Hz and Vt Alignments in n4ce
The Designer edition of n4ce has a special option that allows the computation of Alignments. Whilst predominantly designed for roads these can be used in other applications such as pipe works, earthworks screening bunds, flood prevention and other linear applications where you need to interact with a reference ground surface
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The working environment for creating alignments is CAD, but not in the standard CAD folder. Each alignment has its own CAD working environment with specialized tools, as shown opposite. Specialised CAD tools have been isolated onto their own Icon Bar. When selected dropdown menus will appear from these Icons.
The menu options contain specific functions, typically related to created alignments. For example, the Construction menu option contains Transitions.
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? Labels identifies start and end of each element in a design, typically tangent and intersection points.
? Elements arcs, straights and transition Hz elements.
? Offsets a pair of lines parallel to the alignment design
? Chainages labels that appear of user defined intervals along the design.
? Tangents dumbbells indicating the start and end of arcs and tangents elements.
? Intersections markers indicating the intersection of straights.
? Centres markers indicating centres of circular curves.
? Junctions where two alignments join.
? Visibility sight lines and junction sight splays |
Each alignment has its own defaults, as shown opposite and below. The dialog below controls display of detail.
| Having created CAD alignments, a tool allows you to commit these to formalised Hz Alignments, which will also be seen in spreadsheet form, as shown below. We call this Duality of Display and Edit, since edit tools are available in both graphics and spread sheet.
Once you have a horizontal alignment you may then create a vertical profile for this alignment. If you highlight the vertical element label and select Graphics, or the camera icon, you will then be taken into the vertical design window for that alignment. Ground levels (reference DTM) can be taken from any model in the current project.
Specially designed tools are available for creating vertical alignments from gradients, parabolic and circular curved elements. Traditional CAD locking modes are available. You may also change and recalculate spacing along the reference DTM.
Final display and export options allow you to produce final presentation drawings, table of setting out detail as part of the standard features in n4ce. Note the table in the above and the attachment of a side string to a main alignment.
These Alignments can be used with the Templates to create simple roads, as shown above. |
