Trimble Business Center

When I am given CAD data that includes profile views of alignments (pic attached), is there a way to elevate an alignment from it?

I've always just typed in the vertical data from the plans when building alignments for roads, but in this case the alignment is centerline of rear yard drains in a subdivision. There are no elevation callouts for the proposed ground but I want my surface to match the profile view, I'm just not sure how to do it. 

Is there a command that does this?

Since I'm not typically contributor I will try to explain it succinctly. This is a really useful tool in TBC and makes vertical profiles a breeze.

First you will need your horizontal alignment built, and the vertical profile line in TBC as a 3dpolyline or preferably a linestring. 

When you are in the "edit alignment command" go to the vertical tab, hit the "create vertical alignment" button. Once it populates the first row you want to hit the button right of the "create vertical alignment" button. When you hover mouse over, it should read "append selected line" and you know you have the right one. Chose the horizontal alignment that you want to add the vertical info to; and then choose the 3d linework with the profile elevation info as the "line to append". Once you hit ok, you will have a vertical profile added to your horizontal alignment.

Before using the vertical alignment for anything make sure to verify that both the horizontal and vertical stations are jiving with the plans and do some checks to see if it will work with the proposed site conditions.

You can watch this video from Alan.

https://community.trimble.com/message/10253-re-profile-from-pdf-import-to-businesscenter-possible?commentID=10253#commen… 

Honestly I use this way a lot and it is by far the easiest way when I can't kick out a XML of the alignment in Civil3d or only have a PDF. Copy to profile = Awesome.

Once you have appended the line look at the profile view. You can select the line and use the move tool instead of northing and easting coords it will be station, elevation.

I hope that the video Erik provided the link to helps - if not let me know and I can call you to assist this week

Alan

Thanks guys, I got it working and will definitely be doing it this way in the future.  

This works but I would really like to see a dedicated window or macro for this. I think some steps could be cut out. 

Something like this: Carlson Civil Creating Centerline file and 3D profile from grid - YouTube 

Looks much more intuitive.

I second this motion, copy to profile might be biggest time saver in my road surface prep workflow