December 2011

Sections

Profiles are generated in n4ce as either Long or Cross Sections. Sections can be positioned in plan using a number of different options. If you are using Sketch, with locking modes set, the cursor will snap to items in the foreground or background.

Heights can be calculated where these cut lines intersect the sides of a DTM and/or feature strings. You don’t need a DTM to generate a section as Features would suffice for heights. Profiles can pass through multiple surfaces.

Section Profiles initially appear in a pre-view window. The Properties (finger into a page) icon can be used to alter the display.

When you close this window you will be invited to save the profile on the Project Tree for plotting later, in CAD or a Drawing.

Options are available for plotting both the plan position of the section profile and the section itself. The contents of the table at the bottom of the section are user definable. The drop lines falling into these boxes can be filtered to remove overlapping text, and of course n4ce’s own CAD tools are available for any further editing.

Symbols representing fence lines, can be plotted on the profile and underground services, like pipelines, can appear below the ground.

December 2011

Long Sections

Use one of the Long section taking options. In this case the cut line passes through Groups with depths. The position of the cut line is temporary but can be added to the Dedicated CAD Backcloth using Tools Section Line Plot.

Sections will appear on the Project Tree and can be pre-viewed again by going to the camera icon.Sections must be plotted either in CAD (model space) or a Drawing (paper space) - the procedure is the same.

Firstly, create a New CAD/Drawing folder. If working in CAD it is advised that you tick Show Drawing Border.

From Tools Plot Single select the section you wish to plot. This produces the Section Plot Parameters box.

This box summarises the parameters found in the section allowing you to make changes prior to plotting.

Apart from the scales and levels note the Profile and Defaults buttons.

December 2011

Plotting Sections

The Profiles… button allows you to change the attributes of the plotted profile, including its colour and line style. You may wish to remove the Drop Lines and Annotation of multi profile sections, for clarity.

The Defaults… button goes into greater detail setting up Section Plot Defaults.

The Define button take you to Section Annotation which controls what is shown in the table at the bottom of the plotted section.

Move items from the Available to the Selected window, as required.

The Create button allows you to make your own entry, including Ht difference between two models. By double clicking on an item you can change its properties.

The tabs in the Section Plot Defaults allow you to set up other defaults including Drop Lines - Frequency and Filtering.

December 2011

Plotting Sections

When setting defaults it is suggested that you round down the Datum level and round up the Top of Box.

The red outline shown opposite gives a boundary to the sheet, for example an A1 drawing at 1:500. The section should fall within this box.

When plotting sections you will be invited to provide a layer name, which by default is the name of the section. If a layer already exists with this name you must enter another name as only one section can fall on a layer. Each layer holds section defaults, like scale and datum value.

December 2011

Cross Sections

Cross sections are generated from a centreline or cut line, with parameters for left and right offsets and chainage interval. Again you may pass through multiple models and intersect with DTM sides or features for heights.

In this case the profile pre-view will be multiple sections that you can step through with controls.

Multi section plot allows you to plot selective cross sections in a box (in CAD) that you have to sweep out, resulting in what you see here. Everything else is as per discussed in long section plotting.

When pre-viewing the sections the tape controls become active, allowing you to step through each chainage interval. The chainage of the section is displayed and its position in plan will be highlighted.