Surface Groups

Median

Median surfaces are normally used to separate two carriageways in the design of multi-lane highways. However, they can also be used in instances such as median strips at intersections, roundabouts, etc.

• The surface group is designated with +/-0.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 median surfaces can be used (0.01, 0.02, 0.03,…0.19). All these surfaces form the median surface group.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The shape of the median is unrestricted.

  • It can be composed of a ditch or it can be raised above the level of the carriageway.

  • One can opt for the pre-defined median surfaces using Advanced Road Description or user-defined median using the function Road Surfaces.

  • Modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces can modify the geometry of the median or any surface.

  • Supplementary surfaces on either side of the centerline (split into negative and positive surface numbers) can be inserted in the dialog box Road Surfaces if the median is not opted in Advanced Road Description or Simple Road Description has been adopted, or more median surfaces are required.

• If the median surfaces are used with both negative and positive surface numbers, the centerline will then be located at a point on the median.

• If the centerline is to be placed at the inside edge of one of the carriageways, use either purely negative or purely positive surface numbers in describing the median.

• Be aware that the reference surface (point) for elevation is specified individually, and can be linked to any desired surface independent of the road's centerline using the Surface Properties function.

Carriageway

The surface on either side of the centerline/median meant for traffic is defined as a carriageway.

• The surface group is designated with +/-1.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 carriageway surfaces can be used (1.01, 1.02, 1.03,…1.19). All these surfaces form the surface group carriageway.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  1. Simple Road Description

  2. Advanced Road Description

  3. Road Surfaces

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• It would be practical, for example, to use a specific ancillary surface for describing curve widening where this is required.

• The carriageway's super-elevation and widening can be automatically calculated in relation to the guidelines of the road design standards.

Shoulder

The surface on either side of the carriageway meant for vehicle breakdown service, etc., are termed shoulder surfaces. It would also be practical to use a specific shoulder surface as a potential crash barrier zone.

• The surface group is designated with +/-2.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 shoulder surfaces can be used (2.01, 2.02, 2.03,…2.19). All these surfaces form the surface group shoulder.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  1. Simple Road Description

  2. Advanced Road Description

  3. Road Surfaces

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

Extra

The term supplementary surfaces are used as the designation for surfaces that lie beyond the shoulder but within the drainage ditch slope or embankment slope. These surfaces can be used to describe entities at the side of the road, but which are closely linked to it, such as acoustic barriers, pedestrian footpaths, ramps, and footpaths/cycle tracks. Supplementary surfaces will be utilized in full, as described in the dialog Road Surfaces. That is, they will not be broken at cuttings on the terrain surface.

• The surface group is designated with +/-3.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 extra surfaces can be used (3.01, 3.02, 3.03,…3.19). All these surfaces form the surface group extra.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined in the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

Ditch

Drainage ditch surfaces (at open drainage ditches) reach from the outermost surface in surface group 2 (shoulder) or the outermost extra surface, to the outermost point on the ditch.

• The surface group is designated with +/-4.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 ditch surfaces can be used (4.01, 4.02, 4.03,…4.19). All these surfaces form the surface group ditch.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  1. Simple Road Description

  2. Advanced Road Description

  3. Road Surfaces

     • Normal Ditch

     • Advanced Ditch

     • Insert Proposal

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• It would be practical, for example, to use a specific ancillary surface for describing curve widening where this is required.

• The carriageway's super-elevation and widening can be automatically calculated in relation to the guidelines of the road design standards.

Ditch depth: If there are additional requirements for the drainage ditch's depth below the edge of the roadbed, the drainage ditch surface can be extended beyond what is defined for ditch surfaces using the function Ditch Depth.

Ditch control (only for the Danish Version): If ditch control is employed, the drainage ditch control function examines whether the execution of the fill provides sufficient "ditch volume".

Rock Cut

The surfaces connecting the outermost ditch surface and the rock surface (in the terrain subsurface) are defined as rock cut. The possibility of having these surfaces in the road model depends on the following:

• First of all, terrain subsurface details are to be defined either in the terrain model (refer to Novapoint Base) or using the function Sub-surface Layers.

• There should occur rock formation (subgrade type "cut") in the road model, which depends on alignment, terrain, and the subsurface details.

• The surface group is designated with +/-5.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 rock cut surfaces can be used (5.01, 5.02, 5.03,…5.19). All these surfaces form the surface group rock cut.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  1. Simple Road Description

  2. Advanced Road Description

  3. Road Surfaces

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• For rock cutting surfaces, section, slope, and the value To Terrain for width are to be defined in the dialog Road Surfaces.

• If there are multiple surfaces in the rock cut surface group, the value To Terrain is to be defined for the outermost rock cut surface.

• If the outermost point in the drainage ditch is located in rock, Novapoint will insert a rock cut surface(s) from the outermost ditch surface up to the cutting in the rock ledge.

• The rock cutting may well be composed of several rock cut surfaces, but there is no predefined shape depending on the total elevation of the cutting.

Soil Cut

The surfaces connecting the outermost ditch surface (if the outermost point of the ditch surface is located in soil formation) and the terrain surface are defined as soil cut. The possibility of having these surfaces depends on the subgrade type.

• The surface group is designated with +/-6.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 soil cut surfaces can be used (6.01, 6.02, 6.03,…6.19). All these surfaces form the surface group soil cut.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  • Simple Road Description

  • Advanced Road Description

  • Road Surfaces

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• For soil cutting surfaces, section, slope, and the value To Terrain for width are to be defined in the dialog Road Surfaces.

  • If there are multiple surfaces in the soil cut surface group, the value To Terrain is to be defined for the outermost soil cut surface.

• If the outermost point in the drainage ditch is located in soil, Novapoint will insert a soil-cutting surface from the outermost ditch surface up to the terrain surface.

Fill

The surfaces connecting the outmost shoulder surface (or ditch surface in case of embankment ditch) and the terrain surfaces are termed as fill surfaces.

• The surface group is designated with +/-7.XX.

• +/- signs are used to indicate the direction with respect to the centerline. Positive surfaces are to the right side of the centerline in the direction of stationing.

• On each side of the centerline, a maximum of 19 fill surfaces can be used (7.01, 7.02, 7.03,…7.19). All these surfaces form the surface group fill.

• The surface can be inserted using the shortcut menu of the surface group and selecting Insert.

• The geometry of the surface will be according to the surface description defined using any of the following:

  • Simple Road Description

  • Advanced Road Description

  • Road Surfaces

• Using Road Surfaces, the geometry of any surface can be modified by modifying the values in the right pane of the dialog box Road Surfaces.

• For fill surfaces, section, slope, and the value To Terrain for width are to be defined in the dialog Road Surfaces if the description is being defined/modified using the function Road Surfaces.

  • If there are multiple surfaces infill surface group, the value To Terrain is to be defined for the outermost fill surface.

• If the outermost point in the shoulder is located above the terrain surface, Novapoint will insert the fill surface from the outermost shoulder surface down to the terrain surface.

• The fill may be composed of several fill surfaces, but there is no predefined shape depending on the total elevation of the fill.

• If topsoil, vegetation, or fill materials, which are to be removed, are defined into the profile, the fill surface will be led down to the cutting with the first fixed layer (soil or rock). From there, an end surface will be laid out up to the terrain top surface.

Next topic: Alignments as Surface Edges