XREF'd corridor grading

[Nik-D]

Hi all

Is it possible to grade from a corridor that has been XREF'd into a drawing. I also want the grading to be dynamic so that if the corridor changes, when i relaod the XREF, the grading will update.

Can this be done??

Thanks in advance

[mconway]

The result that you want is possible. Your workflow is out of order. What you need to do is create your Corridor Surface in the Corridor Drawing, Then Data Share (not xref) the Corridor Surface with a Data Shortcut into your BIM Model or other drawings.

The Data Shared Corridor Surface will be able to be Styled, Labeled, and Pasted together with other Surfaces just like a normal surface and it will update dynamically with changes to the Corridor.

If you need direction on Data Sharing, I'm here to help. 

[mconway]

Below is a link to a Corridor Surface Data Shortcuts workflow I wrote up to help you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/05fy1runnoeh10s/Create%20a%20Corridor%20Surface%20Data%20Shortcut.docx

[Nik-D]

Hi Mark Thanks for your reply. I know that I can share corridor surfaces through DREF however in this particular case I have a model that is heavy. I have five roads going East West and five roads going North South in a grid shape. Imagine that the outer roads form a square and all the other roads extend to the edges of that square. I have all the junctions to add and road stubs for future access to sub plots. The roads are on embankments above the final grade and i have to grade down from the corridor to the final grade surface. Problems occur at the junctions where the daylight lines overlap each other due to the radius of the curb returns and the distance and grade of the daylight links. Because i have problems with overlapping links at corridor junctions I was using infill gradings. In the original master drawing i was using the drawing becomes unstable and the gradings keep disappearing or the surfaces become corrupted. I was experimenting with the idea of putting a certain number of corridors into individual drawings and DREF the alignments and final grade surface. Once the corridors are complete I could XREF all corridors to a final drawing to give a layout drawing and thus keep the file size of the final drawing small but as usual with my mad ideas there are hiccups along the way. So the question is still can i grade from an XREF'd corridor to a DREF'd surface and if so how?

[mconway]

My aplologies. I see your dilema. I have done some experimenting in 2014 and 2015, and unfortunately it appeares that although I can create an Alignment or Parcel with a polyline through an Xref. You cannot access a Feature Line to create Grading Objects in this way. HOWEVER!!

What you might consider (since your in a relativly small area (@ curb curves)) is

1. Create  a Feature Line from Corridor (in your Source Drawing) make sure it's set to Dynamic

2. Creating an Alignment at where you calculate your desired Slope to be. (In your Design Drawing)

3 .Create a Profile of the Desired Target Surface from that Alignment.

4. Use an Assembly with a Generic > Link Width and Elevation.

5. Target the Auto Feature Line through the XREF. (This will only work in 2014.)

[mconway · Accepted solution]

Here's a link to a quick Video of the process. The design is poor but the workflow is there.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/851erqmqn6okmes/Link%20to%20Xref%20Target.mp4

[Nik-D]

Hi Mark Its not quite what I was looking for but probably the best workaround that there is. It took me a while to figure out that you have to select the Auto Feature Line using a crossing window selection. I was hoping that the feature line created in the corridor prior to XREFing could be used as a feature line in the XREF drawing. I still do not understand why AutoDesk do not allow DREF of corridors with restricted parameters the same as surfaces. So that we could modify code sets and feature lines of the DREF corridor but not modify the extents etc. Also it would be nice in the future to see DREF subassembly so that large drawings that have to be broken down don't have to keep recreating and copying unnecessary objects. Anyway that's a gripe for another day. Thanks for your help. Nik

[Joe-Bouza · Accepted solution]

I think the answer to your question is: if a dynamic FL from corridor can be made through an xref?

However, if if you create a dynamic offset alignment that corresponds to your corridor grading point, then clearly the answer is yes.

Make a surface profile on the offset alignment, DS the alignment and profile to the grading file, create a dyno FL from alignment and grade away.

if the corridor changes, so will the surface and surface profile and the the FL you grade from.

[mconway]

NIK-D,

  Joe's solution is a much better workflow than what I came up with. I forgot that you could make a Feature Line from a Dref Alignment.

I was glad to help, but, Joe's workflow should be marked as the Solution. It wll give you exactly what you need.

Joe, Thanks for the lesson. I am now a better User. 

[mconway]

and Bonus!! You don't even need to have the HEAVY Corridor Xrefed in, because the Dref Offset Alignment is all you need!!

Betterer and Betterer

[Joe-Bouza]

Aint that Cool. 😉

[Joe-Bouza]

Thank you Mark. Thats kind of you to say

[tcorey]

 Mark, it's great to have your contributions to the group, but you are not supposed to be posting videos using the version you used. The only version you can talk about and use to make public videos is 2014.

[mconway]

Tim,
You are correct . It just happened to be the software I had running at the time . I've pulled the video until release date.

[Nik-D]

Thanks guys for all your help

Nik