Annotating curb catch basins

[Neilw_05]

This problem arose recently on a road construction project. There are catch basins that are integrated into the curbs of the road. The typical label for a catch basin calls out the rim station, offset and elevation. However, what is needed is the back of curb station, offset and elevation, as that is what governs the construction. How can we incorporate this info into the labels?

[Cadguru42]

---

@Neilw_05 wrote:

This problem arose recently on a road construction project. There are catch basins that are integrated into the curbs of the road. The typical label for a catch basin calls out the rim station, offset and elevation. However, what is needed is the back of curb station, offset and elevation, as that is what governs the construction. How can we incorporate this info into the labels?

---

If you don't need structure info in the plan view label then you could use an alignment/station offset label at these points or a note label. Another possible solution would be to use a COGO point and label.

The other non-fun "solution" is to create a catch basin part where the insertion point is the back of curb you want labeled. Too bad Autodesk has abandoned Part Builder for Infrastructure Parts Editor, which doesn't work properly for C3D use.

[Joe-Bouza]

Like these? We use the MH cover as insertion and report that. the Inlet ; gutter can be an expression down from rim.

If not the MH it most likely the sidewalk elevation

Is what I have done

[tcorey]

Use a Reference Text component in the station label. This will let you pick the back of curb as a reference even if the main alignment is different. It's easy to show station/offset in relation to both alignments in one label.

[Neilw_05]

These catch basins aren't like that Joe. See attached.

[Joe-Bouza]

I have seen those. I would use the flow line for insert and expression for TC

[Neilw_05]

Could you elaborate about the expression?

[Neilw_05]

I'm not understanding Tim. How can I control where the station and offset applies in the reference text? Won't it just use the center of the structure for the location? I only want to reference the road alignment, not the alignment for the pipes.

[Joe-Bouza]

In the label style collection at the bottom is expressions. You can crate a parameter to use in a label style . In this instance I think you want the TC and station offset. 

So in the expression builder give it a name   say structure TC

from the pop down select insert rim then + d

now in the style composer you can add Structure TC

[MMcCall402]

Just to illustrate what Joe is saying.

[Neilw_05]

I get that part. So this approach will require an expression for each type of catch basin that has different horizontal and vertical offsets from the rim of the structure to the back of curb, right? It's not ideal but probably the best option so far.

[MMcCall402]

If you're not using all the structure properties already you could highjack them to use for labelling.   ie: curb inlets don't have a 'cone height' but the cone height is a property available to all junction structures.  You could specify a cone height in your parts list for the different types of curb inlets and then have the expression be 'insertion elevation + cone height' to determine the TC elevation.  It makes a single label style resilient to the type of structure its being used for.

I use this method in my structure/labeling so the label can determine if its labeling a manhole with a 'Rim", a flat inlet with a "Grate", or a curb inlet with a "Grate" and a "Top of Curb".  One label does it all.  Swap the structure and the label adapts.

Example.  This is one label style for structures and one for pipes. They adapt to structure type, pipe type, and length. For the user it just happens.

[Neilw_05]

Great idea. that solves the elevation part. How do I get the back of curb station and offset? Back to making expressions for each type of structure?

[cwr-pae]

I think @MMcCall402 's point was you can use any property not used for a particular structure as a stand in for other values. Such as using barrel height, which has no use in a square structure, for curb offset. Stationing should be automatic based on the alignment that you can override when dref'ing the network.

[Neilw_05]

Good point. I'll play around with these ideas and post back if I can get it to work.

[MMcCall402]

The station and offset gets tricky when the structure isn't directly facing the alignment.

[Joe-Bouza]

That’s correct for structures of differing geometry would require different labels / expressions 

sorting the prospector by type for selection set would make that labeling less painful