Benched wall quantities

[Neilw_05]

I have the task of determining the face area of a benched retaining wall from a corridor. I used a benched daylight subassembly to model the wall. Is there a subassembly I could use that will give me a benched wall with quantities?

C3D 2011

[fcernst]

Did anyone hear back from Seth on this in 2010?

[Neilw_05]

I never did.

Perhaps someone else will take up he challenge.

[fcernst]

It's because it doesn't work Neil. I just found out the hard way.

Nice of him to get back with you and keep you and the Support forum in the loop, and well informed.

[SethHall]

Wow... almost 3 years ago, good digging Fred 

The forums have changed quite a bit since then, but reading through this thread I can recall the issue... I apologize for not posting my results.

If I can recall completely I was never able to get this scenario to work, and it appears that Fred has verified it as well. I will be sure to pass this along, and feel free to leave feedback by following this link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794 

[Neilw_05]

For the meanwhile this similar thread suggests a technique that uses volume surfaces to determine the wall face areas:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Civil-3D/Looking-for-area-between-profiles/td-p/3841909

[SethHall]

Great! Thanks Neil!

[fcernst]

Oh there's Seth.

... I will be sure to update with what I can find out."

Seth,

You suggested using QTO for this scenario to find the steep surface areas. This is what I did to try and solve the Wall Face surface area problem proposed in the Forum this week. 

Looking for surface area on the steep surfaces is when it became readily apparent to me that QTO is using the 2D projected plan areas for Corridor quantities.

I'm sure you must have seen this behavior when testing QTO per your suggestion to be used for Neil's problem here back in 2010.

I further found out that through my testing that QTO formulas do not apply Subassembly depth parameters, multiplied by the Item Area, correctly for computing Material volume calculations. Research shows Autodesk was made aware of the QTO problems as far back as 2009.

What is the repair status for QTO from Autodesk development?

[fcernst]

Wow... almost 3 years ago, good digging Fred 

I didn't have to dig. Neil supplied the thread this week.

[tcorey]

Sorry to pipe in so late, but couln't you just extract feature lines from the benching areas, create surfaces from the feature lines and then go to the surface statistics and look at the 3D surface area?

[Neilw_05]

That's a great suggestion Tim.

It would be nice to find a solution that works with QTO for easy reporting and estimating.

[fcernst]

Tim,

Have you tested QTO?

[tcorey]

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@fcernst wrote:

Tim,

Have you tested QTO?

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Yes I have and QTO only reports 2D areas, hence the need for creating surfaces.

[fcernst]

Have you put in a support request?

[tcorey]

No I haven't as I know it doesn't work so I suggest the workaround to my clients. I see in your other thread that you have done so and that the issue has been sent to development. Maybe we'll see a fix in a service pack or 2015, but for now I will continue to recommend the workaround.

[fcernst]

Ok, but please if I can ask you send in a report request or product feedback since you know of the issue. It will be linked to the Case that has gone to development. 

My research shows users have been confused about QTO for the past 4 years. This needs to get resolved.

The issue needs valuable input from resellers like you.

[tcorey]

Fred, I have logged a case with Autodesk.

I am going to look at a possible way to use QTO formulas and will follow up if I can come up with a solution that works.

I am also going to look at using Corridor Solids. That might be a simple way to calculate an answer as well.

Tim

[fcernst]

Thanks. I'm really hoping we can get a Hot Fix for this within a couple weeks.