Hello,
I'm involved with transitioning to 3D modeling at my workplace which requires converting our 2D libraries to 3D. I've watched a few tutorials on working with OpenRoads / Civil Cells in Microstation, but there's several questions that I still have and am hoping there's perhaps some good tutorials / overviews that maybe I've missed.
I admit I know very little at this stage - I'm trying to get myself acclimated to how Microstation does 3D visualization before I get involved in this project in a couple of weeks. I should also mention that I come from a 3D modelling background, but it's using 3D mesh tools like Blender, which are designed for creating photorealisitc arch-viz, video game assets, movies, etc. Microstation's idea of 3D modeling is substantially (but not entirely) different.
So far, Microstation's accudraw tool makes a lot of sense, but I don't see it being used much in designing Civil Cells apart from building simple 2D structures. What I'm trying to get at is how to make complex 3D structures that can be made resuable as civil cells, beyond the rather simple approach that is taken to create intersections and roadway geometries. That is, suppose I want to build drainage structure cells, like standard box culvert, wingwall, and toewall designs we use. Or perhaps I want to create lighting structure cells. I can imagine ways that could be done using the paradigms that are employed in building civil cells, but I've seen nothing on building anything other than pavement surfaces.
I presume I've got some wrong-headed ideas about how these things work, so I'd greatly appreciate pointers or links to maybe more advanced tutorials in building custom 3D civil cells.
Joe Lukovits
User Since TDP in the 80's,
Vax based Unix Workstations - Interpro32,
from the Intergraph Corp.
Unknown said:I get the impression that custom underground structures like box culverts might be modeled using template features (in the same way curb and gutter is modeled).
This is an interesting approach. It could work great for a cursory look at whether the box will interfere with any pavement, etc., but you would need another solution for placing the end sections on the box. I suppose you might be able to handle the end sections with another template drop that accepts parameters (for wing wall tapers, etc.) according to your jurisdiction's standards.
Unknown said:but other things, like setting the top of the culvert to be a minimum depth below the bottom of the subgrade, adjusting wall thickness based on culvert size / depth, etc. seems a bit undefined for me.
A better approach, I think, is to use the alignment and profile of the stream (as it will flow in the proposed condition) and to create the box culvert's own "corridor" with a template that would accept parameters (for wall thicknesses and height and width, etc.)--again--based on your jurisdiction's standards. Of course, one of the following steps would be to have that corridor show up in your roadway corridor, to see if they are compatible.
I hope this helps with your paradigm. Me, I wish I had a better understanding of how to work with civil cells.