Surface breaklines

Last updated: 2021-06-29

Total video time: 07:04

Exercise files: srfc-brklin-data-begin-c3d20.zip

Start with 12345678\Design\Surfaces\srfc-brklin.dwg

srfc-brklin-01.mp4 7:04

Surface breaklines are 3-dimensional lines that prevent a surface from triangulating in areas that it should not.

Standard breaklines

Info: 3D polylines or feature lines are the best to use for breaklines.

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist (surface file) > expand Definition > right-click Breaklines > Add...
    1. Add Breaklines dialog box
      1. Type: Standard

      2. OK

      Info: If you are creating a proposed surface using breaklines, using File link options will allow to set certain factors for the triangles.

    1. Select feature line and Enter

Proximity breaklines

Proximity breaklines are 2D polylines that will translate into 3D data.

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist (surface file) > expand Definition > right-click Breaklines > Add...
    1. Add Breaklines dialog box
      1. Type: Proximity
      2. OK
    2. Select feature line and Enter

Wall breaklines

If the surveyor only has top or bottom points of a wall in the file, and height documented, this is how the user can add the other points of a wall.

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist (surface file) > expand Definition > right-click Breaklines > Add...
    1. Add Breaklines dialog box
      1. Type: Wall
      2. OK
  2. Select object: PolylineEnter
  3. Pick offset side: select south side of line
  4. Enter option for wall height: AllEnterAll is all of the points will take the same height. Individual is each vertex point will have a different height.

  5. Enter elevation difference for offset points: 5Enter

Info: Right-click surface > Object viewer... will allow user to view/confirm the wall.

Non-destructive breakline

The elevation for each new point is extracted from the original surface triangle, therefore maintaining the integrity of the original surface.

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist (surface file) > expand Definition > right-click Breaklines > Add...
    1. Add Breaklines dialog box
      1. Type: Non-destructive
      2. OK
  2. Select feature line and Enter

From file breaklines

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist (surface file) > expand Definition > right-click Breaklines > Add...
    1. Add Breaklines dialog box  
      1. Type: From file
      2. From link options: Break link to file
      3. OK

    2. Import Breakline File > Exist.flt > Open

Exercise files: srfc-brklin-data-end-c3d20.zip