Vertical Tab Options

This shows the distance along the linestring and curve type of the currently selected vertical control point on the linestring. Click the back or forward arrow on either side of the listed point to select the previous or next point.

A vertical control point is defined by its distance along the linestring, the elevation of the point, and how the linestring's geometry vertically transitions at the point.

Note: The locations of vertical control points are independent of the locations and elevations of horizontal segment end points; when you move horizontal segments, vertical control points remain at the distance along the line at which they were defined. If a horizontal segment's end point and a vertical control point coincide, the elevation of the vertical control point overrides the elevation of the end point.

Click this to display the Browse Vertical Information dialog, a list in which you can view and select from all of the vertical control points in the linestring.

Click this to add a new a vertical control point.

Click this to remove the selected vertical control point.

Select an option for how the linestring's geometry vertically transitions at the vertical control point.

• No curve - Select this to simply transition at the vertical control point using the two straight segments created by the point.
• Parabolic - Select this to transition more smoothly by rounding off the two straight segments created by the point using a parabolic curve.
• Arc - Select this to transition using an arc defined by its radius.

Figure: VPI location type options

• Elevation (1 in the figure above) - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by its distance along the linestring and an elevation.
• Incoming slope (2) - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by its distance along the linestring and slope from the last node to the VPI.

Note: Entering the correct slope ratio depends on your Slope ratio type setting (Rise to run or Run to rise) in Project Settings.
Warning: If you add two or more VPIs by slope between fixed elevations, they are calculated not in the order in which you entered them, but in order of increasing station.

• Outgoing slope (3) - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by its distance along the linestring and the slope from the VPI to the next node.
• Slope intersection (4) - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by both the slope from the last node to the VPI and the slope from the VPI to the next node.
• Line intersection - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by its intersection with another line that crosses it planimetrically. The elevation of the VPI is determined by the interpolated elevation of the other line where the two lines intersect.
• Offset slope - Select this to specify the location of the VPI by selecting a 3D reference line, and specifying a cross-slope projected from the reference line and a distance along the reference line from which to derive/project the elevation. The new VPI is added to the linestring, sloping perpendicular from the distance along the reference line to the linestring. Once created, there is no dependency between the VPI and the reference line; therefore, when you leave and return to the VPI, only the distance along and elevation are shown.
  

1. Line to which the VPI is being added
2. Reference line
3. Cross-slope from reference line
4. Distance along reference line
5. Resulting VPI and linestring geometry

Figure: VPI by offset slope

If you selected Parabolic for the curve type, type a length for the parabolic curve that transitions the two straight segments into the vertical control point.

The parabolic curve is tangent to both incoming and outgoing segments.

Type a distance from the linestring's start point, or pick a point along the linestring in the graphic view.

Type an elevation for the vertical control point.

Type a slope from the last node to the VPI.

Type a slope from the VPI to the next node.

If you selected Line Intersection as the Location Type, pick the line that intersects the linestring in the Plan View.

Click this to save the current vertical control point.

You are prompted to specify the location of the next vertical control point.