Create an As-Built Tunnel Mesh

Use the Create As-Built Tunnel Mesh command to create one or more 3D meshes from point cloud or topo point data to review the scanned shape of a constructed tunnel in the Tunnel View and 3D View. 3D meshes can also be viewed using the Walk-Through Viewand 3D Drive View to further explore the interior and exterior of a tunnel. You can also capture a "slice" of the tunnel in the Cutting Plane View. In addition, as-built tunnel meshes can be added to drafting sheet sets and exported as CAD (.dwg) files.

Note: DWG files created from exported tunnel meshes cannot be imported back into TBC.

The following restrictions apply to 3D meshes:

You cannot specify a tunnel mesh as a target surface on commands using surfaces (for example, the Drape Objectscommand, Surface Vertex snap, and others).
Tunnel meshes do not display in the Cross-Section View or Surface Slicer View.

Tunnel mesh versus radial surface

Both this command and the Create Radial Surface command can create tunnel-shaped models. The difference is that an as-built tunnel mesh can wrap the full 360º to create a tunnel 'bottom'. A surface cannot wrap over itself to create a "closed shape" (in cross-section). In addition, a tunnel mesh supports not only point clouds but other types of points as well, such as points from total station measurements.

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 create an as-built tunnel mesh:

Select Create As-Built Tunnel Mesh in Tunnels > View to display the Create As-Built Tunnel Mesh command pane.
Enter a Name for the mesh.
Select the Tunnel and Tunnel shape from which you want to create a tunnel mesh.
Select the Layer on which to display the tunnel mesh.
Select a Color for the tunnel mesh's linework.
From the Members to form mesh box, pick point cloud or surveyed/topographic points in the Plan View or 3D View from which to form the mesh, or click Options and choose a selection method in the context menu.
Optionally, to use sampled scan points to form the mesh, check the Sample point cloud region box to enable the related settings.
1. In the Output point cloud region name prefix field, enter a prefix for the new sampled point cloud region that will be created.
  The Point cloud region selection field displays the number or point cloud regions selected based on the point selection in the Members to form mesh field.
2. In the Sampling type drop-down list, select the appropriate sampling option:
  Note: To restrict point cloud sampling, select Options in the Quick Access Toolbarand select Point Clouds > Maximum number of points.
  - If you select the Spatial sampling option, enter the sampling distance (space between each scan point) in the Spacing field). This can help if you have larger point cloud regions.
  - If you select the Random sampling option, enter the number of points to include in the sample in the Number of points to extract field.
Click Apply if you want to create additional tunnel meshes, or click OK if you are done.
A new As-Built Tunnel Mesh node displays in the Project Explorer, nested beneath the selected tunnel. Both designed and as-bult tunnel meshes are listed in the View Filter Manager.
Review the as-built tunnel mesh in the 3D View. Optionally, use the Walk-Through View and 3D Drive View commands to further explore the tunnel design.
To view information about an as-built tunnel mesh and/or edit its appearance (for example, hide or show wireframes, vertices, and edges), right-click its node in the Project Explorer and select Properties.
Note the following:
- A tool tip is displayed for each property when you select it that explains its use.
- To view the volume of the as-built tunnel mesh, in the Volume Information group enter a Station interval at which you want volumes to be computed along the entire length of the tunnel alignment. The starting and ending mesh cross-sections for each station interval are averaged and multiplied by the station interval length to compute the volume for that interval. After the volume for each station interval is computed, all interval volume totals are combined to provide the value displayed in the Total volume field.
  If there are no mesh shape changes along the entire length of the tunnel alignment, you could just enter the total length as the Station interval. If there are mesh shape changes along the alignment, you might want to enter a shorter Station interval to more accurately capture changes that impact the volume of the mesh.
  Optionally, you can compare the Total volume displayed in the As-Built Tunnel Mesh Properties pane with the Total volume displayed in the Designed Tunnel Mesh Properties pane to determine any discrepancies.
To delete an as-built tunnel mesh, right-click its node in the Project Explorer and select Delete.
To toggle between displaying and hiding an as-built tunnel mesh, right-click its node in the Project Explorer and select Toggle Visibility. Or, use the View Manager.
To edit the shape of the tunnel mesh by adding or removing members, see Edit and Rebuild an As-Built Tunnel Mesh.