Trimble Business Center

Hi,

I wonder if there is an option to input the two transitions of the Superlevation from a Civil 3D alignment to TBC but not manually (curve by curve). Maybe like a .TXT or another option to import. This is because when the alignment has several curves, you need to input manually all the parameter of the transitions and Civil 3D computes automatically superelevations when you create a corridor. 

Do you know how to do it @Alan Sharp ?

I know Quantm and Civil 3D compute automatically superelevations when you set the maximum superelevation and other parameters.

Regards.

Miguel Espinoza.

This is not possible today Miguel for sure. Adding Superelevation automatically is not really that realistic becuse the Super Max values are dependent on Curvature and defined Highway Speed (those could of course be extra settings), but are also subject to variation from locale to locale (weather, Rainfall, Snow, Ice expectations) as well as based on Traffic Volumes and other factors - we try to give you automation when you enter the Standard Cross Slope and Max Super, and if you have Vertical Curves in and out of Super - but as you say that is defined per curve - and you really need to check the results - when a Super is defined for an Arc segment you also have to know the Runoff Value in the Curve - again that is a variable that changes from locale to locale. You also need to know how the Designer intends to handle the compound and reverse scenarios if they occur on a project.

You have to bear in mind that TBC is created not as a Design Tool but more as a Data Prep / Modeling Tool, where our prime purpose is to "recreate a Design" rather than create a Design. Products like Quantm and Civil 3D define the Control Parameters for Design (A Criteria Set) that is typical for the Area / type of road, and then they apply that criteria set based on the standards (AASHTO etc.) as a constraint to the Design Process. Automation is good, but then people don't validate the results and get the wrong answers as a result.

Having said that once you have entered the values for Curve 1 we could repeat those for all curves - however Max Super is still unknown.

If you can output a Slope Table (Station / Cross Slope) from Civil 3D then you can use that when you create a Shareable Slope Table or a Slope Table in TBC - that would help in certain situations where you can get away without having to use the Superelevation Function specifically, however for divided highways or roads where the centerline is not the same as the Profile Grade Line you have to use Superelevation commands to get the slopes and pivot / crown points correct.

Hope this assists somewhat - appreciate we all want the "Easy button" as much as possible

Alan

Thank you very much! Alan. I wrote that because a customer was asking. So again thanks.

Regards.

Miguel Espinoza