Make Existing Ground Surface

This command makes the triangulation models for the existing ground surface. There are three surfaces that are created: initial original ground (og), original ground after applying subgrade zones (ze), and original ground after subgrade zones and topsoil removal (ex). These surface files are automatically named as "filename-og.tin", "filename-ze.tin" and "filename-ex.tin" respectively. The "filename" is set to the name of the current drawing (dwg) file. Also, the file extension will be .tin for the binary format triangulation and .flt for the ASCII format triangulation. This file format is set in Configure->Takeoff.

The surface is built using 3D entities in the drawing on the layers define in Define Layer Target/Material/Subgrade command. Also, the surface elevation for any drillholes are used for the model. The subgrade zones are defined in the Define Layer Target/Material/Subgrade command. If there aren't any subgrade zones for the Existing surface, then the original ground after subgrades surface with be the same as the initial original ground surface. The topsoil removal depths and areas are set with the commands in the Topsoil Removal/Replacement sub-menu. The topsoil removal areas will lower the ground surface by the topsoil depth. If there aren't any topsoil removal areas, then the original ground after subgrade and topsoil surface will be the same as the original ground after subgrade surface.

Before running this command, the layer names for the entities on the Existing layer target must be set in the Define Layer Target/Material/Subgrade command. Also these entities must be at their proper elevations. The entity elevations can be reviewed using commands from the Inquiry menu and the elevations can be assigned if needed using command from the Elevate menu. Another prerequisite is that the Boundary Polyline must be set for the site. If the boundary has not been set, the following error message will appear.If this error message appears, run the "Set Boundary Polyline" command and pick the CLOSED polyline representing the boundary of the site.

When the program finds errors in the existing entities, a Data Error Log dialog reports these errors. Three types of conflicts are reported: Crossing Breaklines, Vertical Edges, and Breakline T-Intersections. Crossing Breaklines indicates that the intersection of two entities does not have a common elevation. Vertical Edges indicates that two entities or vertices of differing elevations have the same x-y location, thus forming a vertical plane. Breakline T-Intersections indicates that a 3d entity is abutting another entity, but the second entity doesn't have a vertex at the point of intersection. Each type of conflict is listed in its own category.

The Data Error Log shows the amount of elevation difference at each error. You can use the Data Error Log to review, report and draw markers at these error locations. Then you can exit the Data Error Log and fix the data errors with the commands in the Elevate menu or other drafting tools. After these errors are fixed, you can run Make Existing Ground Surface again.Clicking to the "plus" sign beside a category will display the individual conflicts within that category. When a line item error is selected, a highlighted arrow is temporarily placed in the drawing to indicate the exact location of the specific conflict. Zoom functionality allows the user to more closely inspect the specific problem area, and if needed a marker can be drawn or a report generated for an individual conflict or conflicts.
Zoom To pans the drawing to move the selected conflict to the center of the screen. The zoom functions are only active when a single line item is selected.

Zoom In zooms in on the highlighted area for closer inspection. Multiple picks on the zoom button will increase the magnification.

Zoom Out zooms out away from the highlighted area.

Report All/One toggles between One and All depending whether a single line item conflict or a category is selected from the error log. An error report is generated listing the x-y position and the elevation difference of the entities in conflict.

Draw All/One toggles between One and All depending whether a single conflict or a category is selected from the list. This option draws an "X" symbol at each selected conflict. The layer and size of the symbol is controlled in the fields below.

Continue closes the Error Log and proceeds with the contouring operation.

Settings
has controls for the tolerances for error reporting and for the Layer Name and Symbol Size to use with the Draw function.

Keyboard Command: mk_exist_tin
Prerequisite: a boundary polyline and elevated entities on the Existing layer target