A surface is a 3D digital representation of topography formed by a mesh of contiguous triangles that is known as a triangulated irregular network (TIN). The triangles are connected at their vertices, which are defined by points with horizontal positions (X and Y values) and elevations (Z values). Import surfaces, or create them using existing data in your project.

Following are the basic steps for this workflow. For more detailed instructions, see Create a Surface.

Steps:

Commands:

1.

Import or create any of the following objects to use as members in defining the surface:

Points (of various types)

Polylines and linestrings (of various types)

Alignments

Import

Create Point

Create Polyline

Create Linestring

Create Alignment

2.

Use the Create Surface command to select the appropriate surface member objects and create the surface.

Create Surface

3.

Optionally, create surface-based objects to use in checking the surface:

Add topographic contour lines at intervals or an elevation.

If one of the surface members is an alignment, create a surface profile or cross-section for graphic viewing.

Create Quick Contours

Create Quick Contour at Elevation

Create Surface Profile

Create Surface Cross-Section

4.

Check the surface to ensure it accurately reflects the job site or design's topography using one or more of the following methods:

Orbit and view the surface in the 3D View.

Use the CoordinatesScroll command to check elevations at specific locations.

Slice across the surface to see a cross-section in any direction.

If one of the surface members is an alignment, "drive" down the alignment, or review a cross-section along or across the alignment.

Check flagged data to see if anything needs to be fixed.

3D View

Coordinate Scroll

Surface Slicer View

3D Drive View

Cross-Section View

Profile View

Flags Pane

5.

Optionally, edit the surface using any of the following methods:

Add or remove members that form the surface.

Add or remove surface boundaries.

Add breaklines to the surface.

Remove excess triangles at the surface's edge.

Add a breakline to the edge of the surface.

Drape a line on the surface.

Edit surface properties, such as the maximum triangle length and angle.

Link a surface to a related alignment and densify it.

Add/Remove Surface Members

Add/Remove Surface Boundaries

Create Breakline

Trim Surface Edge

Create Surface Edge Breakline

Drape Objects on Surface

Properties

6.

Optionally, merge two surfaces to create a new one.

Merge Surfaces

7.

Run a report on the surface that shows surface measurements and limits, as well as the number of triangles, vertices, and other items that affect the surface.

9.

Compute earthwork volumes by comparing the surface to an absolute elevation or another surface.

Earthwork Report

10.

Optionally, prepare the surface for visualization and printing by adding textures to surface areas or draping an image on the surface (by adding it as a surface member).

Add Surface Texture

Add/Remove Surface Members