Create surface from survey & add to Exist

Last updated: 2026-01-06

Total video time: 10:20

srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-01.mp4 3:02

Exercise data: srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-data-begin-c3d20.zip

  1. Menu browser > New
  2. Surface template dialog box
    1. Look in: Begin-dwg folder
    2. Select template survey-start.dwt
    3. Open
  3. Menu browser > Save As
  4. Save Drawing As dialog box
    1. Browse to Local drive:\PDS\C3D\11701902\BaseData
    2. Select Survey folder
    3. Rename file, File name: type Surf-Ex-Survey
    4. Click Save

Build surface

  1. Home tab > Create Ground Data panel > Surfaces dropdown > Create Surface
  2. Create Surface dialog box
    1. Change Name to Exist-Survey
    2. OK
  3. Quick Access bar > Save

Add survey data

  1. Toolspace > Survey tab > expand Survey Databases > right-click SD-11701902 > Open for edit
  2. Expand Survey queries

  3. Select and Select+Drag the following survey queries into file:

    • Centerlines
    • SurfaceFigures
    • SurfacePoints1
    • SurfacePoints2

    • SurfacePoints3

    Info: Must drag each query individually, not as a selected group.

  4. Quick Access bar > Save

srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-02.mp4 2:31

Create data clip boundary

  1. Scroll/Zoom to project area

  2. Commandline: Type PL

    Tip: Polyline command can also be found Home tab > Draw panel > Polyline

  3. Select a start point near the surface. Continue adding polyline vertices around the surface. At last point, type C to close the polyline shape.

Add data clip boundary to surface definition

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist-Survey > expand Definition > right-click Boundaries > Add...
  2. Add Boundaries dialog box
    1. Type dropdown, select Data Clip
    2. OK
  3. Select boundary on surface

Remove survey points and figures from file

  1. Toolspace > Survey tab > right-click Survey Points > Points fly-out > Remove from drawing...
    1. Are you sure you wish to remove these points from the drawing? Yes
  2. Toolspace > Survey tab > right-click Figures > Remove from drawing...
    1. Are you sure you wish to remove these objects from the drawing? Yes
  3. Quick Access bar > Save

srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-03.mp4 3:00

Add survey data as a reference

  1. Survey tab > Modify panel > Survey Query
  2. Survey Queries Ribbon > Manage panel > dropdown > select SurfacePoints1
  3. Survey Queries Ribbon > Query Results panel > select Add to Surface
  4. Add Survey Query Results to Surface dialog box
    1. Add query results to this surface dropdown: select Exist-Survey
    2. Query Results: select Reference the survey database for dynamic query results
    3. Use these survey queries: Check mark the following: Centerlines, SurfaceFigures, SurfacePoints1, SurfacePoint2, & SurfacePoints3.
    4. OK
  5. Data is transferred in drawing file
  6. Quick Access bar > Save

Create data shortcuts

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > right-click Data Shortcuts > Create Data Shortcuts...
  2. Create Data Shortcuts box
    1. Select Exist-Survey
    2. OK

Remove surface triangle lines outside of boundary

There are a few triangles jumping across the boundary.

  1. Select surface > right-click menu > select Surface Porperties...

  2. Surface Properties dialog box

    1. Surface styles: select EX Triangles
    2. Apply
    3. OK
  3. Select surface
  4. Surface tab > Modify panel > Edit Surface > Delete Line
  5. Crossing-windows select all lines outside of boundary area
  6. Enter
  7. Select surface
  8. Surface ribbon > Modify panel > select Surface Porperties...
  9. Surface Properties dialog box
    1. Surface styles: select EX Border
    2. OK
  10. Esc
  11. Quick Access bar > Save
  12. Survey Queries ribbon > Close

srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-04.mp4 1:45

Open Exist surface file

  1. Quick Access bar > Open
  2. Select File dialog box
    1. Look in: PDS\C3D\11701902\BaseData
    2. Select Surf-Ex.dwg
    3. Open
  3. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Data Shortcuts > expand Surfaces > expand Existing > right-click Exist-Survey > select Create Reference
  4. Create Surface Reference dialog box
    1. Style: set to EX Border
    2. OK

Locate surface

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Existing > right-click Exist-Survey > select Zoom to

Paste survey surface into Exist surface

  1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > right-click Edits > select Paste Surface...
  2. Select Surface to Paste dialog box
    1. Select Exist-Survey
    2. OK

  3. Quick Access bar > Save

Exercise data: srfc-creat-exst-frm-srvy-data-end-c3d20.zip