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How to extract or list the elevations and stations of a longitudinal profile, for example to Excel?
Summary
In MDT you can list a longitudinal profile to obtain the station and elevation of each of its points, and export that list (for example, to Excel). This article explains how to do it and how to get around the most common limitation: the profile list only returns the elevations at the stations already defined in the profile, with no option to choose a regular interval (for example, every metre). For that case, an alternative is described, based on converting the profile into a grade line and listing the grade line.
Applies to
MDT — the documented cases do not indicate a specific version.
Longitudinal profile functions (listing and export).
Symptoms
You need to automatically extract the elevation and station data of a longitudinal profile, for example from an external project, in order to take it to Excel.
When listing the profile, the result only contains the elevations of the stations already defined in the profile, and there is no option to indicate every how many metres you want the elevation (for example, one value per metre).
Cause
The longitudinal profile listing tool generates values at the stations already defined in the profile. On its own it does not offer the option to set a regular interval (for example, every metre) for the list.
Solution
Case: extracting and exporting the elevations and stations of the longitudinal profile
In MDT, use the option to list the longitudinal profile.
The list shows the station and elevation of each point of the profile.
From that list you can export the information, for example to Excel.
Case: obtaining the list at regular intervals (for example, every metre)
If you need the elevations at a regular interval (for example, every metre) and the profile list only returns the stations already defined, you have these options:
Obtain the longitudinal profile again with the interval you need (for example, every metre) and list it again.
Or convert the longitudinal profile into a grade line and list the grade line, where listing every metre is possible:
Convert the longitudinal profile into a grade line with the Copy Terrain to Grade Line command.
List the grade line, indicating the interval (for example, every metre).
If the problem persists
If after these steps you still cannot obtain the list or the export with the detail you need, contact APLITOP technical support and indicate how the original longitudinal profile was generated.
Category: Longitudinal profiles · Level: Basic