Tools

The pull-down menu looks like this:

• Follow Terrain

• Propose Segments

• Parallel Lines

• Parallel Line Width

• Advanced 3D polyline offset

• Coordinate Transformation

• Horizontal Offset Diagram (Ref. Points)

• Speed Diagram

• Curvature Diagram

• Options

Follow Terrain

Use this function to force the vertical geometry to follow the terrain.

• This function is applicable to the vertical geometry (Input V), which makes the vertical geometry to follow the current terrain profile.

• The function adds alignment elements and arcs between the lines with an intervening radius, which is defined in this function's main dialog.

• The arc's angular points are placed on the terrain profile. This implies that a larger intervening radius makes the vertical geometry worse in order to follow the condition, follow the terrain.

Run the function from this location in Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Follow Terrain

The dialog box Follow Terrain - Vertical Geometry will pop up.

First/Last Chainage

Define the section of the alignment, of which vertical geometry has to follow the terrain. The first inserted angular point ends up at the first chainage and the last inserted angular point will end up at the last chainage. By default, the whole section is taken into account.

Lift (+)/Sink (-)

State if the adjustment must be lifted or sunken in relation to the terrain profile. A positive value determines the lift in meters; a negative value determined the sinking in meters.

Maximum Arrow height (accuracy)

• This function calculates the height difference between the lowest point in the cross-section and a fictitious angular point.

• If the difference is greater than the value defined as maximum arrow height, an angular point is inserted.

• This means that the lower maximum arrow height values result in a better-suited adjustment.

• The default radius is 0.1m.

Angular Arc Radius, Sag/Summit Curves

Determines the radius of the inserted vertical curves. Default value is 0.001m.

Propose Segments

Use this function to fix the element types in the element sequence so that the alignment calculation is correct.

• The function fixes the element types (Fixed, Partly, Approx, etc.,) in element sequence so that the alignment calculation is correct.

  • For e.g., for the element sequence Line-Curve-Line, all being fixed type elements, the calculation will not be correct.

• The function proposes/changes the arc segment as Approx so that the alignment calculation is correct.

Run the function from the following locations in the user interface Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Toolbar: Propose Segments

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Propose Segments

Parallel Lines

Use this function to switch on/off the parallel lines on either side of the alignment when the alignment is drawn to the current drawing.

• The function draws parallel lines on either side of the alignment with the offset distance defined in the function Parallel Line Width (see below).

• Activate the table Input H and run the function to obtain parallel lines on either side of the alignment.

• Activate the tab Input V and run the function to obtain parallel lines on the upper and lower sides of the alignment.

• Parallel lines can be utilized to give a complete picture of the roads/railway width on the designed alignment.

Run the function from the following locations in the user interface Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Toolbar: Parallel Lines On/Off

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Parallel Lines

Parallel Line Width

Use this function to define the offset of parallel lines to alignment on either side. The values defined here will reflect in the function Parallel Lines (see above).

• To define the offset of parallel lines in the horizontal drawing, activate the table Input H in the main dialog Alignment Design and run the function.

• Similarly, to define the offset of parallel lines in the vertical drawing, activate the table Input V and run the function.

Run the function from the following location in the user interface Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Parallel Line Width

Depending on the active tab (Input H or Input V), the dialog box Parallel Line Width will pop up.

• Define the offset values (meters).

Advanced 3D polyline offset

The function for creating a 3D polyline for cable channels is completely revised and is made more general. This is the new dialog:

Enter all sections you want to create a single 3D polyline for. You can use different methods for the height reference, and if there are gaps they will be connected using a single straight line. You can also initiate values from an existing 3D polyline by using the pick button (the selected polyline is not erased).

This is the available height reference methods for railway:

• Top lowest rail - Height is taken from the top lowest rail.

• Bottom lowest rail - Height is taken from the bottom lowest rail.

• Top nearest rail - Height is taken from the top nearest rail.

• Bottom nearest rail - Height is taken from the bottom nearest rail.

• Top nearest sleeper edge - Height is taken from the top nearest sleeper edge.

• Surface edge (Z) - Height is taken from the selected surface outer edge.

• Surface edge (X) - Horizontal offset is taken from the selected surface outer edge. Height is taken from the vertical geometry.

For all methods, there is a possibility to add an extra vertical offset.

The calculation basis is the current horizontal and vertical geometry in Alignment Design.

Max dist. from the chord midpoint to arc is a value for deciding the accuracy of the computed polyline.

Methods

Top nearest sleeper edge: The height is set to the top of the nearest sleeper edge.

Top nearest rail: The height is set to top of nearest rail.

When the OK button is pressed, the 3D polyline is computed and drawn to CAD.

Coordinate Transformation

This function allows you to easily convert input coordinates from one coordinate reference system to another.

The function should be mainly used when importing geometry from files, e.g. TIT/NYL, LandXML, and so on, and when the coordinates in the input files are in another CRS than the current model.

The work process could be like this:

1. You open a model with a UTM CRS and want to import an alignment created in NTM.

2. Create an empty alignment task.

3. Start Alignment Design and import the alignment from file(s).

4. Use the function Coordinate transformation from the Tools menu to transform the input data from the actual NTM CRS to the UTM CRS used in the model.

5. Then use Store to model to save the transformed alignment into the model. It is important to transform BEFORE storing the alignment into the model.

Note: Only the horizontal geometry is transformed.

Horizontal Offset Diagram (Ref. Points)

The graphical representation of horizontal offsets of current alignment from defined reference line/points (adjacent tracks or any other objects).

Based on the user-defined Reference Point(s) and/or Reference Line, the function calculates the offset distances from the alignment to the Reference Point(s)/Reference Line and represents the offset distances graphically.

Use this tool to see how far the alignment is located from the Reference Point(s)/Reference Line.

Run the function from the following location in the user interface Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Horizontal Offset Diagram (Ref. Points)

Curvature Diagram

This diagram is a graphical representation of the curvature for the alignment.

Options

Use this function for the following:

• Input options, general settings, maximum number of commands in the history list, etc.

• Fixed point settings when segment types of alignment are changed, design line display settings, slope representation for profile design line, grid settings of longitudinal profile in vertical drawing, etc.

• Customize the number tabs (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, etc.) to be displayed in the user interface.

• Customize the display of the number of columns in the tables Input H and Input V.

To open the dialog Options:

• Double click any column heading of the tables Input H or Input V of the user interface. The tab General will be the active tab.

• Double click any table (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface. The tab Tabs will be the active tab.

Run the function from the following locations in the user interface Alignment Design:

MOUS_ICO Toolbar: Options

MOUS_ICO Menu: Tools > Options

The dialog box Options will pop up.

• General - General Settings.

• Fixed Points - Relocating fixed points after editing.

• Vertical - Slope representation, Gridlines interval, and Signature.

• Lineweight - Lineweight of construction line in the horizontal and vertical drawing.

• Tabs - The tabs such as Input H, Input V, Result, Nadb, etc., are displayed in the main dialog box Alignment Design Professional.

General

To open the Options dialog:

• Double-click any column heading of the table Input H or Input V of the user interface. The tab General will be the active tab.

• Double click any table (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface. The tab Tabs will be the active tab.

• For menu and toolbar options, refer to Options above.

Customize the tables Input H and Input V by minimizing the number of columns.

• In the table Input H, Parameter, End Radius, all the columns of coordinates N1, E1, N2, and E2 can be turned off.

• In the table Input V, all the columns for coordinates Chainage1, Level1, Chainage2, and Level2 can be turned off.

Mark the desired checkboxes to enable the option.

Geometry

• Accept Line-Line Calculation - Alignment design does not accept Line-Line calculation as it's against the design rules of alignment. But some lines need to be calculated without following the design rules of alignment, e.g., Boundary Lines. For any such kind of calculation, check this box and perform the calculations.

• Erase Picked Elements from Drawing - The CAD elements/Novapoint objects initiated to the Alignment Design with the functions From Drawing, Pick Horizontal, and Pick Vertical will be removed from the drawing.

• Draw Reference Points - Mark the check box to have the Reference Point(s) also drawn when the alignment is drawn.

Display

• Transition curve parameter as input:

  • Turn off/on the column Parameter.

  • Option to input/edit the transition curve parameter when the column is turned on.

• Transition curve end radius as input:

  • Turn off/on the column End Radius.

  • Option to input/edit the transition curve radius when the column is turned on. Note that if this column is turned on, changes in the adjacent curve element do not trigger an automatic update of the transition radius.

• Coordinates as horizontal input:

  • Turn off/on the columns E1, N1, E2, and N2 in Input H.

  • Option to input/edit the coordinates (horizontal geometry) when the columns are turned on.

• Coordinates as vertical input:

  • Turn off/on the columns Chainage1, Level1, Chainage2, and Level2.

  • Option to input/edit the coordinates (vertical geometry) when the columns are turned on.

• Edit reference points in drawing (Grip edit): Mark the check box to enable the option (allows editing the reference points in drawing using the grips).

• Update dialog box during drag:

  • The values in the user interface will be updated simultaneously, while the alignment is modified/edited by dragging (using the grips) the design line (graphical alignment in the horizontal/vertical drawing).

  • If this option is not active, the values in the user interface will be updated when the editing is done and the grips have been placed.

• Mass distribution in the status bar:

  • Turn off/on the mass distribution displayed at the status bar of the user interface.

  • Alternatively, double the mass distribution display field in the status bar to turn off/on.

  • Mass distribution will be updated after each calculation.

• Chainage and elevation in status bar during mouse move:

  • The chainage and elevation values of the location of the CAD cursor will be displayed on the status of the user interface.

  • Turn off/on the chainage and elevation display at the status bar of the user interface.

  • Alternatively, double-click the chainage/elevation field in the status bar to turn off/on.

• Terrain calculation progress in CAD progress bar:

  • Displays Calculating terrain profile and an indication of the process in CAD's progress bar when the terrain is calculated.

  • Turn off/on the terrain calculation progress in the CAD progress bar.

• Synchronized zoom:

  • The alignment element magnified in horizontal drawing will be magnified in the vertical drawing and vice-versa.

  • Is only applicable for the Zoom commands accessed from the user interface.

• Decimal places in dialog box: Enter the number of decimal to be shown in the dialog.

• Maximum number of commands in history list: States how many operations to save in History.

Fixed Points

To open the dialog Options:

• Double click any column heading of the table Input H or Input V of the user interface.

• Double click any tab (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface.

• For menu and toolbar options, refer to Options above.

After editing the alignment (horizontal or vertical), the fixed points can be relocated automatically based on calculation results, if the option Always get fixed points from result is marked. Mark the desired ratio button. Different options for horizontal and vertical geometry can be adopted.

Vertical

To open the dialog Options:

• Double click any column heading of the table Input H or Input V of the user interface.

• Double click any tab (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface.

• For menu and toolbar options, refer to Options above.

Slope as: Slope can be represented as Ratio/Percent/Per Thousand. Mark the desired ratio button. The marked alternative setting is displayed in the main dialog's tabs (Input H, Result, Input V, etc.), as well as signature on the design line.

Grid Size in Vertical Drawing: Grid and signature settings for the temporary vertical geometry drawing are defined in this field. A different setting for Chainage (X-Axis) and Elevation (Y-Axis) can be defined.

K - Value as input: Vertical curves (sag or summit) can also be designed using K - Value. Mark the check box to activate the option.

Lineweight

To open the dialog Options:

• Double click any column heading of the tab Input H or Input V of the user interface.

• Double click any tab (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface.

• For menu and toolbar options, refer to Options above.

The set-up is only applicable for the current alignment. It is possible to have a different setup for horizontal and vertical alignment.

Tabs

To open the dialog Options:

• Double click any tab (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, Ref. Points, History, etc.) of the user interface. The tab Tabs will be the active tab. Double click any column heading of the table Input H or Input V of the user interface. The tab General will be the active tab.

• For menu and toolbar options, refer to Options above.

Customize the user interface by minimizing the number of tabs (Input H/V, Result H/V, Errors H/V, etc.) to be displayed in the user interface.

For more information on these details see the respective topics by selecting from the below list.

• Input H

• Result H

• Errors H/V

• NADB In H/V

• NADB Res H/V

• NADB TEN H

• Reference Points

• History

• Input V

• Result V

• NYLP

• PRF

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