Specify Trench Depth Zones

Once you have defined a cross-sectional trench shape (on the Basic and Side Slopes tabs), use the Depth Zones tab in the Trench Template Manager to specify depth zones and their associated cost for the template. Depth is calculated from the template's target surface to the bottom of the trench. Later, you can run a Utility Takeoff Report to calculate trench material volumes based on the depth zones you specify.

Depth zones are used in the Utility Takeoff Report so that you can report and cost the additional effort required to lay a pipe deeper in the ground.

Manhole
Utility trench
Depth zones
Zones at the bottom of the trenches

Figure: Profile View (conceptual) of depth zones

Figure: Plan View of utility trench passing through three zones; includes legend

Depth zones in the Takeoff Report

Based on your trench template's depth zones, the Utility Takeoff Report calculates the:

2D length of each utility run within each depth zone (calculated using the run's vertical profile)
trench construction cost per unit length (based on bottom of trench) within each depth zone
accumulated cut and backfill volumes and cost per depth zone
total trench backfill cost per run

See Run a Utility Takeoff Report for more information.

To add trench depth zones:

Select an existing trench template for either a utility node or line. To create a new template, see Manage Trench Templates.
In the Site improvement list, select the node or line object for which you will specify the depth zones. The template's cross-section displays in the preview pane, but this preview is not relevant to the creation of depth zones.
Click the Depth Zones tab.
Click Add to specify a new zone. You will create the zones from shallowest to deepest.
For the zone:
1. Specify the depth range by entering a Starting depth and an Ending depth. The depths are measured vertically down from the target surface. The ending depth auto-increments by one project unit (e.g., 1 meter), for each zone you add.
2. Enter a Unit cost, which is the price per project unit length to excavate and backfill the trench at this zone's depth.
3. Specify a color for the depth range, and enter the width of the trench boundary line in the Width box.
  Note: These two settings (color and line width) are not currently implemented for visualizing the trench's depths in the Plan View.
Each zone is added to the Depth Zones list at the top of the pane.
Click Save.
Repeat steps 4 - 6 to continue to add deeper zones beneath the existing ones. The starting depth of each new zone is the same as the ending depth of the previous zone above it.
Notes: You can enter as many depth zones as you need.
Note: Depth zones are not reflected in the preview pane.

To edit or delete depth zones:

Select an existing zone in the Depth Zones list, make changes, and click Save. If you change the ending depth of an upper zone, the starting depths of those below it will change accordingly, but the zone thicknesses stay the same. Basically, it moves the lower depth zones down.
You can only delete the last/lowest depth zone created.