Cross section basics

Last updated: 2023-01-30

Total video time: 04:03

Cross section basics

Cross sections are used to display elevation and offset location of surfaces and objects along a horizontal path. Cross sections are created using Alignments, Sample Lines, Sample Line Groups, Sections, Section Views, Section View Groups, and Section Sheets.

Info:

In the Civil 3D Prospector tab, Sample Lines, Sections, and Section Views Groups are children of the parent alignment.

Alignments

Alignments are horizontal geometry objects representing centerlines or other baselines.

Sample Lines

Sample Lines are linear objects used to represent cut sections along an alignment.

Sample Line Groups

Sample Line Groups are collections of Sample Lines from the same alignment.

Sections

Sections are graphical representations of the surfaces or objects being sampled.

Info: Sections can be made dynamic to automatically update the display of Section Views when changes to surfaces and objects are made.

Section Views

Section Views are bounded areas representing the limits of an area being sampled. Section Views can display grid lines, sections and annotation.

Warning:

WisDOT Section View Styles do not display interior grid lines. They display only elevation, station, and offset labels. WisDOT cross sections do display a grid when Section Sheets are created, but the grid settings are associated with the Sheet component, not the Section View.

Therefore, when asked to "pick" a Section View, the grid lines cannot be selected. An elevation, station, or offset label inside the section view must be selected instead.

Section View Groups

Section View Groups are collections of Section Views from the same alignment.

Section Sheets

Section Sheets are created from Section View Groups and are used to display cross sections for plans production.

Requirement: The active annotation scale must be set equal to the desired horizontal scale of the cross sections before creating section sheets.