Slope Arrows

Use this function for the following:

• To calculate the slope between two elements (points).

• To calculate the elevation based on two points and slope.

• To design the slope surfaces and elevations for the various Civil Engineering design situations.

Having a set of slope arrows connected to the object in the drawing or the database (Quadri model) shall be a powerful tool for designing the slope surfaces and elevation for various Civil Engineering design situations.

Features

• The slope calculation is based on two points in either space or horizontal position (plan).

  • The function provides a wide range of flexibility to modify these two points to suit the design situations.

  • This flexibility is in terms of change in elevation (dZ), horizontal length, elevations of the points, connecting the points to terrain, other objects available in the database or drawing, etc.

  • For more details, see Slope Arrow Calculations below.

• The elevation calculation is based on slope value and two points in either space or plan.

  • For more details on flexibility to modify these two points to suit the design situations, see Slope Arrow Calculations below.

• Any number of slope arrows can be created.

• Slope arrows can also be created along a baseline - line/arc/circle/polyline (2D or 3D).

  • The length of such slope arrows can be limited (delimitation) to another object (on the current drawing).

• 3D polyline from the slope arrows can be created automatically.

  • 3D polyline joining the end points of all the slope arrows in the dialog.

OR

• • 3D polyline joining the end points of the slope arrows that are connected to a specific object (database/drawing).

• Contours are calculated automatically and if required can be presented.

Slope Arrow Calculations

The slope can be calculated based on the following:

• Simply pick two points and get the slope (the line joining these two points is the slope arrow).

• Define change in elevation (dZ) among these points and get the slope.

  • The points remain unchanged in the horizontal position (plan), i.e. the horizontal length is unaltered.

  • The elevation of the end point is modified.

• Define the horizontal length of the slope arrow from the first (start) point and get the slope.

  • The elevation of the points remains unchanged, but the end point is changed in plan.

  • it is also possible to define the change in elevation (dZ) if required.

• Key in the desired elevation for the first and/or end point and get the slope.

• Change the points (start point and/or end point) by connecting the point(s) to an object in the drawing, an object in the database (Quadri Model), or the centerline of the active road model and get the slope.

  • The horizontal position and/or elevations might change in this case.

• Change the elevation (Z) of the points (start point and/or end point) by connecting the point(s) to an object in the drawing or terrain in the database (Quadri Model) and get the slope.

All the above options are also applicable to calculate the elevation.

• Define the slope of the slope arrow and get the elevation of the end point.

• The horizontal length and slope value are used to calculate the elevation.

Procedure

1. Start the function and make sure that the parameters are correct using the button Setup.

2. Use the button New arrow < to define the arrows.

3. Edit slope parameters or dZ parameters.

4. Start Setup to check and correct parameters.

5. Close the slope arrow function.

6. To edit existing slope arrows, start the function and use the button Pick arrow.

Run the function from the following locations:

MOUS_ICO Toolbar: Elevation Tools:  Slope Arrows

MOUS_ICO Menu: Road > Elevation Tools > Slope Arrows

New arrow <

Use this button to define the new slope arrows. It is possible to define several slope arrows in one operation.

Command prompts for:

Pick start point:

Pick the start point for the slope arrow.

Pick end point:

Pick the end point for the slope arrow.

Create next arrow or press <Esc> or <Enter> to quit.

Continue for the next slope arrow or exit the command prompt.

Tip: Use object snap modes for precise selection of start and end points of the slope arrows.

The details of the slope arrows will be listed in the dialog.

• The dialog is a floating window, which allows working simultaneously on other Novapoint/CAD.

• Each row of the upper list represents a slope arrow.

• All white background cells can be edited and the cells with a grey background cannot be edited.

• To edit, point the cursor in the cell and edit the value.

• The active slope arrow's (selected/highlighted in the upper table) detailed properties will be listed in the lower table.

Upper table

• Arrow name - Displays the name of the arrow.

  • By default, arrows will be named Arrow 1, 2, etc.

  • Users can rename the arrow.

• Slope (1:S) - Displays the calculated slope of the arrow.

  • The value changes when dZ is modified.

  • +/- signs indicate the direction (upward/downward).

  • Slope can be represented as a ratio, per thousand, or percentage - refer to Setup below.

• Delta Z (dZ) - Displays the elevation change between the start and end points of the slope arrow is displayed.

  • If the value is edited, the slope arrow is updated automatically.

• Length (horizontal) - Displays the horizontal distance between the end points of the slope arrow.

  • The value is calculated based on the end point coordinates (displayed in the lower table).

  • If the coordinate values are edited in the lower table, the slope arrow will be updated automatically.

• Direction - Displays the direction of the slope arrow.

  • The direction can be edited.

  • There are four possible choices to define the direction.

  • Point at the cell to activate the drop-down menu, which has four choices to define the direction.

    1. Free: The direction of the arrow between point A (start point) and B (end point) is free. You have to define them (both start and end points of the arrow).

    2. Perpendicular to A: The direction of the slope arrow is perpendicular to point A; the line point A is connected to.

    3. Perpendicular to B: The direction of the slope arrow is perpendicular to point B; the line point B is connected to.

    4. Perpendicular from A: The direction of the slope arrow is perpendicular from point A. This is useful when point B is a single point and not part of a line.

  • Select the desired option.

• Contour Radius - The radius of the contour is displayed. The radius is calculated for the active slope arrow and the next slope arrow.

Shortcut menu on the upper table

Shortcut menu can be activated by locating the cursor on the upper table and using the right button of the mouse.

• The shortcut menu will be for the active slope arrow (the slope arrow on the cursor was located or the slope arrow row, which is highlighted/selected).

• Reverse arrow - The direction of the slope arrow will be reversed.

  • The start and end points will be interchanged.

  • The slope will also change from positive to negative or vice-versa.

• Set Slope - This is an alternative for defining the slope of the active slope arrow. The dialog Input Dialog will pop up.

Lower table

Details of the active slope arrow (selected/highlighted in the upper table) will be listed.

• Details of the start point and end point will be listed.

• Connected to - The object (CAD entity, Quadri model object, or road model object) to which the point is connected will be displayed.

  • The connection can be edited or disconnected using the shortcut menu from the cell.

  • The dialog Quadri Lines can be activated by double click on the cell. This makes it easy to connect objects saved in the database.

• Chainage - The chainage, at which the point is connected, will be displayed.

  • The value can be edited directly in the cell or selected using the shortcut menu.

• X/Y/Z - The coordinates of the point will be displayed.

  • The values can be edited directly in the cell or selected using the shortcut menu.

• Z from - There are three types of parameters available: Input, Terrain, and Object.

  • Input - Enables the user to define the parameter.

  • Terrain - The Z - value is calculated from the Quadri model.

  • Object - The Z - value is read from the object.

Shortcut menu on the lower table

Shortcut menu can be activated by locating the cursor on the lower table and using the right button of the mouse.

• The point of the slope arrow can be connected to a CAD entity, an object in Quadri, or the centerline of the active road model.

• From Drawing - Program prompts for a CAD entity.

• From Quadri - The dialog Quadri Object Identity will pop up, which lists all the objects in the database. Select the desired object.

• Centerline from Road Model - The centerline of the active road model will be connected.

Erase

Use this option to delete the slope arrow from the table and erase from the drawing.

• Select the slope arrow(s) from the upper table and click the button.

Tip: Multiple slope arrows can be selected by holding the Shift or Ctrl keys.

Arrows along Baseline

Use this button to define slope arrows along the selected baseline. For further details, refer to the topic Arrows along Baseline.

Create 3D polyline

Use this button to create a 3D polyline for the line, to which slope arrows are connected. The calculated height of the slope arrow start and end points is transferred to the connected line.

Move

The icons Move Up/Down move the active slope arrow respectively in the upper table of the dialog.

• It is especially useful when inserting a new slope arrow between two existing arrows.

• It is important to insert a new slope arrow in the correct order to get the contours correct.

Redraw all

Use this button to update the slope arrows in the drawing when the parameters are modified or the setup is modified.

Setup

The drawing setup, representation of slope arrows, representation of contour lines, calculation parameters, etc., can be configured using this button. The dialog Slope Arrow Properties will pop up with this button, which tabs for slope arrow setup and contour lines setup.

• For slope arrow setup, refer to the topic Setup.

• For contour line setup, refer to the topic Contour Lines.

Groups

Slope Arrow / Contour Lines: All slope arrows/contour lines will be saved as a group in the drawing.

• Define a name for the group(s)

• These will be saved as a group even if a name is not defined.

Note: The function will not check existing group names and will overwrite in case of duplicate names.

Next topic: Arrows Along Baseline