Exporting Road Alignments & Templates to TDS Data Collector

[jharris]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a plugin / 3rd party software for LDD that would allow me to export Horizontal & Vertical Alignments, and Road Templates to a TDS/Ranger Data Collector.

At the moment all I can do is export the alignments a polylines, and load them into TDS's Foresight program, where I add vertical data and create the road templates.

I have demo'd some software that can export the alignments to TDS but have had no luck with the Templates.

It just seems like I shouldn't have to rebuild the roads in Foresight if I've already done it in LDD.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hey ledhed;

I'm wondering if you've also touched base with your TDS contacts to see if
they've already handled this issue from their end?

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
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wrote in message news:5125805@discussion.autodesk.com...
I was wondering if anyone knows of a plugin / 3rd party software for LDD
that would allow me to export Horizontal & Vertical Alignments, and Road
Templates to a TDS/Ranger Data Collector.

At the moment all I can do is export the alignments a polylines, and load
them into TDS's Foresight program, where I add vertical data and create the
road templates.

I have demo'd some software that can export the alignments to TDS but have
had no luck with the Templates.

It just seems like I shouldn't have to rebuild the roads in Foresight if
I've already done it in LDD.

Thanks.

[jharris]

Don,

I did talk to TDS, but thier only solution was to use their Foresight software.

That is an option, but I would prefer to not have to learn another CAD package just to export roads. Not to mention that I've already taken the time to build the roads in LDD. Why do the work twice?

Foresight only allows me to import Polylines from a DWG. I then have to position the road, create templates, add road widenings & superelevations.

My solution is to write a script that exports AECC Alignments & Cross Sections to TDS's .rd5 & .tp5 formats.

[Anonymous]

(I'm now wondering if the OE version will be complete after what I saw earlier today?)

And give me a clue on what you wish to achieve from this?

Would it be Staking Points?

If that's the case, then I would recommend you get familiar with LDT's Cross Sections a little further. It sounds like you may have already familiarized yourself with them.

Do your Templates utilize Point Codes?

They will enable the staking points (ROW Line, Walk Subgrade, Curb Subgrade, C/L Subgrade, etc. - see the attached PNG) to be quickly (and accurately) positioned both horizontally AND vertically. You can even accommodate transitions for Knuckles and Lane Widenings through the Templates. I always build my Templates so that I use the Edge of AC Paving as the Transition Alignment. Due to the fact that most agency's Gutter Width is around 1.5 to 2 feet towards the Centerline, away from the Gutter Flowline.

If it's not Staking Points you need yet, maybe I got the idea placed in your mind when you WILL need them. 🙂

HTH - if I didn't mis-understand the reasoning behind this procedure.

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
C3D/LDT/CD/SVY-2K6
AMD XP 3200+ 2.2GHz
XPPro 32bit SP2
1GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 128MB

[jharris]

I don't want to generate points for staking, that can already be done.

My goal is to use the Road Staking abilities of TDS. Esentially TDS stores the equation of the Ailgnment, then with the Cross Section Template you can Stake via Station/Offset. If you are staking Top Of Curb, and it is 15' from CL then you punch in the station (say 10+00) then Select the Node on the Template you want to stake (in this case Left Curb Face) and TDS calculates the curb elevation and spits out a cut/fill.This way a survey crew can stake any location on the roadway without having to calculate a single point. This is much more efficient because you don't have to create 1000's of points to stake out a road. The Party Chief can road stake right off a set of plans with very little calculations.

I'm trying to figure out a way to use the Point Codes in my script to describe the staking locations on the template. My templates usually aren't too complex, I don't use subassemblies (TDS wouldn't know what to do with them any how). As of now I use 2 templates, 1 for subgrade, and 1for finished road. This works out well, as there is usually some time between rough grade staking and finished road staking. See attachment for an example of how I setup my Finished Road Templates.

-LedHed

[Anonymous]

Here's a sample Template and Pt Code list of the method I've developed to only use one template for both Finish Grade and Subgrade.

Of course I narrow the Template inside the "normal" EOP line (which I mentioned earlier today), so that I only need one Transition Alignment for each side that a transition occurs on. That way the template is forced to meet that Transition wherever it occurs throughout the entire length of the Alignment.

I normally use BOTH a Left and a Right transition just in case a revision comes into play. 🙂

HTH

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
C3D/LDT/CD/SVY-2K6
AMD XP 3200+ 2.2GHz
XPPro 32bit SP2
1GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 128MB

[jharris]

Don,

Thanks, the Point Code idea is gonna work great.

It looks like I'll be able to export Horizontal & Vertical Alignments, Cross Section Templates with PT Codes, and Superelevations to TDS.

Do you use TDS? If so, let me know, and I'll send you my script to play with, when I finish it. 😉

-Ledhed

[Anonymous]

The only thing missing from our entourage so far - surveyors. 🙂

Though I've heard that there are plans to have a RLS "soon" to be put in
charge of the Final Maps and such.

Thanks for the offer - I appreciate it when others are willing to "share"
also.

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
C3D/LDT/CD/SVY-2K6
AMD XP 3200+ 2.2GHz
XPPro 32bit SP2
1GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 128MB



wrote in message news:5128621@discussion.autodesk.com...
Don,

Thanks, the Point Code idea is gonna work great.

It looks like I'll be able to export Horizontal & Vertical Alignments, Cross
Section Templates with PT Codes, and Superelevations to TDS.

Do you use TDS? If so, let me know, and I'll send you my script to play
with, when I finish it. 😉

-Ledhed

[rkmin]

I have created a horizontal and vertical alignments in Land Desktop 2005. I would like to export this information into my TDS Ranger 300X so that I don't have to recreate the alignments in my collector. Looks like the Ranger only accepts .RD5 files and I don't see anywhere in LDDT 2005 where I can export into such a file. Help?

[jharris]

I've gotten very far with my Script, but its not 100% yet. Till then the best bet is to use TDS's Foresight software to import polylines from LDD. Then transfer then to the Ranger.

To my knowledge there isnt another way.

When I finish my script, I'll post here and you can beta test it for me.

-LedHed

[Anonymous]

When that Beta Test occurs LedHed, might it be best if that happened with a
Project that has been Copied to protect the Original Data from any
unexpected damage?

Just a thought.

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
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wrote in message news:5186673@discussion.autodesk.com...
I've gotten very far with my Script, but its not 100% yet. Till then the
best bet is to use TDS's Foresight software to import polylines from LDD.
Then transfer then to the Ranger.

To my knowledge there isnt another way.

When I finish my script, I'll post here and you can beta test it for me.

-LedHed

[jharris]

Making a backup is always a good practice.

But honestly, this script doesnt manipulate any of the objects in the drawing or project database. It just reads the current alignment then writes an ascii file and appends .rd5 to the end of it. So there is little risk of damage to a drawing or project.

-LedHed

[Anonymous]

Land XML will not export vertical? I use Land XML to export alignments to our TDS crews, but never have used vertical alignments, so I don't know if it will export a vertical alignment. If you haven't tried XML, give it a shot.

-Newton

[Anonymous]

I've "assumed" that since we've been given the option of Exporting the
Profiles and Cross Sections out with the Alignments, that the Z values go
along with everything else.

[time passes during the Test of Export/Import LandXML Alignment/Profile
data]
Went through without a hitch NewtonW, using my release shown in my
signatuire below. The Profile for my Alignment opened up right away through
Edit Vertical Alignments.

HTH

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
LDT/CD-2K4
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 2.01GHz
XPPro 32bit SP2
2GB RAM
Dual WD800JD Hard Drives - 149GB Nvidia Stripe
Nvidia Quadro FX 1300 128MB
Dual ViewSonic 19-inch VA902b monitors


wrote in message news:5187586@discussion.autodesk.com...
Land XML will not export vertical? I use Land XML to export alignments to
our TDS crews, but never have used vertical alignments, so I don't know if
it will export a vertical alignment. If you haven't tried XML, give it a
shot.

-Newton

[Anonymous]

I found out that to get the Landxml to work with both horizontal and vertical alignments, they have to have a common beginning point from LDD.

So you may have to create or edit the alignments so the NEZ and stationing are connected at the same POB before exporting to Landxml.

[jharris]

Wnen exporting alignments via LandXML can the Super Elevations and Road Templates also be exported?

-LedHed

[Anonymous]

It allows for X-Sections, so you would assume so LedHed.

I've not had a recent Alignment that incorporated those aspects, so I
wouldn't be able to say for sure.

--
Don Reichle
"The only thing worse
than training your staff,
and having them leave is -
not training your staff,
and having them stay."
Courtesy Graphics Solution Providers
----------------------------------------------------------
LDT/CD-2K4
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 2.01GHz
XPPro 32bit SP2
2GB RAM
Dual WD800JD Hard Drives - 149GB Nvidia Stripe
Nvidia Quadro FX 1300 128MB
Dual ViewSonic 19-inch VA902b monitors


wrote in message news:5189465@discussion.autodesk.com...
Wnen exporting alignments via LandXML can the Super Elevations and Road
Templates also be exported?

-LedHed

[jharris]

I'll have to test this out. If it works well maybe I can ditch my script and just use XML instead.

;)

[Anonymous]

Have you tried to create a Finished TIN and then export this to the TDS software? No template is necessary and it has worked great for me in the past. This way you can take a shot anywhere within the TIN and know the Cut/Fill.

Creating the TIN is really easy in LDD 4,5 6 or 7. Just export the road TIN or Cross Sections>Road Output>Create Road Surface this will step you thru the process of creating the TIN file. I don't have access to TDS so I can't get you a step by step but just look in TDS manual on how to transfer this to your data collector.

Hope this helps.

Bill Neuhauser P.E.
Alignex Inc.