Balanced Grading

[Anonymous]

I finally got a job that suits the basic functionality of the LDD 3 grading
object. I'm designing large drilling pads (200'x300') where the client wants
a flat, balanced pad product.

Only problem is we need cut ditches (picture a pad cut into a hillside) for
drainage around the pad for the pads with larger tributary basins, and how
quickly my profit starts to decline.

1. This really where we could use that radial region to push that ditch
flowline (Feature Line) out from the GO baseline at constant cross slope and
then catch into the Target after that.

2. Now I can't use the balance routine because I can't use one GO for the
task. This begs the question, will Civil 3D have a balance routine for
Grading Groups, where more two or more Gradings will be working together to
balance?

3. Please add Cut\Fill factor capability to Balance routine.

Hope this real world example helps.

Fred

[Anonymous]

I also have to create cut-fill contours from the pad vs. existing ground so
the drillers know where to put the wells. They don't like to be in more than
5' of fill.

Now after I have the GO balanced I have to go define a site, create the
stratum, do the Composite, and create contours.

Seems redundant since the GO is doing the Composite calcs anyway.

Why not have the Gradings save the Composite, and have it as a Style Option
to create cut\fill contours? That would be a money maker!

Thanks,
Fred

[Anonymous]

Fred,

You hit on two of the most challenging issues we are going to face in
developing the grading.

First, the cut ditch. With the current feature set in grading (once it is
stabilized) you could accomplish this by grading to the surface, then on the
uphill side grade to a depth for the dich, then add a third grading to grade
back up into existing ground. (you would also need to do some additional
work around the drain point). The major problem with this approach is that
you can't control the grade line of the ditch.

So, you need to be able to edit the ditch profile but at the same time
maintain the constant cross slope from the pad. As the ditch profile is
edited, the location of the ditch will have to adjust toward or away from
the pad to maintain the slope constraint. When this happens the length of
the ditch (and it's profile) increases or decreases. When this happens you
need to know how to adjust the profile automatically.

For cut/fill balancing, grading groups have the potential to be much more
complex then the grading object in LDD and I don't think you'll always want
to raise/lower the entire group to balance the site. The solution might be
to prompt to select what parts of the grading you want to adjust.

Glen Albert


"Fred Ernst" wrote in message
news:9CFBB82667805D7E67D1D76B663DCF2B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I finally got a job that suits the basic functionality of the LDD 3
grading
> object. I'm designing large drilling pads (200'x300') where the client
wants
> a flat, balanced pad product.
>
> Only problem is we need cut ditches (picture a pad cut into a hillside)
for
> drainage around the pad for the pads with larger tributary basins, and how
> quickly my profit starts to decline.
>
> 1. This really where we could use that radial region to push that ditch
> flowline (Feature Line) out from the GO baseline at constant cross slope
and
> then catch into the Target after that.
>
> 2. Now I can't use the balance routine because I can't use one GO for the
> task. This begs the question, will Civil 3D have a balance routine for
> Grading Groups, where more two or more Gradings will be working together
to
> balance?
>
> 3. Please add Cut\Fill factor capability to Balance routine.
>
> Hope this real world example helps.
>
> Fred
>
>
>

[Anonymous]

> So, you need to be able to edit the ditch profile but at the same time
> maintain the constant cross slope from the pad. As the ditch profile is
> edited, the location of the ditch will have to adjust toward or away from
> the pad to maintain the slope constraint. When this happens the length of
> the ditch (and it's profile) increases or decreases. When this happens you
> need to know how to adjust the profile automatically.

I wouldn't sweat that too much. Just with the ability to have the GO push
that ditch flowline out appropriately and the ability to use my linear tools
on that flowline , a couple of quick manual iterations would converge to a
solution. Just getting that cross slope relationship working would be huge!
Steal it from the Ditch Attach routine in LDD Cross Section\Edit Design
Control 🙂

> For cut/fill balancing, grading groups have the potential to be much more
> complex then the grading object in LDD and I don't think you'll always
want
> to raise/lower the entire group to balance the site. The solution might be
> to prompt to select what parts of the grading you want to adjust.

Yep. A toggle to Balance or not in each Gradings Properties would be nice.

Fred