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Extra Lines

Use this dialog to create or edit extra lines. Extra lines can be used in SFI models, intersections (XFI), and construction pits (EFI).

Where to Find the Dialog

The dialog is available in several places in the program, including SFI models, intersections (XFI), and construction pits (EFI).

Info

In all uses of the dialog, you create new lines with the New... option from the right-click menu. Alternatively, you can use Add Application Layer Lines....

With Add Application Layer Lines..., you can add one or more lines from the application layer. Select the application layer lines using the standard method for selecting objects on the screen, for example, by holding down the left mouse button while dragging to the right and downward.

Tip

Any values for the S_PCODE property in the application layer will be placed in the Code column.

You can edit existing lines by selecting Properties or double-clicking the line. Extra lines use the same line editing as you know from editing lines in application layers.

The columns for height and name are also common everywhere. The height column will show one of the following properties for the line:

  1. 2D line with height:
  2. 2D line with unknown height: -
  3. 3D line: 3D
  4. Line with vertical curvature: Vertical curvature

You can create vertical curvature for a line with the Create Vert. Curve... option from the right-click menu. For the centerline, the column for CL will be checked.

Tip

You can also create an SFI model from an extra line. This can be useful if you receive an XML file containing many centerlines. Upon import, the first line is imported as the centerline, and the other lines are imported as extra lines. With the Create SFI Model(s) from Extra Line(s) option, you can easily do this.

Road Models

Boundary Lines for Road Parameters

For SFI models, start the dialog with the Extra Lines... function on the Planning, Design, and Execution toolset. In addition to creating new and editing existing extra lines, you can also import lines from other SFI models with Import....

These lines can be used as side and surface boundaries for the calculation methods Road Parameters (Automatic) and Road Parameters (Manual). References to the lines must be entered in the corresponding tables for side and surface boundaries.

Note

The calculation method Road Parameters (Automatic) has an extra column Trim Line. If you check this flag, the extra line automatically functions as a side boundary line.

Info

The VIPS import reads the contents of the VIPS table: Extra Lines.

3D Line Description of Layers in Road Body

In an SFI model, you can describe all layers with 3D lines.

For this, you can only use pure 3D lines, not 2D lines with vertical curvature. The calculation method is then Road Parameters (3D Lines).

Warning

This method does not build against strata, but only against the 3D lines.

The program assumes that the 3D lines are sorted from left to right in the cross-section before you build the road body. When editing 3D lines, you will see that the dialog has an extra column for Code. If you code the lines, for example with VIPS surface codes, you can sort them with the Sort by Code option from the right-click menu.

Intersection and Construction Pit Objects

In intersection and construction pit objects, you can use extra lines as boundary lines for cut and fill surfaces. You can use them as pure trim lines or as side and surface boundaries for the cut and fill parameters.

For construction pits, you can also import extra lines from an SFI model. Often, a road is associated with a construction pit.

Tip

In many cases, it will be time-saving to create a link to a line in the SFI model. This is especially useful when moving the road to find the optimal placement.