Make the Superelevation Shapes (Automatic Mode)
Create a new 2D DGN file (name it whatever you want) and open the 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. When this input file is executed, the results are graphical elements representing the lane widths and superelevation cross slopes. I would describe these graphical elements as intelligent 2D elements.
Invoke the Shape Manager dialog using the MicroStation pulldowns or the icon, each shown below:
Using the pulldowns:
APPLICATIONS > GEOPAK ROAD > CROSS SECTIONS > SHAPE MANAGER
...or use the "Tools" icon (shown below)
The Superelevation Shape Manager Tools appear as shown below:
Click on the Automated Superelevation icon (shown above) and the Automated
Superelevation dialog appears (shown below):
Set the directory for Superelevation Preferences by using the pulldowns
File > Directories as as shown below:
Click on Default All (as shown below) and all directories will be set as shown below . The example below illustrates the Metric directory paths. For English the path is X:\V8_Resource\X_30\Standards\Bin\English.
For older designs using the .X21 criteria
replace "X_30" with "X_21" in the paths.
The Superelevation Preferences (file) can be selected 2 different ways:
- By using the pulldowns File > Preferences as shown below:
Next select File > Open from the Superelevation Preferences dialog:
- By selecting it from the Automated Superelevation dialog as shown below:
Superelevation preference files are available for the Green Book recommended runoff locations (AASHTO 2001, page 175 and AASHTO 2004, page 183) as well as the traditional 1/3 - 2/3 distribution. In general, use the appropriate AASHTO recommendation first, then use the traditional distribution if conditions warrant.
| .X21 Generation of Criteria files/Level Libraries (AASHTO 2001): | .X30 Generation of Criteria files/Level Libraries (AASHTO 2004): |
|---|---|
X:\V8_Resource\X_21\Standards\Bin\Metric\
|
X:\V8_Resource\X_30\Standards\Bin\Metric\
|
X:\V8_Resource\X_21\Standards\Bin\English\
|
X:\V8_Resource\X_30\Standards\Bin\English\
|
See Superelevation Shapes Preferences for the default superelevation settings.
Once again, 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:
Click on Symbologies to set the element symbology for the Auto Shapes.
It is recommended that you use level P_RDW_Super_Shapes 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" value and design speed, (ie., 6% -40km/h)
- 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:
- New Lane
- Delete Lane
- Quick Entry
- Rectify Lanes (Only used with multiple lanes on the same side of centerline. This tool removes accidental gaps between adjacent lanes).
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
and uncheck the Dependent box (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.
NOTE:
Open the MicroStation design file that
you intend to draw the superelevation shapes into before creating this input
file. The last line in the autoshape input file specifies the directory
path and name of the MicroStation design file to have the shapes drawn.
The MicroStation design file name is determined by the current opened MicroStation
design 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 important line of information is the log file that also gets created.
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.
The input file can be processed one of 2 ways, using the Autoshape Builder tool, or Create Superelevation Shapes tool. Each are explained below:
Method #1 (Create Superelevation Shapes)
When the input file is created 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.
Once pressed, the superelevation shapes will be drawn into the MicroStation design file.
Method #2 (Autoshape Builder)
For subsequent processing, 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 Draw Superelevation Shapes.
This method gives the user the option of Display Only.
The graphical shapes will now be drawn into the design file for your review.
IMPORTANT:
You should always review how the shapes have been calculated and drawn, before proceeding any farther with your design.