Support
If I have the longitudinal profile and the vertical alignment, how can I display both in elevation simultaneously?
To simultaneously display the longitudinal profile (terrain) and the vertical alignment in elevation, the main tool in TcpMDT is the Block command.
The methods for performing this representation are detailed below according to the manuals:
Using the Block command
This command is specifically designed to show all road information, including the terrain and the vertical alignment, in a single drawing.
Procedure: Select the command from the Profiles menu, and the program will request a segment file (.SEG).
What is the segment? It is an integrating file that links the main alignment, the longitudinal terrain profile, and the vertical alignment (among other elements).
Customization: When executing it, you can configure horizontal and vertical scales, the paper format (continuous or by sheets), and the Numerical Data, which will display the numerical data for both elements (terrain elevations, vertical alignment elevations, and red levels) in parallel.
Import Vertical Alignment onto an already drawn profile
If you have already drawn the longitudinal terrain profile (using the Draw Simple Long Section command), you can add the vertical alignment afterwards:
Command: Use Import Vertical Alignment within the vertical alignments module.
Procedure: The program will ask you to graphically select the terrain in the drawing and then the vertical alignment file (.RAS).
Result: The vertical alignment will be automatically projected onto the terrain profile at its corresponding elevation, including the labeling of its vertical curves if present.
If you need to compare several states, TcpMDT allows advanced options within the drawing dialogs:
Terrains Button: Allows inserting and drawing multiple longitudinal terrain profiles simultaneously under the same comparison plane, customizing colors and line types for each one.
Vertical Alignments Button: In the block command, it allows adding multiple vertical alignments simultaneously to compare them on the same terrain.
For the representation to be complete, it is essential to configure the Numerical Data (bottom data band). In its definition, you can add elements such as:
Vertical Alignment / Terrain Elevations: To show both values together at each station or chainage point.
Red Levels: To view the numerical difference (cut or fill) between the vertical alignment and the terrain.
Diagrams: Curvature and superelevation diagrams associated with the main alignment can also be included below the elevation representation.