd.arx

Drawn grid file using inclusion perimeter and side faces option. Viewed with Viewpoint 3D.
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-23
Edit 3D Grid
Function
This command edits the elevation of a grid node by graphically picking the grid corner and
entering a new elevation. The grid is a surface model that is represented by a rectangular mesh
of grid cells. Each grid cell has four corners with elevation. This command modifies the
elevation of one of these grid corners. After picking the grid node to edit, the program draws a
temporary X marker on the selected point and shows the current elevation for the point. Before
running this routine, a grid file (.grd) must be created with the Make 3D Grid File command. Also
the grid must be drawn on the screen using the Plot 3D Grid File command. Besides updating the
elevation of the grid in the drawing, the grid file can also be updated. Whether to update the grid
file is specified at the first prompt in the program.

Prompts
Update drawing only (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. Choose between modifying the grid drawing
or both the grid drawing and file.
Select Grid node to edit: pick a grid cell corner
Enter new Grid node elevation <305.519>: Press Enter
Select Grid node to edit: Press Enter to end

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: a .GRD File and drawn grid 3D Faces
Keyboard Command: editgrid
File Names: \lsp\poly3d.arx

Grid File Utilities

Function
This command has many functions to modify grid files. The modifications can be done manually
and in a batch mode using the grid macros. To modify manually, start by picking the Load Grid
button. The Auto Extrapolate on Load option will extrapolate values for any null values in the
grid as the grid is loaded. There is another option to use inclusion and exclusion polylines. With
this option active, the program will prompt for inclusion and exclusion polylines when a grid
action is started. Only grid cells inside the inclusion polylines will be modified. Grid cells inside
the exclusion polylines will not be modified. If no inclusion and exclusion polylines are
selected, then the entire grid will be modified.

List Grid displays a list of the northing, eastings and elevation of each grid corner. A grid corner
will have no elevation, listed as None, if the grid corner was outside the limits of the data during
Make 3D Grid File.

Page 5-24 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

 Spreadsheet displays the grid elevations in a row and column spreadsheet that is in the same
layout as the grid file. Grid elevations can be edited in this spreadsheet.

Smooth Grid applies a quadratic smoothing algorithm to the grid by using neighboring nodes
to adjust each grid node. This routine can be used to refine a grid so that the contours from the
Contour from Grid routine appear smoother. Typically this adjustment is relatively small. To get
more smoothing, run the routine more times.

Change Position lets you change the lower left and upper right corners of the grid file. For
example, you can use this routine to localize a grid file if you have a large grid for the entire site
but are currently working on a smaller area. If the new position covers area outside the original
position, any grid cells in this area will be assigned a null value. Otherwise the program uses the
original grid values for the new grid position.

Change Resolution changes the grid resolution (number of grid cells). The program uses the
original grid values for calculating the grid values at the new resolution.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-25

 Match Dimensions sets the grid position and resolution to match another grid file. The program
will prompt for a grid file to get the position from.

Export to DTM writes the current grid file to a DTM format text file. The format of this file
is the following:
DTM 1.0 Header Line
test.dtm Name of file
51 Number of cells in X direction
51 Number of cells in Y direction
79442.4697 Lower left grid corner Y coordinate
14899.0326 Lower left grid corner X coordinate
0.0 Lower left grid corner Z coordinate
11.5618 Dimension of cell in X direction
7.0639 Dimension of cell in Y direction
1581.2612 Grid cell values starting from lower left, moving from left to right
1580.8879
1580.3257
etc...

Export to Points stores the northing, easting and elevation of grid nodes to a CRD file. There
are options to skip rows and columns from the grid. For example, you can enter skip=1 to create
points for every other row and column.

Import from Points creates a grid file from X Y Z data in a text file. There does not need to be
a current grid file loaded since this routine will create a grid file. The text file should consist of
one X Y Z coordinate per row with the first coordinate being the lower left grid corner and the
last coordinate as the upper right grid corner. There are options for space or comma separated
coordinates and for the order of the coordinates as either row (left to right) or column (bottom
to top).

Extrapolate can be used to assign elevations to all grid corners by any of four methods. Global
Trend finds the average slope and slope direction from the existing grid elevations and applies
this slope to calculating the missing elevations. Average method calculates a grid elevation as
the average of its nearest neighbors. Projected method extends the trend at the edge. Combined
method uses both Average and Projected. The Set Value button assigns the grid elevations to the
user-specified value.

Merge Grids creates a grid file by merging together two existing grid files, grid1 and grid2. The
current grid is grid1 and the program will prompt for a second grid. These two grids must overlap
with the same location and resolution. The inclusion and exclusion perimeters apply to grid2
such that the merged grid will consist of grid2 cells within the inclusion perimeters and outside
the exclusion perimeters and grid1 cells everywhere else. The result is stored in the current grid.

Set Value assigns the grid elevations to the user-specified value. For example by using Set Value
with the inclusion perimeter option, you could set the grid values to 0.0 within the inclusion
Page 5-26 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
 polyline for a strata thickness grid. You can also use Set Value to assign grid cells to NULL (no
value).

Add Value, Subtract Value, Multiply Value and Divide Value perform their function on each
grid cell using a user-specified value. For example, add 5 to the grid.

Add Grid, Subtract Grid, Multiply Grid and Divide Grid apply their function using another
grid file. This second grid file must have the same location and resolution. For example, you can
use Add Grid to add a strata thickness grid to a strata bottom elevation grid in order to create a
top elevation grid.

Min Grids compares the each grid elevation of the current grid file with a second grid file and
takes the minimum value. Likewise Max Grids compares two grids and takes the maximum
value.

Min Value compares the each grid elevation of the current grid file with a user-specified value
and takes the minimum value. Likewise Max Value compares the grid with a value and takes the
maximum value.

Less Value asks for a value to compare and a value to assign and uses the following logic:
if grid < compare_value then grid =assign_value, otherwise no change
Greater Value is the same as Less Value except the < is replaced with a > . Less and Greater
Grids use the same logic using grids to compare and assign instead of single values.

The Macro Command Recorder allows you to

store the grid manipulation steps to a .GFU file.
The macro can be recalled to rerun the steps. The
Record button will prompt for a macro file name
to create. Then start choosing grid action buttons
and each grid file function will be stored to this
file. Each grid file in the script is represented as a
variable name such as A or B. The current grid file
that is being modified is specified in the Current
Variable edit box. When recording a step that
involves another grid file, there are three options
for storing this grid into the script. Use Grid
Variable will use the grid assigned to the Grid
Variable Name. Prompt for Grid File Name will bring up a grid file selection dialog each time
the macro is run. Store the Grid File Name will save the specific grid file name into the macro.

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: Make a .GRD file with the Make 3D GRiD File command.
Keyboard Command: GFU
File Name: \lsp\makegrid.arx
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-27
One Surface Volumes
Function
One Surface Volumes calculates the cut and fill volumes between the surface modelled by one
.GRD file and a constant elevation. This is the same as Two Surface Volumes except that the
second surface is a flat plane at a constant elevation instead of a 3D grid surface. If the grid contains
grid cells that have no elevations, you have the option to extrapolate elevations from the grid cells
with elevations. When you choose not to extrapolate, no volume is calculated for these grid cells.
There are also options to specify inclusion and exclusion areas. When inclusion areas are specified,
only the volume within this inclusion area is calculated. Volumes within an exclusion area are not
included in the calculations. Inclusion and exclusion areas are represented by closed polylines and
must be drawn prior to calling One Surface Volumes.

Prompts
Specify GRiD File File Selection Dialog
Choose a .GRD file to process.
Extrapolate grid to full grid size (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. If you enter Yes to this prompt,
surface elevations will be computed for any grid cells that have null elevations.
Enter the base elevation: 570
This defines the second surface.
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Preprocessing grid cells ...
Processing cell 2500
Volume Report Options Dialog

Pull-Down Menu Location:

DTM
Volume report
Prerequisite: A .GRD file Comparing GRiD file: D:/SC12/DATA/FINAL.GRD
Keyboard Command: volcalc1 Lower left grid corner : 15965.00,12657.00
File Name: \lsp\volcalc.lsp & Upper right grid corner: 16275.00,12917.00
\lsp\volcalc.arx X grid resolution: 31, Y grid resolution: 26
X grid cell size: 10.00, Y grid cell size: 10.00
Total inclusion area: 56357.81 sq ft, 1.29380 acres
Cut to Fill ratio: 0.95
Cut (C.Y) / Area (acres): 9781.46
Fill (C.Y) / Area (acres): 10303.79
Cut volume is 341691.014 cubic ft, 12655.22274 cubic
yards
Fill volume is 359937.370 cubic ft, 13331.01369 cubic
yards Sample One Surface Volumes
Page 5-28 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
Two Surface Volumes
Function
Two Surface Volumes calculates the cut and fill volumes between two surfaces modelled by
.GRD files. These two grid files must have the same location and resolution. To create the grid
files, use the Make 3D Grid File routine. When creating the second grid file, choose Use
position of another file and select the first grid file. Using the position of the first grid file sets
the location and resolution of second grid to match the first.

There are several other routines that calculate volumes based on grid files. Grid based volumes
can be calculated by One Surface Volumes, Volumes by Layer, Stockpile Volumes, and Pond/
Pit Volumes. These routines have special prompting and calculate the grid surfaces and volume
in one step.

Volumes by Two Surface Volumes has three steps:

1. Creating the first grid file with Make 3D Grid File
2. Creating the second grid file with Make 3D Grid File
3. Running Two Surface Volumes

One advantage to Two Surface Volumes is that you have more control in the creation of the grid
files. Also you can draw the grid files with the Plot 3D GRiD File routine so that you can view
exactly what is being compared. Another way to verify that the grid files model the surfaces
correctly is to run the Contour From Grid routine and review the contours. Two Surface Volumes
also has more output options to check volumes.

Besides grid based volumes, volumes can also be calculated between triangulation surfaces using
the Volumes by Triangulation command. Cross section end area is another volume method that is
used by the Calculate Sections Volume command in the Section-Profile module.

There are also options to specify inclusion and exclusion areas. When inclusion areas are
specified, only the volume within this inclusion area is calculated. Important: whenever
possible you should use a polyline that represents the limits of disturbed area as the inclusion
perimeter. Volumes within an exclusion area are not included in the calculations. Inclusion and
exclusion areas are represented by closed polylines and must be drawn prior to calling this
routine.

If the grid contains grid cells that have no elevations, you have the option to extrapolate
elevations from the grid cells with elevations. When you choose not to extrapolate, no volume
is calculated for the grid cells left without elevations. In general, extrapolation is not very
accurate and should be avoided whenever possible. Sometimes you may get small amounts of cut
in stockpiles that should only be fill, or small amounts of fill in pits that should only be cut. These
extraneous quantities are due to extrapolation at the border and should be small enough to be
ignored. When inclusion or exclusion polylines are used, the program will automatically
extrapolate the grids.
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-29
 In addition to writing a volume report to the
file, printer or screen, there are several
volume report options. Write Difference
Grid File will create a .GRD file of the
elevation difference of the two grid files.
Draw Difference Contours will create a
contour map of the difference or depth
between the two grid files. Draw Elevation
Difference in Each Cell will plot the
elevation difference at the grid corners which
is the same as the Elevation Difference
routine. Draw Volume in Each Cell will
plot the calculated volume for each grid cell
and is an excellent way to verify the volume
calculation. If a cell contains both cut and
fill, both values will be plotted. Calculate
Elevation Zone Volumes calculates the cut
and fill between different elevation ranges. The Draw Cut/Fill Color Map routine will solid
fill color each grid cell with different shades based on the average cut or fill in the cell. Red
shades are used for cut and blue for fill. There is an option to draw a color legend. The Use Report
Formatter allows you to customize the report by choosing the fields to report and their order.
Also the report formatter can be used to output the report data to Excel or Access. The Process
Another Area with Current Grids option will run Two Surface Volumes again using the same
grid files but different inclusion/exclusion polylines. This option saves the step of reloading the
grid files to calculate volumes from the same grids for multiple areas. The Cut Swell Factor
is multiplied by the cut volume in the report. Likewise the Fill Swell Factor is multiplied by
the fill volume. The Report Tons option allows you to enter the material density and the program
will report the cut and fill tons in addition to volume.

Final surface contours with a closed polyline

Existing surface

Page 5-30 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

 Volume Report
Comparing GRiD: C:/SC14/DATA/SIMO.GRD
and GRiD: C:/SC14/DATA/BASE.GRD
Lower left grid corner : 186551.67,57624.98
Upper right grid corner: 186828.81,57897.09
X grid resolution: 75, Y grid resolution: 75
X grid cell size: 3.70, Y grid cell size: 3.63
Total inclusion area: 37016.71 sq ft, 0.850 acres
Cut to Fill ratio: 1.14
Cut (C.Y) / Area (acres): 3642.35
Fill (C.Y) / Area (acres): 3182.70
Cut vol: 83570.89 cubic ft, 3095.22 cubic yards
Fill vol: 73024.56 cubic ft, 2704.61 cubic yards Contours from the Draw Depth/Difference
Contours option. This is a good way to
Sample Two Surface Volumes report
check that both surfaces are modeled
correctly and to verify the volumes. The cut
contours are red, fill contours are blue, and
Given two good .grd files, this routine will calculate
accurate volumes. So to verify
the volume calculation, it is a
Volumes by
good idea to check the .grd
elevation zone
files either by drawing them
with Plot 3D Grid File and
Zone 20.00 to 30.00
viewing them with Viewpoint
Cut volume : 0.30 cubic ft, 0.01 cubic yards
3D or by contouring the grids
Fill volume: 107.90 cubic ft, 4.00 cubic yards
with the Contour Grid File
command.
Zone 30.00 to 40.00
Cut volume : 4.88 cubic ft, 0.18 cubic yards
Prompts Fill volume: 73021.14 cubic ft, 2704.49 cubic yards
Select the Inclusion Running total:
perimeter polylines or Cut volume : 5.18 cubic ft, 0.19 cubic yards
ENTER for none: Fill volume: 73129.05 cubic ft, 2708.48 cubic yards
Select objects: Pick a
closed polyline for the limits Zone 40.00 to 50.00
of disturbed area Cut volume : 65044.26 cubic ft, 2409.05 cubic yards
Select objects: Press Enter Fill volume: 0.25 cubic ft, 0.01 cubic yards
Select the Exclusion Running total:
perimeter polylines or Cut volume : 65049.44 cubic ft, 2409.24 cubic yards
Fill volume: 73129.29 cubic ft, 2708.49 cubic yards
Report from the Calculate Elevation
Zone Volumes option which Zone 50.00 to 60.00
calculates the cut and fill in different Cut volume : 17786.85 cubic ft, 658.77 cubic yards
elevation ranges at a user-specified Fill volume: 0.00 cubic ft, 0.00 cubic yards
interval and beginning at a user- Running total:
specified starting elevation. Cut volume : 82836.29 cubic ft, 3068.01 cubic yards
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-31
 ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Specify Base Grid File Selection Dialog
Choose a .GRD file to process.
Extrapolate grid to full grid size (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. If you enter Yes to this prompt,
surface elevations will be computed for any grid cells that have null elevations.
Specify Final Grid File Selection Dialog
Choose a .GRD file to process.
Extrapolate grid to full grid size (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter.
Volume Report Options
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Two grid files
Keyboard Command: volcalc2
File Name: \lsp\volcalc.lsp & \lsp\volcalc.arx

This shows a grid drawn by Plot 3D Grid File and volume values drawn by the Draw Volume in
Each Cell option of the Two Surface Volumes routine. Cut appears as negative and fill as positive.
Notice that cells bordering cut and fill regions contain a little of both.

Page 5-32 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Volumes By Layer
Function
Volumes By Layer is the easiest yet
still equally accurate method for cal-
culating volumes. For this command,
volumes are calculated in one step by
a simple window of the area, selecting
the items, and calculate.

First you must specify the grid loca-

tion and resolution. The grid location
should enclose the area for volume
calculations. Next the program asks for the layer names of the entities for the base and final
surfaces. These entities, for use in modelling the surfaces, can be points, lines (such as
triangulation lines), 2D polylines (such as contours), and 3D polylines (such as barrier lines).
Inclusion and exclusion perimeters may optionally be specified to limit the volume calculation
area on the grid. An inclusion perimeter should be used if there is a closed polyline for the limit
of the disturbed area. Then the program internally generates grids of the surfaces from the
entities on the corresponding layers and then calculates and reports the volume. The main
disadvantage to this routine is that it doesn't have the special output options of Two Surface
Volumes such as Depth Contours.
Prompts
Pick Lower Left limit of surface area: Pick a point
Pick Upper Right limit of surface area: Pick a point to window the entire area
Make Grid File Dialog Choose a grid resolution.
Volumes by Layer Dialog Specify layer names. Click Select Layers to get layers of picked
entities on screen.
Select surface entities on corresponding layers.
Select objects: select all the objects on both the EXISTING and FINAL layer sets for the site.
In this example, select all entities on the perimeter, ctr, and pnt layers.
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Processing cell 2500
Write report to file (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Write report to printer (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Volume Report See Figure 5-10
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Entities that define both the base and final surfaces.
Keyboard Command: layervol
File Name: \lsp\layervol.lsp & \lsp\makegrid.arx
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-33
Volumes By Triangulation
Function
Volumes By Triangulation is an alternative volume method that compares two triangulation
networks. This method is different from the grid based volume routines (Volumes By Layer, One
Surface Volumes, Two Surface Volumes, Stockpile Volumes, etc.) and the cross section volume
routine (Calculate Section Volume). Volumes by Triangulation calculates faster in most cases
than the other methods, and it is the most accurate because it models every edge on the site. This
added accuracy in general is very small. The grid resolution is usually sufficient to model the
surface for the grid based volumes. The Volume By Triangulation accuracy applies well when
there is a feature like a 5 foot wide ditch. Then the grid resolution would need to be less than 5
foot to model the ditch which might be difficult on a large site.

The disadvantage to this routine is that it lacks the output options that help the analysis of the
volume such as Difference Contours. Also Volumes by Triangulation does no extrapolation and
stops calculating volume at the perimeter of the smaller of the two triangulation networks.
Volumes By Triangulation is better when used with point data instead of contour data because
contour data requires triangulating all the contour polylines as barrier lines which creates a large
triangulation network and is slower.

The triangulation networks to compare are defined in .flt files that are created by Triangulate
& Contour with the Write Triangulation File option. Before Volumes By Triangulation, run
Triangulate & Contour twice to create an .flt file for each surface.

The volume calculation is limited by either the extent of the triangulation networks or by an
inclusion perimeter which is a closed polyline. An inclusion polyline should be used when there
is limit of disturbed area perimeter.

Prompts
Select EXISTING surface Tmesh File
Choose a .flt file
Select FINAL surface Tmesh File
Choose another .flt file
Pick inclusion perimeter polyline (ENTER for none): pick a closed polyline perimeter
Calculating ...
Write report to file (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Write report to printer (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Comparing Triangulation files: C:\SC124\DATA\TRI1.FLT
and C:\SC124\DATA\TRI2.FLT
Cut volume: 66891.35 C.F., 2477.46 C.Y.
Fill volume: 43458.01 C.F., 1609.56 C.Y.

Page 5-34 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: Two .flt files.
Keyboard Command: trivol
File Name: \lsp\contour4.arx

Elevation Zone Analysis

Function
This command can be used to calculate the surface area of a surface in different elevation zone
ranges. The program requires 3D Face entities that can be generated by the Plot 3D GRiD File
or 3D Slice commands. The Draw Triangulation Faces option in Triangulate & Contour can also
be used to create triangular 3D Faces. For each elevation zone, the 3D Faces can be hatched with
an AutoCad hatching pattern, solid filled with the "SOLID" pattern, or left empty with the "NONE"
pattern. The 3D Faces are also placed in a layer for each zone.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-35

 There are also options to specify inclusion and exclusion areas. When inclusion areas are
specified, only the area within the inclusion polyline is calculated. Areas within an exclusion
polyline are not included in the calculations. Inclusion and exclusion areas are represented by
closed polylines and must be drawn prior to calling this routine. Without inclusion and exclusion
polylines, all the area of each selected 3D Face is used.

Prompts
Elevation Zone dialog Specify the elevation ranges, colors and patterns.
Plot average elevation text in each grid cell (Yes/<No>): Y
Select Rectangular 3D Faces to Analyze...
Select objects: C
First corner: (pick point) Other corner: (pick point) 1200 found
Select objects: [Enter]
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Pick a closed polyline for the limits of disturbed area
Select objects: Press Enter
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Surface %of
Zone Range Area Total
-------------------------------------------------------
1 <= 100.00 26822.41 27.25
2 > 100.00 27439.15 27.88
3 > 110.00 16727.98 17.00
4 > 120.00 12357.28 12.55
5 > 130.00 11700.36 11.89
6 > 140.00 3380.98 3.43
------------------------------------------------------
Total Surface Area> 98428.16
Average Elevation > 110.83
Minimum Slope% > 0.00 Maximum Slope%> 252.97
Minimum Elevation > 90.00 Maximum Elevation> 149.53
If you have the printer/device set to ON in the Configure SurvCADD the above report is sent to
it.
Select point for color legend: (pick point)
If a point is picked, a legend showing the color of each range is drawn. The legend is drawn aligned
to the current view UCS. For this reason it is best to have the mesh at the Vpoint at which it will
be plotted before executing the analysis program.

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: 3D Face entities plotted usually created by the Make 3D GRiD File command.
Keyboard Command: elvzone
File Name: \lsp\elanal.lsp &\lsp\contour4.arx
Page 5-36 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
 Result of Elevation Zone Analysis viewed in 3D with the Viewpoint 3D
command and shade command.

Elevation Difference
Function
This routine calculates the elevation difference either between two grid files at each grid corner
or between points and a grid or triangulation file. Grid file model surfaces are created with the Make
3D GRiD File command and triangulation files are created with the Triangulate & Contour
command.

When comparing two grid files, the elevation difference is drawn as text, and the + or - sign is
placed where the measurement is taken at the grid corner. The two grids must have the same
resolution and location. To get the grids to match, either pick the exact same lower and upper
grid points, or use the Use position from another file option of Make 3D GRiD Files when
making the second grid. Elevation Difference can be used to obtain a map of the elevation
differences between two surfaces. The elevation difference labels can be drawn in different
layers for cut, fill and zero difference (daylight). The default is to have cut in red, fill in blue and
daylight in green. You can also specify the text size, decimal places and the number of rows and
columns to skip. For example, on a large dense grid, you may want to skip every other row and
column so that not too much text is drawn.

Elevation Difference also has an option to compare points stored in a coordinate file (.crd file)
with a grid file or triangulation file. The routine generates a report of the point coordinates, surface

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-37

 elevation and elevation difference. The
report formatter is used to select the
fields to report. The report can also be
output to Excel or Access. There are
also options to add the elevation differ-
ence to the point descriptions in the
.CRD file. Another option draws text
below the point for the elevation of the
point, the elevation of the grid at the
point, and then the elevation difference.

Prompts
For elevation difference between two
grids:
Grid 1
Calculate difference at points or
between grids (Points/<Grid>)?
Press Enter
Select the Grid 1 File Name Dialog
Select the Grid 2 File Name Dialog
The default layering method is to put
cut in red layer CUT, fill in blue layer
FILL, and zero elevation difference in
green layer DAYLIGHT.
Layer name for the Cut text
<CUT>: Press Enter
Layer name for the Fill text
<FILL>: Press Enter
Highlight zero elevation
differences (<Yes>/No)? Press
Grid 2 Enter
Layer name for zero elevation
difference text <DAYLIGHT>:
Press Enter
Size of text <0.73>: [Enter]
Number of rows to skip between text <0>: [Enter]
Number of columns to skip between text <0>: [Enter]

For elevation difference between points and grid:

Calculate difference at points or between grids (Points/<Grid>)? P for points

Select Coordinate File
Choose the .crd file of the point with elevations to compare with the grid surface.
Range of point numbers to use (A for All): 18-30

Page 5-38 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

 Wildcard match of point description
<*>: Press Enter
Select Grid File
Choose the .grd file that models the
surface
Elevation Difference Options
dialog

Elevation Differences from grid 2 to grid 1

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: Two .grd files or a .grd file and a
.crd file.
Keyboard Command: elevdiff
File Name: \lsp\cntr_grd.arx

Elevation difference at points showing

elevation of point, elevation of grid
surface, and elevation difference

Point# Northing Easting Point Z Surface Z Difference

23 5,043.336 5,041.267 582.100 582.091 -0.009
24 5,029.491 5,014.899 573.100 573.401 0.301
26 5,033.449 4,929.189 565.200 564.463 -0.737
27 5,076.303 4,914.027 559.200 558.824 -0.376
Report of Elevation Difference Between Points and Surface Model
DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-39
Slope Direction Analysis
Function
This command categorizes the slope direction as either N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW. The
program requires 3D Face entities that can be generated by the Plot 3D GRiD File command or
the Draw Triangulation Faces option of Triangulate & Contour. Each 3D Face is colored by
the slope direction zone and a report of the area for each zone is generated. A pinwheel color
legend can also be drawn.

There are options to specify inclusion and exclusion areas. When inclusion areas are specified,
only the slope area within the inclusion
polyline is calculated. Slope area within an
Slope Direction Report
exclusion polyline are not included in the
Number of 3DFaces analyzed> 1180
calculations. Inclusion and exclusion areas
Surface % of
are represented by closed polylines and
Zone Area S.F. Acres Total
must be drawn prior to calling this routine.
------------------------------------------
Without inclusion and exclusion polylines,
N 1244327.38 28.57 17.24
all the slope area of each selected 3D Face
NE 674141.92 15.48 9.34
is used.
E 198462.34 4.56 2.75
Prompts SE 1307331.30 30.01 18.11
Select 3D Faces to Analyze ... S 1524694.82 35.00 21.13
Select objects: pick the 3D faces SW 381173.70 8.75 5.28
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines W 548134.09 12.58 7.59
or ENTER for none: NW 1338833.26 30.74 18.55
Select objects: Pick a closed polyline if ------------------------------------------
needed Total Surface Area> 7217098.81

Original Contours Surface Colored by Slope Direction

Page 5-40 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
 Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Pick a closed polyline if needed
Select point for color legend: pick a point
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: 3D Face entities
Keyboard Command: dzone
File Name: \lsp\contour4.arx

Slope Zone Analysis

Function
This command calculates the surface area of a site in different slope zone ranges. The program
requires 3D Face entities that can be generated by the Plot 3D GRiD File command or the Draw
Triangulation Faces option of Triangulate & Contour. For each slope zone, the 3D Faces can
be hatched with an AutoCad hatching pattern, solid filled with the "SOLID" pattern, or left empty
with the "NONE" pattern.

This command can also generate contours of the slope zones based on the calculated slope at
each point of the 3D Faces. The slopes can vary greatly between neighboring points. When
contoured directly, these slope data points produce incoherent contours. Instead this routine
applies a filtering algorithm that reduces the noise. There is another option to output a grid file
of the slope values.

There are also options to specify inclusion and exclusion areas. When inclusion areas are
specified, only the slope area within the inclusion polyline is calculated. Slope area within an
exclusion polyline are not included in the calculations. Inclusion and exclusion areas are
represented by closed polylines and must be drawn prior to calling this routine. Without
inclusion and exclusion polylines, all the slope area of each selected 3D Face is used.
Prompts
Slope Zone dialog Specify the slope zones, colors and patterns from lowest to highest.
Draw contours of slope zones (Yes/<No>)? Yes
Output a grid file of the slope (Yes/<No>)? No
Apply hatch patterns to grid cells (Yes/<No>)? No. This option fills the 3D faces with the
hatch pattern defined for the different zones. Without the hatch patterns the program will just
modify the 3D faces color.
Freeze grid layer after processing (Yes/<No)? No. This freezes the layer of the 3D faces so
that the slope contours are easier to see.
Select Rectangular 3D Faces to Analyze...
Select objects: C
First corner: (pick point) Other corner: (pick point) 1200 found
Select objects: [Enter]
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-41

 Select objects: Pick a closed polyline for the limits of disturbed area
Select objects: Press Enter
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none:
Select objects: Press Enter
Analyzing Entity> 1000 of 1000
Select point for color legend: (pick point)
If a point is picked a legend showing the color of each range is drawn. The legend is drawn aligned
to the current view UCS. For this reason it is best to have the mesh at the Vpoint at which it will
be plotted before executing the analysis program.
Contouring Options Dialog This dialog appears if the Draw Slope Contours option is active.
You may want to change the Contour Layer so it doesn't conflict with any existing contour layers.
The Hatch Slope Zones applies the hatch patterns to the slope zones between the slope contours.
Reading points 1000 ...
Processing points 1000 ...
Triangulating points 1000 ...
Inserted 4205 contour vertices.
Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM
Prerequisite: 3D Face entities plotted usually created by the Make 3D GRiD File command.
Keyboard Command: szone
File Name: \lsp\elanal.lsp &\lsp\contour4.arx
Page 5-42 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands
 Slope Report
Number of 3DFaces analyzed> 1334
Surface % of
Zone Range Area S.F. Acres Total
—————————————————————
1 <= 10.00 19902.43 0.46 16.37
2 > 10.00 38169.69 0.88 31.39
3 > 20.00 35833.72 0.82 29.47
4 > 30.00 19622.12 0.45 16.14
5 > 40.00 8082.44 0.19 6.65
—————————————————————
Total Surface Area> 121610.41
Average Slope > 21.87
Minimum Slope%> 0.00 Maximum Slope%> 66.77
Slope Zone Analysis report

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-43

 Figure 2
Figure 1

Figure 4
Figure 3

Page 5-44 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

 Figure 5 Figure 6

Figure 1: Surface contours

Figure 2: 3D Faces from a grid surface model created by Make 3D Grid File and drawn by Plot 3D
Grid File.
Figure 3: 3D Faces created by Triangulate & Contour with the Draw Triangutation Faces option.
Figure 4: Slope zone contours created from the grid 3D Faces.
Figure 5: Slope zones that follow the surface contours using the triangulation 3D Faces.
Figure 6: Hatched slope zone contours created from the grid 3D Faces.

Slope Report
Function
This command calculates the sloped surface area, average slope and average elevation on a site.
The surface can be defined by a grid (.GRD) file or generated from 3D entities on the screen.

For the screen method, the surface is modeled from the user-selected entities such as contour
polylines. Besides the surface entities, a perimeter polyline is used as the inclusion area for the
slope report. The perimeter polyline must be a closed polyline in the PERIMETER layer.

For the grid file option, there are options to specify inclusion and exclusion perimeters. When
inclusion perimeters are specified, only the area within the inclusion perimeters is calculated.
The area within exclusion perimeters is not included in the calculations. Inclusion and exclusion
perimeters are represented by closed polylines and must be drawn prior to calling this routine.

While Slope Zone Analysis also reports slope area, this routine works from a .GRD file instead
of 3D Face entities, allows both inclusion and exclusion areas, and is faster.

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-45

Prompts
Source of surface model (<File>/Screen)? S for Screen

For Screen method:

Ignore zero elevations (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter
Select surface entities and perimeter.
Select objects: pick the objects

For File method:

Select the GRiD file
Choose a .GRD file of the site.
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none: Pick any inclusion polylines
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none: Pick any exclusion
polylines

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: A .GRD file created by Make 3D Grid File
Keyboard Command: sarea
File Name: \lsp\sloparea.lsp & \lsp\volcalc.arx

Average Slope Report

Processing GRiD file: C:\SC14\DATA\FINAL.GRD
Lower left grid corner : 4942.02,4821.97
Upper right grid corner: 5212.70,5130.76
X grid resolution: 50, Y grid resolution: 50
X grid cell size: 5.41, Y grid cell size: 6.18
Horizontal Area: 55992.227 sq ft, 1.285 acres
Slope Area: 56315.725 sq ft, 1.293 acres
Average Elevation: 1056.252
Average Slope: 9.011
Slope Report

Page 5-46 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

3D Slice-Projection
Function
To use this command first plot the strata meshes that you would like to take a slice of using the
Plot GRiD File command. For best results each strata mesh should be plotted on a different layer
(set to a different color). Then from Plan view start this command and select the corners
(points) of the slice box-line. The command then trims the faces outside the slice box and draws-
projects faces down from strata to strata. Shift the VPOINT to a 3D view and use the SHADE or
HIDE commands to ‘Solidify’ the strata model. Figure 5-15 shows the selection points.

Prompts
Select 1st corner of slice box-line: (select point)
Select 2nd corner of slice box-line: (select point)
You can select any number of the rows and columns from the mesh. The command then
processes the selected 3DFaces.

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: Plot a least two .GRD files or 3D Rectangular Meshes.
Keyboard Command: 3dslice
File Name: \lsp\mcslice.lsp & \lsp\contour4.arx

Figure 5-15

DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands Page 5-47

Draw Grid Boundary
Function
This command creates a polyline around the outside perimeter of the area defined by a grid file.
This feature is useful to show the area that a grid covers without having to run the Plot 3D Grid
command which draws all the grid cells and is much slower.

Prompts
Enter the polyline layer <GRID>: Press Enter
Select Grid File dialog
Reading cell> 10201
Done.

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: A .GRD file
Keyboard Command: grdlimit
File Name: \lsp\cntr_grd.arx

Draw Grids Intersection

Function
This command compares two grid files and creates polylines where the grid intersect each other.
For example, the two grids could represent existing and final surfaces and the intersection
polylines would represent the daylight lines. Another example would be to have one grid for the
ground surface and the other grid for a strata surface. Then the grids intersection would represent
the strata outcrop. The grids should have the same X,Y location and resolution. The intersection
polyline can be drawn in 3D at the elevation of the intersection or in 2D at 0 elevation. The
Smooth Polyline and Reduce Vertices options are described in the Triangulate & Contour
function.

Pull-Down Menu Location: DTM

Prerequisite: Two .GRD files
Keyboard Command: grdlimit
File Name: \lsp\grdcross.lsp, \lsp\tri4.dcl &
\lsp\makegrid.arx

Page 5-48 DTM & Contour Module - DTM Commands

Contour Commands
Shown below is the Contour pull-down menu. The commands in the top section allow you to create
contours. The middle section commands annotate, smooth, and highlight index contours. The final
section has commands for digitizing contours.

Triangulate & Contour is the principle routine in this pull-down. In addition to triangulation and
contouring, this command also can optionally do the contouring embellishments of the middle
section all in one step.

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-49

Triangulate & Contour
Function
Triangulate & Contour provides all the functionality related to contouring in one routine. Given
data points that represent the surface, this command can create a final contour map with labeled,
smoothed, and highlighted contours. The data points can be points, inserts, lines, polylines, and
points from ASCII or .CRD files. In order to force Triangulate & Contour to interpolate elevations
between two points that define a straight line in the surface such as points on a ridge, wall, or road,
a barrier line must between the points. A barrier line can be specified as a 3D polyline or line. In fact,
all lines and polylines are treated as barrier lines.

Triangulate & Contour has many options which are specified in the dialog box shown in the dialog
below. With this command, you can do any combination of drawing the triangulation network lines,
drawing the contours, drawing triangulation network 3D Faces, and writing a triangulation file. The
triangulation options are in the top section of the dialog while the contouring options are at the
bottom. All the Triangulate & Contour options can be set in Configure SurvCADD as defaults.
Configure SurvCADD also has an Auto-run Contour option which skips the dialogs when running
Triangulate & Contour.

If Triangulate & Contour reports zero points found and fails to do anything when you're using
Carlson points, then those points are prob-
ably located at zero elevation. To fix this
problem, you can either choose Specify
Selection Set Options and then select
SurvCADD Point Inserts which will read
the elevation from the elevation attribute
of the point. Or you can go to Drawing
Setup and select Locate on Real Z Axis
and then call Locate Points to replot the
points.

Prompts
Triangulate & Contour Options Dialog
Box
All the options for this command are con-
trolled by this dialog.
Draw Contours
When this box is marked, the
program will draw contour lines after trian-
gulating. Otherwise, only the triangula-
tion is performed.
Contour Layer
This setting is the name of the

Page 5-50 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 layer in which the contour polylines will be drawn.
Draw Triangulation Lines
When this box is marked, the program will draw the triangulation as 3D lines.
Triangulation Lines Layer
This setting is the name of the layer in which the triangulation network lines will be drawn.
Draw Triangulation Faces
When this box is marked, the program will draw each triangle in the triangulation network
as a 3D Face. These 3D Faces can then be used in AutoCAD's modelling routines such as HIDE
and SHADE. 3D Faces are also used by the Slope Zone Analysis routine.
Triangulation Faces Layer
This setting is the name of the layer in which the triangulation network faces will be drawn.
Write Triangulation File
This option stores the triangulation surface model as an .flt file which is a text file of the
edges in the triangulation network. This triangulation file can be used by several commands such
as Volumes By Triangulation, Spot Elevations, and Profile from FLT File. The .flt file is in a Softdesk
fault file format. To create a Softdesk TIN from the fault file, go to the TIN menu and choose Fault
Data, From File. Give a surface name as usual and then choose the fault file from Carlson. Then
choose Create TIN. Check only the Fault Data box and click OK.
Highlight Barriers
This option highlights barrier lines in the triangulation network by drawing the triangu-
lation lines along barriers in yellow.
Max Triangulation Line Length
This value limits the length of the triangulation network lines. Any triangulation line that
exceeds this limit will not be drawn or included in contouring. This allows you to avoid abnormally
long triangulation lines where you have relatively too few data points and on the outskirts of your
data points. The Exterior value applies to triangulation lines around the perimeter of the
triangulation area and the Interior value applies all the other triangulation lines. Generally you
would have the exterior value smaller than the interior.
Ignore Zero Elevations
When activated, this setting will filter out all data points at an elevation of zero from the
data set.
Pick Reference Plane
The triangulation network is based on the x,y position of the points. This option allows
you to contour an overhang or cliff by changing the reference plane to a side view. The reference
plane can be specified by first using the Viewpoint 3D command and then using the View option,
or you can specify three data points on the cliff (two along the bottom and one at the top).
Specify Selection Set Options
This toggle allows you to control what type of entities Triangulate & Contour uses. After
you click OK on this dialog, the next dialog will be the Selection Set Options dialog box shown in
Figure 5-18.
Find Points on Barriers
This option will attempt to locate intersection points on long barrier lines. For example,
the intersection points of side slopes with a top of bank barrier line.

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-51

 Specify Elevation Range
The program will automatically contour from the lowest elevation in the data set up to the
highest at the increment specified in Contour Interval. If you would like to manually set the range
over which to contour, select this option.
Use Inclusion/Exclusion Areas
When this box is activated, the program will later prompt you for inclusion and exclusion
polylines which are used to trim the contours. The inclusion and exclusion polylines must be closed
polylines and must be drawn before starting Triangulate & Contour. Only the parts of the contour
lines that are within the inclusion polylines will be drawn. For example, an inclusion could be the
perimeter of the site. The parts of contour lines that are inside the exclusion polylines are not
drawn. Exclusion polylines can be used for areas where you don't want contours such as within
buildings.
Contour by Interval
This option switches between contouring by interval (ie every 10 feet) or by value. The
by value option allows you to contour specific values. For example, if you want just the 100ft
contour, then do contour by value and enter 100. The default mode is by interval.
Contour Interval
This value determines the increment between contour lines. If Contour by interval is
turned off, this value will correspond to the contour value as described above.
Reduce Vertices
This option attempts to remove extra vertices from the contour polylines which has the
advantages of a faster drawing and smaller drawing size. Default is ON
Offset Distance
This value is the maximum tolerance for shifting the original contour line in order to reduce
vertices. The reduced contour polyline will shift no more than this value, at any point, away from
the original contour line. A lower value will decrease the number of vertices removed and keep the
contour line closer to the original. A higher value will remove more vertices and allows the contour
line to shift more from the original.
Minimum Contour Line Length
Contour lines whose total length is less than this value will not be drawn.
Smooth Contours
This option activates smoothing on the contour lines. Bezier smoothing holds all the
contour points calculated from the triangulation and only smooths between the calculated points.
The smoothing factor described below affects the smoothing bulge.
Use Polynomial Smoothing
Polynomial smoothing applies a fifth degree polynomial for smooth transition between
the triangulation faces.
Label Contours
This selection leads to the Labeling Options dialog box shown in Figure 5-20 after OK is
selected on the current dialog box.
Draw Index Contours
This option allows you to highlight contours at a specified interval. The dialog box shown
in Figure 5-19 will be activated.
Hatch Zones
This option will hatch the area between the contours sequentially.
Page 5-52 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands
 Bezier Smoothing Factor
The contour preview window shows you an example of how much smoothing can be
expected at each setting.Sliding the bar to the left results in alowersetting which have less looping
or less freedom to curve between contour line points. Likewise, moving the slider to the right results
in a setting that increases the looping effect.

Choose Types to Triangulate Dialog

This dialog sets what types of entities are to be included in triangulation (see Figure 5-18). This
dialog only appears if the Specify Selection Options in the main dialog is checked.
Points, 3D Polylines, 2D Polylines, Lines, Inserts
These are the standard AutoCad entities that contain elevations.
Carlson Inserts
This option will include Carlson point inserts such as the insert SRVPNO1 with the point
number, elevation, and description attributes.
Bottom Elevation Inserts
This option will read the elevation in text entities that start with 'X'. These text entities are
created by the Bottom Elevation routine in the Mine module.
From File
This option allows you to triangulate from the points in a .CRD or ASCII file.
Value to Process
This allows you to
choose what value to contour
from the coordinate file. The
available keywords are Z for
the coordinate elevation,
DESC for the point descrip-
tion and NOTE for the point
note fields. The NOTE key-
word can be followed by a
note line number. For example,
to contour the third line from
the note field, use NOTE3.
Equations can also be entered
in this field. For example,
(Z+DESC)/2.0.

Figure 5-18
DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-53
 Figure 5-19

Index Contour Options

This dialog (see Figure 5-19) is activated if the
Draw Index Contours option is set. The settings
here specify the contour interval, line thickness,
and layer name for the index contours.
Contour Label Options
This dialog appears if the Label Contours option
is on (see Figure 5-20).
Pick the clip edge polyline: pick a polyline. This must be a closed polyline. It serves as the trim
edge when drawing the contour lines. This prompt only appears if the Use Inclusion Perimeter
option is set.
Select the point and barrier lines to Triangulate.
Select object: select the objects
that represent the surface
Reading points 53 ...
Triangulating points 53 ...
Starting contour elevation
<542.0000>: Press Enter. This
value is the elevation to begin con-
touring at. The default is the low-
est elevation in the triangulation
network. This prompt appears if
the Specify Starting & Ending El-
evations option is on.
Ending contour elevation
<597.2000>: Press Enter. This
value is the highest elevation to
contour.
Contouring elevation 597
Inserted 1459 contour vertices.
Pull-Down Menu Location:
Contour
Prerequisite: Data points of the
surface
Keyboard Command: tri
File Name: \lsp\tri4.lsp, \lsp\tri4.dcl,
\lsp\tri4.arx

Figure 5-20
Page 5-54 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands
 Label Contour Ends

Align Text With

Contour ON

Align Text With

Contour OFF

Draw Box
Around Text

Original data points with one 3D polyline Triangulation network without contouring

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-55

 Contours without triangulation network. The contours are smoothed,
reduced, drawn at an interval of 2, and highlighted at an interval of 10 with
labeling on the index contours.

Swap Triangular Mesh Edge

Function
Two adjacent triangles will have one common edge plus two separate points for a total of four points.
This command swaps this common edge in a triangulation network, drawn by Triangulate &
Contour, to create two different triangles from the two originals. In this way you can modify the
triangulation network and then call Contours from Triangular Mesh. Some common edges may not
be swapped because of the orientation of the two triangles.

Prompts
Pick a tmesh edge to swap or Enter to end: pick an edge
Pick a tmesh edge to swap or Enter to end: Press Enter

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: A triangulation network drawn by Triangule & Contour
Keyboard Command: triswap
File Name: \lsp\contour4.arx

Page 5-56 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 Before and after of swapping middle triangulation edge
Before and after of swapping middle triangulation edgB

Draw Triangular Mesh

Function
This command draws 3D lines for a triangulation that is stored in a triangulation file (.flt). The
triangulation file can be created by Triangulate & Contour.

Prompts
Select TMESH File to Draw
Choose a triangulation file (.flt)
Layer name <TMESH>: Press Enter
Drawing edges ... 2515

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: A triangulation file (.flt)
Keyboard Command: drawtri
File Name: \lsp\contour4.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-57

Contour from Triangular Mesh
Function
This command draws contour lines from a triangulation network drawn by Triangulate & Contour.
There are not as many contouring options here as there are in Triangulate & Contour. Creating
contours with this command makes contouring a two step process. First draw the triangulation
network and then create contours from this triangular mesh. The main advantage to contouring this
way is that you may modify the
triangular mesh before contour-
ing.

Prompts
Contour from Triangulation dia-
log box
Select the triangulation lines.
Select objects: pick the tmesh
lines
Contouring elevation 590
Inserted 900 contour vertices.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Con-

tour
Prerequisite: A triangulation network
drawn by Triangulate & Contour
Keyboard Command: contour
File Name: \lsp\contour4.lsp, \lsp\contour4.arx

Contours from Grid File

Function
This command draws contour polylines from a surface model defined by a grid file. Contouring
from a grid employs a different method than from a triangulation network and generally produces
contours that loop more. The grid has data points at a regular interval while the triangulation has
edges for every point and break line in the surface. The smoothness of the contours depends on
the grid resolution. The Smoothing Sub-Division option will internally subdivide the grid cells
with a quadratic smoothing algorithm to help create smoother contours. The Hatch Zones option
will fill in the specified elevation ranges with hatch patterns or solid color fills. The Create
Polyline Topology will create closed polylines for each contour range and will draw a zone text
label within each area. This polyline topology can be used in GIS routines such as Polygon
Processor.

Page 5-58 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

Prompts
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none.
Select objects: pick a closed polyline for the contour boundary if any
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or ENTER for none.
Select objects: pick a closed polyline for the area to exclude
Grid File to Process dialog Select a .grd file
Contour from Grid File options dialog
Extrapolate grid to full grid size (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. This prompt appears if your grid
extends beyond the limits of your data points in some areas.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: A grid file created by Make
3D GRiD File
Keyboard Command: cntrgrd
File Name: \lsp\contour4.lsp,
\lsp\cntr_grd.arx

Contours from tmesh without smoothing Contours from grid file without smoothing
DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-59
Smooth Contours
Function
This command has options for applying smoothing to polylines. Select the radio button for the
smoothing option you want to apply. If you use quadratic smoothing or cubic spline type
smoothing the spline segments setvar is relevant. The Curve fit option provides the least
smoothing, and the Cubic spline option applies the most. Another effective way of smoothing
is by creating the contours from rectangular meshes using various grid resolutions. Increase the
smoothing by lowering the grid resolution and decrease by raising the grid resolution. The Bezier
option provides an incremental type of smoothing but can not be decurved. The Linetype
Generation option allows you to apply the pedit switch for Ltype Gen to a group of polylines. For
more information on this option and the spline smoothing options see the AutoCad Reference
Manual on the PEDIT command. After selecting the OK button the program prompts. Figure 5-
29 shows contours on the left un-smoothed and on the right smoothed with the cubic spline method.

Prompts
First corner: (pick point) Other corner: (pick point)
Select the polylines that represent the contour lines.
Select objects: [Enter]
Select Plines to spline smooth.
Select objects: C
First corner: (pick point) Other corner: (pick point)
Select the polylines to smooth.
Select objects: [Enter]
The program then applies the speci-
fied option to the selection set.

Keyboard Command: Smooth

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Create Contour lines to smooth.
File Names: \lsp\scadcntr.dcl,
\lsp\scontour.lsp, \lsp\tri4.arx

Page 5-60 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 Cubic-smoothing result

Bezier Smoothing
Function
Besides running separately in the Smooth Contours routine, Bezier Smoothing is also embedded
in many of the routine that create contours. Bezier Smoothing applies the Bezier smoothing
algorithm to polylines. This smoothing technique has two advantages over Spline or Curve-Fit
smoothing. One is that a Bezier smoothed polyline will pass through all of the vertices in the original
polyline, while a Spline smoothed polyline only curves towards the original vertices and can pull
away from vertices at sharp corners. Hitting all the original vertices can be an important feature in
contour maps for maintaining the exact location of the contours. The other benefit of Bezier is the
user's ability to control the looping and vertex factors. A higher looping factor increases the
curving effect. Vertices reduction can also be applied along with the smoothing. This avoids
having to create smoothed polylines with numerous vertices and then having to reduce these
vertices in a second step. Be sure not to make the cutoff offset for reduction too high or you can
negate or even reverse the smoothing effect (see Figures 5-30 - 5-33).

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-61

 A drawback to Bezier is that it cannot be "decurved" like the other smoothing techniques. Also,
be careful with the looping factor on contour lines because a high looping factor may cause close
contour lines to cross.

Prompts
Enter the looping factor (1-10) <5>: Press Enter. This determines the extent of curving. 1- least
curvy, 10 - most curvy.
Enter the offset cutoff <0.05>: Press Enter. This value is the maximum shift distance for
vertices reduction. A higher value removes more vertices.
Select polylines to smooth.
Select objects: Pick polylines

Figure 5-30: Original Contours Figure 5-31: Looping Factor 5

Pull-Down Menu Location: Bezier Smoothing is

accessed through the Smooth Contours command on the
Contours pull-down in the DTM & Contour menu.
Prerequisite: Create Contour lines to smooth.
File Names: \lsp\scadcntr.dcl, \lsp\scontour.lsp, &
\lsp\tri4.arx

Page 5-62 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 Figure 5-32: Looping Factor 9 Figure 5-33: Looping Factor 2

Reduce Vertices
Function
Carlson's contouring and smoothing often creates an explosion in file size due to the many vertices
it adds. Fortunately, many of these vertices are very close together and some can be removed with
no visible effect on the contour line drawing. Reduce Contours removes these extra vertices which
can reduce the total number of vertices by 30% to 90%. This has the benefits of a smaller drawing
file, faster drawing loading, and faster regens.

Reduce Contours removes vertices in a polyline that are within a user specified offset cutoff. The
algorithm looks at three vertices at a time, and calculates the distance between the second point
and the line from the first to the third point (see Figure 5-34). If this distance is less than the user
specified cutoff, the second point is removed. In theory, reducing the polyline vertices should not
shift the polyline more than the user's cutoff distance. The default for this cutoff is one tenth of
a foot. Increasing the cutoff will remove more vertices while decreasing it will more closely preserve

Figure 5-34

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-63

 the original contour line. Figures 5-35 through 5-40 contain examples of different cutoff values.
When combining vertex reduction with smoothing, it is suggested to smooth before reducing,
although it can be done the other way around.

Figure 5-36: Original Contours Reduced by .5, 50

Figure 5-35: Original Contours with 98 Vertices
Vertices

Figure 5-38: Smoothed Cntrs Reduced by .1,

Figure 5-37: Smoothed Contours with 540 Vertices 194 Vertices

Page 5-64 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 Figure 5-39: Smoothed Cntrs Reduced by .5, Figure 5-40: Smoothed Cntrs Reduced by 4.0,
88 Vertices 39 Vertices

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: Create Contour lines to reduce.
Keyboard Command: reduce
File Names: \lsp\scadcntr.dcl, \lsp\scontour.lsp, & \lsp\reduce.arx

Edit Contours
Function
This command revises a segment of a contour polyline. Begin by picking a point on the contour
where you want to start editing. Then pick new points for the polyline. When finished picking new
points, press Enter and then pick a point on the contour to connect with the new points. The polyline
segment between the start and end points is then replaced with the new points.

Prompts
Select contour to edit: pick the contour polyline at the place to start editing
Pick intermediate point (Enter to End): pick a point
Pick intermediate point ('U' to Undo, Enter to End): pick a point
Pick intermediate point ('U' to Undo, Enter to End): Press Enter
Pick reconnection point on contour: pick the contour polyline at the place to join

Keyboard Command: editctr

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: polylines with elevation (contour polylines)
File Name: \lsp\poly3d.arx
DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-65
 Edit this contour by picking new points Contour with segment replaced with new points

List Elevation
Function
This command displays the elevation of a polyline or line. With a 3D polyline, the elevation of the
3D polyline at the pick point is reported along with the elevation of each vertex.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Keyboard Command: LSTELEV
Prerequisite: a polyline or line
File Name: \lsp\lstelev.lsp

Contour Elevation Label

Function
This command can be used to label a group of contour lines with their elevation. To place the
labels, pick two points across the contour polylines. The program will find all the contour
polylines that intersect the line defined by the two picked points and the labels will drawn to the
intersection points. The text size is a scaler that will be multiplied by the horizontal scale to set
the text size in AutoCad units.

Prompts
Global Elevation Dialog
Define a line which slices the contours at the place to label them.
Pick 1st point: (pick point)
Pick 2nd point: (pick point)
Page 5-66 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands
Keyboard Command: gclabel
Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: polylines with elevation
(contour polylines)
File Name: \lsp\gclabel.lsp &
\lsp\contour4.arx

By selecting two points the contour lines that cross the line defined by
the two points are labeled.

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-67

Local Elevation Label
Function
This command allows the user to place elevation labels on contour lines or other entities with
elevations. The command prompts for two points then centers the label in between. It then prompts
for two break points which are used to erase/break the contour that runs through the elevation label.
If a break is not required just press [Enter] at the break point prompts.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Keyboard Command: clabel
Prerequisite: None
File Name: \lsp\labcont.lsp

Flip Contour Labels-Text

Function
This command individually rotates each of the selected text entities by 180 degrees.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Keyboard Command: fliptext
Prerequisite: Text labels on the contours.
File Name: \lsp\fliptext.lsp

Highlight Index Contours

Function
This command will freeze a layer of contour lines and copy a specified interval to another layer. This
allows the user to change the color or width of a certain interval.

Prompts
Layer name of existing contours <CTR>: [Enter]
Layer name for highlight contours <NCTR>: [Enter]
Select Contours to Highlight.
Select objects: W
This is AutoCad’s standard selection set prompt, use Window or Crossing.
First corner: (pick point)
Second corner: (pick point)

Page 5-68 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

 Select objects: [Enter] Enter ends the selection process. The program then sorts and displays the
High and Low interval of the selected contours.
Contour increment to highlight: 10
Starting Highlight at elevation <98.0>: 100
Ending Highlight at elevation <152.0>: 150
Assuming we had drawn 1 foot intervals, the above example would copy contours on elevations
100, 110, 120, 130, 140 and 150 to the layer NCTR and freeze the remaining lines on layer CTR.

Keyboard Command: indexctr

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Contours should be plotted and visible on the screen.
File Name: \lsp\ccolor.lsp

Highlight Depression Contours

Function
This command highlights depression contours by changing their layer, color, and adding tick
marks. A depression contour is a closed contour line that leads to a local minimum such that there
are no contour lines with a higher elevation within the contour. This routine finds the depression
contours out of the selected polylines. The depression contours are highlighted, and the user
selects which ones to label.

Prompts
Layer name of existing contours <CTR>: [Enter]
Layer name for depression contours <DCTR>: [Enter]
Width for depression contours <1.0>: [Enter]
Tick Interval for depression contours <50.00>: [Enter]
Tick Size for depression contours <6.0>: [Enter]
Select the existing contours.
Select objects: Select all the contour polylines, even the contours that aren't depression contours.
Select objects: [Enter] Enter ends the selection process. The program then sorts and displays the
high and low elevations of the selected contours.
Reading the selection set ...
Locating the depression contours ...
Drawing the depression contours ...

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: Contours should be plotted and visible on the screen.
Keyboard Command: depress
File Name: \lsp\depress.lsp & \lsp\volcalc.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-69

 Figure 5-42: Highlighted depression contours

Change Contour-Plines Width

Function
This command allows the user to select a group of contours/plines and change their width for
emphasis when plotting. For example, use the above command Highlight Contours to freeze
unwanted intervals and make visible the contour intervals of interest. Then using this command
change them to the desired width.

Keyboard Command: cwidth

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Contour polylines should be drawn and visible on the screen.
File Name: \lsp\cwidth.lsp

Page 5-70 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

Trim Contour-Plines by Pline
Function
This command can be used to trim
a group of contour lines or polyline
entities that cross a perimeter de-
fined by a 2D polyline. The trim can
be executed on the inside or the
outside of the perimeter.

Prompts
Select polyline which represents
perimeter: (select trim perimeter)
Perimeter has 6 points.
Trim Inside/<Outside>: [Enter]
Use the I option to trim polylines
inside the defined perimeter. This
is useful for deleting contour lines
that fall inside a building or some
area that you want void of con-
tours.
Select PolyLines and/or 3DPolys to Trim.
Select objects: W
This is AutoCad’s standard selection set prompt, use Window or Crossing.
First corner: (pick point)
Second corner: (pick point)
Select objects: [Enter]
[Enter] ends the selection process.

Keyboard Command: polytrim

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Draw a 2D closed polyline perimeter.
File Name: \lsp\polytrim.lsp

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-71

Color Contours by Elevation
Function
This command changes the
color of the selected polylines
based on the polyline eleva-
tion. The color to use is de-
fined in elevation range table.

Prompts
Define Ranges Dialog
Select polylines to color:
pick the polylines
Pick point for color legend:
pick a point to a clear area of
the drawing to place a legend
or press Enter for no legend

Keyboard Command: ctrcolor

Pull-Down Menu Location: Con-
tour
Prerequisite: Contours polylines
File Name: \lsp\contour4.arx

Assign Contour Elevations - Single Elevation Group

Function
This command changes the elevations of polylines and can be used to set the elevations of contour
polylines. The routine begins at a specified elevation and prompts for a selection set of polylines
to set to the elevation. Then the routine repeats using the last elevation plus the elevation increment.
Enter an empty selection set to exit the routine.

Page 5-72 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

Prompts
Starting elevation <0.0>: 500.0
Contour interval (negative for down) <1.0>: 5.0
Select polylines to set to elevation 500.0.
Select objects: pick the polylines
Select polylines to set to elevation 505.0.
Select objects: pick the polylines
Select polylines to set to elevation 510.0.
Select objects: Press Enter

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour

Prerequisite: polylines
Keyboard Command: setcelev
File Name: \lsp\poly3d.arx

Group Change Elevation

Function
Group Change Elevation can be used to quickly and accurately assign the elevation of series of
AutoCAD polylines that have been converted from raster or digitized without correct elevations.
The routine will automatically assign elevations to the polylines crossing the fence line selected
by two points. At the same time the elevations are changed, the program can assign it a new layer,
color, linetype, and polyline width. This process usually works best if contours are in a temporary
(white) layer to start. When they are processed, they will take on the color of the new layers making
it easy to distinguish which polylines have been processed.

Prompts
1) Command: GRPCELEV
2) Settings/First Point: (Press S to change
settings or pick first point.)
3) Second Point: (Pick second point)
4) Beginning Elevation <0.00>: 1020
5) Increment Direction U/D <U>: (enter)

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-73

Tablet Calibrate
Function
Executes AutoCad's TABLET command to set the digitizer to a drawing's coordinate systems. Refer
to the AutoCad Reference manual for further information.

Keyboard Command: tablet

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Affix a drawing to your digitizer tablet.

Auto Tablet On
Function
This command controls whether the commands Digitize Contours, Digitize Sections, and Digitize
End Areas automatically turn the tablet to digitizer mode at the appropriate time. If this command
is not executed the user is responsible for toggling the tablet on at the point picking prompts.

Page 5-74 DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands

Prompts
[1] - Turn Tablet On Automatic [0] - NO Auto Tablet On <0>: 1
Entering 1 enables automatic tablet on mode.

Keyboard Command: digdefs

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: None
File Name: \lsp\digdefs.lsp

Digitize Contours
Function
This command allows you to digitize contours as polylines one at a time. The first time it prompts
for a layer, an elevation, and an interval and then draws a polyline by picking points. The command
can be repeated by pressing enter at the AutoCad command prompt. When repeated, the command
defaults to the last elevation plus the interval and the previous layer. While picking points when
you get near the edge of the screen, the program will automatically zoom the display to center
around the last point.

Keyboard Command: digcont

Pull-Down Menu Location: Contour
Prerequisite: Calibrate the tablet with the Tablet Calibrate menu option if contours are to be taken off
an existing drawing.
File Name: \lsp\digcont.lsp & \lsp\contour4.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Contour Commands Page 5-75

Site Commands
The Site menu offers commands that assist in site design,
stake out, and volumetrics. The Site pull-down menu is shown
to the right.

Design Pad Template

Function
This command creates design slopes from a perimeter polyline at specified cut/fill slopes to
reach existing ground. This routine can be used to
design building pads, pits, roads, ditches, stock-
piles, etc. The design is drawn as 3D polylines for
the cut/fill slopes and for the daylight perimeter
where the design meets existing ground. Before
beginning this routine, you must have drawn the
polyline perimeter. The polyline perimeter can be
either a 2D or 3D closed or unclosed polyline. For
a 2D polyline, the program will prompt for an
elevation for the pad perimeter. With a 3D polyline,
the pad perimeter is set to the elevations of the 3D
polyline. For an unclosed polyline, the program
will prompt for the side for the design. With a
closed polyline, the program designs the slopes
either outward or inward depending on the setting
in the dialog.

Several of the Design Pad Template options are set

in the dialog shown here. The Draw Slope Direc-
tion Arrows option draws an arrow on the
outslopes that points in the downhill direction.
Arrows on fill slopes are drawn as solid filled. The
Solid Cut Arrows chooses between drawing the
Page 5-76 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands
 cut arrows also as solid filled or as wire frame. The Pad Layer Name specifies the layer name
that the pad 3D polylines will be drawn in. The Round Exterior Corners option holds the
outslopes around the corners. Otherwise the side outslopes stay straight until they meet at the
corners as shown in the figure. The Draw Side Slope Polylines will draw 3D polylines
perpendicular to the pad perimeter from the pad to the catch point. These side polylines are drawn
at the interval set in the Side Polyline Spacing field. Besides at the interval, side slope polylines
are also drawn at grid corners. In the Pad Design report, the cut volume is reported as the Cut
Swell Factor multiplied by the original cut volume and the fill volume is reported as the Fill
Shrink Factor multiplied by the original fill volume.

There is an option to calculate volumes for the pad design. The volumes are calculated by
comparing the existing surface with the pad design. The inclusion perimeter for the volume
calculation is the daylight perimeter polyline which represents the limits of disturbed area. The
existing surface model is defined by the existing grid file or screen entities selected at the
beginning of the command. The pad design surface is calculated by making a grid from the pad
3D polylines including the starting pad perimeter, the side polylines and the daylight perimeter.
The Use Another Grid for Pad Interior option will prompt for another grid file to use for the
design surface within the starting pad perimeter. Otherwise the program will model the pad
interior by straight interpolation from the starting pad perimeter elevations. For example, if a
building pad has a starting pad perimeter at a set elevation and the pad is supposed to be flat, then
this option is not needed. This option is needed in a case where you are designing a pit and the
starting pad perimeter is a 3D polyline that follows an undulating pit bottom surface. The pad
design will model the pit side slopes. In order to model the undulating bottom of the pit, you need
the Use Another Grid for Pad Interior option to select a grid that models the pit bottom.

Besides calculating the volumes in the Design Pad Template routine, you can also calculate the
volumes with the Two Surface Volumes command. The design surface for Two Surface Volumes

Example of pit design for option of Use Another Grid for Pad Interior
DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-77
 Pad corner with round corners option. Pad corner without round corners option.

can be the final output grid from Design Pad or you can create a design grid with Make 3D Grid
File using the 3D polylines created in Design Pad. The reasons to use Two Surface Volumes are
that this volume routine has more output options (cut/fill color maps, etc.) and you can check
the volumes by plotting or contouring the grid files. Also you can combine several pads and other
final surfaces by running Make Grid File and then calculate the overall site volumes with Two
Surface Volumes.

For closed pad perimeters, there is an option to draw the slopes inward or outward from the
perimeter. The outward method starts the slopes at the design elevation of the perimeter and
projects out to intersect the existing surface. The inward method projects the slopes inside to
reach the grid surface. The inward method is equivalent to starting from the disturbed area limits.

The surface is defined by a 3D rectangular grid mesh. The grid can be selected from a .grd file
or calculated by the routine. When calculated, Design Pad Template internally creates a grid
mesh from the surface entities found by doing a crossing selection of the grid limit. Make sure
that the grid area covers the entire area for the pad including room for the cut/fill slopes.

The design is drawn as 3D polylines and the earthwork volumes are calculated. Before ending,
the program allows you to adjust the design by changing the pad elevation, slopes and offset. The
program can find the cut/fill balance by automatically adjusting the pad elevation. If adjustments
are specified, the pad polylines are redrawn and the volumes recalculated. At the end, there is an
option to trim existing contours inside the disturbed limits of the pad. Then there is an option
to draw contours on the pad. If contouring is selected, a dialog lets you set the contouring
options. Usually you should specify a new contour layer and turn off smoothing.

The cut and fill slopes can be defined by ratio, percent slope or template file. Using a template
file lets you do road design without cross sections. Instead the existing surface is modeled by
the grid. To do road design by cross section, use the Earthworks & Final Contours command in
the Section-Profile module.

Page 5-78 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

 The template file (.tpl) is created in the Design Template routine in the Section - Profile module.
When using a template, the pad perimeter represents the centerline. One way to create the pad
perimeter for the template is to use the Profile to 3D Polyline command which converts a 2D
centerline to a 3D polyline using a design profile. With a template, the program uses not only
the cut and fill slopes from the template file but also draws all the template grade points such
as edge of road, curb and ditch. The subgrade, superelevation and template transition options of
the template file are not used in this command. These options are only applied in the Process
Road Design command. The grade points are drawn as 3D polylines parallel with the centerline.
Cross section 3D polylines that include the grade points are also drawn at the specified interval.

Prompts
Pick Lower Left limit of pad disturbed area: Pick lower left These prompts appear for the
Screen Entities surface model method.
Pick Upper Right limit of pad disturbed area: Pick upper right
Be sure to pick these limits well beyond the area of the top of pad polyline in order to make room
for the outslopes.
Make Grid File Dialog
After selecting the limits of the disturbed area the program will generate a 3D grid that
represents the surface. Specify the grid resolution desired and select OK.
Pick the top of pad polyline: Select perimeter polyline
Enter the fill outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5
Enter the cut outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5
After entering outslopes slope ratios, a range of elevations along the pad top will be noted.
Enter the pad perimeter elevation <29.54>: 39
Calculate earthwork volumes (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter
Pad Report Viewer Reports cut/fill volume
Write final surface to grid file (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. This option will output a grid file
using the elevations of the pad within the disturbed area polyline and using the original ground
surface everywhere else.
Top of Pad Polyline

Existing contours with top of pad perimeter polyline

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-79

 Adjust parameters and redesign pond (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Trim existing contours inside pad perimeter (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter
Contour the pad (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter

Pad template
with contours

3D view of
pad with
DTM of
surface and
triangulation
faces of pad
Page 5-80 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands
Pull-Down Menu Location: Site
Prerequisite: A pad perimeter polyline and surface entities or .grd file
Keyboard Command: pad
File Names: \lsp\flatpond.lsp & \lsp\pond.arx

Template to apply in Design Pad Template

Existing surface with

3D polyline centerline

Result of Design Pad Tem-

plate showing template grade
polylines, cross section
polylines, cut/fill slopes, and
final contours.
DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-81
 Viewpoint 3D view of
Design Pad Template

Design Pad Template can also

handle self-intersecting side
slopes

Viewpoint 3D view of
intersecting side slopes
Page 5-82 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands
Bench Pond Design
Function
This feature will design an on bench or hillside pond from a closed 2D polyline that defines the
top dam perimeter of the pond and a surface model. Before beginning this routine, you must have
the surface entities and the closed polyline as shown in Figure 5-45.

The surface is defined by a 3D rectangular grid mesh. The grid can be selected from a .grd file
or calculated by the routine. When calculated, the program internally creates a grid mesh from
the surface entities (Contours, Tri-Mesh, 3dPolys) found by doing a crossing selection of the
grid limit.

The design is drawn as 3D polylines with an option to drawn contours on the pond, and the
earthwork volumes and stage-storage volumes are calculated.
Figure 5-44: Grid Resolution dialog
Prompts
Source of surface model (File/
<Screen>)? Press Enter. Use the File
option to select a .grd file.
Pick Lower Left limit of pond dis-
turbed area: Pick lower left
Pick Upper Right limit of pond dis-
turbed area: Pick upper right
Be sure to pick these limits well beyond
the area of the top of dam polyline in
order to make room for the outslopes.
Make GRiD File Dialog
After selecting the limits of the disturbed
area the program will generate a 3D grid
that represents the surface. Specify the grid resolution desired and select OK.
Pick the top of dam polyline: Select closed polyline (see Figure 5-45).
Interior slopes to set elevation or original surface (<Elev>/Surface)? Press Enter. The
interior of the pond can be created to one bottom elevation or the interior sides can stop
where they intersect the original surface.
Enter slopes as percent grade or slope ratio (Percent/<Ratio>)? Enter
If Percent is desired press P, then Enter. In this example ratio will be used.
Enter the fill outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5 Enter
Enter the cut outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5 Enter
Enter the interior slope ratio <2.0>: 2.0 Enter
Enter the top of dam width: <10>: 10 Enter
After entering outslopes and interior slope ratios a range of elevations along the dam top
will be noted.
Enter the top of bank elevation <29.54>: 40 Enter

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-83

 TOP OF DAM POLYLINE

Figure 5-45: Existing contours with top of dam polyline

Figure 5-46: Bench Pond showing Slope Direction Arrows and complete with contours

Page 5-84 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

 Enter the pond bottom elevation: 28 Enter
Draw slope direction arrows (Yes/<No>)? Yes Enter
Choose method to specify storage elevations (<Automatic>/Manual)? Enter
If manual is selected the user can specify the elevation(s) to calculate.
Write stage-storage to SEDCAD file (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. This option creates a
.cap file to use with Pond Stage Storage Curve which draws the stage-storage curve. The .cap
file is also used in SEDCAD.
Write report to file (Yes/<No>)?
If yes, the user will be asked to enter a filename and the report will be written to disk (see
Figure 5-48)
Write report to printer(Yes/<No>)?
Adjust parameters and redesign pond (Yes/<No>)?
Trim existing contours inside pond perimeter (Yes/<No>)?
Contour the pond (<Yes>/No)?

Figure 5-47: Contour Options dialog

Pull-Down Menu Location: Surface in Mining module, Site in DTM-Contour module, Pond in
Hydrology module
Prerequisite: Closed polyline that defines top of dam and surface entities
Keyboard Command: bpond
File Name: \lsp\flatpond.lsp, \lsp\pond.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-85

 Bench Pond Design Report

Top of dam elevation: 40.0000

Bottom of pond elevation: 28.0000
Top of dam width: 10.0000
Cut slope percent grade: 40.00, slope ratio: 2.50
Fill slope percent grade: 40.00, slope ratio: 2.50
Interior slope percent grade: 50.00, slope ratio: 2.00

Lower left grid corner : 186395.20,57620.23

Upper right grid corner: 186803.82,57872.93
X grid resolution: 50, Y grid resolution: 50
X grid cell size: 8.17, Y grid cell size: 5.05

Pond EarthWork Volumes

Total fill: 2087.624 C.Y., 56365.84440 C.F.
Total cut: 772.791 C.Y., 20865.34961 C.F.

Pond Storage Volumes

Water Elev: 30.00, Pond Storage: 179.887 C.Y., 4856.94921 C.F.
Water Elev: 32.00, Pond Storage: 453.708 C.Y., 12250.12126 C.F.
Water Elev: 34.00, Pond Storage: 817.981 C.Y., 22085.48186 C.F.
Water Elev: 36.00, Pond Storage: 1321.035 C.Y., 35667.93750 C.F.
Water Elev: 38.00, Pond Storage: 2001.216 C.Y., 54032.83340 C.F.

Figure 5-48: Report generated by Write Report to File option

Figure 5-49: 3D view of Bench

Pond
Page 5-86 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands
Valley Pond Design
Function
This feature will design a valley pond from a 2D polyline that defines the top of dam and a surface
model. Before beginning this routine, you must have the surface entities and the polyline as
shown in Figure 5-51.

The surface is defined by a 3D rectangular grid mesh. The grid can be selected from a .grd file
or calculated by the routine. When calculated, the program internally creates a grid mesh from
the surface entities (Contours, Tri-Mesh, 3dPolys) found by doing a crossing selection of the
grid limit.

The design is drawn as 3D polylines with an option to drawn contours on the pond, and the
earthwork volumes and stage-storage volumes are calculated.

Prompts
Source of surface model (File/
<Screen>)? Press Enter. Use the File
option to select a .grd file.
Pick Lower Left limit of pond dis-
turbed area: Pick lower left
Pick Upper Right limit of pond dis-
turbed area: Pick upper right
Be sure to pick these limits well beyond
the area of the top of dam polyline in
order to make room for the outslopes.
Make GRiD File Dialog
After selecting the limits of the disturbed
Figure 5-50: Grid Resolution dialog
area the program will generate a 3D grid
that represents the surface. Specify the
grid resolution desired and select OK.
Pick the top of dam polyline: Select closed 2d polyline (See Figure 5-51)
Pick a point within the pond: Pick a point
Enter slopes as percent grade or slope ratio (Percent/<Ratio>)? Enter
If Percent is desired press P, then Enter. In this example slope ratio will be used.
Enter the fill outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5 Enter
Enter the cut outslope ratio <2.0>: 2.5 Enter
Enter the top of dam width: <10>: 10 Enter
After entering outslope ratios and dam width a range of elevations along the top of dam will be
noted.
Enter the top of dam elevation: 90 Enter
Cut pond interior (<Yes>/No)? No Enter. This option has two methods for cutting volume from

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-87

 the pond interior. This cut will create more water storage.
The trace method prompts you to define a 3D polyline by picking points starting at the dam and
going around the pond counterclockwise. At each point you enter an elevation. The default is the
current ground elevation and typically you would enter a lower elevation. Then you enter a cut slope
and the program will cut from this perimeter polyline at the entered slope.
The polyline method requires a pre-drawn closed polyline inside the pond. The program will ask
for a depth to cut and a cut slope. Polyline is set to the current ground elevation minus the cut
depth. Then the program cuts out from the polyline to the original ground at the cut slope.

TOP OF DAM POLYLINE

Figure 5-51: Existing contours with top of dam

polyline

Figure 5-52: Valley Pond showing Emergency Spillway

Page 5-88 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

 Choose method to specify storage elevations (<Automatic>/Manual)? Enter
If manual is selected the user can specify the elevation(s) to calculate.
Write report to file (Yes/<No>)? Enter
If yes, the user will be asked to enter a filename and the report will be written to disk.
Write report to printer(Yes/<No>)? Enter
Adjust parameters and redesign pond (Yes/<No>)? Enter
If yes, the user will be able to enter new slope ratios and dam widths etc...
Contour the pond (<Yes>/No)? Enter

Figure 5-54: Contour Options

dialog

Pond
Pull-Down Menu Location: Surface in the Mining module and Site in the DTM-Contour
module
Prerequisite: Polyline that defines top of dam
Keyboard Command: vpond
File Name: \lsp\flatpond.lsp, \lsp\pond.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-89

 Figure 5-54: Valley Pond Design complete with con-
tours

Figure 5-55: 3D view of Valley

Page 5-90 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

Spot Elevations
Function
This command will calculate the z coordinate of any point that falls within the surface model.
Use this command to calculate the elevations for points of a design for slope staking or for
putting spot elevations on a topography map. The calculated points are stored in the current
coordinate file. A surface model is either selected from a .grd or .flt file or internally calculated
from the existing entities on the drawing.

Spot elevations can be calculated at various user-specified points or at a specific interval. For
random spot elevations, the user picks or enters the x,y coordinates for each spot elevations. The
elevation at the current position of the crosshairs is displayed in real-time at the bottom of the
side bar. For interval spot elevations, the alignment for the intervals is defined by a polyline that
must be created before starting this routine.

Prompts
Source of surface model (File/<Screen>)? Press Enter. Use the File option to select a .grd
or .flt file.
Layer for points <POINTS>: Press Enter
Add spot points to Coordinate File (Yes/<No>)? Yes.
This option stores any points created in this routine to a
.crd file and draws Carlson point entities.
Draw nodes only (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. This prompt
only appears if Add points to Coordinate File is off. This
option either draws only AutoCad POINT entities or an X
mark and elevation text.
Pick Lower Left limit of surface area: pick a point at
the lower left corner of your area of interest
Pick Upper Right limit of surface area: pick a point to Spot Elevations with Add to
window around your area of interest Coordinate File off and
Make Grid File Dialog Draw Nodes Only off
Choose a grid resolution for modelling the surface.
For picked point spot elevations:
Random spot elevations or interval along pline (<Random>/Interval)? [Enter]
Enter or pick point (Enter to end): pick a point
Enter or pick point (Enter to end): Press Enter
For spot elevations along a polyline:
Random spot elevations or interval along pline (<Random>/Interval)? Interval
Pick the centerline polyline: pick a polyline
Interval along polyline <50.0>: 25
Number of left offsets <0>: 1
Enter left offset interval <25.0>: 10
Number of right offsets <0>: 2
Enter right offset interval <10.0>: Press Enter
DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-91
 Interval spot elevations for points 1-32. "Random" spot elevations for points 33-37.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: Surface entities or a .grd file
Keyboard Command: spotelv
File Names: \lsp\flatpond.lsp & \lsp\pond.arx

Page 5-92 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

Entities to Points with Elevations
Function
This command works similar to the Entities to SurvCADD Points command explained in the Cogo
Section except it has the added abil-
ity to compute an elevation from a
surface model that is stored in a grid
(.grd) file or triangulation (.flt) file.

The program uses the X,Y from the

selected entities and calculates the
Z from the surface model. For ex-
ample, if you need the elevations of
the design features for stakeout.
Choose the lines and arcs of your
design with this command to specify
the PC's, PT's and endpoints. Then
use the command Spot Elevations
explained previously to compute
additional points. The results are
stored in the current .CRD file and
could be transferred to an electronic
field book.

Prompts
Entities to Points Dialog
Choose whether to prompt for
descriptions, elevations or point
numbers
Entities to Process Dialog Choose entities
to process
Source of Surface Model
Choose a grid (.grd) or triangulation (.flt) file.
Select arcs, faces, line and/or polylines.
Select objects: pick entities

Keyboard Command: autoelev

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site
Prerequisite: Create a surface model (.grd or .flt)
and entities to convert
File Name: \lsp\autoelev.lsp & \lsp\makegrid.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-93

3D Entity By Surface Model
Function
This command assigns the elevations of the selected points, inserts, lines and polylines to the
elevations defined by the specified grid (.GRD) or triangulation (.FLT) file. For lines and
polylines, additional vertices are added to model the surface. 3D Polylines cannot have arcs. So
any arcs in the original 2D polylines are converted to a series of chords. There is an option to
retain the original polylines in case you need to keep the 2D polylines with the arcs.

Prompts
Choose Grid or Tmesh File to Process dialog
Select points, inserts, lines and polylines to convert.
Select objects: pick the entities to convert
Keep existing polylines [Yes/<No>]? Press Enter
Converting entities ...
Done.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: entities to be converted
Keyboard Command: 3dconvert
File Name: \lsp\poly3d.arx

Draw 3D Polyline Perimeter

Function
This command draws a 3D polyline in the PERIMETER layer. This polyline is required by the
Calculate Stockpile Volume and Calculate Pond/Pit Volume routines. In these routines, this
polyline is used as the inclusion perimeter for volumes. You may want to run AutoCad's OSNAP
routine and set your osnap prior to running this routine so that you can grab the elevations of
existing points while creating the 3D polyline. Besides picking and entering the points, you can
also use point numbers from the current Coordinate File (.CRD file).
Prompts
Ignore Z values of picked points (.XY filter) (Yes/<No>): Y
Using the .XY filter allows the user to pick the X and Y coordinate from the screen and type in
the elevation. If you use the N response then the z coordinate of the point picked will be applied.
Number/<Pick point>: (pick point)
Number/Close/Undo/<Pick point>: N
Close/Undo/Pick point/<point Number>: 15 This is a point number from the current
coordinate file.

Page 5-94 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

 Close/Undo/Pick point/<point Number>: Press Enter
Pressing [Enter] ends the command.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Keyboard Command: 3dperim
Prerequisite: None
File Name: \lsp\3dpline.lsp

Draw 3D Polyline Base Barrier

Function
This command draws a 3D polyline in the BASE_BARRIER layer. This polyline is used by the
Calculate Stockpile Volume and Calculate Pond/Pit Volume routines to model the base surface.
You may want to run AutoCad's OSNAP routine and set your osnap prior to running this routine
so that you can grab the elevations of existing points while creating the 3D polyline. Besides
picking and entering the points, you can also use point numbers from the current Coordinate File
(.CRD file).

Prompts
Ignore Z values of picked points (.XY filter) (Yes/<No>): Y
Using the .XY filter allows the user to pick the X and Y coordinate from the screen and type in
the elevation. If you use the N response then the z coordinate of the point picked will be applied.
Number/<Pick point>: (pick point)
Number/Close/Undo/<Pick point>: N
Close/Undo/Pick point/<point Number>: 15 This is a point number from the current
coordinate file.
Close/Undo/Pick point/<point Number>: Press Enter
Pressing [Enter] ends the command.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: None
Keyboard Command: 3dbase
File Name: \lsp\3dpline.lsp

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-95

Calculate Stockpile Volume
Function
This command is the simplified method for calculating fill volumes and is the compliment of
the Calculate Pond/Pit Volume routine. The program internally computes base and final grids
that enclose the limits of your data points. You have the option of setting the resolution of the
grids. The base grid is calculated from the 3D polyline in the PERIMETER layer, which must be
drawn by Draw 3D Polyline Perimeter before using this routine, and from optional 3D polylines
in the BASE_BARRIER layer as drawn by the Draw 3D Polyline Base Barrier routine. The 3D
polyline perimeter is also used as the inclusion perimeter for the volume calculation. The final
grid is calculated from the other selected surface entities such as points, line, inserts, and
polylines along with the perimeter polyline but not including the BASE_BARRIER polylines.

The Make 3D GRiD File and Two Surface Volumes routines are an alternative to this command.

Prompts
Make GRiD File dialog
Set the resolution and then click OK. See Figure 5-50.
Select stockpile entities and perimeter.
Select object: pick the objects that define the surface and the 3D polyline perimeter.
Reading points ... 53
Inserting barriers 17
Triangulating points ... 53
Processing cell 2500
Volume report

Volume report
Lower left grid corner : 15965.45,12657.05
Upper right grid corner: 16269.40,12906.29
X grid resolution: 50, Y grid resolution: 50
X grid cell size : 6.08, Y grid cell size: 4.98
Stockpile volume : 1191674.87825 cubic ft,
44136.107 cubic yards
Figure 5-56: Sample volume report
Figure 5-57: Stockpile defined by points and a 3D
polyline perimeter. Window these objects to
obtain the volume report.

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Keyboard Command: stockvol
Prerequiste: Data points of the surface and a 3D polyline in the PERIMETER layer.
File Name: \lsp\stockvol.lsp, \lsp\volcalc.arx
Page 5-96 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands
Calculate Pond/Pit Volume
Function
This command is the simplified method for calculating fill volumes and is the compliment of
the Calculate Stockpile Volume routine. The program internally computes base and final grids
that enclose the limits of your data points. You have the option of setting the resolution of the
grids. The base grid is calculated from the 3D polyline in the PERIMETER layer, which must be
drawn by Draw 3D Polyline Perimeter before using this routine, and from optional 3D polylines
in the BASE_BARRIER layer as drawn by the Draw 3D Polyline Base Barrier routine. The 3D
polyline perimeter is also used as the inclusion perimeter for the volume calculation. The final
grid is calculated from the other selected surface entities such as points, line, inserts, and
polylines along with the perimeter polyline but not including the BASE_BARRIER polylines.

The Make 3D GRiD File and Two Surface Volumes routines are alternatives to this command.

Prompts
Make GRiD File dialog
Set the resolution and then click OK. See Figure 5-50.
Select pond/pit entities and perimeter.
Select object: pick the objects that define the surface and the 3D polyline perimeter.
Reading points ... 53
Inserting barriers 17
Triangulating points ... 53
Processing cell 2500
Volume report

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: Data points of the surface and a 3D polyline in the PERIMETER layer.
Keyboard Command: pitvol
File Name: \lsp\stockvol.lsp, \lsp\volcalc.arx

Define Earthwork Zones

Function
This command assigns a layer and differential to each zone name. Closed polylines for zones can
be drawn in the corresponding layers. The Calculate Earthwork command matches the zone
polylines by layer name with the definitions. The elevation of the final surface within the zone
closed polyline is adjusted by the zone differential. If a zone has two or more layers, the Split
Differential option can be used to specify the thickness and description for each layer. The zone
definitions are stored in the file zones.dta in the Carlson EXEC directory.

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-97

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site
Prerequisite: None
Keyboard Command: zones
File Name: \lsp\zones.lsp, \lsp\contour4.arx

Name Zone Polylines

Function
Zone polylines are identified by their layer name. This command adds another identification to
zone polylines to distinguish between zone polylines in the same layer. The Calculate Earthwork
command will read these zone names and report volume individually for each name as well as
the total volumes. For example, if you had several building zone polylines in the layer BLDG,
you could assign them different names like BLDG 1 and BLDG 2. Then Calculate Earthwork will
report the volumes separately for BLDG 1 and BLDG 2 instead of all the BLDG zones.

Page 5-98 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

Prompts
Label area names (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter
Text height <4.0>: Press Enter
Area name <Area 1>: BLDG 1
Select area perimeter polylines.
Select objects: pick the zone polyline for this name
Specify another area (<Yes>/No)? N

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: zone polylines
Keyboard Command: plname
File Name: \lsp\plname.lsp

Calculate Earthwork
Function
This command calculates earthwork cut and fill between two grid files while adjusting for top
soil removal/replacement and differentials in zones. Grids files representing the base and final
surfaces must be created by Make 3D Grid File before starting this command. Also the zones
must be predefined by the Define Earthwork Zones command which creates a zone definition
file that specifies the zone differential and layer.

Top soil removal/replacement is applied to the base grid before calculating the remaining
earthwork.

Zone areas are defined by a closed 2D polyline in the layer of the corresponding to the zone
definition file. The zone differentials within each zone area are applied to the final grid. In the
example on the following page, ROAD 1 is a closed polyline drawn in the layer P-ROAD14
which has a zone definition with a differential of -1.17. The final grid elevations within the ROAD
1 polyline will be lowered by 1.17. Roads 2-6 are in a layer P-ROAD8 with a differential of -
0.67.

After adjusting the base and final grid surfaces, the earthwork is calculated between the grids.
The volume within each zone is calculated and reported separately. The area that is not in a zone
is reported as the Base volume.

Prompts
Select Base Grid File dialog
Choose the base surface .GRD file.
Select Final Grid File dialog

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-99

 Choose the final surface .GRD file.
Select the Inclusion perimeter polylines or Enter for none:
Select objects: pick inclusion polylines such as the limits of disturbed area. These polylines
apply to the overall site.
Select the Exclusion perimeter polylines or Enter for none:
Select objects: pick exclusion polylines if any
Fill shrinkage factor <1.0>: Press Enter
Cut swell factor <1.0>: Press Enter
Select the Zones polylines or Enter for none:
Select objects: pick the zone closed polylines if any
Enter the top soil removal depth in fill <0.0>: 0.5
Enter the top soil removal depth in cut <0.5>: 0.5
Apply top soil removal to entire site (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter. Answer no to choose
inclusion and/or exclusion polylines for top soil removal.
Enter the top soil replacement depth in fill <0.0>: Press Enter
Enter the top soil replacement depth in cut <0.0>: Press Enter
Create tabluar report (<Yes>/No)? Press Enter. This option controls the format for the
report.
Write zone modified grid files (Yes/<No>)? Press Enter. Use this option to create grid files
that show the modifications. The base grid will have the top soil adjustments and the final grid
will have the zone differentials.

Page 5-100 DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands

Zone Volume Report
Comparing GRiD file: C:/scdev/data/EX10-23.GRD
and GRiD file: C:/scdev/data/PR10-23.GRD
Lower left grid corner : 11771871.78,6850458.48
Upper right grid corner: 11774321.78,6853448.48
X grid resolution: 245, Y grid resolution: 299
X grid cell size: 10.00, Y grid cell size: 10.00

Top Soil Removal Depth: for fill is 0.500, for cut is 0.500
Top Soil Removal Area is 1031385.35 S.F., Volume is 19099.73 C.Y.
Name Diff Cut (C.F.) Fill (C.F.) Area (S.F.) Length Cost
(C.Y.) (C.Y.) (Acres)
Main Road Road 1 -1.170 221204.30 45689.84 62721.48 3920.54
$62376.52
8192.75 1692.22 1.44
Side Roads Road 2 -0.670 16661.99 1166.47 11489.26 748.06
$6543.13
617.11 43.20 0.26
Side Roads Road 3 -0.670 7586.22 74932.54 12106.25 817.10
$6894.51
280.97 2775.28 0.28
Side Roads Road 4 -0.670 48293.64 0.00 9597.66 591.72
$5465.87
1788.65 0.00 0.22
Side Roads Road 5 -0.670 8541.28 34589.47 8817.97 561.53
$5021.83
316.34 1281.09 0.20
Side Roads Road 6 -0.670 11209.97 18814.02 15500.00 1094.86
$8827.25
415.18 696.82 0.36
Base 1035124.57 2077552.12 910833.59
38337.95 76946.37 20.91

Total 1348621.96 2252744.45 1031066.21

49948.96 83434.98 23.67
Total cost of zones: $95129.11

Pull-Down Menu Location: Site

Prerequisite: Zone definitions and closed polylines, and base and final grid files.
Keyboard Command: zonecalc
File Name: \lsp\zonecalc.lsp, \lsp\contour4.arx

DTM & Contour Module - Site Commands Page 5-101