How are surfaces represented in the drawing?

There are several representation modes, depending on the need:

• Lines: Draws the edges of the triangles.

• Draw Cross Sections: Useful for generating shading and realistic images.

• GRID: Creates a single grid entity in the .CAD file.

• Quick View: Displays the surface temporarily without increasing the size of the drawing file.

In MDT, surfaces can be represented in both 2D and 3D, depending on the configuration and user needs.

The characteristics of both modes are detailed below, which can be selected in Surface Configuration.

• 3D Representation: If the Represent as Surface in 3D option is enabled, the program draws the triangulation lines in space using their real height. This mode is necessary to generate shading, realistic images, or relief visualizations.

• 2D Representation: If the 3D option is disabled, the lines are drawn on the plane at Zero Height. This option is usually advisable to facilitate line editing between points and planimetry drawing without the complications of working in space.

It is essential to highlight that the chosen representation (whether 2D or 3D) is purely graphical and does not affect the accuracy of calculations for profiles, volumes, or other technical analyses, since MDT always uses the three-dimensional analytical information stored in the surface file.