Create a Boundary

Use the Create Boundary command to:

• Create a 2D boundary to delineate a portion of a surface. This is useful if you do not want to send an entire surface to field device firmware; it enables you to include a smaller surface model with your design data. The boundary clips the surface to include only the surface triangles encompassed or crossed by the boundary.
• Identify the extends of a job site/project or specific sections within it.

Boundaries can be polygonal or defined by specifying an offset from an alignment.

Note: Boundaries cannot be used to create or modify a surface.
Note: In many commands you can also pick a 2D polyline to use as a boundary; it does not need to be a boundary object created by this command.

Prerequisites:

• Licensed module; 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.

To access the command:

• Select Create Boundary in CAD > Lines.

To create a boundary by drawing or selecting a polygon:

1. Type an identifier for the boundary in the Name box.
2. Select the layer on which you want to boundary to reside in the Layer box.

   Note: If the layer does not exist in your project yet, you can create it by selecting <Layer Manager> in the box.

3. In the Usage list, select a boundary type:
   • Generic
   • Borrow pit
   • Dump zone (waste site)
   • Avoidance zone
   • Stockpile
   • Cut zone
   • Fill zone
   • Section - Select this to denote the extents of a specific contractor's work area. The areas within section boundaries cannot overlap, but section boundary lines can be coincident if sections are adjacent. By default, section boundaries are drawn with a heavier line weight; this can be changes in the Properties pane after the boundary has been created. Typically, there is one set of section boundaries within a project boundary. You cannot move or copy a section boundary.
   • Project - Select this to create a boundary for the extents of your construction job/model. You cannot move a project boundary, and only one is allowed in each TBC project.
4. If you opted to create a section boundary, select a Section type:
   • Utilities - Select this to denote an area in which utility networks are to be built.
   • Compaction - Select this to denote an area in which compaction earthwork surfaces, design surfaces, or subgrade surfaces are to be created.

   To restrict on-site access within the boundary to a specific user/company, type the user/company's unique ID in the Security ID box.

5. Select an option in the Creation Method group:
   • Polygon - Select this to define the boundary by drawing a polyline around an area.
   • Existing object - Select this to pick a closed line in the Plan View to use as the boundary. Then skip to step 10.

     Note: The closed polyline that you select can include arcs; arcs are supported in boundaries.

6. Click in the Point box and pick a starting point for the polygonal boundary in the plan view, or type a coordinate or point ID in the box and click Apply.
7. Pick another point, or type a coordinate or point ID in the Additional Point box to draw the first line of the boundary. A "rubber-band" line appears, showing you how the boundary will be closed when you click Close.
8. Continue specifying points until you have completed the boundary.
9. To begin another boundary, click in the Name box, and repeat steps 2 - 7.
10. When you are done, click Close, or click Apply to create additional boundaries. The boundary displays in the Plan View.
11. To edit the appearance of the boundary, in the Plan View, select the boundary, then select Properties from the right click menu.

    Note: To fill the boundary with a color, in the Draw filled box click Yes. You can then select the fill color and transparency for the boundary.

To create a boundary offset from an alignment:

1. Follow steps 1 - 3 above.
2. Select Alignment corridor in the Creation Method group to define the boundary by specifying an offset around a selected alignment.
3. Select an alignment to create a corridor around in the Alignment box.
4. Click in the Left offset box and pick a point in the view, or type a distance in the box to specify the left boundary of the corridor parallel to the alignment.

   Note: Since the alignment itself denotes a zero offset, typically the left offset value will be a negative number, unless you want to create a corridor on only one side of the alignment, such as for a sidewalk.

5. Pick a point in the view, or type a distance in the Right offset box to specify the right boundary of the corridor parallel to the alignment.
6. To create the boundary only between specific stations along the alignment, check the Limit by station box.
7. Click in the Begin station box and pick a point along the alignment, or type a value in the box.
8. Pick a point along the alignment, or type a value in the End station box.
9. When you are done, click Close, or click Apply to create additional boundaries. The boundary displays in the Plan view.
10. To edit the appearance of the boundary, in the Plan View, select the boundary, then select Properties from the right click context menu.

    Note: To fill the boundary with a color, in the Draw filled box click Yes. You can then select the fill color and transparency for the boundary.

Dependencies:

• If you create an alignment-based boundary and then delete the alignment, the boundary is deleted. If, however, you create a boundary based on an existing polyline, and then delete the polyline, the boundary remains.

Related topics

Boundary Options

Add and Remove Surface Boundaries

Add and Edit a Design Model