Chapter 7: Profiles and Profile Views
Sample a surface profile with offset samples. Using surface data to create dynamic sampled profiles is an important advantage of working with a three-dimensional model. Quick viewing of various surface slices and grip-editing alignments makes for an effective preliminary planning tool. Combined with offset data to meet review agency requirements, profiles are robust design tools in Civil 3D.
Master It Open the MasteringProfile.dwg file and sample the ground surface along Alignment A, along with offset values at 15′ left and 25′ right of the alignment.
Solution
1. On the Home tab’s Create Design panel, select Profiles Create Surface Profile.
2. Click the Add button to add the EG surface.
3. Check the Sample Offsets check box and enter 15, –25 in the box below the sample offsets and then click the Add button.
4. Click the Draw In Profile button and in the Create Profile View dialog, click the Create Profile View button.
5. Place the profile anywhere on the drawing.
Lay out a design profile on the basis of a table of data. Many programs and designers work by creating pairs of station and elevation data. The tools built into Civil 3D let you input this data precisely and quickly.
Master It In the Mastering Profiles.dwg file, create a layout profile on Alignment B with the following information:
| Station | PVI Elevation | Curve Length |
| 0+00 | 812.76 | |
| 1+45 | 818.59 | 250′ |
| 5+22 | 794.48 |
Solution
1. Create a profile for Alignment B.
2. On the Home tab’s Create Design panel, select Profiles Profile Creation Tools.
3. Select the Profile B Grid and press ↵ to accept the value in the Create Profile - Draw New dialog.
4. In the Profile Layout Tools palette, set the L-value of the Curve settings to 250′.
5. Use the Draw Tangents With Curves tool and the Transparent Commands toolbar to enter station-elevation data.
Alternatively, you can import a text file.
Add and modify individual components in a design profile. The ability to delete, modify, and edit the individual components of a design profile while maintaining the relationships is an important concept in the 3D modeling world. Tweaking the design allows you to pursue a better solution, not just a working solution.
Master It In the MasteringProfile.dwg file, on profile B insert a PVI at Sta 3+52, Elevation 812. Modify the curve so that it is 100′ and then, add a 175′ parabolic vertical curve at the newly created point.
Solution
1. Pick the Design profile and from the Modify Profile panel, select the Geometry Editor tool.
2. In the Profile Layout Tools palette, select the Insert PVI tool.
3. Using the Profile Station elevation transparent command, select the profile grid, enter 352 for the station and 812 for the elevation. Press Esc three times.
4. Back in the Profile Layout Tools palette, select the Profile Grid View tool.
5. In the Profile Entities panorama, change the Profile Curve Length field to 100↵.
6. In the Profile Layout Tools palette, select the Draw Fixed Parabola By 3 Points drop-down and choose More Free Vertical Curves Free Vertical Parabola (PVI Based).
7. Pick the newly created PVI and enter 175 for Curve Length. Press ↵ twice.
Apply a standard label set. Standardization of appearance is one of the major benefits of using Civil 3D styles in labeling. By applying label sets, you can quickly create plot-ready profile views that have the required information for review.
Master It In the MasteringProfile.dwg file, apply the Road Profile Labels set to all layout profiles.
Solution
1. Pick the layout profile, right-click, and select the Edit Labels option.
2. Click Import Label Set, and select the Road Profile Labels set.