Display existing level, proposed level and colour coded difference in same drawing

[neilyj666]

A Client wants to have a drawing showing existing level, proposed level and level difference (green +ve i.e. fill and red -ve i.e cut) and I can't think of the best way to produce this.

My only thought is to extract labels on a grid for each of the surfaces and use a different style for each with an appropriate "Y" offset to avoid overlaps

Can anyone think of a better solution? 

Thanks

Neil

[Cadguru42]

Would a volume surface with a style that has two colors (red for below 0 and green for above 0) work?

[AllenJessup]

Are the colors supposed to be shading or the color of the text? If it's the text. There is a way to make a label that will insert text at a standard height or a miniscule height based on a test. So you could have two texts in the label. But one would be too small to see.

It's been so long since I've done this. I don't remember the steps. I'll see if I can come across anything on it.

So by Googling "Civil 3d label use an expression to control text size". I got this in the AI Overview.

• In the Expression editor, write a formula that uses an IF/THEN/ELSE statement to control text height based on an object property. For example, to set text height to 0.1000" for a specific condition: IF({Surface Elevation}>1000, 0.1000, 0.0500). You can also use properties from the Insert Property list.

That could be used to test against a volume Surface for above or below zero.

You can also look at This Thread

This "Civil 3d Volume surface label red or green" got:

In Autodesk Civil 3D, volume surface labels typically use red for cut (negative elevation values) and green for fill (positive elevation values). You can set this up using label styles and expressions that assign colors to the label components based on the surface elevation's sign, with cut values displayed in red and fill values in green. 

Setting up Color-Coded Cut/Fill Labels

1. Create a Volume Surface: First, create a volume surface that compares your base surface (existing ground) and a comparison surface (proposed design).
2. Create Expressions:
   • You'll need two expressions to control the visibility of labels based on cut or fill conditions.
   • One expression, e.g., "Cut Text Height," will set a visible text height for cut conditions.
   • Another expression, e.g., "Fill Text Height," will set a very small (almost invisible) text height for fill conditions.
3. Modify the Label Style:
   • In the Label Style Composer, go to the Layout tab.
   • Create two text components within the style.
   • Fill Label Component: Set its text component to use the Fill Text Height expression and assign it a green color.
   • Cut Label Component: Set its text component to use the Cut Text Height expression and assign it a red color.
4. Add the Labels: Use the Spot Elevations On Grid command to place the labels on your volume surface.
   • When you place a label in a cut area (where the surface is negative), the red cut label will be visible.
   • When you place a label in a fill area (where the surface is positive), the green fill label will be visible.
   • The other label's text will be present but nearly invisible due to the small text height assigned by its expression. 

[MMcCall402]

I make a label style with two text components placed at the exact same location and value content, one for cut and one for fill.  One is colored red and the other is green.  Use the draw order to place the green (fill) one on top of the red (cut) one.  Edit the properties of the green one to not show when the value is negative (hide negative value).  This makes the green one turn on and off as the value goes from positive to negative.  When its positive the green value shows and covers the red value completely (they're the same value)  When its negative the green one doesn't show and reveals the red value.

[Pointdump]

Hi Neil,
Jeff Bartels shows a way to create a cut & fill earthwork exhibit >>>Here<<<.
Dave

[Jeew-m]

Hi All,
Putting my thoughts in to this excellent discussion.

I am thinking of spot elevation on a grid and earthwork plan production to achieve this task.

For this we need 2 surfaces EG and FG

We need a spot elevation style that support a reference surface.

We create spot elevation on a grid (Remember the grid boundary) and for one elevation we give EG and for the next elevation (That comes from reference) we set FG.

Now there is a option in Civil 3D Earthwork plan production. You need to run this at this grid you used earlier.

It gives the cut and fill in two different texts. Which can be customizable easily. However this earthwork plan production is not dynamic.

I hope this is clear enough

[neilyj666]

@MMcCall402 @Pointdump @AllenJessup @Cadguru42 - thanks for the replies but I already have suitable styles to show red and green labels (and have had them for some time—based on the methods you have suggested)

@Jeew-m the style with two labels (one from ref surface) looks like a good start. I've never had much luck with the earthworks plan production—in that the volumes are totally incorrect compared with surface analysis—but may just give it a try.

I can always extract spot level labels from a volume surface (based on the same grid) and have the levels display on the opposite side of the label point to the existing/proposed levels

Neil

[Joe-Bouza]

You can add surface references to a surface label. One label on grid >> select similar >> properties >>choose the surface desired 

[neilyj666 · Accepted solution]

Thank for all the responses - I did try the multiple label approach but eventually went with the earthworks plan production method as suggested by @Jeew-m.

 I used a 20m grid spacing as below and changed the colours—the volumes produced by earthworks plan production are still unusable (grossly inaccurate) but the labels are spot on.

[Jeew-m]

Hi @neilyj666 ,

You have a more dynamic solution here.

I am pretty sure you can decode what I have done here. 😊

[neilyj666]

Yes I was pretty much at this stage and it is indeed more dynamic than the earthworks plan production—I shall probably create some specific labels that I can add to our template as setting them up and getting the alignment right takes a bit of trial and error.