TCP MDT

Digital Terrain Model

Version 5

USER MANUAL

Introduction
The aim of this manual is to facilitate the learning process regarding the application with the step-by-step development of a project throughout its different stages. Complete information can be found in the Reference Manual on all the aspects not covered herein. It is assumed that AutoCAD is correctly installed and that the TCP-MDT installation instructions have been followed. It is assumed that the installation directory is C:\MDT5 for all the tutorials and that the project directory is C:\MDT5\Projects. To the explanations more understandable, a series of screenshots from the AutoCAD 2006 English version have been included. The other versions supported appear similar and their functionality is the same. In order to showcase the programs capabilities with small projects and large projects six different exercises have been included. Standard Version 1. The first of these concerns a small survey of around 100 points on which some points management and line definition operations are performed. 2. In the second tutorial, triangulation, contouring, profile, etc. operations are executed. 3. The second exercise takes the data used in the first tutorial and performs volume calculations for both profile and grid difference methods. Profession Version 4. This tutorial deals with a much larger project (around 750 points) in which almost all the functions are executed from previously prepared files. It is essentially aimed at designing grade lines, superelevations, additional widths, cross-section templates, etc. 5. Modified terrain operations, obtaining volumes, setting out and realistic simulations are all performed in this exercise. 6. Subgrades are created and earthworks executed when the subgrade height or the contacts with the terrain are known, in addition to the drawing of solids and rendering. 7. An alignment is constructed using different road design elements (straights, curves and clothoids), to subsequently convert it into a horizontal alignment ready to be used with other commands. Surveying Module

8. Lastly, a tutorial is developed detailing how the topography module works, including the conversion of a file from an electronic data recorder, calculating its coordinates, adjusting a traverse and transforming UTM coordinates to geographic coordinates.

Tutorial 1 Managing Points

A construction company commissions a survey of a plot where earthworks are planned in a fill to be used as a parking lot that will later be landscaped in the northwestern area. Hence, the plan consists of subsequently filling this area with excess earth cleared from the plot. Firstly, a survey is taken of the area possibly affected in its original state. A coordinates file is obtained as a result of the calculation process with any program capable of providing a coordinates file, which is imported with the relevant tool. In order to generate a comparative cross-section plan containing the Administrations project, the Digital Terrain Model is executed with the aid of drawing objects (polylines) linking the surveying points and break lines. Made with MDT, the plots cross-sections are then processed from the N-S longitudinal alignment having identical characteristics to those of the project at equal 2.00 meters distances from the aforementioned cuts to exhaustively compare them (by excess) with the projects original cuts at every 10.00 meters. This process will yield a cross-sections file. Lastly, after taking another set of observations of the modified terrain, cuts are obtained from the modified terrain as well using the same alignment. Then the earthworks in both terrains will be calculated. The process is described step by step throughout this manuals first tutorial.

Program Start-Up
Click on the MDT V5 icon located on the Windows desktop or execute the MDT icon located in the MDT group created when installing the program. Once it is executed, AutoCAD will run automatically and all the menus and tools bars will be enabled.

Creating the Project

By creating a project, better control is exercised over the files generated by MDT. When the Project > New menu is executed, the program requests a file name in order to create a new project. Enter the name Tutorial1 in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial1 directory. The project window shown below is then displayed.

Import Points
One starts off with a coordinate point file generated by any surveying program. The points can be entered manually or imported from a data collector. In this particular case, the file is called DEMO1.PUN and contains 101 points. The table below is a fragment of the file, whose fields include: point number, X coordinate, Y coordinate, Z coordinate and code.
2 3 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 257.836 258.914 260.736 262.893 265.817 270.104 272.797 278.382 282.897 284.979 285.349 287.658 292.947 296.339 296.223 284.724 286.749 291.682 295.453 288.523 290.512 290.035 285.462 293.558 264.781 274.491 284.925 293.434 301.429 311.112 315.505 323.371 331.671 338.837 346.624 346.885 347.153 347.070 353.138 373.268 372.258 372.405 368.948 343.006 339.895 334.929 332.820 336.082 46.570 46.760 47.130 47.430 47.560 47.850 48.180 49.050 49.700 50.290 50.910 51.140 51.120 51.120 51.120 52.160 51.240 51.120 51.120 50.600 50.940 51.260 49.960 48.280

LS LS LS LS LS LS LS LS TREE TREE TREE TREE BT

These points have been coded in the field, so that a graphic can automatically be generated reflecting part of the plan. The relationship between these codes and the objects to be drawn is determined by the codes database, which can be accessed and viewed using the Points > Codes > Codes Database option. Click on the Cancel button.

In order to import points, choose the Points > Import menu option. Select the NXYZ format within the Generic category, and set Space as the separator. Mark the Classify Points by Level and the Draw from Codes check boxes. Select a scale of 500.

Click OK. After validating the dialog box, choose the DEMO1.PUN file in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial1 folder. The points defined in the file will be displayed on screen. Polylines and blocks corresponding to the point codes will also be drawn, according to the definition in the codes database. Check the layers that have automatically been created.

To check the imported data the Points > List Points command is used. Using the dialogue box selection system, select All. This shows the points list containing their point numbers, levels, X coordinates, Y coordinates, Z coordinates and codes in the dialog box.

One can see that there are two point levels contained in the list: Fill and Break Line

Change Symbols
A possibility offered by the program is to display each point in a different way depending on the level or group to which it belongs. Execute the Points > Change > Change Format command. Select the As per Levels and All options in the dialog box.

Click on and another dialog box is displayed that facilitates the configuration of the points representation by levels.

Assign red (color 1) and an X for the filling level. Select blue (color 5) and a cross (+) for the breaklines level Observe that the points are displayed in two different ways in the drawing.

Break Line Definition

Due to the circumstances that occur in the field data gathering process, it is almost impossible to code all the points in an orderly way. It is therefore necessary to rely on other commands in the program to put together jobs. Firstly, a path with a constant width will be drawn that only has one measured side. Amplify it using the zoom function in the projects lower lefthand corner. Now select the Break Lines > Displaced Parallel command. Select the Points mode. Enter the name PATH in Layer and activate the Create Points check box and also assign the Breaklines level and the code PATH. Lastly, in the Heights frame select the Repeat option and click on OK.

The following will appear in the command area:

First point:

Select locations near points 112, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 20 in that order with the mouse. The transparent commands zoom, frame, etc. can help. If an error occurs, press R to discard the last vertex. After the last point, press <Enter>. When the program requests an orientation, click a point to the left of the newly created line using the mouse Continue to enter the data:
Separation: 5 <Enter> 13 points created

A new polyline can be seen in the PATH layer to the left of the original line and that each vertex has created a point having the same level as the corresponding original points.

Perform another zoom extension. In the same way, one can manually complete the lines making up the lower part of the pond walls. Select Break Lines > Point Numbers. Instead of selecting an existing layer, a new one will be created. Click on the New button.

Type in LOW_WALL as a layer name, click the Select button and choose red as the color. Click OK twice.

Enter the following point sequence:

First point: Other point: Other point: First point: Other point: Other point: First point: Command: 99 <Enter> 21 <Enter> <Enter> 92 <Enter> 22 <Enter> <Enter> <Enter>

Repeat the process to create the HIGH_RUB layer, using blue and the following point number sequence:
First point: Other point: Other point: First point: Other point: Other point: First point: Command: 99 <Enter> 24 <Enter> <Enter> 28 <Enter> 12 <Enter> <Enter> <Enter>

Lastly, the lines of lower slope are drawn using the same command, but selecting the existing LSLOPE layer. Join points 97,29,48 and then 97 and 98 using the aforementioned procedure. In order to draw the remaining break lines, a previously prepared file containing drainage details as well as the digital models inclusion and exclusion lines will be used. In order to do so, choose the Break Lines >

Import command. Select TCP format and then select the DEMO1.ROT file. The program will then draw the aforementioned lines in the DRAINAGE and BOUNDARY layers respectively. The drawing configuration is complete. Save the drawing as DEMO1.DWG in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial1 folder. As a project file is active, the program requests if one wishes to add the drawing to the project, which one has to answer yes.

Tutorial 2: Contour Lines and Profiles

Each of the lines drawn in their respective layers make up the so-called break lines on their own, as they are directly linked to surveying points. At this point, the process of putting together the project has finalized, as the plan is defined. The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) will then be generated. Open the drawing named Demo2.dwg C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial2 folder located in the

Creating the Surface

Select the Surfaces > Create Surface command or, in the project window, right click on Surfaces and, in the contextual menu, Create Surfaces. Select DEMO2.SUP as the surface to be created in the project directory. Activate the Points, Break Lines and Boundary Line check boxes if they are not already activated. Choose Complete representation.

To define the list of layers containing the break lines, click on the Layers button to the right of the Break Lines check box. In order to select a previously saved layer, click the Load button, select the DEMO2.CAP file or manually select a layer using the > button.

Clicking OK starts up the programs triangulation calculation process, taking all the correctly defined break lines into account. One can see in the project window that a surface file has been added.

Editing the Triangulation

As an editing example, triangle joints in a pre-determined zone will be modified. In order to do so, execute the Points > Locate Point command and enter 32 for the point and use a margin of 20. Observing the joint between points 46 and 32, one can see it would be better adapted to the terrain if it was made up as 45 and 31. Enter Surfaces > Insert Line, then graphically link points 45 and 31.

Quick Profile
Next one proceeds to obtain some longitudinal and cross-section profiles that will immediately indicate the MDT formations status. In order to do so, perform an extension zoom and use the MDT > Quick Profile command. The first point is marked in the middle of the image on the western side. Likewise, the second point is marked in the middle of the image on the eastern side (from left to right through the center). The profile with the ends geometric characteristics and information about these ends can be viewed on screen. Change the Vertical factor, if desired.

Generating Contour Lines

The DTM is accepted as valid and the contour generation process is initiated. This may suggest a new editing operation on the triangulation operation thus viewed in order to better adapt it to the known terrains morphology. Use the Contours > Contour option or use the Draw Contour Lines menu in the project windows contextual menu once the surface Demo2.sup has been selected. The drawing scale and the exhaustive definition of the points taken and added make it advisable to use a 0.5 meter normal contour lines with equidistant representation. Modify the Normal box by overwriting 0.500 in this field. Observe that the contour lines equivalent distance value is changed automatically to 2.500 (=0.500 x 5). Choose the Contousr option within the Draw As option. The contour lines smoothing factor for the contours is left at 0 by leaving the Smoothing factor option unchecked. This is initially advisable, so as not to overload the drawing.

Click on OK to initiate the process

The next step is to take a detailed look at the modeling effects through their representation of contour lines. Amplify the surroundings of point 27 using the Points > Locate Point command. To ensure the project window does not take up space on the screen, click on its Hide button.

It can be seen that the contour lines set out below point 27 are choppy in the direction of point 48 and the contour line step between points 30 and 47 is avoided. This can be ironed out by inserting a triangulation line between points 31and 48. In order to do so, use the Surfaces > Insert Line

command and join points 31 and 48. Notice how both the contour line and the triangulation are immediately modified.

Labeling Contour Lines

If the resulting contours appear fine, the drawing can be finished by labeling the contours, smoothing and situating heights. Firstly, hide the triangulation layer (TRI) by selecting layer 0 as the current layer or by executing the MDT5 > View command. Next, choose the Contours > Labeling command. The following dialog box is displayed:

Since the contours are generated every 0.50m, it would be convenient to select 2 decimal points in Number of Decimals and in Text Height enter 1.5. Then click on the Automatic button. Perform a zoom extension.

Other labels can also be drawn at the points desired. For instance, select Contours > Labeling, and select the last contour line in the South of the plot. The program displays the value 45.50 by merely clicking any point on the contour. Additionally, if the text having AutoCAD hotspots is selected, it can be moved along the contour line without interruption. In order to project on a plane and avoid data overcrowding, a series of significant heights is placed at unique points. In order to do this, use the Contours > Place Heights Labels command. Set 3 as the Number of decimals, 1.5 as the Text Height and 0 as the Label Angle. Click on OK and the program then requests the point in the command area.

Point: 279.710.2380.32 <Enter> Height <45.266>: <Enter> Text insertion point: <Enter> Point: <Enter>

Lastly one proceeds to smooth the curves using the Contour Lines > Smoothing command, specifying factor 3 and clicking the All button. Once finished, click OK.

Save the drawing again using File > Save.

Defining the Alignment

Independently of the case described to measure earthworks, a theoretical horizontal alignment will be defined using the drawing and editing commands permitted by AutoCAD in order to practice defining horizontal alignments and profiles. A polyline which will represent the horizontal alignment is drawn. Profiles will be obtained from it. Activate layer 0 and select the AutoCAD Draw > Polyline command.
Specify starting point: 293.60,346.90 <Enter> Current line thickness is 0.0000 Specify next point or [Arch/Half thickness/Undo/Thickness]: 283.50, 298.30 <Enter> Specify next point or [Arch/Close/Half thickness/Length/Undo/Thickness]: 284.00, 246.50 <Enter>

Specify next point or [Arch/Close/Half thickness/Length/Undo/Thickness]: <Enter>

Once the polyline is designed, it can be converted into a horizontal alignment. In order to do so, use the Alignments > Convert Polyline to Alignment command. Select the previous polyline by the lower end and accept the values proposed by the following dialog box.

Then use the Elements > Curves > Curve Tangential to Two Lines or Curves command, which will allow one to insert an arch at the horizontal alignments second vertex. In order to do this, select the first and second segments and enter the radius:
Curve according to Length/Chord/Tangent/Arrow/Through Point/<Radius>: 100

In order to know the status of the alignments defined, execute the Alignments > List Alignment command and select the previous horizontal alignment. The program shows an alignment status containing Station definition, X coordinate, Y coordinate, azimuth and radius.

To finalize the horizontal alignment creation process, it should be saved in a file. In order to do so, use the Alignments > Export Alignment command. Select the horizontal alignment graphically, click on OK in the dialog box displayed without activating any options. Then give the file the name DEMO2.EJE. In any event, the name used will be displayed from that moment in the project window.

Obtaining Cross-Section Profiles

We will now move on to obtain the this horizontal alignments crosssections. In order to do so, the project window is used. Within this window, select the previously created horizontal alignment, right click and select Get Cross-Sections.

MDT proposes the DEMO2.SUP file as the surface file in the dialog box used to obtain cross-sections. This is the drawings current surface. It also proposes the same file name for the cross-section file with the .TRA extension. Lastly, one goes on to parameterize the strips width by

entering 40.00 meters in Left and another 40.00 meters in Right, so that the whole model is sectionalized without the risking of missing out any areas. Activate the Unique Points check box. The profile Interval will be 2.00, which will not lead to any problems despite being excessive.

Click on OK and a message indicating that all the profiles have been correctly generated will be displayed. Then the profiles will be drawn on the ground plan with their respective cuts.

The program allows one to represent or graphically check these profiles on screen, either permanently by creating drawing objects with texts associated to each profile or quickly one by one in order to verify them by indicating the station represented and the horizontal alignment positions height. This latter option is accessed from the Cross-Sections > Edit Cross Sectiones menu or its equivalent in the project window.

Select DEMO2.TRA in the projects cross-section list window. The program will then display the profile drawings centered on a horizontal alignment. One can go forward or backwards using the Next and Previous buttons respectively.

Drawing Cross-Sections
In this section, cross-sections will be drawn. In order to do so, the Demo2 file should be selected in the project window within the CrossSections category. Select format DIN-A0 from the format list, Paper space and Demo for the title. Click OK.

New paper space representations will then be automatically created, each corresponding to a sheet of paper. Once this process is finalized, the drawing should be saved again using the AutoCAD File > Save command.

Tutorial 3. Volume Calculation

Preparing the Modified Terrain
After a few days, the same construction company commissions another new measurement on the modified terrain in order to assess the fill executed and submit the relevant plans. In order to do this, a visit is made to the work site and a survey is taken after the coordinates system has been set out of the edges making up the fills upper and lower edges, as well as the contacts with the original terrain. Performing this calculation will produce a new coordinates file. This will then be merged with the previous survey and any points within the area affected by the fill will be deleted. The next step would be making the MDT. Subsequently, after importing the same horizontal alignment used in the previous job, all the resulting terrains cuts are processed with the same equivalent distance and strip width, thereby producing another cross-section file (as a first approach and check) in order to graphically compare the earthworks executed. After checking there are no errors and assuming all processes are correct, one executes the volume measurement process by profile differences. This gives up the result of the cuttings seen, which go no further than the perimeter slope excavations and the clearing of organic soil. These change the works and the total fills surroundings, as well as their differences. This process is similar to the one performed with the original terrain data. It is advisable to store the files in the same project subdirectory. Firstly, a new drawing is created with the help of the File > New command. Then a previously created project is opened using the Project > Open command and the Tutorial3.prj file is selected. Next select the Points > Import command in the same way as described in Tutorial 1. Select a Scale of 1:500, click OK and select the DEMO2.PUN file in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial3 folder. Once the scatter plot is drawn on the screen, the boundary lines will be traced. This time a file for such an effect will be used. Use the Break Lines > Import command and select the DEMO2.ROT file.

Then the digital terrain model is created. Execute Surface > Create Surface and type in DEMO2.SUP as the file name. This time a previously created file will be used to mark the layers list. Activate the Boundary Line check box, click the Layers button and select DEMO2.CAP. Click OK twice to create the triangulation representing the break lines.

A few quick cuts on the DTM using the Quick Profile option to project some theoretical East West and North South lines on the drawing will provide one with a real image of these cuts, confirming what has been processed One can now generate contours lines and label the job using an

equidistance of 0.5 m using the Contour Lines > Create Contour Lines command. The drawing on screen will reflect the modified and partially adjacent terrain. In the job above, cross-section cuts from a horizontal alignment were processed. These will be used for the modified terrain. Execute the Alignments > Import Alignment command and select the DEMO1.EJE file. The cuts should be obtained using the Cross-Sections > Get CrossSections command with the same parameters as those used before. In other words, the same horizontal alignment, left-hand strip width of 40.00 meters, right-hand strip width of 40.00 meters and profile equidistance every 2.00 meters. Deactivate the Unique Points check box. Specify DEMO2.TRA as the file name. A dialog box will be displayed indicating that no profiles within a specific station range have been found. This is normal in this case. Click OK.

Once the cuts have been completed, a graphical representation can be obtained using the Edit Cross-Sections command.

Save the drawing as DEMO2.DWG in the same folder as the previous job. If the program asks whether the drawing should be included in the current project, respond affirmatively.

Volume by Cross Sections Differences

We can obtain the result of the mediation between both profiles with the Volume > Cross Sections Difference command. This shows a selection window for the first profile file, which is DEMO1.TRA. After validating this one, choose the second one as DEMO2.TRA. The following dialogue box appears next. In this we can configure the capacity report. The initial station will appear as 0.000 as it is the first slice common to both profiles. We type 0.3 as vegetal soil value. The Curvature Correction should also be activated. Hence, after validating the dialog box, the program requests the horizontal alignment from which the profiles have been generated, so that it can calculate the said correction from it, which is the one that was previously imported.

The program will calculate the cut and fill volumes, and show on the screen a list of partial and accumulated volumes. Double clicking on one of the cells will allow editing of its value, the totals being automatically recalculated.

Click on the Draw button, select DIN-A0 as the format, the Paper space drawing space and click on OK. A presentation will be created for each sheet. Change to model space to continue.

Volume by Mesh Difference

Now we will make another comparison using another method of volume calculation. In order to do so, select the Demo1 surface within the project window and choose the Create Grid command. Set Binary Grid as the file type in the dialog box and cell size at 1 m. Save the information in the DEMO1.MDE file.

The same operation should likewise be performed with the surface Demo 2, which generates the file DEMO2.MDE. Next choose the Volumes > Grid Difference command and press OK. Select the two files generated previously. In the following window appear the final results, with the possibility of drawing a mesh with the final result.

Activate the Draw Volumes and Isolate Layer check boxes, as well as More Colors for cutting and fill. Click on OK.

Cut and fill areas can be shown in different colours. Execute the SHADOW command if desired to obtain a more realistic result. Save the drawing as Demo3 in the same project folder.

File Summary
Once the job is finished we save all the files in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial3 folder. The main files are as follows: File DEMO2.CAP DEMO1.DWG DEMO2.DWG DEMO1.EJE DEMO1.SUP DEMO2.SUP DEMO2.PUN DEMO2.ROT DEMO1.TRA DEMO2.TRA DEMO1.MDE DEMO2.MDE EJEMPLO3.PRJ Description Modified terrains break line layers Original terrain drawing Modified Terrain Drawing Alignment Original Terrain Surface Modified terrain surface Modified Terrain Points Modified Terrain Breaklines Original terrain cross sections Modified Terrain Cross Section Profiles Original Terrain Binary Mesh Modified Terrain Binary Mesh Project file

Files with the CAP, EJE, PUN, ROT, TRA and PRJ extensions can be edited.

Tutorial 4. Road Design

In this example we will start from a survey already triangulated and with contours lines drawn. From this we will obtain longitudinal and cross section profiles from an alignment, again, already in existence. We will generate the widenings and superelevations and we will define a grade line. We will then associate a template and create the segment for all this data. From the segment we will build the digital modified terrain model and we will generate the different volume lists. We will also use the setting out tools. For the correct comprehension of these processes, it is advisable to have worked through the previous examples in this User Manual.

Project Selection
Firstly, open the drawing C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial4 folder. POLI1.DWG in the

Superelevation and Widening Generation

Hide the surface and the contour lines using the Vision command.

Select the Poli element within the Alignments category in the project window. Right click and execute the Draw command. In order to generate the superelevation associated to the projects horizontal alignment, select the horizontal alignment again in the project window and click on the Generate Superelevation option.

Accept the values proposed by the dialogue box. Select the POLI.PER file within the Superelevations category. In order to view it, select the element, right click it and select the Check option.

In order to generate additional widths, select the horizontal alignment once again in the project window, right click it and execute the Generate Additional Widths command. Specify POLI1.SOB as the file.

Obtaining Longitudinal Profiles

In order to generate additional widths, select the horizontal alignment once again in the project window, right click it and execute the Get Profile

command. The longitudinal profile will automatically be saved in a file called POLI1.LON. Activate, if it has not already done, the Unique Points box and the All Cuts check box, and deactivate the Interval box. Click OK. The longitudinal profile thus generated can be viewed by selecting the new file within the Longitudinal Profiles category, right clicking and choosing the Edit option.

Then select the longitudinal profile again in the project window and execute the Draw Simple Profile command. Next, select Paper Space, title as Poli, DIN-A0 format, Horizontal Scale 1000 and Vertical Scale 500, and Constant Interval with the value 10.

Click OK. A presentation with the name LON_Poli1 will be created.

Obtaining Cross-Section Profiles

Likewise, in order to obtain the cross-sections, select the horizontal alignment called Poli in the project window, right click it and execute the Get Cross-Sections command. The cross-sections will be saved by default in the POLI.TRA file in the same folder as the current folder. Choose an Interval of 10 and a Left and Right distances of 50. Activate the Singular Points check box. A message will be displayed indicating that all the profiles have been correctly generated. In order to view the different profiles generated, select the POLI file in the project window within the cross-sections category and then execute the Check command.

Select the cross-section file once again and execute the Draw command. Set DIN-A0, horizontal and vertical scale 500 and space Paper as the parameters. A presentation will be created for each sheet.

Defining Grade Lines

Select the Poli longitudinal profile in the project window, right click and execute the Edit option. Maximize the dialog box and change the vertical

factor to exaggerate the height differences. Execute the Grade Lines > New command and give it the name POLI.RAS within the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorail4 folder. A grade line connected to the longitudinal profiles first and last vertices will automatically be created.

Select the last row and click on the icon in the grade lines numerical definition located on the top of the dialog box. Fill in the dialog box with station 175 and height 563.

Repeat the operation to create another vertex with station 302 and height 544. If one wishes, the vertices may be graphically moved and all the data will be automatically recalculated. One then proceeds to define the vertical transition curves. Select the file corresponding to station 175, and enter the value 55 in the cell corresponding to the tangent. The corresponding Kv and the arrow will be calculated. Now select station 302s row and assign it a Kv of 300. The dialog box should have the following appearance.

Execute the File > Close option and give a positive response to the question about saving the changes.

Template Definition
Before obtaining a complete set of cross sections, we must specify the templates associated with our road. The program incorporates libraries of platforms, ditches, overlaps and roadbed. This library can be added to and customised. We will use these libraries in this example for learning purposes. Choose the Templates > Definition of Templates command. Specify the POLI1.SCC file.

Platforms
We will now define the platform we will be using. Click the Platforms button in the previous dialogue box and then click the New button, creating platform number 3.

We now define the vector corresponding to the inside shoulder of the platform. For this we select, in the vector list, the Alignment line and press Insert Prev button. In the dialogue box that follows, select Inner Hard Shoulder as the description. Check that the characteristic fields are automatically filled. Click OK.

Repeat the same process with the rest of the vectors. Following the same procedure insert Lane 1, Lane 2, Outer Hard Shoulder and Berm. Accept the proposed values in all cases.

To copy the left-hand part to the right hand part, so that the platform is symmetrical, use the Mirror button. Now we introduce the median characteristics. Check the Activate box and introduce in Median Left Hand Ditch. the value 4, and the same with the right hand side. Set 2 as the Height and LAWN as the texture. Click on OK to save the changes.

Lastly the pivot points should be defined. This can be done in two ways, either graphically selecting the said points image as indicated in the graphic below, or marking the vertex on the list and clicking the P.Grade Line button. Once marked, the corresponding should become yellow, in addition to being marked with an X in the PV column of the vectors list.

Ditches
To define the ditches, click on the Ditches button in the Templates dialogue box. Press the New button to create the number 6 ditch.

Press Insert Next and type 1 in DX and 0 in DY. Press the same button and type the values 1 in DX and 0.3 in DY. Assign both vectors with a LAND2 texture. Next, validate the dialogue box. At the same time, one can check how the ditchs total length and the vectors partial length are displayed at the bottom

Slopes
Click the Cut button in the Templates dialogue box. Accept the default value of 1.5 for slope number 1 and assign it the EARTH1 texture. Click OK.

Do the same for the Fill slopes. In this case, assign slope 1 with the value of 0.667 and EARTH1 as a texture.

Roadbeds
Now we can proceed to define the roadbed associated with the road. Click on the Roadbeds button in the Templates dialogue box and assign to the roadbed number 1 a Thickness of 0.6. Validate the dialogue box by pressing OK.

Assignments
Click on the Assignments button to reveal on the screen an initial section type. By default, the Platforms box will be active, where the platform number 1 is assigned to its last station.

Click the Edit button. Select platform 3 in the following dialog box, which is the one created in the previous step.

Next, activate the Ditches box. In this case we will use ditch number 2 to the right and ditch number 6 to the left, along all of the horizontal alignment. To do this, press Insert and in the new dialogue box select ditch 2, the type Cutting and the side Right.

aaa The same goes for ditch number 6, except that we choose the Left side.

We proceed in the same way as with the ditches, for the Cut Slopes, the Slopes and the Roadbed, specifying the element number 1 in each case for the alignment. Pressing OK in the alignment section assignation window saves the changes.

Segment Generation
Once all the elements that make up the road have been defined, we can fit them together, so that from now on we are working with just one segment file.

Select the Alignments > Segments option and POLI1.SEG as the file name. Next, import the following files in order: POLI.EJE, POLI.LON, POLI.TRA, POLI1.RAS, POLI1.SOB, Poli1.SCC and POLI1.PER.

Next, press the Generate Sections button to save the modified terrain information in the segment. There will then appear a window displaying any errors encountered in the process. In this case, the system will display: All profiles correctly generated. Click OK. One can see that a new segment has been created in the project category.

Drawing Profiles
Now we can completely represent the longitudinal and cross section profiles. Select the Poli1 segment in the project window. Right click it and execute Draw Composite Profile. Set 1000 and 500 as the Horizontal and Vertical scale values respectively and set the value of 10 as the Constant interval. Click on OK.

To draw the Cross Section profiles, choose the Cross Sections > Draw Profiles, and select the file POLI1.SEG. Set DIN-A0 as format, 200 as the horizontal and vertical scales, Poli as the title and the Paper Space option. Click OK. As many sheets in paper space as may be necessary to draw all the cross-sections will then be drawn.

Save the drawing as POLI1.DWG, C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial4 directory.

in

the

File Summary
Once the work has been finalized, the existing project files should be numbered in the aforementioned folder. The files are the following: File POLI1.DWG POLI.EJE POLI1.SUP POLI1.PUN POLI1.ROT POLI.LON POLI.TRA POLI.RAS POLI1.SCC POLI1.SEG POLI.SOB POLI.PER Description Original terrain drawing Alignment Modified terrain surface Original terrain points Original terrain breaklines Original terrain longitudinal profiles Original terrain cross sections Grade Line Templates library Segment Widening associated with the original alignment Superelevation associated with the original alignment

Files with the extensions EJE, PUN, ROT, LON, RAS, TRA, SOB and PER can be edited.

Tutorial 5. Obtaining Modified Terrain

Open the Poli1 drawing in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial5 folder. Now choose the Surfaces > Get Modified Terrain command, type F and select POLI1.SEG. Activate the Surface option in the dialog box, so that the new surface will be saved in the POLI2.SUP file, leaving the original surface unchanged. Leave the rest of the check boxes as the appear in the figure below.

Lastly, click on OK. Once the calculation process has finalized, the result will be the following:

The original terrain is automatically modified to show the new road and the new surface. If we use the Quich Profile option, we can view the modifications for the original model.

List of Cubic measurements

Next, we will produce a capacity list for the road. Use the Volumes > Cubic Measurement List, select POLI1.SEG file command and press OK.

The data in this list can be modified for printing or export to any format.

Volumes List
Next we will obtain a surface and volume list which will allow us to perform the earthwork calculations. Use the Volumes > Cross Sections Measurements Report command, select the POLI1.SEG file and check that the dialogue box displays the Accumulated option.

There will now appear a list of the crowning surfaces and road slopes, section by section.

A list of roadbed measurements will now be obtained, that is to say: strip, shoulder, road surface, etc. lengths. In order to do so, click the Volume > Roadbed Measurements Report command, select the POLI1.SEG file and select the Accumulated type once again.

In this list the roadbed volume and the reinforcing data is null, since we have not yet defined them in our template.

Setting Out
We will now perform a points setting out exercise. First we insert two stations. Use the Stations > Insert Stations command and in the dialogue box, deactivate the Request Level and Request Code boxes and press OK.

The first station will be called S1 with the coordinates 376025, 4085457 and the second will be called S2, with 376463,4085720 as coordinates. Now use the Setting out > Setting out Points Regarding to Alignment command, press F and select the file POLI1.SEG.

Next introduce in Station 1 S1 and in Station 2 S2, respectively. Select the Polar Method and press OK in the dialogue box. In the points selection box choose All. Pressing OK reveals the following setting out list:

Click OK. Next we will setting out the roads characteristic points. Use the Setting Out > Lines List command, select the file POLI1.SEG and activate the Crown and Foot of Slope option in the dialogue boxs list of elements to be represented.

The list generated shows the coordinates and other characteristics of each of the setting out points.

Road Tour Simulation

Execute the Maps/Render > Route by Highway command, click the Segment button and select the POLI1.SEG file. Then click the Surface button and select the POLI1.SUP file.

Also enter the value of 2 in the Observer Height box and 1.5 in the Horizontal Alignment Adjustment box. Click on OK. A window will be displayed showing a realistic simulation of the highway. Experiment with the dialog boxs command, going forward and back along the alignment, changing speed, station and observer height, among others. Finalize the process by closing the window or pressing ESC.

Video Generation
In order to generate a video of the route simulation, execute the Maps/Rendering > Generate Video command. If the program requests you to select a type of video compression, select the Complete Frames (without compression) option Select POLI1.AVI as the name of the video to be generated, the same files as in the previous steps as the surface and segments. Then click OK.

One only has to double click on the video file from the Windows explorer to view the result in the systems default viewer.

Tutorial 6. Explanade Creation

This case describes how to effect earthworks or excavations from a predefined digital model. Using the new model and the original, a volume calculation by meshes, along with a 3D representation and an assigned materials rendering.

Explanade Drawing
Open the drawing Terrain.dwg, in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial6 folder. The Tutorial6 project will be automatically opened. In the drawing we are going to insert a block containing the levelling to be carried out. Use the AutoCAD Insert > Block command, press the Browse button and select the drawing Poly1.dwg from the same folder. Insert this at coordinates 0,0, with a scale of 1, rotation angle of 0 and the Explode option enabled. The block can also be expanded once inserted.

Earthworks by Explanade Elevation

Use the Surfaces > Earthworks by Subgrade Height command and select the drawings polyline. The following dialogue box appears, used for the configuration of the earthworks about to be realised.

Enter the height of 580 in the Subgrade box and activate the options appearing in the figure above. As cut and fill slopes, keep the default values. Click OK. The program will automatically create a new surface called Terrain2, which will be drawn with its contacts.

To see the changes to the model, use the Quick Profile command from North to South. Notice how the completed task is highlighted.

Earthworks by Terrain Elevation

Using the actual surface as a station, we will perform an earthwork of which we know the contacts with the terrain in the site of the levelled surface boundary. Insert the Poly2.dwg file as before. Choose the Surfaces > Earthworks by Terrain Height command and designate the new polyline. The following dialogue box appears, specifying the surface characteristics to be calculated.

In explanade height type 575 and keep the rest of the default values. Validate the dialogue box.

In the same way as before, using the Quick Profile command, we can view the actual model.

Route Terrain Simulation

A virtual tour through the terrain will now be put together. In order to do so, execute the Maps/Render > Route by Terrain, select the Terrain3.SUP surface and specify 50 as Observer Height.

Click OK and the terrain viewer will be inialised. Experiment with the controls to change the image.

Tutorial 7. Alignments
In this example we will describe the fundamental alignment design tools. For this we will fit together several tracing elements, using different techniques, and then we will convert them to an horizontal alignment to be used for profile calculation and setting out. First open the Alignments.dwg C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial7 folder. file in the

Element Fitting
Insert a clothoid-curve-clothoid transition between the two lines on the left. Use the Elements > Clothoids > Clothoid-curve-clothoid between Lines command. Select the first lines in whichever order and type in the following parameters:
Radius: 100 Input Length/<Parameter>: 60 Exit. Length/<Parameter>: <60.000>

Notice that the original lines are now drawn in green, and the new clothoids are drawn in red. The circular curve is drawn in yellow.

To check the analytical and geometric information obtained from each of the newly created elements, use the Elements > Edit command and select the left-most clothoid. The following dialogue box appears:

Now press the Edit button to show the editable parameters.

Observe that only the parameter and clothoid length can be edited for linked road design elements as they are within in a group. Click Cancel and then the Details button. The following dialogue box appears:

Try the same with the recently created clothoids and straights. Accept all the open dialog boxes. Now a curve situated more to the right will be inserted between two straights. Use the Elements > Curves > Curve tangent to two lines or curves command. Select the last two lines and at the prompt
Curve according to Length/Chord/Tangent/Arrow/Through Point/<Radius>:

insert the value 80 as radius (default value). A new yellow curve will be drawn between the two lines.

Next, insert a clothoid-straight-clothoid transition between the two arcs to the right of the drawing. Use the Elements > Clothoids > Clothoid-lineclothoid between curves command. Select the two curves and enter 60 as the clothoid entry and exit values.
First Clothoid. Length/<Parameter>: 60 Second Clothoid. Length/<Parameter>: <60.000>

Element Connection
Now we can connect all the drawn elements. First, we will connect the group of elements on the right with the group on the left. Use the Elements>Connect Elements command, choose the left hand extreme of the right hand group and then the right hand extreme of the left hand group (see figure).

Now we can join them in one single group. Use the Elements > Group Elements command and select all the elements. One then indicates the left-hand end as the origin and assigns the value of 0 to the initial station. The program informs one that 12 elements have been grouped with a total length of 1965.934.

To check the result, use the Elements > Edit command and select any element. The following dialogue box appears:

Double click on station 1183.365. The curve alignment characteristics are shown. Change the radius value to 200. Press OK and then again OK. Notice how the drawing has been modified.

Conversion to Alignment
Lastly we will convert the elements previously created to an alignment to be used by the other system commands. Use the Elements > Convert to Alignment command and select the alignment at any point. The following dialogue box appears:

Accept the proposed parameters and press OK. A polyline will be created in the alignment layer, deleting the previous alignments. These can be recovered using the Alignments > Ungroup Elements command. The last step is to dimension the alignment. Use the Alignments > Dimension Alignment command and select the last polyline created. The following dialog box is displayed:

Press OK. The dimensions are automatically drawn on each of the elements. Use the REGEN command to improve the curves quality of representation.

Tutorial 8. Survey Calculations

The aim of this example is to convert a file produced in the field, calculate the point and station coordinates, compensate a traverse and transform the coordinates. First, edit the configuration using the Utilities > Setup command, press Surveying and in the Mode field choose Beginner. Accept the changes.

Data Collector File Conversion

The first step is to convert the file from the total station or the data collector used for the survey. Use the Surveying > Convert command. Select as the manufacturer TCP, specify the format as Levantamiento ASCII and choose the DOLMENES.LEA, file in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial8 folder. Activate the three boxes in the After Converting frame.

Accept the proposed file name for destination. The following dialogue box allows the revision of the imported observations, deleting the erroneous ones, deciding upon whether to interpret them as point observations or station

observations (in the case of incorrect interpretation) and to process repeated observations. In this example we press OK without making any changes.

Coordinate Calculation
We can now proceed to calculate the station and point coordinates. The list in the top left-hand side of the screen (Origin Station) corresponds to the stations where we positioned ourselves in the field. Scanning this list shows how the program informs us of the stations visited since the selected ones (Target Stations), the instrument heights and the point read from it (Instrument Setup). For example, from station 1, stations 2.5 and 6 were read in double mode, i.e., there and back, and 3 and 4 were read in simple mode, i.e., one way only. Select other stations to see how the information changes.

We can edit or view the station and point Observations easily. Use the Observations button in the Target Stations frame and a complete observations list is shown. Double clicking on any of them or pressing the Edit button allows viewing or modification to any field. For point observations, use the Observations button in the Points frame.

The next step is to assign some coordinates, starting from the origin station (in this case number 1). Select this station and press Assign. Type x=300000, Y=4000000, Z=100 and validate, observing that Fixed check box in the Station Calculation dialogue box is now active and that the coordinates also appear in the Calculated Coordinates frame.

Now we proceed to automatically calculate all the stations and points, following the sequence of the original field file. First we tell the program, which is the station of origin, selecting 1 and we activate the Origin box. Observe that the Automatic button is highlighted.

Press the Automatic button to show a results report in which are shown the calculated stations, the method used and any errors in distance, height or angle. Asterisks indicate that the pre-set limits have been exceeded. Pressing OK assigns all of the coordinates to their corresponding stations and points.

We can check that all the stations have been oriented. Press the Instrument Setups button and a dialogue box appears showing the apparatus heights and the horizontal corrections for each one. Click OK.

Selecting other stations, the calculated coordinates appear as before. Choose station 8 in Origin Station list. We can see that the calculated coordinates appear from 2, 5, 10 and 11. Further on we will see other

methods to help us better understand this concept. If we wish to check the station coordinates, we press the Coordinates button in the Stations frame.

The points also have assigned coordinates. To view them press the Coordinates button in the Points frame.

Station and Point Drawing

Now we can draw the stations and the points. For stations, in the Station Calculation dialogue box, press the Draw button, then Stations and then Station Observations. Lastly, press OK twice and perform a zoom extension.

We can see the drawing structure. A triangle, and the mobile stations by a circle represent the fixed stations. A yellow line represents double observations and simple observations are shown in red.

In order to draw the points, we enter again into Station Calculation , but this time choose the Surveying > Draw > Draw Points command, with the All option on and press OK.

The next dialogue box controls the drawing parameters. We use a scale of 1:500 and leave the rest of the values unaltered. Click OK.

We can now join the point in DTM to create the drawing.

Traverses
We now have a set of provisional coordinates for each station. We now compensate them with the calculation of a traverse. In this case it would be advisable to use a net to calculate for the whole job, but it is also possible to calculate by zones. We hide the point first using the Utilities > Vision command, deactivating the Points box. Enter into Surveying > Traverses. In the Survey stations list, double click on stations 1,5,8,11,12, 13 and 6, in that order, so that traverse list is populated. Observe that the Fix Origin box has automatically been activated. Also activate the Closed box and press the Compensate button.

A new dialogue box appears showing the provisional station coordinates and the closing error in X,Y,Z and angle.

Check that the Calculation Method is set to Least Squares and press the Compensate button. Check that the coordinates for all the mobile stations have been changed and that the applied displacement is shown.

Now press the Print button, leaving the default values as they are and then press OK.

Select File in the following dialogue box, showing the list destination, and activate the Open Editor box. Press OK and choose the SURVEY.PRN file as the file list.

The notepad will now open showing the compensation report for the specified sections.

Close the notepad and accept the open compensation dialogue boxes. Choose the Surveying > Station Calculation command again. Select one of the stations in the calculation, such as number 5. Check, as well as the previous coordinates that the ones produced by the calculation are also shown. Maximum errors in coordinates and distance should also been shown.

Other Calculation Procedures

The Surveying module also allows the survey calculation to be performed with more control. We will manually calculate two stations. Select station 1 in Origin Stations list and station 2 in the Target Stations list. Press the Manual button. The program show the information from the observations of 1 to 2 and from 2 to 1, as well as the distances and slopes both coming and going, with their associated disorientation.

Now choose the Surveying > Utilities > Inverse Intersection command. Select instrument setup according to station 8 and press OK.

Choose the Angles and Distances method and in Options highlight 3D. Observe the representation of angles with respect to the desired station, error ellipse and station 8 station coordinates. Press OK.

Using again the Station Calculation command and selecting 8 as the station of origin, we can see how the new solution for the existing coordinates is presented.

UTM Projection
Exit the Station Calculation and select the Surveying > Transformations > Conversion Planes to UTM option. Choose Hayford Ellipsoid(ED-50) and as a UTM Zone number 30.

Now we must specify whether the job scale is different for each station (adequate for larger jobs, especially roads) or whether we want a global scale specifying an origin. In this case choose the first option.

When the process is complete, check it using the Surveying > Station Coordinates command, making sure all stations have a different assigned scale factor.

To obtain the geographical coordinates use the Surveying > Transformations > Conversion UTM to Geographic command.

Lastly, press the Export button and choose SURVEY.GEO as the file name.

File Summary
Once the job is finished, all the files are saved in the C:\MDT5\Projects\Tutorial6 folder. The files are the following: File SURVEY.LEA SURVEY.LEV SURVEY.PRN SURVEY.GEO Description Original survey data MDT survey data Traverse compensation report Geographical station coordinates

Files with the extensions LEA, PRN and GEO can be edited.