Creating road cross sections in Civil 3D 2008

[gazcarr]

Hi,

I am trying to create cross sections where the surveyor has picked up points at say 5m intervals. The points will typically be left footpath, right footpath, top of kerb, invert of kerb etc

 

How do I generate a cross section diagram going between these points?

 

Thanks

[Organic]

If you want the cross section exactly through the points taken, then draw a 3d polyline between the points, make that an alignment and create a section view of it. If you have many to do then this wouldn't be the best method.

 

I would use a method similar to the following (I haven't done it in Civil 3D although this is how I've done it in other similar design software):

The better way to do it is to create horizontal/vertical alignment representing the geometry of the centreline. You can then build a surface from the points you picked up. Then create sample lines where you want cross sections to be generated (e.g. if you are comparing the as built road to the design road this might be at 20m intervals). Then create the cross sections (if you surveyed chainage 10m and chainage 22m, then it will interpolate to find the levels at chainage 20). If you can be bothered to mess around with the profile and cross section styles long enough (this is the hard part), you can make your cross sections all display the design level, as built level, level difference etc. If you are doing this over an existing design, then simply create surface from your survey points and add this surface to the design cross sections (so both surfaces are shown).

[gazcarr]

Thanks for the tips.

 

How do I make a 3D polyline an alignment and create a section view of it?

[Organic]

Use the command 3dpoly to make a 3d polyline and then click each point that is to be in the section.

 

For making a 3d polyline an alignment and getting a section view, see the first couple of minutes of this video (it is of Civil 3D 2012 although 2008 should be similar):

[JerryG]

I dont think 2008 had an option for Sample lines? (been a while)

If I remember correctly it would be under "Section Sampling Settings)

Take a look at this PDF http://thatcadgirl.com/TechDocs/Land-CivDes/TCG_RoadDesign_ExtractingEGCrossSections_Method.pdf

[tmp]

now have trouble with creat cross section & profile between 2 Surfaces