Ohio Department of Transportation ODOT GEOPAK V8i Site Modeler · 2014-04-21 · Ohio Department of...

XXXX, 2009

Ohio Department of Transportation

10/19/2012

ODOT GEOPAK V8i Site Modeler

Training Guide

ODOT GEOPAK V8i Site Modeler Training Guide

2 Ohio Department of Transportation CADD Engineering Standards Section

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Ohio Department of Transportation 3 CADD Engineering Standards Section

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................5

What is Site Modeler? ............................................................................................................................... 5

How does Site Modeler work? .................................................................................................................. 5

What end products are available from Site Modeler and how do I use them? ........................................ 5

Will Site Modeler replace GEOPAK Road? ................................................................................................ 5

Why should I use Site Modeler? ................................................................................................................ 6

How does Site Modeler fit into my current workflow? ............................................................................. 6

Training Guide Outline .......................................................................................................................7

Project Set Up and Preferences Configuration .....................................................................................7

Launch Site Modeler.................................................................................................................................. 7

Set Up a New Project and Configure the Project Preferences .................................................................. 9

Save Project Preferences ......................................................................................................................... 18

Basics of Site Modeler ...................................................................................................................... 19

Analysis Tools Intro ................................................................................................................................. 19

Active Site Object Control Toolbar .......................................................................................................... 22

Project Menu ........................................................................................................................................... 25

New ...................................................................................................................................................... 25

Open ..................................................................................................................................................... 25

Save ...................................................................................................................................................... 25

Save As ................................................................................................................................................. 25

New Project Wizard ............................................................................................................................. 25

Preferences .......................................................................................................................................... 25

Synchronize with Graphics ................................................................................................................... 26

Import .................................................................................................................................................. 26

Export ................................................................................................................................................... 26

Model Menu ............................................................................................................................................ 26

New ...................................................................................................................................................... 26

Delete ................................................................................................................................................... 26

Edit ....................................................................................................................................................... 26

Object Menu ............................................................................................................................................ 29

New ...................................................................................................................................................... 29

Edit ....................................................................................................................................................... 30

Copy Object .......................................................................................................................................... 33

Move Object ......................................................................................................................................... 34

Raise/Lower Object .............................................................................................................................. 34

Optimize Object Volume ...................................................................................................................... 35

Delete ................................................................................................................................................... 36

Rename ................................................................................................................................................ 36

Elements Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 37

New / Edit ............................................................................................................................................ 37

Exercise 1 – Slope/Offset From Site Element................................................................................... 42

Exercise 2 – Drape on Model/Object ............................................................................................... 45

Exercise 3 – Constant Elevation ....................................................................................................... 49

Exercise 4 – Use Alignment .............................................................................................................. 51

Exercise 5 – Constant Elevation Point .............................................................................................. 53



Exercise 6 – Define Site Element Sections ....................................................................................... 55

Side Slope ............................................................................................................................................. 58

Exercise 7 – Side Slope ..................................................................................................................... 61

Change Feature .................................................................................................................................... 65

Change Association .............................................................................................................................. 65

Change Stroking ................................................................................................................................... 65

Raise Lower .......................................................................................................................................... 65

Quick Extract Tools .............................................................................................................................. 66

Copy Parallel ........................................................................................................................................ 67

Modify .................................................................................................................................................. 68

Delete ................................................................................................................................................... 68

Edit Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 68

Exercise 8 – Edit Profile .................................................................................................................... 71

Tools Menu .............................................................................................................................................. 78

Exercise 9 – Composite Section ....................................................................................................... 82

Analysis Menu ......................................................................................................................................... 87

Tool Boxes Menu ..................................................................................................................................... 89

Main ..................................................................................................................................................... 89

Project .................................................................................................................................................. 89

Model ................................................................................................................................................... 89

Object ................................................................................................................................................... 89

Elements .............................................................................................................................................. 89

Tools ..................................................................................................................................................... 89

Analyze ................................................................................................................................................. 89

Roadway .............................................................................................................................................. 89

Available End Products & Export Options .......................................................................................... 90

Visualization to DGN ............................................................................................................................ 90

Model / Object ..................................................................................................................................... 90

To COGO .............................................................................................................................................. 90

To COGO Profile ................................................................................................................................... 90

Final Project ..................................................................................................................................... 91 Putting It All Together ............................................................................................................................. 91



Introduction

What is Site Modeler? Site Modeler is a dynamic and interactive program within GEOPAK that allows the user to build a model of the subject project using a collection of tools. Site Modeler uses GEOPAK data, as well as Microstation plan graphics, to generate the model which is then stored in a single project (gsf file). A Site Modeler project (gsf file) is composed of Elements, Objects, and Models.

Elements – Elements are Microstation graphics that have been assigned elevations using element tools. Changes can be made to elements at any time during the design.

Objects – Objects are collections of elements. When changes or additions are made to individual elements, the objects are dynamically updated according to the changes made. Objects can be categorized into different object types such as building, roadway, pond, channel, etc. and each can be displayed with different symbology if desired.

Models – Models are collections of objects that are used to complete the final design surface. The model is where the final merging of all the design features into a single triangulated model occurs. Models are dynamically regenerated and all objects are remerged upon any change to a component object, or element, within the model.

How does Site Modeler work? Below is a general outline of how to use Site Modeler:

Create and open the Site Modeler basemap (Microstation dgn file)

Activate GEOPAK

Launch Site Modeler

Set up a new project or open an existing project. (The project data is stored in the .gsf file.)

Create elements, objects, and model(s) that represent the design.

Export various final end products when model is completed.

What end products are available from Site Modeler and how do I use them? There are multiple formats that the final model, or data from the proposed model, can be exported in:

TIN file – Used for visualization and automated machine control.

Land XML file – Used for automated machine control and is a more universal file format that other applications are able to import.

Contours – Used for plan production.

Triangles – Used for visualization, automated machine control.

Binary .dat file – Can be imported in to other applications as well as Site Modeler itself.

COGO Data – Used for stakeout table creation.

Will Site Modeler replace GEOPAK Road? Absolutely not. At this time Site Modeler is intended to supplement GEOPAK Road. It provides tools and a mechanism for users to generate a proposed surface model, and aids in the design of non-standard and/or complex areas.



Why should I use Site Modeler? When more detailed information is needed in complex design situations:

GEOPAK Road, as a design tool, works very well for the typical roadway design, (i.e. corridor design, widening, and even for parts of an interchange design), however there are many instances where typical half, or even quarter, station cross sections and tools provided in GEOPAK Road fall short (i.e. intersection design, ramp gore areas, driveway design, and generally complex grading), and more detailed information is necessary. Site Modeler provides the tools needed to address these atypical situations.

To generate a proposed surface model for use with automated machine control: As mentioned previously, one of the end products available is a proposed TIN model. This TIN model can, in actuality, be provided to the contractor for use with their automated machine control. The contractor community is currently requesting TIN models of the proposed surface for use with their automated machine control equipment, which they have invested heavily in. Road does provide a tool for creating a surface based on 2D cross sections, but this surface is very crude and is only good for display purposes. The surface model generated is not nearly accurate enough for use in construction. On the other hand the TIN model created from Site Modeler is very accurate and is not based on cross sections every spaced 100’, 50’, or 25’.

To provide visual QA/QC: As the design progresses with element, object, and model creation, the user is able to visually see every part of the model unfold in front of them and can immediately see any problems, or issues, with the design. This allows the user to spot and fix problems early in the design process, when the fix is less likely to propagate throughout the design and snowball into a huge and often costly modification.

To use a proposed surface model to create renderings for public involvement: The proposed surface model generated from Site Modeler can be visualized in a Microstation 3D design file and used to build very accurate and aesthetically pleasing renderings, and movies. An example can be seen on the cover of this training guide.

To extract data and information from the model using Site Modeler tools: Using the analysis tools in Site Modeler, the user is able to read elevation and slope information anywhere in the model. Tools are also available to calculate earthwork, analyze drainage patterns from the model, cut a profile/cross section anywhere in the model, and subsequently either view the information in a dialogue box or draw to the design file.

How does Site Modeler fit into my current workflow? Currently there is no cut and dry standard for incorporation of Site Modeler into ODOT’s current design workflow. It is left to the individual to use his or her engineering judgment to decide the best way to incorporate this powerful tool into their design process. The purpose of this manual is to provide the user with some basic working knowledge of the tools available in Site Modeler, to enable them to apply the skills learned to efficiently produce a more detailed & accurate design. *Note:

If you have any questions, suggestions, or problems regarding this User Guide, please go to the following web page: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Engineering/CADDMapping/CADD/Pages/suggestions.aspx

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Engineering/CADDMapping/CADD/Pages/suggestions.aspx



Training Guide Outline Demonstrate how to set up a new project and configure preferences.

Outline the basics of how Site Modeler works.

Review some of the most common tools in Site Modeler and their usage.

Demonstrate how these tools are used in the design of roadway features.

Review the end products available and how to export them.

Project Set Up and Preferences Configuration Note: To use Site Modeler a separate basemap must be used containing the plan graphics (“nnnnnKI###.dgn” per section 304.3 of the ODOT CADD Engineering Standards Manual, standard naming conventions must be followed). Plan graphics are an absolutely critical part of the Site Modeler project. Since they are basically the design, the graphics must be accurate (i.e. no gaps or overlaps). Microstation provides a utility that will search a dgn file to find gaps and overlaps. This utility is called “Design File Cleanup”, and can be activated by clicking Utilities>Data Cleanup. The tool has various options for addressing any gaps or overlaps found. For more information on this topic search Microstation Help for “Design File Cleanup”. Each Site Modeler element is an actual Microstation element, with the design data attached to it in the project database (.gsf file). This will become more apparent during the demonstration of the tools. When setting up a new project, one’s first instinct is to use the proposed basemap (BP), as that is the dgn file that is kept up to date, however if changes are made to the proposed basemap without Site Modeler activated, this will cause the Site Modeler project to be out of sync with the plan graphics.

Launch Site Modeler Once Microstation has been opened and GEOPAK has been activated, there are 2 ways of launching Site Modeler. The first is to use the Microstation pull down:

Applications>GEOPAK>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling This will open the Project Wizard dialogue box.



The second is to use the Microstation pull down to open the Site Modeler Site toolbox: Applications>GEOPAK>Site>Site Tools

This will open the Site toolbox. Clicking on the first icon (Site Modeler : Site Modeler) will open the Project Wizard dialogue box.

The Project Wizard dialogue box guides the user on either starting a new project, or opening an existing project. If the Don’t show this dialogue on Startup box is checked, this dialogue box will not open upon subsequent project startups. If, however, this toggle inadvertently gets checked, clicking Modeler>Project>New Project Wizard will bring up the Project Wizard dialogue box as shown below, which allows the user to uncheck the box if so desired.



Set Up a New Project and Configure the Project Preferences The Project Wizard is designed to step the user through the process of setting up a new Site Modeler project. The basic outline of the items set up using the wizard is as follows:

Creating the project file (.gsf file)

Creating and naming the model

Setting the project preferences

Importing data (such as the existing ground TIN, or Site Modeler components from other projects as .dat files)

Setting the base object for the model The first step in using the Project Wizard is the creation of the project file (.gsf file). Toggle on the Create New Project and click Next. (Note: The .gsf file is not actually created until a Site Modeler “Save” command is executed.) The next dialogue box defines the project file. Click Browse and select the name of the .gsf file and where it should be saved. A good practice is to save the project file in the GEOPAK directory. There is no standard file naming structure at the present time.

The next dialogue box defines the model. Checking the Create a New Model will enable the Model Name field where you can enter the name of the model to be created. In a project it is possible to have multiple models, and this is just the first model creation. If more than one model is needed in the project, new ones can be created while using Site Modeler. After clicking Next, the dialog box shown below appears. There is a button at the bottom labeled Set Project Preferences. This is where all the project preferences are set such as, tolerances, ddb file location, object visualization symbology, updating preferences, etc.

Clicking on the Set Project Preferences button will open the Site Preferences dialogue box. All of the preference settings shown in this training guide have been saved to a Site Modeler Preference file (ODOT_TrainingSitePref.spf) located in the zip file provided. This file may be loaded and all preferences will default to recommended values, which can be manually adjusted as necessary.



The first option to set is the Tolerances. The values shown above are adequate for creating good models. Each tolerance is described below should the need to modify them become necessary.

Linear Stroking – This option densifies portions of linear elements. The Linear Stroking is utilized to interpolate new points from the linear elements. For instance, if data is approximately every 50 master units and this distance was set to 25 master units, then a new point would be interpolated every 25 master units. In this case, twice as many points would be used to create the object in the linear sections of the break lines. The linear option has no effect on curves or arcs.

Curve Stroking – Curved break lines in GEOPAK are handled by segmenting the curve into small chord segments. The length of the chord segments can be determined by setting the Curve Stroke Tolerance. This distance is used to interpolate new points along the curved break lines and is used as a perpendicular minimum distance from chord segments generated along the arc. Chords are drawn along the arc and the perpendicular distance is measured from the middle of each chord to the arc. If this distance is larger than the Curve Stroke Tolerance, the process is repeated with a shorter chord length. This process is repeated until the end of the curve is reached. The flatter the curve, the fewer number of points will be calculated. The steeper the curve, the greater number of points that will be calculated. See image below……..



Corner Stroking – The smaller the value, the more radials are utilized in a corner, for example, with buildings, parking lots, etc. See image below……….

B-Spline Plan Stroking – The B-spline Plan Stroking tolerance is used when the site element is a B-spline and ensures that Site Modeler generates enough points (vertices) along the element such that no stored vertex will be more than the user stroking tolerance value from the original element. Unlike standard linear and curve stroking, Site Modeler stores every point created as a vertex.

B-Spline Profile Stroking – Utilized in the edit profile tool for stroking vertical curves. A larger value results in more chorded profiles, while a smaller value results in a smoother profile, but requires more processing time. The stroking tolerance ensures that Site Modeler generates enough points (vertices) along the element such that no stored vertex will be more than the user stroking tolerance value from the original element. Unlike standard linear and curve stroking, Site Modeler stores every point created as a vertex.

Maximum Triangle Length – External triangles whose external edge is greater than the Maximum Triangle Length setting are dissolved.

Elevation Decimal – Controls the number of decimal places displayed on the elevation labels for points within the objects, and models.



The second option is Project Components, which defines where the ddb file to read from is located. The ddb file aids tools in searching for, or placing, elements with specific symbology.

The ODOT standard .ddb file can be found at the following location:

I:\pr\ODOTstd\XMstd\GEOPAK\Road\ddb\ODOT.ddb The file can also be downloaded from the following website:

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Engineering/CADDMapping/CADD/Pages/GEOPAKDownloads.aspx The third option is Visualization, which controls different aspects of the model visualization.

View Active Object – When activated, the current object listed in the Active Site Object Control dialog is displayed. This object maintains the display settings during view updates and changes. It is best to have this option toggled on.

View Active Model – When activated, the current model listed in the Active Site Object Control dialog is displayed. This model will maintain the display settings during view updates and changes. It is best to have this option toggled on.

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Engineering/CADDMapping/CADD/Pages/GEOPAKDownloads.aspx



Object Display Snaps – When activated, the user can snap to the visualized display elements associated with the active object. It is best to have this option toggled off.

Model Display Snaps – When activated, the user can snap to the visualized display elements associated with the active model. It is best to have this option toggled off.

Contour Smoothing – Contours are first drawn across the plane of the triangles, after which smoothing occurs. When None is utilized, no smoothing of contours is applied.

Three Point – The Three Point Smoothing algorithm replaces each contour vertex with a curve that is tangent to the preceding, and following, contour segments. The curve starts and finishes at tangent points that are equal distances on both sides of the contour vertex. The distance is hard coded (not user definable) to one third of the minimum of the length of the preceding or following contour segment. Three curve points are then calculated between the two tangent points. B-Spline – The B-Spline Smoothing places a smoothing cubic B-spline through the contour vertices. The smoothing cubic B-spline ensures that the smoothed contour passes through the TIN points and break lines. Contour lines stored in the TIN are smoothed between consecutive vertices. The smoothing parameters for the B-spline are hard coded and cannot be altered by the user. To achieve the smoothing effect, five additional vertices are calculated on the B-Spline between the vertices of the unsmoothed contour. Note: B-Spline produces the best-looking contours and can be utilized for final plan production; however, B-Spline is also the slowest method of contour smoothing and should be used with caution during the design process to avoid unnecessary delays in screen regeneration.

Construction Elements – This dialog specifies the element symbology for Site Elements created in the model that are not contained in a Site Object. For example it may be desirable to establish Site Elements, and their elevations, purely as a reference or to construct other elements. These Site Elements are not needed in the Site Objects themselves and are considered Construction Elements. Site Elements contained in Site Objects are displayed according to the object visualization of the object to which they belong. The Construction Elements are displayed using the settings in the Site Modeler preferences dialog box.

Model Visualization – The Model Visualization button contains settings for configuring the symbology for any models created subsequently.



Visualization Tab – This tab defines what is displayed for the new model and the symbology of what is displayed. The user has the option to display any combination of triangles, vertices, boundaries, and major & minor contours for the active model.

Slope Indicators Tab – The Slope Indicators tab is used to define how the default tie down slopes are drawn for objects in the new model. Site Modeler has the ability to automatically attempt to slope the edges of any object created to the base object, which is usually the existing ground. To use this feature, toggle on Display Slope Indicators, then set the Type to Arrows or Lines (Arrows are the most helpful and representative of the slopes). If you are using Arrows, set the Arrow Size, and specify the Major and Minor Indicator Intervals and their symbology. Site Modeler allows the user to set default tie down slopes from the model to the base object, and the Slope Indicators serve as a visual representation of these default tie down slopes. This topic will be discussed in greater detail later in this training guide, but the .spf has the slope indicators set not to display since the Display Slope Indicators check box is left blank.



The fourth option is Objects, which controls different aspects of object visualization. If the user desires, it is possible to modify how each different object type is displayed. New object types can also be created here as well. Once all the settings are to the user’s liking, all objects subsequently created will be displayed according to the object’s settings.

This dialogue box works exactly like other similar dialogue boxes in GEOPAK. Modifying an object type can be done by selecting an object type, manipulating the data below, and clicking Modify List Item.

The Visualization toggle switches the dialogue box to allow editing of the highlighted object types visualized on screen. The user has the option to visualize any of the shown options; triangles, boundaries, vertices, and contours, as well as, defining the symbology.

Modify List Item



The Slope Indicators and Default Slopes toggles switch the dialogue box to edit how the slopes, and slope indicators, are visualized on screen for the highlighted object type. These two settings go hand in hand. The Slope Indicators define how the indicators look on screen, and the default Slopes define the slopes used to tie into existing ground. The slope indicators are identical to the slope lines shown on such sheets as ODOT culvert details. It is possible to turn this option off by selecting No Slopes in the default Side Slope field.

Note: By default this option is left off in the ODOT_TrainingSitePref.spf. If turned on, every object that is created will attempt to slope to existing ground. This will become very troublesome in most instances. For example; a roadway object defined from back-of-curb to back-of-curb is one object, and the grading beginning at the back-of-curb is another object. If you have a default slope defined, Site Modeler will attempt to slope to existing ground from the edge of both the pavement and grading objects, even at the point where they join, which is not the design intent, as shown below.



The fifth option is Updating, which controls how the model is updated as the user manipulates it throughout the design process.

Auto Update Model - If this option is checked every time a change is made to the model (i.e. adding elements/objects, deleting elements/objects, modifying elements/objects, or modifying the FIFO list) it will automatically update and rebuild itself based on the changes made. If unchecked the model will not be updated until the user processes the model, which will be covered later in this training guide. This option should typically be checked unless the model, the user is working in, is very large. If the model is large, leaving this option unchecked will speed up the creation of elements in the model. When checked, every time an element is added to the model, Site Modeler will automatically update the entire model. The time required to update the model will increase significantly as the number of elements in the model increases.

Prompt on Site Element Delete - This option is fairly straightforward. If checked, when the user attempts to delete a Site element, they are prompted to verify that they do in fact wish to delete the element. It is best to leave this option checked to avoid inadvertent deletion of elements.

Element Associations - The elevations of many elements created in Site Modeler are based on an adjacent element (such as the EOP being -1.60% slope from centerline profile). By turning on Element Associations, one element is associated with an adjacent element. When changes are made to the first element, the second element is adjusted accordingly to maintain the same relationship. This concept will be discussed in more detail once the tools are demonstrated later in this training guide. It is best to choose “On” for this option unless the user has a specific reason for choosing “Off”.

Working Boundary Definition - This option will define a working boundary for the model and can be used to limit the size of the model, if so desired. Placing a working boundary will clip everything outside of the boundary, thereby limiting the size of the model. This option is entirely up to the user. It should be noted that there are other ways of limiting a model, such as clipping the existing TIN (base object for the model) to a manageable and reasonable area and keeping the model inside the TIN.



The last option is Save, which provides options for saving the Site Modeler project. Unlike Microstation, Site Modeler does not by default automatically save every change made to the model. The option to save on a time interval does exist, however this option is not the most desirable choice as described below.

Automatic Backup – This option will automatically create a backup file of the Site Modeler Project every time the project is opened. This backup file (.bak) can be opened if the project file (.gsf) ever becomes corrupted or when necessary.

Automatic Save – This option provides the ability to set a time interval for the automatic save of the project. As mentioned above, it is not usually desirable to turn this option on. As the model grows it will take longer and longer to update the model when new elements are added, as will the time required to save the project. If the Automatic Save option is set on a time interval, Site Modeler will automatically interrupt whatever you are doing and save the project. This will significantly slow the process of building the model. This will at times give the appearance that something is wrong, or the computer has locked up, when in fact the time interval has come up for an auto-save. Sometimes it is desirable to close the project without saving. For instance if something that the user attempted when creating an object or element does not give favorable results, or inadvertently corrupts another element or object, the project can simply just be closed without saving. The user can then reopen the project and be back where they started before the mistake.

Save Project Preferences Once all of the above preferences are set, the user can save these as a Site Preference file (.spf). This file can be saved for future use by clicking File>Save As. If the user ever wishes to reload these preferences, click on File>Open and navigate to the saved .spf file.



Basics of Site Modeler

Analysis Tools Intro There are two analysis tools in Site Modeler that are very useful throughout the design process. We will discuss them first so that they can be used throughout the exercises in this training guide.

Height/Slope – This tool provides the user with elevation and slope information which is read directly from either an object, or model. This tool is very similar to the one provided in the DTM Tools of GEOPAK, except it reads from an object or models instead of a TIN file.

The tool can be accessed by clicking Analysis>Height/Slope.

Once the dialogue box is set the way the user wants, clicking Start will initiate the analysis. If the user places the cursor anywhere inside the limits of the selected object or model, the selected information will be displayed.



Profile – This tool provides the user with profile information which is read directly from either objects or models. The user is able to cut a cross section anywhere in the model by defining a profile location or “pattern line” anywhere they choose.

This tool can be accessed by clicking Analysis>Profile.

Object Selection – This section of the tool is where the user builds a list of the objects, or models to be displayed in the profile window. There can be as many objects and or models in the list, each with their own display symbology, as the user wants. The list can also be saved as a .ols file, which can be opened for future use. This is done by clicking File>Save As…. This dialogue box functions much like other GEOPAK dialogue boxes with the Add, Modify, and Delete List Item buttons on the right.

Clicking Create Legend will place a Microstation legend of how each list item is displayed.



Create Profile – This is the section of the tool where the user defines the location of the profile to be read. This can be defined by either selecting a Microstation element representing the profile location, or by placing the profile location dynamically. Once the profile location has been defined, the profile showing the selected objects and models is displayed in the window.

Select Profile Element – This button allows user to select a Microstation Element defining the profile location. Place Profile Element – This button allows the user to dynamically define a line representing the profile location. Place Profile – This button places a graphical representation of the displayed profile in Microstation.



Profile Preferences – This section of the tool defines how the profile will look when displayed in the window and placed in Microstation.

Active Site Object Control Toolbar

This toolbar is one that the user should have open at all times while using Site Modeler, and it opens by default when a Site Modeler project is opened. It provides information about the visualization status of the model, displays the active model and object, and contains some frequently used tools.

Visualization On/Off Checkbox – This checkbox controls whether the Site Modeler visualization is turned on or off. Checked is “On” and unchecked is “Off”.

Display View – This field defines the view in which to display the Site Modeler visualization.

Model – Displays the active model.

Object – Displays the active object

Identify Site Object – This tool allows the user to choose an active model and object by selecting a Microstation element. Center Window on Object – This tool will center the active Microstation window on the active object.



Site Element Information – This tool allows the user to select an element, and view Site Modeler data about that element. This tool is essential when using Site Modeler as it displays many pieces of important information about a selected Site Modeler element, and it also provides tools for manipulating these elements as well. The Update button will apply any changes made on the respective tab, to the element and then remerge the element into the object.

Select Element – This tool allows the user to select an element and displays various pieces of information about the selected element. Highlight Element – This tool will highlight the selected Microstation element. Window Center – This tool will center the Microstation view window on the selected element.

Properties Tab – This tab shows various pieces of information about the selected element. The most useful piece on this tab is the Type which can be modified. This will be discussed in greater detail later in this training guide.



Vertices Tab – This tab lists the X, Y, and Z data of all the vertices for the selected element. The elevation can be edited on this tab, in the lower right.

Objects Tab – This tab lists the object(s) that the selected element belongs to; it’s Member Objects. This is another very important piece of information which can be modified and will be discussed in greater detail later in this training guide.

Associations Tab – This tab lists the element’s Reference and Dependant Associations, as well as allows the user to highlight the Microstation element.



Project Menu

The Project pull down contains options that pertain to the creation, modification, saving, opening, closing, exporting, and importing of project data.

New – This option provides for the creation of a new Site Modeler project (.gsf file) The New option is different from the New Project Wizard in that it does not allow for the creation of any model in the new project, nor does it allow the user to import such objects as existing ground. Open – This option will open a previously created Site Modeler project, and close the current project.

Save – This option saves the active Site Modeler project.

Note: When saving a Site Modeler project, be sure you are confident that what you have designed is what you intend, as there is no “Undo” in Site Modeler. There are ways to modify your Site Modeler project; however a Microstation “Undo” will not modify the Site Modeler project.

Save As – This option will save a copy of the active Site Modeler project as a new project with a different name. New Project Wizard – This option will create a new Site Modeler project from scratch which is completely empty. It also provides the user with the ability to import objects such as an existing ground TIN as a new object. Project Preferences can be set in this wizard as well.

Preferences – This option allows the user to edit the preferences of the active Site Modeler project, which were initially set in the New Project Wizard.



Synchronize with Graphics – This option will synchronize the Site Modeler project with the Microstation graphics should they ever become out of sync. (i.e. delete elements out of the project .gsf file for which no Microstation elements exist in the basemap) This can occur if, for example, someone were to open the Site Modeler basemap without having the Site Modeler project active and delete project elements. The next time that the Site Modeler project is opened, the user will be prompted to confirm if they would like to synchronize graphics or not. Any time during the design process the user can also select the Synchronize with Graphics tool to do the same thing.

Import – This option will import data into the project. (i.e. TIN dat files, or objects/models from other Site Modeler projects)

Export – This option will export various portions of the project. (i.e. TIN files, XML files, dat files, COGO data, or dgn elements) This will be discussed in greater detail later in this training guide.

Model Menu

The Model pull down contains options that pertain to the creation, modification, and deletion of a model.

New – This option will create a new model.

Delete – This option will delete an entire model and all elements, and/or objects, associated with it. If either All Objects or All Elements is checked, all objects and/or elements associated with the selected model will be deleted along with the model. Not all Microstation elements will be deleted along with the model using this tool. Only Microstation elements that site Modeler created will be deleted. Microstation elements that were placed using Microstation tools will remain after model deletion.

Edit – This option allows the user to edit various aspects of a model. The model to be edited is selected at the top of the dialogue box.



FIFO Tab – This is the First In First Out list. This is a list of objects contained in the selected model in the order that they were created. The objects are merged into the model in the order that they are created, or from top to bottom in the list. The list can be modified and reorganized using the buttons on the right side of the dialogue box.

Move Object Up – This button will move the selected object up one slot in the FIFO list Move Object Down – This button will move the selected object down one slot in the FIFO list. Add Object To List By DP Select – This button will allow the user to select a Microstation element, which will be added to the FIFO list. Add Object To List By Name – This button will allow the user to select an object from a list to be added to the FIFO list. Remove Object – This button will remove the highlighted object from the FIFO list to be pasted back into the FIFO list at another location. This is an alternative to clicking the up or down button repeatedly. Paste Object – This button will paste the previously removed object back into the FIFO list directly above the highlighted object in the FIFO list.

Base Object – This field will define the base object for the model, to which side slopes, if defined, are sloped.

Process – By clicking this button, all changes made in this dialogue box are applied to the selected model. (This is where the user would process the model if Auto Update Model is left unchecked in the Site Preferences dialogue box.)



Display Model Tab – This tab controls various visualization aspects of the selected model. Typically, this tab is left completely unchecked as the display of these items clutter the screen. This will be demonstrated as the sample exercises are completed.

Display Objects Tab – This tab controls certain visualization aspects of objects within the model.

Object Type – This list box lists all of the object types contained in the selected model. If the eye icon is shown to the left of the object type, all objects of the specified type are displayed on screen with their respective visualization settings.



Clip Objects from Model – This toggle controls how the model is viewed, either with or without objects. If the toggles in the Display Model tab are left unchecked (off), this option will not do anything. Display Base Object – This toggle controls how, and if, the base object is displayed. This option can be very useful for the user to visualize how their design is unfolding with respect to existing ground. Typically it is useful to have this option toggled on, and either with or without objects, depending on the user’s preference.

Object Menu

The Object pull down contains options which allow the user to create new, edit, copy, and manipulate objects.

New – This option will create a new object.

Object Type – This field will define the object type for the new object to be created. The options available in this field are read from the preferences set in the ODOT_TrainingSitePref.spf defined previously. Object Name – This field allows the user to specify the name of the new object to be created.



Add to Active Model – If this toggle is activated, the new object being created is added to the active model. Typically, the new object will be added to the active model, unless for example, the object is a temporary object to be used for ditch grading or various other reasons. If the object is not added to the active model it is associated with the Orphan Objects model in the project.

Edit – This option allows the user to edit various aspects of an object. The Apply button on each tab applies changes made to the object properties, and then remerges the object into the model.

Object Name – This field allows the user to select which object they wish to edit.

Properties Tab – This tab contains information about the selected object as described below:

Description – This field allows the user to enter a description for the selected object. This field is for informational purposes, and not required. Object Type – This field displays the type of the selected object, and is not editable because the object type was defined during creation. Quantity Depth – This field will define a quantity depth, which is essentially a thickness assigned to the object. This depth can be used when calculating earthwork quantities in Site Modeler. For example, defining a quantity depth to pavement objects ensures the pavement buildup is not calculated as earth when doing earthwork calculations. Max Triangle Length – This value is read from the Site Modeler preferences, and can be modified to override the value from the preferences if the user chooses.



Elements Tab – This tab contains information about the selected object’s member elements.

Member Elements – This is a listing of all the selected object’s member elements. The data in the list is the Element ID that can be seen in the Site Element Identification tool. Window Center – This checkbox will fit, and center, the Microstation window on the selected object. Highlight Elements in Object – This button will highlight the Microstation element that is selected in the member elements list. Add Elements to Object – This tool allows the user to select Microstation elements, with Power Selector, to be added to the Member Elements list. Remove Elements from Object – This tool allows the user to select Microstation elements, with Power Selector, to be removed from the Member Elements list.



Slopes and Slope Indicators Tabs – These tabs allow the user to override the Slopes and Slope Indicators settings previously defined in the initial setup of Site Preferences for the selected object.



Display Tab – This tab allows the user to override the object display settings previously defined in the Site Preferences initial set-up for the selected object.

Apply to – This button will apply the chosen settings to either All Objects in this category (i.e. a specific object type), or a specific Object Name.

Copy Object – This option will make a duplicate copy of an object with a different object name and/or object type, and apply an elevation difference if desired.

Add to Active Model – This checkbox will add the copied object to the active model.

Elev. Diff. – This field defines a vertical elevation difference applied to the object copy. A positive value will move the new object up in elevation and a negative value will move the new object down in elevation.



Object Type – This field defines the object type of the new object. The types available are read directly from the preferences previously defined.

New Object Name – This field is where the name of the new object is defined. The name can be anything the user chooses.

Copy Sections – When activated, the dependencies of the original object are copied to the new object.

Start Copy – This button will begin creation of the new object.

Move Object – This option will move the active object in the vertical and horizontal direction. A positive value will move the object up in elevation and a negative value will move the object down in elevation. The horizontal direction is defined by the user in Microstation.

Elev. Diff. – This field defines a vertical elevation difference to be applied to the object.

Start Move – This button will begin the process of moving the selected object.

Raise/Lower Object – This option will move the selected object in the vertical direction only. A positive value will move the object up in elevation and a negative value will move the object down in elevation.

Object Name – This field defines the object to be raised or lowered.

Identify Site Element – This button allows the user to select the object to be raised or lowered by selecting a Microstation element associated with the selected object.

Raise/Lower – This field defines a vertical elevation difference to be applied to the selected object.

Apply – This button will initiate the raising or lowering of the selected object.



Optimize Object Volume – This option attempts to balance cut and fill for the object. For example, if you enter 50/50 in the percentages then the object will be raised or lowered until the cut and fill volumes are equal or nearly equal actually. They probably will not be exact. If you enter 60/40 for the percentages then the object is raised or lowered to provide a 60/40 split cut versus fill.

Balance Object – Selects the desired object from those available on the list. The list contains all objects in the active project.

Relative From – Selects the desired object from those available on the list. The list contains all objects in the active project.

Cut/Fill Percentage – The user enters the cut percent, and the fill percent is automatically calculated as the remainder from 100%.

Apply – Clicking this button commences the calculation and modification.



Delete – This option will delete an entire object and all member elements associated with it.

Available Objects – This is a list of all the objects that can be deleted from the active model.

Identify Site Element – This button allows the user to select the object to be deleted by selecting a Microstation element associated with it.

All Elements – This checkbox defines whether or not all the elements associated with the selected object will be deleted along with it. Only Site Modeler elements that were created by Site Modeler will be deleted when this checkbox is enabled. Site Modeler elements created with Microstation will not be deleted with this tool. If the user wishes to delete these elements, a Microstation Delete will need to be performed.

Apply – This button will initiate the deletion of the selected object.

Rename – This option will rename an object.

Object Name – This is the original object name.

Identify Site Element – This button allows the user to select the object to be renamed by selecting a Microstation element associated with it.

New Name – The new name the user wishes to assign is entered in this field.

Apply – This button will initiate the renaming of the selected object.



Elements Menu

New / Edit – This is an extremely powerful tool set within Site Modeler and will be used very frequently. This dialogue box contains many tools for creating new Site Modeler elements by sloping from another element, draping elements on objects or models, using sections, contours, points, and chains/profiles. Not all aspects of this tool will be covered in this training guide as some are not as useful for our purposes. Tools not described in this training guide are covered in the Site Modeler “Help” should one wish to learn more about them

Before the usage of the tools within the New/Edit tool set is covered, it is important to describe two key components that appear throughout the various tools in the tool set. Below, Feature Type and Projection Option are described in more detail.

Feature Type – When a new Site Modeler element is created, the user needs to define its feature type. Feature type is important as it determines how the model will be built. Since this will be a field used very frequently throughout element creation, the definitions of the five types of available features are listed below.

Boundary – A linear feature used to constrain the external boundaries of the Site Model. Triangles external to the boundary get clipped with this feature type. This will be the second most used feature type in the development of a Site model.

Breakline – A linear feature used where grade changes occur. The edges of the triangles will always follow along this feature type, but do not get clipped. This will be the most used feature type in the development of a Site model.

Contour – This feature type is an element of constant elevation. Triangles cannot cross contours. This option is useful for hand drawing contours using Microstation.



Void – This feature type delineates an area of no data, or an obscured area, and is defined as a series of points forming a closed element.

Hole – Holes are used in situations where the base object needs to protrude through the middle of an object. This feature type is extremely useful when the base object, (usually existing ground), is desired within an object. For example, if a portion of a site is not disturbed, but the area surrounding the undisturbed portion will be graded, a Hole could be used.

Projection Option – This option indicates which points and elevations are to be projected to the new element(s) from existing elements. Since this is another field used very frequently throughout element creation, the definitions are listed below. The projection option is best described from the perspective of draping elements on another model or object, such as existing ground.

Vertices – Projects each Microstation graphic vertex of the new element from the existing reference element and computes the elevations at these projections, adjusts for the slope and offset height, and assigns the computed elevation to the vertices of the new or edited element.

Entire Element – Projects each Microstation vertex, as well as projecting any inserted points on the reference element, onto the new or edited element and makes the elevation adjustments for slope and offset height. This option creates a mirrored vertical image of the reference element and is used in cases such as alignments where the reference element is composed of numerous inserted points to detail the profile. This is the most used option.

Centroid – Computes the elevation at the centroid of each new element based on the slope and/or offset height from the reference element, and then applies this elevation to every vertex of the new element. Every new element created will be at a constant elevation.

Minimum / Maximum Elevation – Projects the element from the reference element and computes the minimum / maximum elevation along the reference element and assigns this elevation to each of the element vertices.

End Points – Projects the element using only the end points of the reference element. This is the second most used option.



Add to Active Object – This checkbox if on will add the element(s) to be created to the active object, which is shown in the selection field. By clicking the New button, a new object can be created to which the elements will be added.

Element Tab – This tab contains six different tools that provide the user with different ways to define linear elements. This training guide will cover four of them as described below.

Slope/Offset from Site Element – This tool is used to create new Site Elements by assigning elevations to Microstation elements based on a slope and/or delta height from an existing Site Element. Multiple elements can be created from a single existing Site Element. Drape on Model/Object – This tool is used to establish the elevation of Site Elements relative to the elevations contained in a model or object. It is useful to set the elevation of elements relative to existing ground or other object/model. Constant Elevation – This tool places elements at a constant elevation and may be utilized when the desired elevation of an element is known. It can be used to set the elevation of a building pad or even place a contour into an object. Use Alignment – This tool is used to create Site Elements from a COGO chain and profile. The alignments must have previously been created using one of the Coordinate Geometry features or the Horizontal and Vertical Alignment Generators.



Slope/Offset from Site Element

Feature Type – This field is for the user to define the feature type of the element to be created.

Slope – This field defines the slope from a Site Modeler element. Can be expressed in terms of run:rise, rise:run, percent (%), unit/unit, or variable. The first four options are self explanatory, but the fourth option (variable) allows the user to vary the slope from the beginning of the element to the end.

Offset Height – When activated, the vertical distance in the terms of master units is applied to the new element(s). A positive value will move the object up in elevation and a negative value will move the object down in elevation.

Projection Option – This field is for the user to define the projection option of the element to be created.

Use Reference Element Association – When this toggle is activated, Site Modeler saves the association between the Define Element and the Reference Element. Any future modification of the Define or Reference Element will trigger an automatic recalculation of the Define Element.

For example, an element is defined as being sloped at a 2% from another element (in this case, reference element). If the element that is sloped at a 2% from the reference element is moved horizontally to a distance further from the original reference element, the elevations for the element will still be based on 2% from the location of the reference element. Conversely, if the original reference element is raised, the element previously defined with reference association turned on will automatically be raised to maintain the 2% relationship. This relationship persists unless either of the elements is deleted. The reference associations between elements can be seen in the Site Modeler Element Information tool as shown below in the Associations tab. By selecting an Element ID from the list with Highlight checked, the element will highlight in Microstation.



This is a very powerful aspect of Site Modeler. It can save time when editing a model to reflect changes in design, or for trying different set ups to see what works best for a particular situation.

Define Elements – This begins the process of choosing the elements to be defined and the reference elements. There is a specific order that needs to be followed for this part of the tool. The element(s) selected in the Define Elements portion are the ones that the user wishes to create at the specified slope from a reference element. (The reference element must be a previously defined Site Modeler element). The Define Elements portion of this group box is used in other Site Modeler tools, and functions the same in all instances.

Select Elements – This button activates Microstation Power Selector to select the element(s) to be defined

Reselect Elements – This tool will reselect the elements should the user realize that they wish to add more elements to define once they have clicked the Select Reference button, but not the Apply button.

Reset Selection Set – This button clears the selection set.

Redefine Site Element – This toggle if checked will allow the user to redefine a previously defined Site Modeler element. If unchecked, a previously defined element will not be modified.



Reference Element – This portion of the tool defines the reference element from which to slope at the specified slope to the define element(s). By clicking the Select Reference button, the user can select the Site Modeler element to be used as the reference element.

Apply – This button will commence the creation of the new Site Modeler element(s), and merge the new element(s) into the object.

Before we begin the first exercise, we need to define the location of the gpk file. (It is assumed that GEOPAK has been activated.)

1. Click Applications>Road>User Preferences. 2. In the Working Directory field, define the location of the gpk file…Exercises. 3. Click COGO Preferences. 4. In the Job (GPK) Directory field, define the location of the gpk file…Exercises.

Exercise 1 – Slope/Offset From Site Element

The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate how to use the Slope/Offset From Site Element tool. The Site Modeler components needed to complete the exercise have already been created and are located in the exercise files. The site used for all exercises in this training guide is the now infamous DAR-185 sample project. (SR185 is the North/South roadway, and Jameson is the intersecting roadway) The red dashed centerline along both roadways are Site Modeler elements that belong to the Site Modeler objects SR185 and Jameson, which both belong to the DAR185 model. They were created using COGO chains and profiles in Site Modeler, which will be discussed later in this training guide. What we are going to do in this exercise is slope from the roadway centerlines to the proposed edge of pavement and shoulder, or face-of-curb, using the Slope/Offset From Site Element tool.

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_1_Slope\12345KI001_Ex1_Slope.dgn. 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling. 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project. 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_1_Slope\DAR185_Ex1_Slope.gsf. 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue. 8. Select Elements>New/Edit. 9. Select the Element tab. 10. Select the Slope/Offset From Site Element tool. 11. Enter the element data for sloping to the proposed edge of pavement as shown in the table

below

Add to Active Object Enable, SR185_Pvmt

Feature Type Breakline

Slope % Enable, -1.60%

Offset Height Disable

Projection Option Entire Element

Use Reference Element Association Enable

Reference Element Source Element

Redefine Site Element Enable



12. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 13. Select the proposed edges of pavement adjacent to the dashed red centerline of SR185. 14. Click the Select Reference button from the Reference Element group box. 15. Select and ACCEPT the dashed red centerline of SR185. (If the accept click is not performed, the

reference element will not be selected to complete the process.) 16. Click the Apply button to create the new Site Modeler elements.

Once the Apply button has been clicked, the new Site Modeler elements will be created and the proposed contours will be displayed. Now we will create the edge of shoulder elements for SR185, one at a time.

1. Enter the element data for sloping to the proposed shoulder.


Feature Type Boundary

Slope % Enable, -4.00%




Reference Element Source Element


2. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 3. Select one segment of the proposed shoulder adjacent to the edge of pavement for SR185. 4. Click the Select Reference button from the Reference Element group box. 5. Select and ACCEPT the adjacent edge of pavement element. 6. Click the Apply button to create the new Site Modeler Element.

Once the Apply button has been clicked, the new Site Modeler elements will be created and the proposed shoulder contours will be displayed on the screen. Repeat these steps for the remaining shoulder elements along SR185, adjacent to the red dashed centerline. The same steps can be performed to create the roadway for Jameson (face-of-curb to face-of-curb), making sure to switch the Add to Active Object to Jameson_Pvmt. In this instance, the reason the feature type for the shoulder is set to boundary, is that these two objects (SR185_Pvmt and Jameson_Pvmt) are only the pavement. Separate objects would be created for the roadside grading. With the feature type set to boundary, the model will be built such that the triangles do not ever cross the object boundaries.



Results should look as shown below…….

7. Use the Profile analysis tool to review the model by clicking Analysis>Profiles. 8. Select Project>Save. 9. Select Project>Exit, and when prompted to “Save Project” click “No”, when prompted to “Lock

Elements” click “No” again. It is possible to lock all Microstation elements that are Site Modeler elements so that they cannot be modified without Site Modeler active, which will cause things to be out of sync.



Drape on Model/Object

Feature Type – This field allows the user to define the feature type of the element to be created.

Drape on Model or Object – This option defines if the new element will be draped on an object or model within the project.

Offset Height – When activated, the vertical distance in the terms of master units is applied to the new element(s). A positive value will move the object up in elevation and a negative value will move the object down in elevation.

Drape Option – This field is used to define the draping option of the element to be created. (The same options are available as Projection Option for other tools.)

Redefine Site Element – This toggle, if checked, will allow the user to redefine a previously defined Site Modeler element. If unchecked, the previously defined element will not be modified.

Apply – This button will commence the creation of the new Site Modeler element(s), merge the new element(s) into the object, and into the model.

Exercise 2 – Drape on Model/Object

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_2_Drape\12345KI001_Ex2_Drape.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_2_Drape\DAR185_Ex2_Drape.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue. 8. Ensure that Jameson_Pvmt is the active object.



The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate the usage of the Drape on Model/Object Tool. The Site Modeler components needed to complete the exercise have already been created in the project. In this exercise Jameson pavement from curb face to curb face has been defined up to the curb return. SR185 pavement has also been defined for the entire length of the proposed section, including superelevation, for this exercise. The tool used to define superelevation will be discussed later in this training guide. What we are going to do in this exercise is, very roughly, grade the intersection of SR185 and Jameson. We will do this by first adding the purple dashed line, which currently belongs only to the SR185_Pvmt object, to the Jameson_Pvmt object such that it will belong to both.

1. In the Active Site Object Control toolbox click on Site Element Information button. 2. Click on the Select Element button. 3. Select and accept the edge of pavement extension line (purple dashed line offset 12’ from the

SR185 centerline). 4. Select the Objects tab. (Note that currently the only object in the Member Objects area is

SR185_Pvmt) 5. Click on the Add Object To List By Name button. 6. Highlight Jameson_Pvmt in the Available Objects List, and click OK. 7. Click Update. 8. Click Yes when prompted to “save changes”.

Once Update is clicked, the model will be remerged to include the change just made, and the contours will now extend up to the edge of pavement extension which now belongs to the Jameson_Pvmt object as well as the SR185_Pvmt object. Next, we will drape the green dashed centerline in the intersection on the DAR185 model.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit 2. Select the Element tab 3. Select the Drape on Model/Object tool. 4. Enter the element data for draping the centerline.

Add to Active Object Enable, Jameson_Pvmt


Drape on Model, DAR185


Drape Option End Points


5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the green dashed centerline in the intersection. 7. Click Apply.



Next we will drape the EP radius returns on the DAR185 model.

1. Enter the element data for draping the EP radius. (Same as centerline settings)







2. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 3. Select the south EP radius return elements. (Be sure to select both the arc and the line segments

for the south return) 4. Click Apply.

5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the North EP radius return. 7. Click Apply.

Next we will drape the shoulder radius returns on the DAR185 model.

1. Enter the element data for draping the shoulder radius returns.







2. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 3. Select the south shoulder radius returns. (Be sure to select both the arc and the line segments for

the south return) 4. Click Apply.

5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the North shoulder radius return. 7. Click Apply.

Now the intersection is very roughly graded. There are tools available in Site Modeler which allows the user to easily refine the intersection grading. These tools will be discussed later in the training guide.



Results should look as shown below…….


Elements” click “No” again.



Constant Elevation

Feature Type – This field defines the feature type of the element to be created.

Elevation – This option defines the elevation of the element to be created.

Exercise 3 – Constant Elevation

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_3_ConstElev\12345KI001_Ex3_ConstElev.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_3_ConstElev\DAR185_Ex3_ConstElev.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.

In this exercise we will use the Constant Elevation tool to set the elevation of a building pad, and also demonstrate the Side Slopes option in Site Modeler.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit 2. Select the Element tab 3. Select the Constant Elevation tool. 4. Enter the element data for setting the building pad elevation.

Add to Active Object Enable, Bldg 1


Elevation 978.70


5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the cyan building pad just east of STA 68+00. 7. Click Apply.



Now the building pad elevation has been set at 978.70, and contours will show up on screen around the building pad. These contours show the slopes that tie the building pad elevation to the existing ground at an 8:1 slope which was predefined for that object. We will now manipulate the slope visualization options, and the slopes themselves, to demonstrate the flexibility provided by Site Modeler.

1. Select Object>Edit. 2. Click the Slopes tab.

The cut and fill slopes are by default set to display the slope as unit/unit, but it is possible to change the units displayed. For the purposes of this exercise, we will use run:rise. We will also adjust the side slopes to demonstrate how the changes are applied to the model, and turn the display of the slopes on and off.

3. Change the cut and fill slopes to display run:rise. 4. Change the slopes to 5:1 for both the cut and fill. 5. Click Apply. 6. Uncheck the Display with Object box. 7. Click Apply. 8. Check the Display with Object box. 9. Click Apply.

This series of steps demonstrated how to control the side slope function of Site Modeler. Another visualization that is available to the user are the Slope Indicators. This is a quick way for the user to see whether the slopes are cut or fill, as it can sometimes be difficult to determine this from contours alone.

1. Change the slopes back to 8:1. 2. Click Apply. 3. Uncheck the Display with Object box. 4. Click Apply. 5. Click the Slope Indicators tab. 6. Check the Display Slope Indicators box. 7. Click Apply.

Now the display is showing the cut area around the building pad with blue slope lines pointing toward the building pad, and the fill areas with red slope lines pointing away from the building pad. The settings for these lines can be manipulated with the options in the dialogue box.





Use Alignment

Element – This defines the visualization symbology of the element to be created. It can be defined from either user defined settings, or from a feature chosen from the ddb file.

Superelevation – This option allows the user to read superelevation shapes drawn in the Site Modeler dgn file, and build the object based on those shapes.

Primary Element Definition – This defines the chain and profile to be used to create the element. The user can define a station range to use, or use the entire chain and profile.

Exercise 4 – Use Alignment

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_4_Alignment\ 12345KI001_Ex4_Alignment.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_4_Alignment\ DAR185_Ex4_Alignment.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.

In this exercise we will use the Use Alignment tool to create Site Modeler centerline elements for both Jameson and SR185 that are defined from COGO chains, and profiles. First we will define the centerline for Jameson.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit. 2. Select the Element tab. 3. Select the Use Alignment tool. 4. Enter the element data for Jameson centerline.



5. Click Apply.

A centerline with the defined symbology should have appeared on screen after clicking Apply. This centerline can be used as a beginning point to build a road object as was done in Exercise 1.

Note: In this tool it is possible to read superelevation shapes drawn in the Site Modeler dgn file and build the object according to the shapes. This is technically true, however the shapes have to be inhumanly perfect, and in the author’s opinion, it is best to not use this option. It is better to define the superelevation using other methods such as manual sloping as in Exercise 1, or using a tool (Composite Section) that will be explained later in this training guide. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to abandon shapes altogether when working in Site Modeler.

Repeat these same steps using the following settings for SR185.

6. Click Apply.

7. Verify that the CL elements were created and show up on screen with the appropriate symbology as specified.

8. Select Project>Save. 9. Select Project>Exit, and when prompted to “Save Project” click “No”, when prompted to “Lock



Element

By Level Symbology Lv:Scratch1, Co:3, Lc:2, Wt:2 (Double or right click)

Superelevation Disable

Job 185

Chain CLPJAME

Profile PJAMEP

Use Station Range Enable Begin: 12+00.00 End: 15+85.30


Element


Superelevation Disable

Job 185

Chain CLPS185

Profile PS185P

Use Station Range Enable Begin: 53+00.00 End: 77+50.00 R 2



Point Tab – This tab contains various options for defining a point in space with Site Modeler. The discussion in this manual will only focus on the first button, Constant Elevation.

Constant Elevation – This tool allows the user to choose a horizontal location, to place a point with a specified elevation. This can be useful for grading irregular areas such as around headwalls.

Exercise 5 – Constant Elevation Point

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_5_Point\12345KI001_Ex5_Point.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_5_Point\DAR185_Ex5_Point.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.

In this exercise we will place a Site Modeler point in a roughly graded intersection to demonstrate this tool.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit. 2. Select the Point tab. 3. Select the Constant Elevation tool. 4. Enter the element data for the point to be created.


Elevation 983.00

Point Type Character: X (Symbology and text settings come from current settings)

5. Click on DP.



6. Select the horizontal location to place the point. (Somewhere near the center of the intersection at about the current 981.8 elevation)

7. Click Apply.

The intersection area will now update to incorporate the point added. Results should look as shown below……





Section Tab – Sections are special Site Modeler elements, that are created and attached to existing Site Modeler elements, that define a constant vertical and horizontal offset along the existing element(s). For example a section can be used to attach curb and gutter sections, retaining walls, or bench sections.

Direction, Set – This will indicate the side of all the elements on which to place the Section Elements.

Reverse Section – This button flips the selected sections to the other side of the Site Modeler elements to which they are to be attached. Remove Section – This button removes the sections from the selected Site Modeler elements. Since the section elements are locked upon placement, this is the only way to remove them. Query Section – This button queries a Site Modeler element, and populates the data table with the values stored with the selected Site Modeler element.

There are two ways to define the section to be applied, either as a graphic cell or by filling in the data table. Both of these options will be demonstrated in the following exercise.

Exercise 6 – Define Site Element Sections

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_6_Section\12345KI001_Ex6_Section.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_6_ConstElev\DAR185_Ex6_Section.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.



In this exercise we will create a curb section adjacent to Jameson. We will define the section by Graphic and Table methods. We will also demonstrate the usage of the Manipulate Section buttons in this tool.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit. 2. Select the Section tab. 3. Select Graphic in the Option field. 4. Select Boundary in the Feature Type field. 5. In Microstation, Attach Cell Library…Exercises\Exercise_6_Section\Section.cel 6. In the Cell field click Select. 7. Choose the cell named Curb. 8. Click OK.

Notice that the data table is now populated and the cell is displayed in the box to the right of the data table. This data defines each vertex of the cell. Make note that the Offset Dist is always referenced from the first point in the list and not from the previous point. We will first use the Graphic option to define the curb for the two easternmost curb elements on the north side of Jameson.

9. Click Select Reference Elements. 10. Select the easternmost 2 curb elements on the north side of Jameson. 11. Click Set. 12. Set the direction to point the direction that you wish the section to be built. (Click on the north

side of Jameson. 13. Accept click. 14. Click Apply.

Zoom in to see the curb face and curb back lines have been drawn, and the contours show the curb in the model. We will now use the Table option to define the curb for the 2 westernmost curb elements on the north side of Jameson.

1. Select Table in the Option field. 2. Select Boundary in the Feature Type field. 3. Enter the element data for the section to be created as shown below.

4. Click Select Reference Elements. 5. Select the westernmost 2 curb elements on the north side of Jameson. 6. Click Set. 7. Set the direction to point the direction that you wish the section to be built. (Click on the north

side of Jameson.) 8. Accept click. 9. Click Apply.

Opens D&C Manager



Zoom in to see the curb face and curb back lines have been drawn, and the contours show the curb in the model. We will now demonstrate the usage of the Query Section tool.

1. Click on Delete List Item for both list items.

2. Click on Query Section button.

3. Select and ACCEPT one of the existing 2 westernmost face of curb Site Modeler elements on the north side of Jameson. This will populate the list with the data previously used to create that section for use in creating a new section.

4. Click Select Reference Elements.

5. Select the curb elements on the south side of Jameson. 6. Click Set. 7. Set the direction to point the direction that you wish the section to be built. (Click on the south

side of Jameson.) 8. Accept click. 9. Click Apply.

Zoom in to see the curb face and curb back lines have been drawn, and the contours show the curb in the model.

We will now demonstrate the usage of the Remove Section tool.

1. Click Select Reference Elements. 2. Select the curb element just created using the Query Section tool on the South side of Jameson. 3. Click on Remove Section.

Zoom in to see the curb face and curb back lines have been deleted, and the contours have been removed as well. This is how to delete any Site Modeler section as the Microstation elements created when adding a section are locked.





Side Slope – This tool creates graphics and Site Elements based on a variety of slope options. More specifically, this tool can be very useful for grading outside of the clear zone. Briefly stated this tool will slope from a Site Modeler element to intersect with either a model or object, at a constant slope. It can also slope from a Site Modeler element for a specified horizontal or vertical distance, or to a specific elevation.

This tool is extremely well suited to determine the construction limits for roadside grading. It generates a line string that much more accurately depicts the actual touchdown of roadside grading than the current method of connecting the dots between 50’ cross sections with straight lines. These straight lines may not accurately show what the actual tie down will be. The following screenshot shows an example of the potential difference.

Estimated construction limits based on cross

sections only.

Actual touch down of grading using Site Modeler.



Add to Active Object – This checkbox if on, will add the element(s) to be created to the active object, which is shown in the selection field. By clicking the New button, a new object can be created to which the elements will be added.

Slope Options – When To Model or To Object is selected, the element is created by sloping at the specified value to the selected object. When for Delta Horizontal is selected, the element is created by sloping at the specified value for a chosen horizontal distance. When for Delta Vertical is selected, the element is created by sloping at the specified value for a chosen vertical distance. When to Elevation is selected, the element is created by sloping at the specified value until the defined elevation is reached.

Slope – This field defines the slope from a Site Modeler element, and can be expressed in terms of run:rise, rise:run, percent (%), unit/unit, or variable.



Slope Method Planar – Sends out radials normal to the element, but adjusts the slope of the radial onto a plane at a user defined slope. Radial – Sends out radials normal to the element at a user defined slope. For level elements, the Radial and Planar methods produce identical results. Radial CS (Constant Slopes) – This option is similar to the Radial Method, but will produce results when the Radial method may not. It should only be used in those cases where the Radial method does not produce the desired results. For example, when the object is very convoluted or the Base Object has very irregular terrain.

Enforce Slope Vertical Direction – When not activated, the slope is normally directed to the object or model (either or up or down). For example, when in some cut situations, the slope could project either up or down to the selected object or model. If activated, a negative slope can be utilized so the slope will project down in a cut situation, until it hits the existing ground, and vice-versa. See image below………

By Level Symbology or By Feature – When the By Feature option is selected, the Feature field unghosts. Pressing the D&C icon (calculator) invokes the D&C Manager, wherein the desired feature may be selected. When By Level Symbology is selected, the user can set the desired symbology by double-clicking on the line graphic, opening the Set Feature pop-up menu, or by right clicking and choosing an option.

Limit – When activated, the User can set "limits" for the creation of the proposed elements. The limits may be based on a horizontal offset, a vertical offset or a specific elevation. If a proposed slope element reaches the "limit" before fulfilling the slope criteria, a new "limit" element will be created and extend until the slope criteria can be achieved again. The "slope" element will be stopped for the duration of the limit element, and will restart where the slope criteria can be met while inside the set limit. This toggle allows for multiple elements to be created from a single actuation of the tool.

Cut/Fill – When activated, the User has the ability to create multiple, or partial, Side Slope Elements based on a cut or fill relationship to a model or an object. For example, if the reference element is in both cut and fill relative to an object, and the Only toggle is On and set to Cut, the side slope elements will only be created based on the sections of the reference elements that are in cut. The portions of the reference element that are in fill will be ignored.



Close Elements – When activated, the resultant Side Slope Element will be closed (made into a shape). If the reference element that is selected is already a closed shape, the Define Side Slope Element tool will automatically close the resultant element. If the Close Elements is not active, the elements are joined for purposes of creating the slope element, however, the resultant elements are not closed to form a shape.

Set Side – After the selection set is defined, pressing this button prompts the user to place a data point for the slope side by a data point on the desired side of the original elements.

Single Select – When this button is clicked, the user is prompted to select an element. In this option, the entire element is copied per the specified parameters. This option also automatically prompts the user for the slope direction by a data point on the desired side of the original element. In this case, the Set Slope Direction button is not utilized.

Apply – This button will initiate the creation of the Site Modeler Element.

Exercise 7 – Side Slope

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_7_SideSlopes12345KI001_Ex7_SideSlope.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_7_SideSlopes\DAR185_Ex7_SideSlope.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.

In this exercise we will create a building pad using the Drape tool, and then essentially create a “moat” around it using the Side Slope tool. The moat will be 1.5’ below existing ground, 4’ wide, with 4:1 fore and backslopes.

1. Select Elements>New/Edit. 2. Select the Element tab. 3. Select the Drape on Model/Object tool. 4. Enter the element data for the building pad.



Drape on Object, ExistGround

Offset Height Enable, +1.5’

Drape Option Maximum Elevation





In the settings you will notice that we have used a couple of different settings………the Offset Height option, and the Maximum Elevation Drape Option. These settings drape the building pad perimeter on the existing ground, temporarily. These settings also read elevations, and set the final elevation of the pad 1.5’ higher than the highest point found on existing ground along the building perimeter.

5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the cyan building pad just left of STA 68+50. 7. Click Apply.

We will now slope from the building pad elevation to existing ground at a 4:1 foreslope

1. Select Elements>Side Slope. 2. Enter the element data for the foreslope.


Option To Object, ExistGround

Slope run:rise, 4:1, radial

Enforce Slope Vertical Direction Disabled


Limit Disable

Use Bench Disable

Only Disable


Close Elements Enable

Use Association Enable

3. Click the Select Reference Elements button in the Element Selection group box. 4. Select the building pad perimeter. 5. Click Set Side. 6. Click outside of the building pad to indicate slope direction. 7. Click Apply.

A line will be drawn representing the tie down to existing ground of the 4:1 foreslope. We will now continue the 4:1 slope 1.5’ below existing ground.

1. Enter the element data for the foreslope.


Option For Delta Vertical, -1.5’




Limit Disable

Use Bench Disable

Only Disable






2. Click Single Select. 3. Select and accept the magenta tie down line that was just created. 4. Click outside the tie down line to indicate slope direction. 5. Click Apply.

We will now create a flat 4’ wide ditch bottom 1.5’ below existing grade.

1. Enter the element data for the ditch bottom.


Option For Delta Horizontal, 4’

Slope Slope %, 0%, radial



Limit Disable

Use Bench Disable

Only Disable




2. Click Single Select. 3. Select the blue line that was just created 1.5’ below existing ground. 4. Click outside the blue line to indicate slope direction. 5. Click Apply.

A line will be drawn representing the elevations the other side of the 4’ wide ditch. We will now create the 4:1 backslope up to existing ground.

1. Enter the element data for the ditch bottom.


Option To Object, ExistGround




Limit Disable

Use Bench Disable

Only Disable




2. Click Single Select. 3. Select the blue line that was just created representing the outside of the 4’ ditch. 4. Click outside the blue line to indicate slope direction. 5. Click Apply.



A line will be drawn representing the backslope tie in at 4:1, completing the object. Results should look as shown below…….





Change Feature – This tool changes the feature type of an existing element.

Change Association – This tool changes the association of an existing element.

Change Stroking – This tool changes the stroking tolerance of an existing element.

Raise Lower – This tool changes the elevation(s) of an existing element.



Quick Extract Tools – These tools allow you to extract graphical information from a CAD drawing to create site elements and build objects. These tools are designed to take 2D plan data that have been created in different software and allow you to build site objects and take the data to construction using GEOPAK’s export tools.

Extract Points – Allows the user to select text from a CAD file to be read as an elevation. That elevation is then used to create a site element (point) located at either the text justification point or to a nearby snapped graphical location. The point is created as a site element (using the active symbology, a character or a cell) and can be optionally added to the active site object.

Extract Elements – Allows the user to select a linear element (line, arc, shape, complex element) and then select an elevation text value to assign that elevation to the select element.

Define Elements – Allows the user to select beginning and ending elevation text values, and then select a linear element to apply the elevations to. The beginning/ending elevations will be applied to the element ends that are closest to the selected elevations and any intermediate vertices will be assigned by linear interpolation along the element.



Interpolate Elements – Allows the user select a series of elements with the Selection Set tool – then select Elements>Quick>Interpolate Elements. The Vertex Snap Tolerance field is a scan value (scan radius). The tool scans for elevation text within the scan tolerance of the vertices of the selected elements and then applies those elevation values to the selected elements to create site elements.

Copy Parallel – This tool is used to create Site Elements that are parallel in plan geometrics. There are also options to offset the element vertically by a slope and/or offset height.



Modify – Provides a variety of tools to modify existing site elements. When selected, a Tool Box opens, as depicted below.

Site Element Extend

Site Element Partial Delete

Site Element Extend/Trim to Intersect

Site Elements Extend Both to Intersect

Site Elements Fillet

Site Elements Chamfer

All tools function nearly identically to their generic Microstation counterparts. All elements used in these tools MUST be Site Modeler Elements. For example one cannot trim a Site Modeler element to a non Site Modeler Microstation element.

Delete – This tool deletes a selected element from the object and model. This tool does not delete the Microstation element, only the Site Modeler element. Information – This tool allows the user to select an element, and view Site Modeler data about that element. Edit Profile – This tool allows Site Modeler elements to be redefined and edited using the component based vertical alignment tools. This is an extremely useful tool, and provides the user with almost unlimited flexibility in defining the profile of a Site Modeler element.

Profile Cell Status – Right clicking on this button will pop up the choice of two tools: Profile cell Setting opens a dialogue box that allows the user to select the element(s)/profile to be edited. Profile Cell Control provides a way for the user to organize multiple profile cells in a dgn file.



Profile Cell Setting – This is where the user chooses an existing Site Modeler element(s)/profile to edit.

Station – Defines the beginning station (origin) of the profile cell to be placed.

Elevation – Defines the datum elevation (origin) of the profile cell to be placed.

Horizontal Scale – Defines horizontal scale of the profile cell to be placed.

Vertical Scale – Defines the vertical scale of the profile cell to be placed.

Top Delta – Defines the range above the elevation datum available for the profile.

Bottom Delta – Defines the range below the elevation datum available for the profile.

Create GPK Chain and Profile – This option will create a GEOPAK chain and profile for the selected element for which the profile cell is to be placed.

Note: This chain and profile will not be vertical or horizontal curves and tangents. It will be a string of points connected from vertex to vertex.

Add Element PCell Chain – Clicking this button allows the user to select the Site Modeler element(s) (profile chain) that will be used to draw the profile. Once the element is selected, arrows will show up on the screen pointing to the element in the direction that the profile will be viewed. This defines the direction of the profile



Reverse PCell Chain – This will reverse the direction of the profile chain. Erase PCell Chain – This will erase the chain. (Does not erase the Microstation or Site Modeler Element) Place Site PCell – This will place the profile cell in Microstation.

Identify Site Element Chain – This button allows the user to activate a previously drawn Site Modeler profile by selecting the Microstation plan view element. Dialogue Palette Vertical Component Tools – Opens the Vertical Component Tools tool frame, which contains tools to manually draw the proposed profile. Define Site Element Profile –This button will apply the modified profile, once it has been developed, in order to incorporate it back into the site project. Curvilinear Coordinates – This button opens the Precise Curvilinear Coordinates dialog box, which allows entering precise curvilinear coordinates relative to the active chain. Fit View Buttons – These buttons will fit, and assign, the plan and profile view windows. By clicking the button the window selected will fit the plan or profile element. By right clicking, either the plan or profile view is assigned.



Exercise 8 – Edit Profile

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_8_Section12345KI001_Ex8_Profile.dgn 2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select …Exercises\Exercise_8_Profile\DAR185_Ex8_Profile.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue. 8. Ensure that Jameson_Pvmt is the active object

In this exercise we will demonstrate the Edit Profile tool to grade an intersection. The Site Modeler project used for this example is the end result from Exercise 2, in which we draped the returns and centerline to roughly grade the intersection. We will further refine the grading with the Edit Profile tool.

The sketch below summarizes the intent of what we will do to refine the grading of the intersection. The slopes labeled on the pavement planview are read from the model using the Height/Slope analysis tool. These slopes are the basis for the profiles to be defined for the returns and centerline. We will not define the shoulder returns using the Edit Profile tool. They should be sloped at the end of the grading process using the Slope Offset tool, with a variable slope to transition from normal crown shoulder to high side super shoulder.



1. Select Elements>Edit Profile. 2. Right click on the Profile Cell Status button. 3. Select Profile Cell Setting. 4. Click the Add Element PCell Chain button.

5. Select and accept each of the two south edge of pavement return elements.

(The chain should run from left to right with the left being zero, in which case the arrows that appear should be pointing at the elements in a northerly direction. Depending on the order of selection of the elements, the user may need to click the Reverse PCell Chain button.)

6. Enter the element data for the profile cell.

Station 0.0000

Elevation 970

Horizontal Scale 1

Vertical Scale 1

Top Delta 30

Bottom Delta 30

Create GPK Chain and Profile Disable

7. Click the Place Site PCell button. 8. Place the profile cell in the SW quadrant of the intersection of Window 2. 9. In the Fit View area of the Active Profile Control toolbar, right click on View 1 and select Plan.

Right click on View 2 and select Profile. This assigns the plan to View 1 and the profile to View 2. Notice that when you move the cursor in the plan, you can also see a marker in the profile and vice-versa.

We now have the profile drawn in View 2 that represents the actual profile of the return as it exists in the model currently. What we will do now is use the Vertical Component Tools to draw the revised profile based on the above sketch.

1. Click the Vertical Component Tools button. (Note: Only elements created with these tools are able to be applied to the model. This means that drawing lines and curves with Microstation tools are not eligible when it comes time to apply the profile to the model.)

2. Click the Create Profile Line by Points. 3. Set to Slope % and enter 4.3% making sure Slope is enabled. 4. Draw a 4.3% line beginning at the far left and end it about midway along the profile 5. Change the Slope to -2.2%. 6. Draw a -2.2% line beginning at the far right end and end it just past where it intersects with the

4.3% line. 7. Trim both tangent lines such that they both intersect and end at the same point, with the

Microstation Extend Elements to Intersection tool. 8. Click the Create Profile Curve Between 2 Elements button. 9. Set the Length to 50’, making sure length is enabled. 10. Select and accept both of the previously created tangent lines. 11. Accept the vertical curve solution.

We now have the revised profile drawn which we would like to apply to the model. We will now apply the drawn profile to the model.



12. Click the Define SiteElement Profile button. 13. Select any of the proposed profile elements. 14. Accepting will automatically select the rest of the connecting proposed profile elements. 15. Accepting again will commit the profile to the model.

You will see on screen that the model has redrawn itself based on the revised profile. We will now do the same thing for the opposite edge of pavement return.

1. Click the Erase PCell Chain button. This will inactivate the south return profile. 2. Click the Add Element PCell Chain button. 3. Select and accept the north edge of pavement return. 4. Enter the element data for the profile cell.

Station 0.0000

Elevation 970

Horizontal Scale 1

Vertical Scale 1

Top Delta 30

Bottom Delta 30


5. Click the Reverse PCell Chain. 6. Click the Place Site PCell button. 7. Place the profile cell in the NW quadrant of the intersection of Window 2. 8. In the Fit View area of the Active Profile Control toolbar, right click on View 1 and select Plan.

Right click on View 2 and select Profile.

We now have the profile drawn in View 2 that represents the actual profile of the return, as it exists in the model currently. What we will do now is use the Vertical Component Tools to draw the revised profile based on the above sketch.

1. Click the Create Profile Line by Points. 2. Set to Slope % and enter 4.3% making sure Slope is enabled. 3. Draw a 4.3% line beginning at the far left and end it about midway along the profile 4. Change the Slope to 1.2%. 5. Draw a 1.2% line beginning at the far right end and end it about midway along the profile.

For this particular profile, we need to put in two vertical curves to connect the two positively sloped tangents. We will use Microstation line tools to place two vertical marker lines that will indicate where the connecting tangent will intersect both the 4.3% tangent and the 1.2% tangent. The two vertical marker lines will be placed with the Curvilinear Coordinates tool.

6. Click the Curvilinear Coordinates button. 7. Enable the Station Lock (toggle next to the station field – S:) and the Permanent Lock. 8. Enter 15.00 in the Station field. 9. Activate Place Smartline in Microstation. 10. Draw a vertical line in the profile in Window 2 beginning near the datum and through the profile.

Since permanent lock is enabled the only place that a line can be drawn is at station 15.00. 11. Enter 60.53 in the Station field. 12. Draw a vertical line in the profile in Window 2 beginning near the datum and through the profile.

Since permanent lock is enabled the only place that a line can be drawn is at station 60.53. 13. Disable the Station Lock and the Permanent Lock. 14. Close the Curvilinear Coordinates tool. This tool will no longer be needed.



15. Trim the 4.3% and 1.2% tangents at the two vertical lines just placed with the Microstation Extend Element to Intersection Tool.

16. Click the Create Profile Line by Points. 17. Disable the Slope option and draw a new tangent between the 4.3% and 1.2% tangents. 18. Click the Create Profile Curve Between 2 Elements button. 19. Set the Length to 20’, making sure length is enabled. 20. Select and accept the two leftmost tangent lines. 21. Accept the vertical curve solution. 22. Select and accept the two rightmost tangent lines. 23. Accept the vertical curve solution.



We will now do the same thing for the intersection centerline.

1. Click the Erase PCell Chain button. This will inactivate the north return profile. 2. Click the Add Element PCell Chain button. 3. Select and accept the green dashed centerline in the intersection. 4. Enter the element data for the profile cell.

Station 0.0000

Elevation 970

Horizontal Scale 1

Vertical Scale 1

Top Delta 30

Bottom Delta 30


5. Click the Place Site PCell button. 6. Place the profile cell just east of intersection of Window 2. 7. In the Fit View area of the Active Profile Control toolbar, right click on View 1 and select Plan.

Right click on View 2 and select Profile.

We now have the profile drawn in View 2 that represents the actual profile of the centerline as it exists in the model currently. What we will do now is use the Vertical Component Tools to draw the revised profile based on the above sketch.

8. Click the Create Profile Line by Points. 9. Set to Slope % and enter 4.3% making sure Slope is enabled. 10. Draw a 4.3% line beginning at the far left and end it about midway along the profile 11. Change the Slope to -8.3%. 12. Draw a -8.3% line beginning at the far right end and end it about midway along the profile. 13. Trim both tangent lines such that they both intersect and end at the same point, with the

Microstation Extend Elements to Intersection tool. 14. Click the Create Profile Curve Between 2 Elements button.



15. Set the Length to 15’, making sure Length is enabled. 16. Select and accept both of the previously created tangent lines. 17. Accept the vertical curve solution.



We will now finish the intersection by sloping the shoulders using the Slope/Offsite from Site Element with the slope option set to Slope Variable. We will start with the north return shoulder which slopes from a -4% at Jameson to a +1.3% at SR185.

1. Select Elements>New Edit. 2. Select the Element tab. 3. Click on the Slope/Offset from Site Element button. 4. Enter the element data for the shoulder element.



Slope Variable





Source Element

5. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 6. Select the north shoulder return. 7. Click the Select Reference button from the Reference Element group box. 8. Select and ACCEPT the north edge of pavement return. 9. Click Table.

This table will define the start and end slopes of the shoulder, and will transition gradually from one end to the other.

7. Select the first item in the list, enter +1.3 in the slope field, and define the station as 0.000. (The station can be entered directly, or use the Set Station button to graphically define the station.)

8. Click Modify List Item. 9. Select the second item in the list, enter -4.0 in the slope field, and define the station as 75.525. 10. Click Modify List Item. 11. Click Apply.

Now the shoulder has been sloped properly from -4% to +1.3%. We will now do the same thing for the south return. There are two segments that make up the south return, so it will have to be done it two parts. The first segment at Jameson will slope from -4% to -3.27%. The second segment will slope from -3.27% to +1.3% at SR185.



First we will slope the line segment at Jameson.

1. Enter the element data for the shoulder element.



Slope Variable





Source Element

2. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 3. Select the south shoulder return (line segment at Jameson). 4. Click the Select Reference button from the Reference Element group box. 5. Select and ACCEPT the south edge of pavement return (line segment at Jameson). 6. Click Table. 7. Select the first item in the list, enter -4.0 in the slope field, and define the station as 0.000. 8. Select the second item in the list, enter -3.27 in the slope field, and define the station as 12.022. 9. Click Apply.

Now we will slope the arc segment at SR185.

1. Enter the element data for the shoulder element.



Slope Variable





Source Element

2. Click the Select Elements button in the Define Elements group box. 3. Select the south shoulder return (arc segment at Jameson). 4. Click the Select Reference button from the Reference Element group box. 5. Select and ACCEPT the south edge of pavement return (arc segment at Jameson). 6. Click Table. 7. Select the first item in the list, enter +1.3 in the slope field, and define the station as 0.000. 8. Select the second item in the list, enter -3.27 in the slope field, and define the station as 75.490. 9. Click Apply.



We now have the intersection very accurately graded. As can be seen by this exercise, this is an extremely powerful tool in Site Modeler that actually has many other uses in addition to grading an intersection. Results should look as shown below…….





Tools Menu

The Tools pull down contains five different tools that help automate some common, yet complex, object creation processes. In this training guide a brief description of the last 4 tools will be given but, we will only cover the first one in the list; Composite Section.

Roadway Tool – This tool steps the user through multiple steps to design a roadway network.

Pad Design – This tool steps the user through four steps to define a single or multiple pads as a site object.

Pond Design – This tool steps the user through four steps to define a pond as a site object.

Channel Design – This tool steps the user through four steps to define a channel as a site object.

Composite Section – This tool allows the user push a “typical section” along a GEOPAK Chain or Site Modeler element to create a roadway. The “typical section” is a collection of definitions, for building a roadway, called a Site Modeler section. This tool can be very useful in the design of a roadway. The usage of this tool will be outlined briefly, and then demonstrated in an exercise.

There are a few new files related to the Composite Section tool that need to be described before delving into the usage of the tool.

.sec (Section File) – This file stores the Site Modeler section definitions for a particular section. .smf (Section Manager File) – This is a text file that stores a collection of section files which can be loaded to provide access to section files. This file defines the location of a collection of section files.

Sample data from a file with the format as follows, “Section Name, Section File Location”: DAR_185,I:\pr\ODOTstd\Training\GEOPAK Site\Exercises\ODOT_SiteTraining_185_Empty.sec, DAR_185,I:\pr\ODOTstd\Training\GEOPAK Site\Exercises\ODOT_SiteTraining_185.sec,

.csv (Comma Separated Variable) – This is a file, that is opened in Excel, which is used to define the superelevation in the composite section tool.



File – This provides the user options to Save As, Save, and Open section files. Primary Element Definition – This portion of the tool is where the user defines the alignment along which to run the composite section. This can be defined by either an existing Site Modeler element or a COGO Chain-Profile combination. Superelevation By – This portion of the tool is where the user can elect to apply, and choose how the superelevation is defined. The two choices are by Table or Shapes. (Note: It is the opinion of the author to again abandon the usage of Shapes, as they usually do not produce favorable results. The usage of the Table option yields better results and is much more reliable. A good table to use for these purposes is a CSV file, which will be used in the exercise for this tool.) Section Manager Tab – This tab shows all of the section files that are contained in the open section manager file (.smf). By double clicking on one of the sections in the list, it will be made active and its settings will appear in the Left and Right Side Details tabs. The tool, by default, opens the smf file stored locally in the GEOPAK bin folder. Left and Right Side Details Tab – These tabs are used to define the left and right sides of the section file. They function identically on their respective sides.



List Items – This is a listing of all Site Modeler elements to be created with the composite section tool. (i.e. edge of pavement, shoulder, curb, and graded shoulder, etc.)

Add List Item – This button adds the Define, Method, and Search Extent settings as an item in the list. Modify List Item – This button modifies the selected list item. Delete List Item – This button deletes the selected list item. Copy List Item – This button copies the selected list item. Paste List Item – This button pastes the copied list item. Move Up – This button moves the selected list item up one position. Move Down – This button moves the selected list item down one position. Open Section Viewer – This button opens the section viewer. Section Zoom In – This button zooms in on the section in the section viewer. Reset Viewer – This button resets the zoom in the section viewer.

List Items



Define – Defines how the element will be created, as well as the feature type of the element to be created.

Element Type – Defines how the element will be created in the Composite Section tool.

Element – This option allows the user to define the symbology of the element and set a distance to search for the element to slope to. (Offset may vary. This tool will search for an element in the dgn file.) Feature – This option allows the user to specify a ddb feature of the element and set a distance to search for the element to slope to. (Offset may vary. This tool will search for an element in the dgn file.) Section – This option allows the user to apply a section as an element. (This tool will place an element(s) in the dgn file.) Parallel – This option is very similar to Element and Feature, except that the offset distance is not variable. It is a defined fixed distance. (This tool will place an element in the dgn file.) Slope – This option functions exactly like the Side Slope tool. It allows the user to slope for a specified vertical or horizontal distance, as well as to an object or model. (This tool will place an element in the dgn file.) Drape Element – This option will search for a Microstation element’s specified symbology, at a variable max distance, and then drape the found element on either a model or object. (This tool will search for an element in the dgn file.) Drape Feature – This option will search for an element, with a specific ddb feature at a variable max distance, and then drape the found element on either a model or object. (This tool will search for an element in the dgn file.)

Feature Type – Defines the feature type of the element to be created with the Composite Section tool.

Method – Defines the projection options. There are two new options in this tool that need to be explained. The first option defines the slope method and the second defines the radial option.

Slope – This defines how the slope is to be specified.

User Slope (%) – A constant user defined slope. Superelevation (%) – This option applies the superelevation that was specified in the Primary Element Definition. Delta Superelevation (%) – This option will apply a delta superelevation from the previous element in the element list. (If the previous element’s slope varies from a superelevation table, the element with Delta Superelevation will continually be sloped at a constant delta from the previous element)



User Slope (Max. Delta Super) – This option is used for ODOT’s high side shoulder. (i.e. Max 7% shoulder slope rollover. One thing to note is that, this does not provide the option to offset the rollover point 2’ from the edge of pavement.)

Radial To – Defines how the new element projection is created. (This can be important in “add lane” tapers, for example.)

Primary – This option will project the new element to be created radial to the primary element (the centerline or baseline of a roadway, for example). Adjacent – This option will project the new element to be created radial to the adjacent element. (The element before the current one in the element list.) Surface Edge – This option will project the new element to be created radial to a surface edge.

Search Extent – Defines the search distance, from the primary element, and search symbology used when searching for specific elements to project slopes in the plan view.

Exercise 9 – Composite Section

1. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\Exercise_9_CompSection\12345KI001_Ex9_CompSection.dgn

2. Open Site Modeler …Applications>Site>Site Modeler>Site Modeling 3. Ensure that working directory is set to the …..Exercises\ folder 4. Enable Open Existing Project 5. Click Browse and select

…Exercises\Exercise_9_CompSection\DAR185_Ex9_CompSection.gsf 6. Click Open. 7. Click OK in the Project Wizard dialogue.

In this exercise we will demonstrate the usage of the Composite Section tool to create the SR185_Pvmt object all at one time from edge of graded shoulder to edge of graded shoulder.

1. Select Tools>Composite Section. 2. Enable Add to Active Object and ensure that SR185_Pvmt is the active object. 3. Select By Chain-Profile. 4. Click Alignment Definition. 8. Enter the element data for the profile cell and click OK.

Job 185

Chain CLPS185

Profile PS185P

Use Station Range Enabled Begin: 53+00.00 End: 77+50.00 R 2

Alignment Element Symbology Element,Lv:SC_Scratch1, Co:3, Lc:2, Wt:3

Exclude from Object Disabled



6. Enable Superelevation By, and choose Table. 7. Click Define. 8. Click File, and select Import From csv file. 9. Navigate to and select ….Exercises\Exercise_9_Section\ODOT_SiteTraining_185.csv

10. Close Superelevation Tables dialogue box.

We will now clear out the .sec files in the list, add the appropriate .sec files for this exercise, and then save it off as a .smf file.

11. Delete all section files in the .sec file list using the Delete List Item button. 12. Clear the current Section Description and Sec File Name fields. 13. Open the …Exercises\ODOT_SiteTraining_185.sec file using the Select File for List button. 14. Add this .sec file to the list using the Add List Item button. 15. Open the …Exercises\ODOT_SiteTraining_185_Empty.sec file using the Select File for List button. 16. Add this .sec file to the list using the Add List Item button. 17. Save these .sec files to the following .smf file …Exercises\ODOT_SiteTraining_185.smf using the

Save as Section Manager File (ASCII) button. 18. Double click the ODOT_SiteTraining_185_Empty.sec section in the list to activate it.

We will now define elements to create the entire SR185 pavement almost exactly as using GEOPAK criteria files would. There are two exceptions that Site Modeler is not capable of handling entirely like criteria does, both of which relate to the shoulder slopes, and we will discuss them as we go.

(Note: Remember that the Search Extent distance is always measured from the primary element, not the adjacent element.)

Left Side 1. Click on the Left Side Details tab. 2. Enter the element data for the first element in the list (edge of pavement).

Element Type Element


Superelevation % (will come from CSV)

Radial To Primary


Vertical Offset 0’

Search Extent Symbology Lv:PV_P_EOP, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 13’

3. Click Add List Item.



4. Enter the element data for the next element in the list (shoulder).

(Note: This element is for the shoulder, and you will notice that it is sloped at a constant -4.00%. This is only true when the superelevation is 4.00% or less. Once the superelevation is greater than 4.00%, the shoulder slope should follow the pavement slope until it comes back to 4.00%. The composite section tool does not provide a tool to accomplish this. This is something that will have to be manually edited later if needed.)



User Slope -4.00%

Radial To Adjacent



Search Extent Symbology Lv:PV_P_Shoulder, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 17’

5. Click Add List Item. 6. Enter the element data for the last element in the list (edge of graded shoulder).



User Slope -8.00%

Radial To Adjacent



Search Extent Symbology Lv:DT_P_Graded_Shoulder, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 21’

7. Click Add List Item

Right Side 1. Click on the Right Side Details tab. 2. Enter the element data for the first element in the list (edge of pavement extension).




Radial To Primary



Search Extent Symbology Lv:SC_Scratch6, Co:5, Lc:2, Wt:2

Max Distance 13’




4. Enter the element data for the next element in the list (edge of pavement).




Radial To Primary



Search Extent Symbology Lv:PV_P_EOP, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 25’


6. Enter the element data for the next element in the list (shoulder).

(Note: This list item is the other part that comp section cannot handle like ODOT criteria does. In ODOT criteria the shoulder rollover occurs 2’ outside the edge of pavement with a max break of 7.00%. The User Slope (Max Delta Super) allows the same thing to occur except that the rollover point is AT the edge of pavement rather than 2’ offset.)



User Slope (Max. Delta Super) -4.00%

Max. Delta 7.00%

Radial To Adjacent



Search Extent Symbology Lv:PV_P_Shoulder, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 29’


8. Enter the element data for the next element in the list (edge of graded shoulder).



User Slope -8.00%

Radial To Adjacent



Search Extent Symbology Lv:DT_P_Graded_Shoulder, Co:ByLevel, Lc:ByLevel, Wt:ByLevel

Max Distance 33’


We have populated the list of elements and are now ready to create the Site Modeler object.

10. Click the Apply button.



The Roadway object will now appear and be built entirely from edge of graded shoulder to edge of graded shoulder. One thing needs to be fixed after applying the composite section. Looking at the south return between SR185 and the shoulder return, it is apparent that something did not go right there. It is not known why this happens, but the more one uses Site Modeler, the more things like this will be seen. Using the Slope/Offset From Site Element tool will fix this. Slope the shoulder at +1.3% (Breakline, Entire Element), and the graded shoulder at -8.0% (Boundary, Entire Element). Results should look as shown below……



1. Use the Profile analysis tool to review the model by clicking Analysis>Profiles and look at the contours on screen to verify that the object was built correctly.

2. Select Project>Save. 3. Select Project>Exit, and when prompted to “Save Project” click “No”, when prompted to “Lock


Analysis Menu

The Analysis pull down contains options that allow the user to perform various types of analysis and queries about, and from, the model. We have already covered in detail the Height/Slope and Profiles tools as they were needed for the exercises. There are a few other tools in this menu that are worthy of discussion.

Volumes – This tool compares models and/or objects and calculates the volume difference between them. The tool is pretty self explanatory, but there is one thing to note. As mentioned previously, one toggle that can be very useful is the Use Quantity Depth. This is a property that can be assigned to an object, which represents the depth of the object. When this option is enabled, the volume of each object will be deducted from the volume calculations. This is very useful to assign to pavement objects such that the pavement depth is not used in the volume calculations.



Drainage Tools – This tool will analyze an object, or model, and return various drainage information. This tool functions identically to the Drainage Tools in GEOPAK that read from TIN files. Load TIN Features – This tool loads various features of an object or model, and functions identically to the Load DTM Features in GEOPAK that read from TIN files.



Tool Boxes Menu

The Tool Boxes pull down contains options for opening various tool boxes which can be free floating or docked at the user’s discretion.

Main – Opens the main Site Modeler tool box. This tool box contains project, element, object, model, comp section, roadway, and analysis tools. Project – This tool box contains options that are utilized to create, open, and save site projects, import data and establish/edit preferences. Model – This tool box contains options that are used to create, edit and delete models. Object – This tool box contains options that are used to create, edit, delete, rename objects or also change the elevations of objects. Elements – This tool box contains options that are used to create new elements or modify existing elements. Tools – This tool box contains various tools to create pads, ponds, channels, and roadway networks. Analyze – This tool box contains options that are utilized to perform a variety of analyses. (i.e. profiles, ascertain elevations and slope of any point within the model, determine elevation, slope or aspect ranges within any defined area of the model, and several drainage tools) Roadway – This tool box opens the tool used to design a roadway network. (This option is not covered in this training guide)



Available End Products & Export Options Now that we have covered the basics of creating a model, we will discuss some of the available end products, and options available for exporting object or model data.

Visualization to DGN – All graphics visualized in Site Modeler are temporary graphics used to facilitate dynamic updating and design changes more rapidly. The Export Visualization tool draws the visualized elements into the current design file, utilizing the Preference or Model/Object Display parameters. Therefore, no element symbology information is present in the dialog. Model / Object – This tool exports data from a specified model or object as binary data, TIN, or land XML files for use by the Site Modeler DTM tools, or other software (i.e. Road, Survey, or Drainage) To COGO – Exports selected elements from the specified model or object into a binary coordinate geometry database. All coordinate values (x, y, and z) of critical points, plus user defined stroked points, are exported to the coordinate geometry database for use in subsequent activities, such as construction staking. Once the COGO points have been created, using the GEOPAK COGO export utility (File>Export>ASCII Points), the user can generate a txt file which could possibly be used to make construction stakeout tables. To COGO Profile – Projects specified site element(s) onto a previously defined chain to assign stationing to the site elements. A profile of the site elements is created, which is then exported to COGO. All values of critical points are exported to the coordinate geometry database to use in subsequent activities, such as construction staking.



Final Project

Putting It All Together Now that we have covered some of the most important tools in Site Modeler, we will put it all together in a final project. We are going to use the same DAR-185 project and start from scratch to generate a partial model. We will model the pavement for SR185 and Jameson, including the intersection grading, and grade the NW quadrant outside the pavement. We will not step through each button click to accomplish this goal, rather a list of tasks in the order to complete them is provided below. Using this task list combined with the training guide, the user has all the information needed to complete the final project. Remember to save the project periodically. First we will create the elements from edge of graded shoulder to edge of graded shoulder for SR185 and Jameson. Open the Microstation file …Exercises\FinalProject_185\FinalProjectKI001_185.dgn, and the Site Modeler project …Exercises\FinalProject_185\FinalProject_185.gsf.

SR185 (New Object Name – “SR185”)

Use the Composite Section tool to create SR185 from edge of graded shoulder to edge of graded shoulder. (As in Exercise 9)

Fix the shoulder and graded shoulder Site Modeler elements along SR185 at the south return. They need to be re-sloped at +1.3% and -8.0% respectively to fix the anomaly that appears after the composite section is applied. (It is not known why these things show up, but in real world projects users will often see things like this.)

Jameson (New Object Name – “Jameson”)

Use Composite Section tool to create Jameson from edge of graded shoulder to edge of graded shoulder. (Similar to Exercise 9)

Change the Member Objects for the edge of pavement extension line along SR185 to include Jameson.

Grade the intersection area using the following tools: Drape on Model/Object – to create the edge of pavement and centerline elements. (As in Exercise 8) Edit Profile – to edit the profiles of the edge of pavement returns and centerline to fit the intersection. (As in Exercise 8) Slope/Offset from Site Element – to slope to the shoulders. (Use Variable Slope for the shoulder, (As in Exercise 8), as the shoulder transitions from -4% along Jameson to +1.3% along SR185.) (As in Exercise 8) Drape on Model/Object – to create the edge of graded shoulder elements. (Use End Points to drape the graded shoulders.)

Note: This is not a perfect solution, but for the purposes of this exercise, it works. If this were a real project, one could model this differently to taper the curb down to zero height as it would in a real world situation.



Next we will grade the area outside the edge of graded shoulder in the NW quadrant. We will slope from the edge of graded shoulder to existing ground at a 6:1 foreslope. To aid in the visualization, the roadway objects in the model need to be turned on at the same time, as well as the existing ground. Click on Model>Edit, on the Display Objects tab turn on the Roadway objects, enable the Display Base Object (View Without Objects), and click Apply.

Active Object - SR185

Use the Side Slope tool to grade from the edge of graded shoulder to existing ground at a 6:1 slope along the right turn lane of SR185. (Feature Type: Boundary)

Active Object - Jameson

Use the Side Slope tool to grade from the edge of graded shoulder to existing ground at a 6:1 slope along Jameson. (Feature Type: Boundary)

Drape a line, connecting the two tie down slopes, on the existing ground object to complete the grading. (Feature Type: Boundary)

Now that the partial model has been built, you can export your model as a TIN using the Project>Export>Model/Object in Site Modeler. Once the model has been exported, open the ….Exercises\FinalProject_185\FinalProjectKI001_185_3D.dgn and load the TIN triangles to view and render. This is how one would go about creating a 3D model that can be used for visualization.

Ohio Department of Transportation ODOT GEOPAK V8i Site Modeler · 2014-04-21 · Ohio Department of...

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