Questions about how to work in a TIN-model - missing tools?

RE: Questions about how to work in a TIN-model - missing tools?

Shawn Cooke — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:15:59 GMT

The following recommendations may be anything but "simple", however it's worth mention in the context of assuming missing tools. Yes, ORD has many things to improve on, however we can admit the entire dynamic of the workflows and concepts have changed and frankly, are different.

One thing to understand is a "TIN" can be imported into ORD. When imported, it becomes a "Terrain" Feature linked to whatever data file it was imported from (e.g. TIN, DTM, LandXML, etc). You'll notice the ability to resync the data back into the dgn file, but that only goes one direction. When a terrain feature is edited in ORD the modified version becomes active or live data inside the dgn as a Terrain feature (and needs to be exported back out if and when necessary to be shared as an updated TIN).

The Survey workflow of ORD may help fill some gaps in what otherwise may seem to be "missing" in the development and analysis of civil terrains. By using the FieldBook import option "features from graphics" or from existing csv/ ascii data, you can generate FieldBooks to contain points and linear graphics that allow terrain attribute control, manipulation and reporting within the "Survey Details" dialog. Terrains generated from those can remain linked to the data. Terrain Feature attribute types will better control how to isolate/ delete areas via voids, hole and islands applied to the FieldBook generated terrain.

Question 6 can be achieved by using what Bentley refers as a "self managed " 3D workflow involving 2D dgn graphics having a profile "Set As Active" to generate a surface terrain projected 3D graphic. Once you understand the two separate workflows you can merge 3D projected graphics for importing into a FieldBook (Survey FieldBook workflow must be in a 3D only seed file, in contrast, the Self-Managed 3D geometry process must start with a 2D Seed.)

These short examples below may help achieve all with the exception of 5. I would need to understand the question better (is your "data" a raw LAS or point cloud dataset? if so, read more into Point Cloud POD files and achieving lower density before converting a POD to Terrain and back out to TIN).

Brief example adding information to a FieldBook and creating a terrain . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hYfhH2J0A

Terrain link and edits for features within a FieldBook (e.g. Survey Generated terrains). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6hgQ20OvU

Point Filter tool (2022 R2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thMkR2RzDgw

Points Report from selection set and exporting to CSV demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boHv1hNv1yE

The overall Bentley Survey Learning path below.

https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathWithMasterCourseExpanded?lpId=113451&mcId=113451&CourseId=130307&moduleId=135203

RE: Questions about how to work in a TIN-model - missing tools?

Tanja — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 04:40:49 GMT

Good morning,

thanks a lot for your reply.
At least I know now that I don't have to keep searching desperately for the tools that are useful for me.

Unfortunately I can't find any simple tool for exporting data (xyz) to an ascii file.

So I agree with you that there is still a lot to improve here. I guess I'll have to wait until then.

Greetings from Germany

RE: Questions about how to work in a TIN-model - missing tools?

Warren McLachlan — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:29:04 GMT

Hi Tanja

You are fortunate to have moved from InRoads to OpenRoads a bit later along the development road that some. Editing terrain models used to be a nightmare and that was only recently fixed. You needed to delink the terrain from the source data and go through a few workarounds before it would work reliably.

I do not think you can edit a .tin file directly, but you can edit a terrain model element created from that .tin file and then export to .tin if you specifically need it.

This video goes into the terrain editing tools:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM6g8ziFW-E&t=88s

To be honest, I think some of the older TIN editing and processing tools in Geopak/ InRoads were a little bit better - especially for your points 3-5. Long story short is I think those tools are missing in ORD. There is a long-standing feature request to have the Civil Tools brought back and I think it's going to be included in the next release from the mails I received from Bentley.

Point 2 is done using the "Add Features" tool in the OpenRoads Modelling -> Terrain -> Edit panel.

Unfortunately not everything you asked for but I hope it helps.