Change in Display of proposed Contours /Change in Design of Proposed Surface

[christopher_c_donovan]

I attach a dwg file to illustrate a problem I am having with SURFACES. 

Designed 2 [exploratory] surfaces for Driveway/Parking for a Residence - created a design plane 

for each using a rectangular feature line [from polyline] assigned very simple slopes [2/2.5%] to drain away from House. Created surfaces for each area. I did this mainly to collect sample spot elevations in various areas around the House and garden so as to aid in the design of access roads/retaining walls and of course the more detailed design of the parking areas.

Being an old diehard I also like to have contours displayed  - granted they are very few in such small areas/slopes BUT they do confirm general drainage/slopes not to mention the fact that the surface IS there

I restarted the project this morning but the contours were not displaying as I had left them on closing - I pressed rebuild and to my surprise the contours on the top most parking area [also top of page/North] displayed as shown. [Note I didn't Rebuild the lower area - it still displays as when created]

The four corners of the original Feature Line rectangle were originally set at 8.4 and then graded right to left at 2% in short the four corners were in and around 8.4/8.3 - now the contours show a +/- 3-4 metre fall across the surface and some spots in FeatureLine Editor show below 4M!!

What has happened?  I thought once created a Surface was 'Stable' like the coordinates of a line once drawn in Autocad.  

I am still on a steep learning curve with Civil 3d but Hell it has more variables than Beelzebub himself!!!

Que Passa? I thought I had just learnt a fool proof workflow with Surfaces!!!  Evidently Not!! 

[tcorey · Accepted solution]

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@christopher_c_donovan wrote:

...  I thought once created a Surface was 'Stable' like the coordinates of a line once drawn in Autocad.  

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A surface is not a "stable" object. If it's underlying data change, the surface will update to show those changes.

[AllenJessup · Accepted solution]

I thawed and unlocked the 2 "Parking" layers and the contours show. There's only one in the bottom. So it's easy to miss.

[christopher_c_donovan]

Thanks - you are absolutely right!!  I need to Play with this more!  Mucked about yesterday with a couple of 

quick rectangles/building pads - created feature lines and surfaces for both and then broke the rules and dragged them over each other and took a good hard look at what happened. 

It was educational to say the least - sometimes hacking your way through things is the right approach and others quietly taking a good look around. 

I am still in Primary School with this software!! There are going to be more than a few embarrassing moments!!

Much obliged for your input.

[christopher_c_donovan]

Thanks - I have been moving too fast with my education!!  Need to play with surfaces some more!!

I think what happened to the Top Parking was due to my trying to grade the House slab [with a rectangular feature line] directly adjacent to it. I had put a boundary around the Top Parking Surface and 'forgotten' that the feature line rectangle that I had used to 'design' the original surface extended beyond the Parking and over the House with the consequence the two 'design' rectangles [break lines] interacted causing the change in the Top Parking contours when I pressed Rebuild.

Thanks again for your input -I am sure there'll be some more embarrassing moments to come. Your patience is greatly appreciated

As the sages say - there are many ways to bow down and kiss the ground - and learning Civil 3D is certainly one of them!!

[AllenJessup]

We've all been there. Post again when you hit the next bump.

[mdrehaan]

i want to solve this problem surface style in civil 3d

[mdrehaan]

the problem is when i was open civil 3d there is problem in creating surfaces in style bar open and also dwon area there is nothing to do and show me any options