Work with Corridor Cross-Section Data
Imported Cross-Section Conversion and Prep
Cross-section conversion tools provide major benefits for corridor takeoff workflows, including capabilities for converting and cleaning up imported PDF and CAD cross-section drawings. These funtions can reduce days/weeks of painstaking work on large projects down to hours/days of work, and make the process more interesting, engaging, and satisfying. In addition, you will finish with significantly better, more accurate, and comprehensive models and takeoff computations.
In TBC, you can import PDF sheets directly into a Sheet View. When you import cross-section sheets into a Sheet View, the imported sheets are added to a Plan Set that you can name. Any vector lines in the PDFs are automatically extracted from the cross-section sheets and layered (if the source PDF data is not already layered) based on their line types, line weights, and other properties. Once the PDF sheet vectors have been extracted, you can use your cleanup and relayering processes (much like the site data prep process) to configure the data as you need it before converting all of the relevant data into 3D linework. You can import CAD cross-section lines into the Plan View, and convert PDF and CAD cross-section data into either stored cross-sections or 3D lines.
Tip: To load/show all of the imported sheets in a single block (stacked on top of each other):
Click a sheet set, press Shift, right-click, and select New Sheet View (or press Shift and pick the PDF in the sheet list at the bottom of the screen). This enables you to quickly delete unneeded elements, like titleblocks and sheet borders, from all sheets at once.
Recommendation: Do not bring in more than 10 - 15 sheets in one sheet set.
Tip: Select sheet data types and click Isolate Layer in the View Filter Manager to help you eliminate text you do not need in the CAD cross-sections. Use Advanced Select to refine your selection too.
Once your linework is 3D, use the tools described in this chapter to find the edges of selected lines (longitudinal features), as well as the boundaries of those same lines, rapidly facilitating the creation of 3D surface models that can then be used for volume, area, and length computations. These 3D surface models can also be added to a corridor as Surface type instructions so the Corridor Earthwork Report can calculate end area volumes.
In addition, you can ‘draw’ more information into cross-section lines to help determine overexcavation or wall footing excavation quantities, and convert those lines into 3D linework for the same processes. Editing within the 3D View allows you to remain in the view while building 3D models. This will help you better visualize the end result while working.
Benefits of converting PDF and CAD cross-section data into 3D lines instead of stored cross-sections include:
- You can retain the source layers of all imported linework, along with the line’s colors, names, and weights, etc.
- Once converted, working with 3D lines in the 3D View is a more satisfying experience than digitizing cross-sections manually. The process of creating 3D linework is far quicker (depending on how organized the source data is), so that within minutes of starting work, you can have existing terrain and parts of a finished grade surface completed.
- With 3D lines, you can generate surface models for most feature types, including walls, bridges, ramps, suspended highways, and barriers, as well as pavement, earthworks, and subgrades.
