Edit feature line elevation

Total video time: 18:20

Exercise files: fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-data-begin-c3d18.zip

Begin with Grading example.dwg

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-01.mp4 3:22

  1. Click on blue feature line in modelspace > Contextual ribbon
    1. Edit Geometry and Edit Elevations are feature line contextual ribbon panels that can be turned on/off from the feature line contextual ribbon Modify panel. Make sure they are turned on.
  2. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Elevation Editor
    1. This will open the Grading Elevation Editor panorama
    2. There will be a row for each elevation point on the feature line
    3. Green triangles designate the elevation points in the panorama table and in modelspace
    4. Internal stationing designates where along the length of the feature line the elevation points are
    5. If you click on an elevation point in the panorama, that point highlights in modelspace
    6. Stationing cannot be changed here. Elevation can be changed either directly or with the Grade Back, Grade Ahead columns

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-02.mp4 3:20

  1. Relative to surface
    1. Adds the columns Elevation Derived From and Elevation(Relative) to the table. Points can be set relative to a surface and individual points can be relative to a surface by unique positive or negative amounts.
  2. Raise/Lower by increments controls
    1. Single or all points can be raised/lowered by a preset amount. If no row is selected, all points are adjusted.
  3. Flatten Grade or Elevation
    1. Constant Elevation
    2. Constant Grade
  4. Drape over surface
    1. Applies elevations from a surface
  5. Can select a point and zoom to it's location in modelspace

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-03.mp4 1:43

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Insert Elevation Point

    A green circle will slide along the feature line for horizontal location

    1. Specify point or [Distance/Increment]: Click a point in modelspace
    2. INSERTELEVPOINT Specify elevation or [Surface]: 1615 Enter
    3. Specify point or [Distance/Increment]: Click a point in modelspace
    4. INSERTELEVPOINT Specify elevation or [Surface]: 1613 Enter
    5. Enter to stop the command

      Distance and Increment are other options for horizontal location points to have better control of placement.

  2. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Delete Elevation Point

    Nearest point will highlight

    1. DELETEELEVPOINT Specify point or [All]: Click an elevation point
    2. Enter to stop the command. The feature line is still selected

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-04.mp4 4:17

The following tools are in the top row of buttons in the Edit Elevations panel

Quick Elevation Edit

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Quick Elevation Edit
    1. QUICKEDITFEATUREELEVS Specify point or [Site Reference]:

      This tool will display the elevation of any point or the grade of any segment of any feature line in modelspace.

    2. Click the southmost point of the blue feature line
    3. QUICKEDITFEATUREELEVS Specify elevation or [Surface]: 1615 Enter
    4. QUICKEDITFEATUREELEVS Specify point or [Site Reference]: Click the segment to the north of the point when the arrow is pointing northwards.
    5. QUICKEDITFEATUREELEVS Specify grade or [Slope]: -2 Enter
    6. Right click > Enter to stop the command

Edit Elevations

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Edit Elevations

    This tool starts at the beginning point of the feature line and walks through every elevation point

    1. EDITFEATUREELEVS Elevation or [Grade SLope SUrface Insert eXit]: Enter to accept the first point in the feature line
    2. EDITFEATUREELEVS Elevation or [Previous Grade SLope SUrface Insert Move Delete eXit]: Enter to accept the 2nd point in the feature line
    3. EDITFEATUREELEVS Elevation or [Previous Grade SLope SUrface Insert Move Delete eXit]: SL to switch to slope mode
    4. EDITFEATUREELEVS Slope or [Previous Grade Elevation eXit]: -2 Enter to apply a -2:1 slope from that point northward
    5. EDITFEATUREELEVS Slope or [Previous Grade Elevation eXit]: G Enter to switch to grade mode
    6. EDITFEATUREELEVS Grade or [Previous Slope Elevation eXit]: -2 Enter to apply -2% grade from that point northward
    7. EDITFEATUREELEVS Grade or [Previous Slope Elevation eXit]: E Enter to switch to elevation mode for the last point
    8. EDITFEATUREELEVS Elevation or [Grade SLope SUrface Insert eXit]: Enter to accept the current elevation
    9. Esc to stop the command

Set Grade/Slope between Points

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Set Grade/Slope between Points

    This tool sets a constant grade/slope between any 2 elevations points on a feature line. It will overwrite elevations of the last point and any points in between the first and last elevation points.

    1. SETFEATUREGRADE Specify the start point: click the 2nd elevation point on the feature line
    2. SETFEATUREGRADE Specify elevation: Enter to accept the current elevation
    3. SETFEATUREGRADE Specify the end point: Click the 4th elevation point on the feature line
    4. SETFEATUREGRADE Specify grade or [Slope Elevation Difference]: G Enter to switch to grade mode
    5. Specify grade or [Slope/Elevation/Difference]: -2 Enter to apply a -2% grade between the points
    6. SETFEATUREGRADE Select object or [Name]: Enter to stop the command

Insert High/Low Elevation Point

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Insert High/Low Elevation Point

    This tool will create a high/low point between 2 points with 2 grades/slopes in between.

    1. INSERTFEATUREHIGHLOWPOINT Specify the start point: Click the first point in the feature line
    2. INSERTFEATUREHIGHLOWPOINT Specify the end point: Click the 4th point in the feature line
    3. INSERTFEATUREHIGHLOWPOINT Specify the grade ahead or [Slope]: -3 Enter
    4. INSERTFEATUREHIGHLOWPOINT Specify the grade back or [Slope]: -1 Enter
    5. INSERTFEATUREHIGHLOWPOINT Select object or [Name]: Enter to stop the command

The following tools are in the middle row of buttons in the Edit Elevations panel

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-05.mp4 3:36

Raise/Lower by Reference

This tool will raise or lower a feature line based on a grade, slope or relative elevation from a reference point.

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Raise/Lower by Reference
    1. RAISELOWERFEATURESBYREF Specify reference point: Click point on surface
    2. RAISELOWERFEATURESBYREF Specify point: Click point on feature line
    3. RAISELOWERFEATURESBYREF Specify grade or [Slope Difference]: D Enter to switch to difference mode
    4. RAISELOWERFEATURESBYREF Specify difference or [Slope Grade]: -1 Enter

Set Elevation by Reference

This tool will set the elevation of an entire feature line in reference to a know point of elevation

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Set Elevation by Reference
    1. SETFEATUREELEV Specify reference point: Click point on surface
    2. SETFEATUREELEV Specify point: Click point on the feature line
    3. SETFEATUREELEV Specify grade or [Slope Difference]: s Enter to switch to slope mode
    4. SETFEATUREELEV Specify slope or [Grade Difference]: 4 Enter

Adjacent Elevations by Reference

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Adjacent Elevations by Reference

    Since there was a feature line already selected, that will be the reference object and the feature line selected will be edited

    1. ADJACENTFEATUREELEVSBYREF Select object to edit or [Name]: Click feature line
    2. ADJACENTFEATUREELEVSBYREF Specify elevation difference or [Grade Slope]: S Enter to switch to slope mode
    3. ADJACENTFEATUREELEVSBYREF Specify slope or [Grade Difference]: -2 Enter
    4. Enter to stop the command

Grade Extension by Reference

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Grade Extension by Reference
    1. FEATUREGRADEEXTENSIONBYREF Select reference segment: Click on segment of reference feature line
    2. FEATUREGRADEEXTENSIONBYREF Select object to edit or [Name]: click on feature line to be modified
    3. FEATUREGRADEEXTENSIONBYREF Specify point: Click point on feature line
    4. FEATUREGRADEEXTENSIONBYREF Specify grade or [Slope Elevation Difference Surface]: -1 Enter to create a -1% slope between the reference point in the feature line

fl-grdg-edit-elevtn-06.mp4 2:00

The following tools are in the bottom row of buttons in the Edit Elevations panel

Elevations from Surface

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Elevations from Surface

    1. Surface: Exist
    2. Insert intermediate grade break points: unchecked
    3. OK
  2. FEATUREELEVSFROMSURF Select object or [Multiple Partial]: Enter to accept the default of the entire feature line being adjusted

Raise/Lower

  1. Contextual ribbon > Edit Elevations panel > Raise/Lower
    1. RAISELOWERFEATURES Specify elevation difference: 5 Enter to raise the feature line 5 FT