Creating file suitable for import as surface

[harmzah]

Good day expert in house,I'm a neophyte civil guy. just got to prepare a profile view of an irrigation pipeline. I have created my alignments but need to import surfaces. All I have is an excel file containing coordinates and my z values. How do I create supportive file from this?

2. Woul anyone please give me a detailed explanation on how to calculate an invert level. I have vaues for my ground level. What else do I need and how do I go about it.

Thanks

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

Do you mean that you have a CSV file with contents like this?

3121284.38296466,882181.92380207,128.0
3121277.99413417,882267.69275572,127.3
3121275.35443066,882375.23306138,126.5
3121272.51513517,882482.87407333,126.4
3121262.35874024,882580.84966059,126.4
3121233.10972356,883133.60346681,126.8
3121224.47339393,883240.46739907,127.2
3121238.46223642,882990.67567350,127.1

If so, then open C3D and create a new surface.

Go to the Defintion, right click on Point Files, and choose Add

Finish importing the file and your surface will be created.

[harmzah]

Thank you for your quick and perfect solution. The word CSV answered it all. Please help out on question two. Invert level of utility pipe at design stage. I have the values for my cover level. How do I determine the pipe invert level

[tcorey]

Your second question is a little vague. Are you trying to input an existing pipe network or are you trying to create a new pipe network design? Just having the original ground elevations (of what, rim elevations?) doesn't mean you know where the invert is. Has it been surveyed?

What else you need is either depth to invert or depth to top of pipe plus pipe diameter. That needs to be surveyed.

Tim

[harmzah]

Thank you for highlighting the importance of survey. But the project is at the design stage and we are required to generate these values ahead of installation. Lets assume i decided to draw my pipe on a quick profile( free hand drawing), considering gradients at intervals, Would I deduct my pipe level from the existing ground level, or the proposed finished level.

[tcorey · Accepted solution]

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@harmzah wrote:
Thank you for highlighting the importance of survey. But the project is at the design stage and we are required to generate these values ahead of installation. Lets assume i decided to draw my pipe on a quick profile( free hand drawing), considering gradients at intervals, Would I deduct my pipe level from the existing ground level, or the proposed finished level.

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That would be a question to ask your client or the contractor.  

[harmzah]

Indeed you are correct. Thank you