Geopak equivalent to InRoads DTM

I'm trying to determine what the equivalent GeoPak tool/file is to InRoads DTM. I know a DTM is a digital terrain model, however, it looks like in InRoads it is more than just an xzy file, or break line file? (I'm not familiar with InRoads) Is it equivalent to a GeoPak Site file, or just an ordinary tin file? I've heard the InRoads DTM has some intelligence to the elements?

Please explain. Thanks in advance.

 

Anthony

Parents
  • Anthony:

    Your basic understanding is correct.  The closest GEOPAK equivelent to a DTM is a TIN file.  But a TIN file is simply a surface.  The difference is that an InRoads DTM file stores the features for the elements whch comprise the surface so it contains the information to distinguish an edge of pavement breakline from a stream breakline (for example).  This is a simplified explanation for which some of my Bentley collegues can expand if necessary.

    Robert Garrett
    Senior Product Engineer
    Bentley Systems Inc.



Reply
  • Anthony:

    Your basic understanding is correct.  The closest GEOPAK equivelent to a DTM is a TIN file.  But a TIN file is simply a surface.  The difference is that an InRoads DTM file stores the features for the elements whch comprise the surface so it contains the information to distinguish an edge of pavement breakline from a stream breakline (for example).  This is a simplified explanation for which some of my Bentley collegues can expand if necessary.

    Robert Garrett
    Senior Product Engineer
    Bentley Systems Inc.



Children
  • If you could please elaborate on it. Is there anyway to duplicate the InRoads DTM in Geopak...or export Geopak information with the feature intelligence to InRoads? We use Geopak, but need to supply an InRoads DTM file and do not InRoads.
  • Are you trying to create a existing or proposed DTM?

    Charles (Chuck) Rheault
    CADD Manager

    MDOT State Highway Administration

    • MicroStation user since IGDS, InRoads user since TDP.
    • AutoCAD, Land Desktop and Civil 3D, off and on since 1996
  • I'm trying to export our proposed Geopak information (via tin file, 3D file, breaklines, something...) to create a proposed InRoads DTM that have those feature identifiers.
  • If you want you can forward me your DTM to look at.

    It many cases the Features added  or set with Inroads within the surface are not relevant to the design process. TIN files can be converted to DTM and vice versa. the resulting surface is identical. However as stated in earlier posts the Featurization aspect would allow differing symbolization depending on the triangulated feature (IE: In a road DTM triangles created from a curb feature could symbolize differently than the pavement).

     

    Mike Barkasi

    Bentley Civil Professional Services

    Michael Barkasi

    Application Engineer 

    Reality Modeling



  • Even though the surfaces may be identical, the converted Geopak tin to InRoads DTM will not contain feature symbology/information about what the element/point is, correct? i.e. a particular break line "knows" it represents the edge of pavement. That is the ultimate goal, to get an InRoads DTM with identifiable information. Thoughts?

     Would an option be to laydown the tin file breaklines and just change the symbology of each breakline to a level that represents the item? Would InRoads be able to extract that information and create a DTM with the element attributes?