Scenarios

A Quantm project can have many scenarios. A Quantm scenario specifies a particular set of data to be investigated. It includes:

• A terrain model of the study area

• The geometric standards and templates to be applied to the alignments

• Costs and construction parameters

• Constraints imposed by geographic objects within the study area (object database)

Once a job has been submitted for a scenario, the scenario is locked so that it cannot be altered. This ensures that you can always view alignments under the conditions that were used to generate them.

You can view the scenarios for the current project in the Project Explorer.

Duplicate a scenario

Duplicating will create a new scenario with links to the same data files as the original scenario. This means that both scenarios share the data files for Costing, Geometry, and Feature Data.

Tip: As this method of creating a scenario retains the information in the original scenario it is recommended that this is used instead of creating a new scenario

1. Right-click an existing scenario to access the shortcut menu, and then select Duplicate. The Duplicate scenario window appears:

2. Select a group from the Select group list.

3. In the Scenario field, enter a scenario name.

4. Select the type of route you would like to optimize from the Route type list.

5. Select if you want to Use Grade Breaks in the scenario.

6. Click OK.

Create a new scenario

Creating a new scenario will create a new scenario with new blank data files, which will mean that all costing, geometry, and feature data will need to be re-entered in the scenario. For this reason, it is recommended you duplicate a scenario rather than create a new one unless you need blank data files.

1. Right-click a group name and then select New scenario. The New scenario dialog appears:

2. In the Select DTM list, select an existing Quantm terrain model (.TMQ) or import a new terrain model by selecting <import DTM file>.

3. In the Scenario field, enter a scenario name.

4. In the Route type list, select the type of route you would like to optimize.

5. Select if you want to Use Grade Breaks in the scenario.

6. Click OK.

The new scenario appears in the nominated group and can be expanded to show its four datasets.

Datasets

The four data sets in the scenario are: 

• DTM Dataset: terrain model

• Geometry Standard Dataset

• Cost Parameters Dataset

• Object Dataset

When the scenario is created, the name of the geometry, cost, and object dataset is the same as the scenario name. 

If the folder icon for a dataset is colored yellow, it is unlocked and can be edited.

• If the icon is gray, the dataset is locked and cannot be edited.

• A gray icon on a dataset in an unlocked (yellow) scenario indicates that the dataset is used in another scenario that is locked.

For example, in the dataset shown here, the Catalog cost parameters file belonging to the Standard Road 01_1 scenario is locked because it has already been used in the previously created Standard Road 01 locked scenario.

Note: Locking a scenario automatically locks all its datasets.

Tip: If a dataset is locked it is still possible to edit this data set providing it is in an unlocked scenario. You are prompted to give the dataset a new name when you save the data. 

Rename a data set

• To rename an unlocked data set, right-click the dataset to access the shortcut menu, and then select Rename. 

You cannot: 

• Reuse the name of an existing dataset of the same type. If you try to do this, an error message prompts you to choose a new name. 

• Rename a digital terrain model. 

• Rename a locked data set. Once a scenario is used to create a job and an alignment is optimized, the scenario’s datasets (terrain model, geometry, cost structure, and objects) are locked and their names cannot be changed. 

Duplicate a data set

Duplicating a dataset keeps the original data and assigns a new name. If you duplicate a locked dataset, the new dataset will be unlocked.

1. Right-click the dataset to access the shortcut menu, and then select Duplicate as. The Duplicate Dataset As window appears.

2. Rename the duplicate dataset.

3.  Click OK. 

Replacing a data set

You can replace a dataset in an unlocked scenario. To replace a dataset, do one of the following:

• Select an alternative.

1. Right-click the dataset to access the shortcut menu, and then select Replace. The Replace dataset window appears: 

2. Select a new dataset from the list and then click OK 

• Drag-and-drop datasets in the Scenario Tree list. 

1. Expand the scenario that contains the data set you want to use in your current scenario. Drag the dataset to the current scenario.

Note: Dragging-and-dropping does not remove the dataset from its original scenario. 

Caution: Be careful not to delete datasets using this method. If only one instance of a dataset exists within your project and this is the one that you are replacing with a new dataset, the original will be permanently removed. 

Replacing datasets may cause deficiencies in the new scenario that you must rectify. For example, the object data file for a scenario may include a zone that allows for large design grades. This zone would reference a geometry type with large design grades that is stored in the geometry standards data file. If the geometry standards data file was replaced, the new geometry standards data file may not include the geometry type that the zone references. If changes to your scenario (replacing of datasets) cause errors when the scenario is loaded, the software detects this deficiency and creates costs or geometries as required which are copies of the default types. An error message, similar to the following example, appears automatically to prompt you to take remedial action. 

Similar deficiencies could be caused if you drag and drop a cost dataset that lacks a required culvert, bridge, tunnel, wall, or geology type. The same solution as above applies but, in the case of a culvert, there is no default channel type so the first channel type on the list is used. 

View a dataset

To view the contents of a dataset without loading a scenario, right-click the scenario to access the shortcut menu, and then select View Data. A read-only copy of the data opens. 

Delete a scenario

Scenarios cannot be permanently deleted because they are needed to maintain the integrity of the audit trail as they may contain information that is shared with other scenarios. However, there may be cases where you want to remove a scenario because of some error that was not apparent until after the job was run. For example, incorrectly entering the cost of the pavement. 

• Right‑click the scenario and then select Delete from the menu.

or

• Drag-and-drop the unwanted scenario into the Trash group.

The scenario still exists and can be retrieved from the trash if necessary, but it is clearly labeled as unwanted in the meantime. To restore the scenario from the trash, simply select the scenario you wish to restore and drag it into an appropriate group.

Results

If a job has been created for the scenario and results have been generated, the result files can be viewed in the Job/Results folder under the scenario. Results that have not been viewed will appear in bold. See Review Results.

Generate reports

Right-click a scenario to access the shortcut menu, and then select View Scenario Input Report. A report showing structure and earthwork costs, geometries, geology, and route parameters is generated: 

Load a scenario 

1. Right-click the scenario in the Scenario Tree list to access the shortcut menu 

2. Select Load Scenario.

Loading a scenario will change the view to the Scenario View.

Alternatively, you can load results for the scenario.

1. Expand the Job/Results folder for the scenario in the Scenario Tree list. 

2. Right-click the results to access the shortcut menu, and then select Load. 

The scenario loads and the View Results window appears. 

Next topic: Catalogs