Alignment properties

Last updated: 2026-01-06

Total video time: 19:29

Exercise file: ali-data-C3D22.zip

Video: ali-prprtis-01.mp4 2:46

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-All-ali-prprtis-01.dwg
    3. Open

Move reference point

  1. Left-click Alignment STH25
  2. Hover over Alignment STH25, double boxes appear > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Station Control tab > Reference point
      1. Select Pick Reference Point icon
      2. Warning dialog box > OK
      3. Shift + right-click > OSnap Apparent Intersect > Left-click cross point of Alignment 25 and Alignment 4th Ave.
    2. OK
  5. ECS to end command

Change reference point station number

  1. Left-click Alignment 25
  2. Hover over Alignment 25, double boxes appear > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Station Control tab > Reference point
      1. Station: type 10000
    2. OK
      1. Warning dialog box > OK
    3. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Video: ali-prprtis-02.mp4 2:50

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-All-ali-prprtis-02.dwg
    3. Open

Add station equation

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Station Control tab > Station equations
      1. Select Add station equation icon
      2. Warning dialog box > OK
    2. Specify station along baseline: type 42759.12Enter
    3. Station Control tab > Station equations
      1. Station Ahead: type 42800
      2. Warning dialog box > OK
    4. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Remove station equation

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Station Control tab > Station equations
      1. Select Equation 1
      2. Select Delete station equation icon
      3. Warning dialog box > OK
    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Video: ali-prprtis-03.mp4 3:15

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-All-ali-prprtis-02.dwg
    3. Open

Add masking region

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Masking tab > Masking regions
      1. Select Add masking region icon
      2. Specify first station for masking region: type 42325Enter
      3. Specify second for masking region: type 45535Enter

        Info: In the Masking regions area, of the Alignment Properties dialog box, the green check mark under Mask indicates the region between the start and end stations is masked. The locks for start and end stations act as anchor points for the mask region, in case the alignment changes.

    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Remove masked region

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Masking tab > Masking regions
      1. Select Region 1
      2. Select Delete masking region icon
    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Video: ali-prprtis-04.mp4 3:20

Two types of Point of intersection

  • Explicit PI - The point at which two fixed tangents meet on a horizontal alignment, and can be labeled, moved, deleted, or broken apart.
  • Implied PI - The computed PI at an alignment curve or curve group. The implied PI indicates where tangents would meet if they were extended outward. They can be labeled.

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4th-Ave.dwg
    3. Open

Point of Intersection settings

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Point of Intersection tab
      1. Select radial button By individual curves and curve group
    2. OK
  5. Zoom to south curve, see PI displayed.
    • Point of Curve is the beginning of curve.
    • Point of Tangent is the end of curve.
    • Implied PI is found in between with a gray triangle grip point.
  6. Hover over gray triangle grip point to display Solve PI.
  7. Left-click gray triangle grip point.
  8. Grip point color changed to cyan. It is now an Explicit PI. It has the option to Move PI or Break-apart PI.
  9. ESC to end command

Constraint editing settings

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Constraint Editing tab
      1. Check box Lock all parameter constraints
      2. Check box Always perform implied tangency constraint swapping
      3. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Video: ali-prprtis-05.mp4 3:35

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-All-ali-prprtis-02.dwg
    3. Open

Add design speeds

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Design Criteria tab > Design Speeds
      1. Select Add design speed icon
      2. The table populates with an entry.
      3. Change Design Speed to 45 mi/h
      4. Select Add design speed icon
      5. The table populates with a new entry.

        Info: When adding design speeds, the new entry will populate at the top of the table, using the design speed of the last entry.

      6. In Entry 2, select Start Station. A Pick from Screen icon appears, left-click it.
      7. Specify station along baseline:43775Enter
      8. Change Design Speed to 30 mi/h
      9. Select Add design speed icon
      10. The table populates with a new entry.
      11. In Entry 1, highlight Start Station and type 46675
      12. Click somewhere outside that box. The table will auto-sort itself, Changing the first entry to be the lowest Start Station number. Entry 1 is now Entry 3.
      13. In Entry 3, change Design speed to 45 mi/h
    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Remove design speed

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Design Criteria tab > Design Speeds
      1. Select Entry 3
      2. Select Delete design speed icon
      3. Select Entry 2
      4. Select Delete design speed icon
    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command

Video: ali-prprtis-06.mp4 3:40

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-All-ali-prprtis-02.dwg
    3. Open

Adding WisDOT criteria-based design data

  1. Left-click alignment
  2. Hover over alignment, double box appears > left-click > Selection Cycling dialog box > select Alignment
  3. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Alignment Properties
  4. Alignment Properties dialog box
    1. Design Criteria tab
      1. Design Speeds box
        1. Select Add design speed icon
        2. The table populates with an entry.
        3. Change Design Speed to 45 mi/h
      2. Check box Use criteria-based design
      3. Check box Use design criteria file
      4. Select ...
        1. Select Design Speed Table dialog box
          1. Look in: dropdown, browse to C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2020\enu\Data\Corridor Design Standards\Imperial
          2. File name: select WisDOT Design Criteria 2009.xml
          3. Open
      5. Default criteria box
        1. Minimum Radius Table > WisDOT eMax 4%
        2. Transition Length Table > 3LaneTWLWL@CL
        3. Attainment Method > Crowned Roadway
      6. Check box Check for tangency between elements
    2. OK
  5. ESC to end command