SS3 - SURFACE CREATED FROM SURVEY DATA -

In this instance, it is best to edit the survey observations and then go in and lock the rules. Instead of editing the terrain created from the survey, edit the survey.

Hi Sanders. As "Roadrunner" said, large surveys always need editing. Like him, I have thousands of points, and breaklines, and need to make edits which are easier to do on the surface than going back to the original data. As with "Roadrunner", I need to add additional data multiple times (sometimes each day). I see now how to turn off these "rules" to allow edits. I see now each days survey creates a new surface. I see there is a "Complex Surface" which allows me to merge (or append) surfaces, but the merged surface ends up on the same level and I can't get rid of the old surfaces or the new one goes away. When new points are imported which are also inside a previous surface (as well as adjacent), what is better to use "Merge" or "Append"? How can I get rid of the old surface pieces, and just have the final surface? How can I control the layer(s) for the triangles, contours, etc.? How can I get contours at a tighter interval than just 1'? Is there a video (specific) that deals with creating survey surfaces, merging surfaces, editing surfaces, controlling layers, controlling contour intervals, etc?

There is no way possible to 'fix' all data in the 'survey'! Faces will always need flipped. We showed our local DOT how we flip faces in the surface and they literally lept out of the chair. They had no idea you could do that, they just thought you pressed the create surface button and it was done with 100% accuracy. I've been processing topos electronically for over 29 years and have never seen a surface createdwith 100% accuracy at the press of a button.

Regarding which is better in the case you describe above, merge is the better option to use. Merge combines the data from both surfaces, the overlap area and the new data, allowing the user to determine which surface data is to be used in the overlap area. Append combines data from the surfaces and it is likely that the user will have overlapping data.

In controlling layers for triangles, contours, etc. This is controlled the Feature Definition/Element Template. The following video is contours and contours labels but is applicable for triangles also. communities.bentley.com/.../8530.video-change-symbology-of-contours-and-contour-labels

Regarding tighter contour intervals than 1, Element Template (as above), Calculated Feature Settings>Contours>Minor Intervals, I have set intervals as tight as .1.

The following link will guide you to free training that includes: Survey Project Settings, Importing and Editing ASCII Survey Data, Creating Terrain Models from Field Books and Exporting Survey Data
learn.bentley.com/.../ViewLearningPathDetails

I hope this helps.

Regarding which is better in the case you describe above, merge is the better option to use. Merge combines the data from both surfaces, the overlap area and the new data, allowing the user to determine which surface data is to be used in the overlap area. Append combines data from the surfaces and it is likely that the user will have overlapping data.

In controlling layers for triangles, contours, etc. This is controlled the Feature Definition/Element Template. The following video is contours and contours labels but is applicable for triangles also. communities.bentley.com/.../8530.video-change-symbology-of-contours-and-contour-labels

Regarding tighter contour intervals than 1, Element Template (as above), Calculated Feature Settings>Contours>Minor Intervals, I have set intervals as tight as .1.

The following link will guide you to free training that includes: Survey Project Settings, Importing and Editing ASCII Survey Data, Creating Terrain Models from Field Books and Exporting Survey Data
learn.bentley.com/.../ViewLearningPathDetails

I hope this helps.