I am working on an interchange project with ramps and roadways that cross over the mainline.
I am encountering a problem when using Corridor Modeler to store the plan graphics using the offset chain method described in the FDOT CADD Training manual.
It seems that this method can only store two sequential EOP lines then every other line it intersects causes a "Connecting Element Error".
Is there a method suggested by FDOT for such instances?
Importing Plan Graphics for the Corridor Modeler tools to utilize can be a tedious process. There are three (3) methods the designer can use to select plan graphics to import: Symbology, Feature and Selection Set.
The plan graphics selected to import will be grouped together as a chain in which the designer will be given the opportunity to name the chain. Unique naming conventions are recommended to ensure the management of chains utilized by the corridor modeler are easily recognized and the naming convention should be descriptive, yet use minimal characters (example: On a divided highway, naming the edge of proposed pavement lines could be named ‘LT_Outside_EOP, LT_Inside_EOP, RT_Inside_EOP and RT_Outside_EOP’).
Note: The designer may not want to follow the training procedure for the purpose of importing Plan Graphics outside of training sessions and workshops. The training procedure is not the only method to import geometry. However, the designer should understand that there is a known issue with importing plan graphics. This issue is if there are selected Plan Graphics to import that are touching the chain selected for offset then those elements will not be imported. The designer will have to select the elements that were not imported manually using the Selection Set method setting up another chain for plan graphics that have the same symbology as plan graphics selected by another method. The designer will have to manually select the plan graphics down their entire project which can be time consuming.
The training procedure is designed to ensure plan graphics can be imported quickly and without having to manually select plan graphics to save time.This method is to copy the CL chain 500ft to the Right of the roadway to use this copied chain to look back 1000ft across the roadway to select and create Plan Graphics chains to import Plan Graphics.
The Import chain (offset chain) as describe in the training manual and shown in most of our training was designed for convenience and time saving during training sessions and classes. Though the method may work on small jobs or more specifically, smaller chains, we recommended still producing offset chains, however, the designer should use multiple offset chains or the Selection Set method. By utilizing multiple offset chains, the designer will be able to have better control over imported Plan Graphics and subsequently targeting and point controls in Roadway Designer.
One approach that can be used in InRoads is to store control lines as Features in a dummy surface. It would be mostly used for combining vertical data (like existing ground elevations) with the horizontal control without having to develop a profile. I have not tried out the Corridor Modeler in Geopak but it should work the same. The elevations can be set to an arbitrary value if not needed for design.