Create Vertical Alignment: "VPI Based" Profile Design Tool
To invoke the VPI Based Vertical Alignment Design tool:
Select APPLICATIONS > GEOPAK ROAD > GEOMETRY > LAYOUT PROFILES (VPI Based) or from the Road Tools icon as shown below:
- Most likely... if you're at this point in your design, you have already extracted a ground profile and have it displayed graphically. Additionally, if you're using GEOPAK 2001, you should be taking advantage of the Profile Cell utility and have a Profile Cell already placed. If so... skip steps 2 through 5 and simply click on Identify Cell, data point the cell, click on OK, and continue to step 6 below. If you don't already have a cell placed, continue to step 2.
- Key-in the Job Number, Operator Code and select the Chain using the Select button.
- Key-in the Horizontal and Vertical scales. We typically use Horizontal = 100 and Vertical = 10.
- The next thing that must be done is tell the software where you want the profile "anchored", or where to begin the Horizontal and Vertical axis' and exactly where in the design file you would like it drawn (MicroStation file XY coordinates). The Reference Station and Reference Elevation must be keyed in, but the X and Y values can be populated by clicking on DP and then data pointing the screen.
- Click on the Draw Cell At XY button. The Profile Cell and the Profile are now drawn.
- This will invoke the GEOPAK Profile Generator as shown below:
From the pulldown menu, select File > Preferences.... This invokes the Preferences dialog as shown below:
This is where you set the preferences for dynamically laying out the profile. The typical metric settings are shown. You have the option of selecting Maintain K Value or Maintain VC Length. We typically select Maintain VC Length. When finished, click on OK.
From the pulldown menu, select User > K-Values. This invokes the K-Values dialog as shown below:
Using the File pulldown, select File > Open and browse to the folder C:\Bentley\MSV8\geopak\Bin\ and select the appropriate K-Value table. Press OK as shown below:
The GEOPAK Profile Generator is shown below (with the K-Value table "KValues_2001metric.kvl" selected):
To begin using the GEOPAK Profile Generator, click on Dynamic and snap to the beginning of where you want the profile to start. This would usually be exactly at the beginning of the existing ground profile. Accept the snap with a data point of the mouse.
Pan on ahead, click on Insert After and data point the screen where the next VPI should be. I would suggest laying out all the VPIs first, save the file, using the pulldown, File > Save As and then go through designing the vertical curves. The vertical curves can be entered by typing in the length in the field, or simply selecting the design speed on the GEOPAK Profile Generator.
When finished, save the file again. The vertical alignment can now be reviewed using COGO by using the COGO pulldowns Element > Profile > Print. Select the Profile and click on Apply.
The profile can also be drawn using the D&C Manger. See Display the Vertical Alignment
To modify the profile later...Invoke the GEOPAK Profile Generator and use it's pulldowns:
File > Load. Click on Select and pick the Profile. Click on OK.
Click on Next VPI to move to the VPI to be adjusted or use the horizontal slide bar. When the little reference circle is on the VPI to be adjusted, click on Dynamic and slowly move the cursor into the circle. Nothing will happen until the cursor gets close to the reference circle. You may then modify the profile dynamically. When finished modifying, (make sure Redefinition of Elements is On and save the file again. VPIs can also be inserted or deleted, dynamically.
Another handy tool with this application is the ability to place cells or simply a line at a specific station and elevation. This is similar to DP Station offset. To invoke this dialog...
On the GEOPAK Profile Generator pulldown, select Tools > Issue Data Point.
Fill in the desired Station and Elevation, select the MicroStation command, place line or place cell, click Issue DP and the line or cell will appear on the screen.