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 Offset by slope/gradient to target elevation - Is this possible

Jake Gibbs's profile image
Jake Gibbs posted 08-18-2026 07:47

Hi all,

Is there any way I can offset a simple 3D line, left or right at a specific slope/gradient to an elevation.

I want TBC basically calculate the distance based on the slope and target elevation.

I can only offset by an inputted distance at a slope / gradient currently, which TBC caluclates the elevation of the new line.

I am using this for plot/lot pads and grading between. I need to grade at a set slope so the pilin rig is able to traverse safely. 

At the moment, I have enabled surface shading and shade by slope range and having to rebuild each time I tweak the line to see if the slope is between the threshold which isnt ideal

Thanks!

Ronny Schneider's profile image
Ronny Schneider

I'd use "Sideslopes" for this, they automatically recompute. You'll have the full range of corridor instructions. Beware, a Sideslope only creates linework for material layer "Finish", but you can use other material layers for temporary elevation computations. They don't require an alignment, a normal linestring is enough. 

It wouldn't be TBC if there wouldn't be a downside. The icon for a sidelope is extremely hard to see, especially in 3D view, a tiny little dot. 2D isn't much better.

And once a Sidelope is created the normal user can't change the start chainage of the Sideslope anymore. They only expose the end chainage in the properties pane, as "Station". Naming and description are misleading.

But with a macro they can be changed, hence my macro SCR_EditSidelope (https://github.com/RonnySchneider/SCR_Macros_Public - not compatible with 2026, still waiting for the license). That one allows you to change start, end chainage, template name and template spacing of existing Sideslopes. All things that TBC is hiding from you, don't ask me why. It also highlights the position of all sideslopes in the project, even on disabled layers, makes it easier to find the ridiculously tiny icons.

Benjamin Schoenbachler's profile image
Benjamin Schoenbachler

This is a weird workaround, but you can create a large rectangle at the desired elevation then create a temporary surface from that rectangle. Then you can create a surface tie to that temp surface from your original line. I think that’s what you want