Create and Edit a Projected Surface

Use the Create Projected Surface command, in conjunction with a custom-defined plane, to create a projected (non-horizontal) surface (for example, a retaining wall or building front) from 3D data. Instructions are provided in this topic.

Use the various available surface editing commands to edit a projected surface (for example, add/remove surface member or trim edge triangles). See Edit a Surface for instructions.

Use the Reproject Surface command to recreate an existing projected surface based on a different plane. Instructions are provided in this topic.

Prerequisites:

• See the Subscription Plans page. For a license matrix by command, see the License page in the TBC Community. Also see View and manage licensed features.
• Custom, non-horizontal plane
• 3D data

To create a projected surface:

1. To verify and/or change surface creation settings before creating a projected surface, select Project Settings in the Quick Access Toolbar and select Computations > Surface.

   See Computation Settings for instructions.

2. If it is not already displayed, select 3D View in Home > View to display the 3D Viewtab.
3. Select Projected Surface in Surfaces > Projected to display the Create Projected Surface command pane.
4. In the Name field, type a name for the new projected surface.
5. Select the appropriate classification type in the Surface Classification list.

   This classification will be used to compare the surface to another surface with a different classification to calculate volumes for the Earthwork Report and other commands.

6. In the Color list, select a color for the new surface.
7. In the Measured date field, select or enter a date and time specifying when the surface members (objects from which the surface will be built) were surveyed.
8. Click in the Members to form surface field, and then select in the Project Explorer or a graphic view the objects you want to include in the projected surface.

   You can select almost any object (point, line, alignment, and so on) that has an elevation.

   Note: You can hover the cursor over the balloon text icon to view surface creation tips.

9. In the Plane Definition drop-down list, select the plane you want to use to create the surface, or select <<New Plane Definition...>> to create a new one.

   The plane you select determines the orientation and position of the surface (that is, the surface is projected from the plane). For instructions on creating a new plane, see Create and Edit Plane Definitions.

10. Click OK.

The new surface is displayed in the 3D View and as a new node in the Project Explorer. You can view and edit the properties for the surface by right-clicking it in the Project Explorer and selecting Properties. Note that the Properties pane includes a Projection Orientation section that displays read-only orientation normals for the projected surface plane.

You can use the new projected surface in conjunction with the Cutting Plane View to perform numerous surface-related tasks, including adding/removing surface boundaries, creating cut/fill maps, calculating volumes, and much more. For additional instructions, see Edit a Surface, Show Surface Elevations and Map Depths, and Add Surface Materials and Images.

Note: You can create a closed CAD shape on the projected surface in the Cutting Plane View and use the Add and Remove Surface Boundariescommand to define a surface boundary based on the shape. However, you cannot use the Create Boundary command to create a boundary in the Cutting Plane View for a projected surface.

To edit a projected surface:

For instructions on editing both horizontal and projected surfaces (for example, adding/removing surface member and trimming edge triangles), see Edit a Surface.

To recreate a projected surface using a different plane (reprojected):

1. Select Reproject Surface in Surfaces > Projected to display the Reproject Surface command pane.
2. Click in the Projected surfaces field and then select one or more projected surfaces you want to reproject using the same plane or 3D object.

   Note the following:

   • If boundaries were defined for a selected projected surface, they may be lost due to the reprojection.
   • If a cut/fill map is connected to selected projected surfaces and the surfaces are reprojected from a different orientation, the cut/fill map will be deleted immediately.

   In either case, an appropriate message is displayed.

3. Do either of the following:
   • To reproject the surface from a different plane definition, select the Plane Definition option and select the plane you want to use to provide orientation for the projected surface, or select <<New Plane Definition...>> to create a new one.
   • To reproject the surface from the normal of a 3D object (for example a polyline or polygon) select the Object option, click in the Object field, and select the object you want to use to provide orientation for the projected surface.
4. Click Apply to recreate the projected surface.

   A confirmation message displays.

Related topics

Create and Edit a Projection Plane

Edit a Surface