Dynamic Cross-Section

The dynamic Cross-Section window provides the third plane for viewing alignments. It allows you to step through cross-sections of the alignment as it interacts with the natural surface:

From the Alignment tab, click on the Cross Section icon to open the Cross Section dialog. Click on the Link Bar icon to activate the link bar. The location of the cross-section is shown in Plan view as a bar with a triangle at each end with the triangles highlighting the direction of the alignment, and in profile as a vertical line. Click the buttons again to toggle them off.

The Cross-Section window displays an alignment's construction properties at a given location relative to the natural surface. Within the window you can view:

• Factor - allows you to zoom in or out with the cross-section view for better clarity.

• Grid - to toggle the background grid on or off

• Text - to toggle the alignment information text within the view on or off

• Legend - toggles the legend display on or off

• Alignment location - comprising of chainage/station point and X,Y,Z location of the current centerline point being investigated

• Land - the height of the natural surface at the displayed alignment location

• Z-Land - the height difference between the natural surface and the alignment

• Bearing - the current bearing of the alignment

• Grade (%) - the current grade of the alignment

• H Radius - the current horizontal radius of the alignment

• V Radius - the current vertical radius of the alignment

• Templates - the name of the current template used for the left and right sides of the alignment. Click view to view the template in the Template Editor.

Tip: by clicking either the Grid or Text check boxes a corresponding font dialog box appears allowing you to alter the text size, font style, and color of the alignment information.

To view a cross-section at any point along the alignment place the cursor over the alignment, this will place the link bar at the corresponding location. To view a cross-section at every point where one was calculated (at least every 20 m), move the slider at the bottom of the Cross Section window, or use the left and right arrow buttons at the bottom of the Cross Section window. When you move one control, the others move correspondingly.

Tip: Use the link bar in plan in conjunction with the vertical line in profile to track which cross-section you are currently viewing. Drag the slider in the Cross Section window, or move the cursor in the Plan or Profile views, and all three views change accordingly.

The following figure shows a road in cut at a chainage of 72,100 meters:

It is also possible to lock the link bar in a fixed position on each of the views (Plan, Profile, and Cross Section) by freezing it along the alignment. At any given position of the link bar along the alignment (in Plan or Profile) right mouse click and select Freeze link bar from the list of options. This will keep the link bar located in a fixed position until the user either moves the link bar using the slider and arrows at the bottom of the Cross-section window, or unfreezes the link bar by right-clicking in either the Plan or Profile view.

Next topic: Warnings