Input-Edit Template Series

Template Series is another method of widening lanes or causing templates to change: direct template-to-template transitioning. Using this command, you specify the station where one template "ends" and the station where another template "begins", and the program auto-transitions between templates.

The Template Series is stored in a .TSF file and consists of a sequence of template file names (.TPL) with stationing. The Design Template command is used to create the .TPL files. The Template Series can be used in commands like Process Road Design and Road Network. In these commands, the template selection can be either a regular template (.TPL) or the template series (.TSF).

For the transition to work optimally, the templates should share the same IDs so that the program can connect the template 3D polylines and transition between templates. If the templates are distinct with separate, unrelated IDs, then by ending template1 at station 500 (for example) and starting template2 at station 500.01, a very abrupt transition can be accomplished.

For a design with transitioning templates, the Template Series method is an alternative to the Template Transition method, a third method of Template Grade Table, and to a forth method of using Template Point Profiles and Template Point Centerlines, where a template ID "follows" a particular centerline and profile. One advantage of the Template Series approach is that it can be used to link different templates together, like non-curb and curb templates, as shown here in plan view:

For the above example, Template 1 applies from station 0+00 to 0+30, then transitions to Template 2 at 1+00 which has a wider EOP distance. This transition occurs between stations 0+30 and 1+00. Then the full Template 2 continues until station 1+40. Then Template 3 starts with a curb replacing a standard EOP/Ditch combination on the left side. So Template 3 would be set to begin at 1+40.1, a short distance past 1+40. This template transitions into Template 4 at station 2+00. Template 4 has a shorter middle grade on the left side. You do not need to enter start and ending templates at station 0+00 or after station 2+00. Therefore, the dialog for this example might look as follows:

Note that you can run Process Road Design to review the design results in plan view, with entry of only the Design Template/Series, the Profile and the Centerline (items 1, 2 and 4 within Process Road Design). You do not need existing cross sections to use Process Road Design. If you process at an interval such as 10 over any desired station range, you can output the Template Polylines and verify the result in plan view. If no sections are found, the program will process from edge of shoulder left to edge of shoulder right, and omit cut and fill slopes. With the correct templates, this would reproduce the plan view shown above.

Input-Edit Template Series is also an effective way to accomplish superelevation, and even simultaneous superelevation and lane widening. Consider the "stages" of pivoting into superelevation of 3%. The first template might be called "Normal Crown" (the lower template). The second template might be called "Reverse Crown" (+2% cross slope). The third template might be called "Full Super" and would be the +3% template. You need the second template because you need to "restrain" the left-hand side of the road from pivoting until the continuous +2% cross slope is reached. If you only used the "Normal Crown" template, say, at station 4+00 and then the "Full Super" template at station 6+00, then at station 5+00, where 1/2 of the transition occurs, the left side cross slope would be -2.5% (transitioning halfway). In reality, the left side should not pivot until station 5+60. If the rate of pivoting is less from normal crown to flat outside lane, and the rate changes after that point, then you would need a fourth template to direct how the road transitions to full superelevation.

The Reference CL is optional. When it is set, then screen pick is an option for specifying the template transition stations.

The Report function has options for either a summary report of the stations and template, or a detailed report that adds the template dimensions.

The Reset Direction function applies when the folder for the template files (.TPL) has changed and you need to set a new location.

The Create From Sections function reads a section file for a design and creates templates at each change and fills in the template series with these templates. The section file must have descriptions on the section points (ie "EOP").

Here is the dialog for adding and editing templates for the series where you set the template name and station to apply. The Transition With Previous Template In Series will match any common template ID's with the previous template and linear interpolate any changes in distance or slope for the stations between the templates. Otherwise, the template dimensions are held unmodified up to the midway station between the templates where the switch occurs.Pulldown Menu Location: Roads
Keyboard Command: tplseries
Prerequisite: Template Files