TO MAKE THE SHAPES (SUPERS) ---AUTOMATIC MODE---
GEOPAK 2001

Copy one of the 2D files listed below from the F:\Resource\Seed directory to your working directory (name it whatever you want) and get into it.
Metric_2D.dgn (metric 2D file)
English_2D.dgn (english 2D file)

Geopak represents the superelevation for a roadway design by using a completely unique method. The user fills out several dialog boxes in
order to create an ASCII input file. This input file is then executed resulting in graphical elements automatically being drawn. I would describe these graphical elements as sort of 2 ½ D. Not to be confused with 3D.

To begin . . . invoke the Geopak User Preferences dialog box:

APPLICATIONS > GEOPAK ROAD > USER PREFERENCES

The dialog box below will appear. If designing in Metric, set the toggles and fields as shown.

Click on SUPERELEVATION PREFERENCES and the dialog box below appears, (illustrating the "e" Tab):

Some people refer to the Superelevation Preferences dialog for Geopak 2001 as "The Monster". It really is a little intimidating, but Geopak helped us set this up and you really shouldn't have to change anything. 2 files have been created with all the settings for designing 2 lane roads that comply with WFLHD policy. The 2 files are named FHWA_English_super.sep and FHWA_Metric_super.sep. Each are currently located on the server under F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric\ but may be moved to the server later.

The Superelevation Preferences files (.sep) may be selected by using the File pull down (or the Open icon) and browsing to the directory.

The dialog basically consists of 9 Tabs.

e
Runoff Length
Tangent Runout
Adjust Factors
Distribution
Rotation
Reverse Curves
Compound Curves
Short Curves

As mentioned earlier... these settings have been completed for you, and the following dialogs illustrate their correct settings. The help files included with your Geopak Software have very good explanations of all these Tabs and their variables. I don't intend to repeat what has already been explained there. Instead, I've simply shown the settings for use in WFLHD.

The "e" Tab

Also on this Tab is a data field where the software looks to find the "e" max table. Never include the full path here, simply use the Files button and select the file, (fhwa_english_e.csv or fhwa_metric_e.csv). Both are currently located under F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\English. or F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric.

The Runoff Length Tab:

Also on this Tab is a data field where the software looks to find the "length" table. Never include the full path here, simply use the Files button and select the file, (fhwa_english_length.csv or fhwa_metric_length.csv). Both are currently located under F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\English. or F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric.

The Tangent Runout Tab:

The Adjust Factors Tab:

The Distribution Tab:

The Rotation Tab:

The Reverse Curves Tab:

The Compound Curves Tab:

The Short Curves Tab:

After verifying that each of the Tab settings on your workstation are set as shown, click on the X in the upper right corner of the dialog to close it and click on OK back on the Geopak User Preferences dialog.

To Create the Auto Shapes ASCII input file, invoke the Shape Manager tool box:

APPLICATIONS > GEOPAK ROAD > Cross Sections > Superelevation Shape Manager Tools ... or click on the icon as shown:

This brings up the Superelevation Shape Manager Tools tool box. Click on the first icon, Automated Superelevation.

This brings up the Geopak Automated Superelevation dialog.

The upper left corner of the dialog has a User pull down. Click on this and select Directories.

This brings up the dialog where the user may browse to the directories where the .sep and .csv files are located, (as shown below). I've set up a Geopak configuration file that should be on your workstation that has these paths as the "defaults". To fill these paths in easily, simply click on Clear All and Default All. If the configuration file is on your workstation, these paths will be populated magically. If for whatever reason, the configuration file has been deleted, use the Select buttons and browse to the paths shown. When finished, click on OK.

Back at the User pull down... if you click on Preferences, it will take you to the Superelevation Preferences dialog, mentioned and illustrated earlier:

NOTE:

AASHTO 2001 recommends a different split for superelevation runoff other than the traditional WFL standard of 1/3 - 2/3.

The tables in AASHTO 2001 that are being referenced can be found on page 175.

As a result, I've added several new superelevation preference files on the server:

F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric\fhwa_metric_super_80_20.sep (for use with design speeds between 20-70 km/h)
F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric\fhwa_metric_super_70_30.sep (for use with design speeds between 80-130 km/h)
F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\Metric\fhwa_metric_super_67_33.sep (this file was simply renamed and provides the traditional 1/3-2/3 split)

F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\English\fhwa_english_super_80_20.sep (for use with design speeds between 15-45 mph)
F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\English\fhwa_english_super_70_30.sep (for use with design speeds between 50-80 mph)
F:\Resource\Geopak\Bin\English\fhwa_english_super_67_33.sep (this file was simply renamed and provides the traditional 1/3 - 2/3 split)

Click on Symbologies to set the element symbology for the Auto Shapes. It is recommended that you continue to use level 63 for the shapes.

The next step is to simply tell Geopak a little more about your design. Complete the top portion of the Automated Superelevation dialog:

Select the GPK file

Identify the Chain

Key-in the Design Speed

Select the Superelevation Preference file (English or Metric)

Select the maximum "e" table

Select from the toggle Divided or Undivided. We typically design 2 lane roads, so select Undivided.

The L Selection is made for you. It's tied to the Superelevation Preference file selection.

Select the Profile. Click on both the Left and Right Tabs to make sure that the Profile has been selected for both.

For most cases, set the Tie option to Offset and the Offset data field to 0.00.

The lower right portion of the dialog has 4 tools for completing the information for your shapes:

Add

Delete

Edit

Quick Entry

A nice improvement has been made for completing the remainder of the dialog with the addition of the Quick Entry tool.

The Quick Entry tool allows the user to enter the data for both the left and right shapes simultaneously... however the Dependency must be changed manually if one is desired to be Independent.

Invoke the Quick Entry tool by clicking on it as shown above. Enter the values in the data fields and press OK.

The result is shown below:

As mentioned earlier... as a result of using the Quick Entry tool, the Right shape will also be set to Dependent. To change the right shape to be Independent, simply click on the Right tab, highlight the information in the collection window, toggle the Dependency toggle to Independent and click on the Edit button (as shown below). I normally create one side Dependent and the other Independent simply so that they are automatically drawn in different colors, (see Symbology pull down explained previously). Both sides can actually be Dependent, but they both cannot be Independent.

Remember, all of this is done to simply create an ASCII input file, (that can be edited). All that remains now, is to tell the software what you want the name of this text file to be, (example shown below as "autoshapes.inp") and click on Generate Superelevation Transitions. This file will be created and placed in your working directory.

Another important change since Geopak 2000 is that the name of the .dgn file, (within the autoshape input file) to have the shapes drawn into, is automatically determined. The .dgn file name is determined by the current opened .dgn file that you create the autoshape input file from.

At the top of the ASCII input file, you will find that the software conveniently records information that you gave it to create the shapes. One new line of information is the log file that gets created with Geopak 2001. This is very important as this is the file that records any and all transition conflicts. The top portion of the input file is shown below:

Now that the ASCII input file has been created... all that remains is to execute the file to create the graphical shapes. One major change since Geopak 2000 is that this input file should not be processed via the normal Process Cross Sections dialog.

Now... the input file must be processed one of 2 ways, using the new Autoshape Builder tool , or Create Superelevation Shapes tool.

Each are explained below:

Method #1 (Autoshape Builder)

Select the Autoshape Builder, located on the Superelevation Shape Manager Tools tool box. Browse to the location of the input file, and select it. Click on Apply. This way gives the user the option of Display Only.

The graphical shapes will now be drawn into the design file for your review.

Method #2 (Create Superelevation Shapes)

If the input file is created successfully (after pressing Generate Superelevation Transitions) the Geopak Text Editor will automatically pop up. Click on the icon at the far right (Create Superelevation Shapes) to process the file. Display Only is NOT an option with this method.

IMPORTANT: Although the software is very cool.... you should always review how the shapes have been calculated and drawn, before proceeding any farther with your design.

Another major change since Geopak 2000 is that although any curve radii conflicts are still shown in the ASCII input file, the software will now allow processing the superelevation data without forcing you to change the design speed of the curves/spirals in the GPK file.

An example of how to change the design speed of a curve and it's spirals is shown below. You must have a Justifiable Design Exception in order to do this.

The example above illustrates changing the entry spiral (c3b) to comply with a 40 kpm design speed. The curve (c3) and the exit spiral (c3a) would also have to be changed using the follow commands in COGO:

s cur c3 v 40
s spi c3a v 40

Once all of the design exceptions have been approved and modified in COGO.... the ASCII input file must be recreated.

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TO MAKE THE SHAPES (SUPERS) ---AUTOMATIC MODE--- GEOPAK 2001