IMAGINiT Civil Solutions Blog

How to Create a Theme in Autodesk InfraWorks – The Preliminaries

The Autodesk InfraWorks product allows a user to create a virtual environment to create and demonstrate a design and its intent. The ability to create this virtual environment empowers a user to demonstrate and evaluate a design with a visual context created by this virtual environment.

Autodesk InfraWorks is built on Map’s FDO connector technology allowing a user to use diverse data sources as data for this virtual environment. The availability of 3D building models lets a user define a urban virtual environment, but these models are limited in scope and type.

While Map and InfraWorks connect to the same data, each program uses its own unique terms. One way to understand the terminology is to first review the data in Map and then see how the attribute data is referred to in InfraWorks.

Map FDO Connections

In Map when working with an external data file, for example ESRI Shape files, the FDO connection allows Map to display both the vector and attribute data in a drawing. See Figure 1. In Figure 1, after connecting to the soils shape file for Manchester, New Hampshire the Map drawing displays soil
type boundaries.

After making the connection, you can view the shape file’s attribute data table. Map can theme the attribute table's data to better understand the attribute's distribution across the map. In Figure 1, the polygons represent the attribute column, MUSYM or the soil code. Map allows the user to theme on any attribute table column.

 
Figure 1: Manchester Soils Themed by Soil Code

Another theme can be created by using a different attribute, e.g. farm land CI values, drainage class, or hydrology group. Each attribute will create a different number of theme ranges. The MUSYM attribute creates 158 themed rules and farm land Ci and hydrology group create 6 themed rules. In any theme the same numbers of polygons appear on the screen, but the polygons will fill differently based on the themed attribute. See Figure 2. The same polygons now represent the soil group, e.g. A,B,C,D, etc.

 
Figure 2: Manchester Soils Themed by Hydrological Group

The InfraWorks Model Environment

To use use data in InfraWorks, you first create a model. The model's environment for a project includes a name and coordinate systems for the data and the UCS.  These setup values are a part of Infraworks New Model dialog box and its Advanced Settings. See Figures 3 and 4.

 
Figure 3: New Model Dialog box

 
Figure 4: Advanced Settings

Assigning a Surface File to InfraWorks

The soils are to display in the context of the Manchester DEM. When the soils are attached to the project, they will be draped over the DEM surface. The DEM is a raster source file for InfraWorks just as it is in Map.

To assign a surface to a model, you use the Data Sources panel. In the Data Sources panel, you select the data type from a data types list. In this case you select Raster to addd a DEM. See Figure 5. When you select Raster, InfraWorks displays a select file browser. In the browser, locate and select the appropriate file and click Open. This creates an attachment to the model. However, to make the surface display the surface must be configured. All attached data must be configured to display.

 
Figure 5: Select Raster to Display a Browse File Dialog Box

Configure Data Source

The last step to display the surface is to Configure it. This is done by selecting the DEM in the Data Sources data tree. As always there are multiple methods of displaying the Data Source Configuration dialog box. You display the configuration dialog box when you right click and select from a shortcut menu, right click on the DEM's Not Configured entry, or select the DEM and select the Configure icon above the data list. See Figure 6. Each method displays the Data Source Configuration dialog box.

 
Figure 6: How to Display the Data Source Configuration Dialog Box (Right Click on Data Source)

A Terrain data source does not have many configuration options. The Geo Location tab identifies the DEM’s Coordinate system. See Figure 7. The DEM’s coordinate system does not need to match the model’s coordinate system. Like Map, InfraWorks can transform all data from its coordinate system in to model's coordinate system. Thus, InfraWorks, like Map can aggregate varying data types from various coordinate systems into the model’s single coordinate system.

The Raster tab defines the DEM’s limits.

 
Figure 7: Configure Terrain – Geo Location Tab

Figure 8 is the resulting terrain on which the soil types are to draped and themed.

 
Figure 8: The Configured Manchester, New Hampshire DEM

My Next blog entry will bring in the soils data to the model and we will explore the theming options is InfraWorks.

Changing Spot Elevation Label Markers

I recently had a question from a client regarding the spot elevation label markers.  He had added several spot elevation labels on a surface and now wanted to change some of the markers from the default circle with cross to another marker.  The label style had no provision for changing the marker so, he wondered, how do you do it?  As it turns out, it is quite simple, although not obvious, so I thought I would share this with you.

The parent marker style is set in the Surface Feature Settings.

This marker style can be overridden in the command settings.  Here’s the one for creating a spot elevation surface label.

All of these settings affect the creation of labels, but what if you already have labels in the drawing and want to change the marker?  You can do that quite easily using the Properties palette.

Select the markers you want to change.  If you want all of them, use the SELECT SIMILAR command after choosing the first one.

Then, right click and open the Properties palette.  Change the marker type in the Marker Style field.

This will update the markers.

So, remember the Properties palette as well as the style if you need to make label modifications!

4-Way Intersections – Maintain Both Crowns

This blog’s entry covers the assembly group’s construction and logic for a 4-way intersection that maintains both roadway crowns. My next blog entry will cover tee intersections that contain offsets.

When creating the intersection assemblies, it is a challenge to determine what assembly configurations are needed to complete the intersection. The assembly configurations are determined by the type of
intersection you are designing. When the intersection is a 4-way and holds both crowns the curb return assembly builds the intersection.  See the right side of Figure 1.

Figure 1: Maintain Primary Crown and Maintain Both Crowns

The reason for this difference is how the secondary road completes its portion of the intersection.  In a 4-way intersection holding both crowns, the curb assembly completes the intersection between the primary and secondary roads. See Figure 2.

Figure 2: The Curb Sweep Follows Both Road Crowns

Assemblies – Primary Road

The assemblies for the primary road are found in Figure 3. When the intersection is a 4-way and it holds both crowns, the design uses only the Primary Road – Full Section.

The Primary Road Half Sections –Right and Left are used only if the primary road has any widening. Both assemblies must be assigned to the intersection even though they may not be used.

Figure 3: Primary Road Intersection Assemblies

Figure 3: Primary Road Intersection Assemblies

Assemblies – Secondary Road

The secondary road assemblies are in Figure 4.

The last assembly in Figure 4 is the curb return assembly. The curb assembly follows a curb return alignment and creates the intersection.  The intersection creation process prefers the right curb assembly.

The Secondary Road Half Section –Daylight Left and Right sections are used when there is a secondary road widening.

With a 4-way intersection with no widening, only the secondary road full section and curb return are used to create the intersection.

Figure 4: Secondary Road Intersection and the Right Curb ReturnAssemblies

Intersection Assembly Assignment

When creating the 4-way intersection, you must assign the correct assemblies. Figure 5 has the assembly assignments for a 4-way Intersection that holds both roadway crown elevations.

Figure 5: Assembly Assignment for a 4 Way Intersection Holding Both Crowns

Corridor Properties – 4-Way Intersection Maintain Both Crowns

The resulting intersection from a 4-way intersection holding both roadway crowns with no widening uses the minimum number of assemblies. See Figure 6.

Figure 6: Corridor Properties for a 4 Way Intersection Maintaining Primary Crown

Happy intersection designing!

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

old news....but

On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law a new two year transportation reauthorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ("MAP-21"; P.L. 112-141).

“MAP-21 takes effect October 1, 2012. The new law provides $561 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and $572 million in FY 2014 for the Agency's administrative expenses and grant programs.

The first multi-year transportation authorization enacted since 2005

• Funds surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal
  years (FY) 2013 and 2014
• Transforms the framework for investments to guide the growth and
  development of the country’s vital transportation infrastructure”

So what’s this got to do with Civil 3D

“Sec. 1304: Innovative Project Delivery Methods”

“The purpose of the innovative project delivery methods provision under Section 1304 of MAP-21 is to promote the use of innovative technologies and practices that increase the efficiency of construction, accelerate construction, improve the safety, improve the quality, reduce congestion from construction, and extend the service life of highways and bridges”

Sec 1503 (j)

(A) accelerate and improve the environmental review process;
(B) increase effective public participation;
(C) enhance the detail and accuracy of project designs;
(D) increase safety;
(E) accelerate construction, and reduce construction costs; or
(F) otherwise expedite project delivery with respect to transportation projects that receive Federal funding.”

A perfect fit for the Autodesk suites and BIM process.

Autodesk®
Infrastructure Design Suite is a comprehensive software solution combining the tools to plan, design, build and manage utility and civil infrastructure.

• Plan and manage with improved insight
• Design smarter and faster with intelligent model-based tools
• Evaluate project performance with integrated analysis and simulation
• Communicate with visualisation across the lifecycle

I did not mean for this to seem like an Autodesk sales pitch, but join the dots, and decide.  Here is the ROI  on your Autodesk products and in the training of your staff as it applies to the proper utilization of the product. The opportunities are out there for grabs.

“The Federal share payable may be increased by up to 5 percent of the total project cost, not to exceed 100 percent, for projects determined to meet the requirements specified in 23 U.S.C. 120(c)(3).”1

Helpful links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_Ahead_for_Progress_in_the_21st_Century_Act

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/guidance/index.cfm

http://www.dot.gov/map21

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/qandas/qaipd.cfm