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How can I create a grade line from a longitudinal profile?
There are several methods to create a grade line using a longitudinal profile previously drawn in the CAD as a reference. For most of these procedures, it is essential that said longitudinal profile is represented continuously (without division into sheets).
Below, the main ways to do this are detailed:
Manual Definition on the Profile
Using the command [PRO] Draw Cuts, you can design the vertical alignment using the longitudinal profile as a visual guide. The available methods are:
Graphic: Allows you to mark vertices directly with the mouse on the profile drawing.
Station and Elevation: Manual entry of values via keyboard. When indicating a Station, the program proposes by default the ground elevation interpolated at that position.
Distance and Slope: An initial point is defined, and subsequent segments are created by indicating their length and the desired slope percentage.
Convert a CAD Polyline
If you already have a polyline drawn representing the grade line on the longitudinal profile, you can use the command Define Grade Line from Polyline.
The software will ask you to select the terrain of the longitudinal profile and, subsequently, the polyline.
The information will be associated with the entity and may include automatic curves (circular or parabolic) if specified in the configuration.
Automatic Grade Line (Optimization)
This tool is ideal for obtaining a preliminary design that minimizes earthworks.
You must select the drawn longitudinal profile and indicate parameters such as the initial/final station, mandatory pass elevations, maximum and minimum slope, and the allowed elevation difference with respect to the terrain.
The program will calculate the most optimal solution and draw the final grade line integrating the necessary vertical curves.
If you need a grade line that closely follows the shape of the terrain (for example, for pipelines), you can use the command Copy Terrain to Grade Line.
You only need to select the longitudinal profile and specify an Elevation Adjustment (positive to raise it or negative to lower it).
The result will be a grade line parallel to the longitudinal profile between the stations you decide.
Importing an Existing File
If you already have a data file with the extension .RAS, you can use the command Import Grade Line. After selecting the longitudinal profile in the drawing, the program will automatically project the grade line from the file onto the profile at its corresponding elevation, including the labeling of its curves