Surface (generalized)

(includes common properties for layer, subgrade, topsoil, and uncompacted PCS surfaces)

Surface

See Surface Options for details.

See corridor properties.

This shows the maximum triangle edge length allowed on this surface as defined in Project Settings > Computations > Surface> Surface Creation Defaults.

This shows the maximum outer angle allowed at vertices on this surface as defined in Project Settings.

Select Yes to adjust triangles to remove 'flat' triangles from contour source data.

This shows the distance within which duplicate vertices will be moved to prevent 'flat' triangles from forming.

Show/hide warning flags.

Select an option for how and when to update the surface after changes have been made:

• Auto - This is the default setting that allows the surface to rebuild automatically after each change that affects it.
• Show empty - Select this to hide the surface in graphic views while you make edits. The surface cannot be automatically or manually rebuilt in this state.

Tip: Since this option decreases your project's file size, it is a good one to select before you send your project to a colleague. Remember to have them reset the surface to Auto after they open the file.

• By user - Select this to suspend the process of rebuilding the surface until you select Rebuild Surface.

Enter the transparency percentage for the surface (0 = opaque; 100 = completely transparent/invisible).

Increasing a surface's transparency can help you see other objects that lie under it in graphic views.

When you have a shaded surface triangle (filled polygon/3D face) draped above another shaded surface triangle, use this setting to raise or lower (displace) the draped 'face' to prevent the surface color of the lower face from showing through the higher face. Changing the displacement value is purely graphical and has no effect on either the surface's or face's elevations. This example shows one surface above another, with a face displacement (on the purple surface) of -8, 0, and 8.

Date when the surface members were surveyed.

Display only triangles that have a slope within a specified range. See Shade Surface Triangles by Slope Range for details.

Show in Plan View

Show in 3D View

Yes - Select this to make the surface visible from beneath, this makes the back of each 3D face (backface) opaque.

No - Select this to make the surface invisible from beneath, this makes the back of each 3D face transparent.

Select Yes to make each triangle edge visible.

Select Yes to make each vertex visible in the applicable graphic view.

Select Yes to make each breakline visible in the view.

Select Yes to make each drapeline visible in the view.

Select Yes to see the slope direction of each triangle in the surface.

To specify the length of the slope arrows, select Project Settings > Computations > Surface> General. Change the value in the Slope arrow length box.

Display shadows on the surface.

• No - Select this to leave the 3D faces of the surface triangles transparent.
• By surface color - Select this to color the surface based on the surface's Color property.

Note: If you drape an image on a surface or use an image as a surface material texture, select this setting for each graphic view in which you want to see the image.

• By elevation - Select this to color the surface based on the elevation bands defined in the Edit Color Mapping command.

• By material - Select this to color surface areas based on materials that have been associated with textures or site improvements.
• Note: If you add a texture or assign site improvement to a surface area, select this setting for each view in which you want to see the texture of site improvement's material.

Densification

See corridor properties.

Summary

Number of independent vertices

Vertices which belong only to the surface and are not generated from an external object (surface member)..