Bentley MX - 2004 Edition MXROAD_Introduction 022004

BentleyR MXROAD 2004 Edition

Introduction DAA034400−1/0001

 Trademarks  Trademarks

Bentley, the ’B’ Bentley logo, and MircoStation are registered trademarks of  Bentley Systems, Incorporated or Bentley Software, Inc. Inc. MX, the MX logo, Infrasoft, Arenium and the Arenium logo are registered trademarks of Infrasoft.  Adobe, the Adobe logo, log o, Acrobat, the Acrobat logo, Distiller, Exchange and PostScript are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.  AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Map are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. HOOPS is a registered trademark of Tech Soft America. OpenGL is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. NetWare ® is a trademark of Novell, Inc. Internet Explorer, MDAC, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and  Windows XP and True Type are registered trademarks of Microsoft R Corporation.

Copyright Copyright E

2004 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.  All rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States. Portions Copyright © ComponentOne, LLC 1991−2002. All Rights Reserved DWGdirect  E

2002 by OpenDWG Alliance Inc. All rights reser ved..

Table of Contents MX Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MX Basics − Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is String Modeling? .................................................... MX Environment − Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windows Environment ...................................................... AutoCAD Environment ..................................................... MicroStation Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Applications Toolbar .................................................... Starting MX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Typical Project Sequence .................................................... Creating a survey model from imported data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assigning model defaults .................................................... Creating a working display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing the working display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Producing a design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Analyzing the design ........................................................ Modifying the design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Producing visualizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exporting data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . System Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . User Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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1−1 1−2 1−8 1−11 1−15 1−16 1−22 1−28 1−30 1−31 1−33 1−33 1−35 1−35 1−37 1−38 1−40 1−42 1−43 1−44 1−45 1−46 1−46 1−49 1−52

MXROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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MXROAD − Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standard String Naming Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Options in MXROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Import . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Surface Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alignment Design .......................................................... Road Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intersection Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pavement and Subgrade Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Modifying the design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Project Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2−1 2−2 2−2 2−2 2−3

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2−4 2−7 2−11 2−12 2−14 2−15 i−1

Table of Contents

1

MX Basics

MX Basics − Overview   This section gives an overview of MX and describes the basic principles of  operation. In particular, the concepts of string modeling are given together with a description of how MX data may be manipulated from any of the three MX  environments; Windows, AutoCAD or MicroStation. An overview of each MX  option is also provided in a typical project sequence.  This section covers the following topics: S

 What is string modeling?

S

 The MX environments − Windows, AutoCAD and MicroStation

S

 The Applications toolbar

S

Starting MX 

S

Starting a project 

S

 Typical project sequence

S

Using the on−line help and tutorials

S

System administration

S

User support 

 The next section deals with the options specific to MXROAD.

1

MX Basics What is String Modeling?

 What is String Modeling? In any project, MX uses a simple hierarchy of models, strings and points to store data. Each model can be thought of as a separate surface. Models are stored in a model file and contain strings which are made up of 3D coordinate points (X, Y, Z) linked together. These strings are used to represent physical features. Generally, all project data is stored in a single folder on your PC.  The model file and models  The illustration below shows the content of a typical model file for a project.  There is only one model file for each project, but many models can coexist   within the model file, each storing a specific set of data. For example, one model may contain survey data while the other is used for the proposed design.

Survey

Alignment

Isopachyte Triangulation

Design

Boundary

Sections

Drainage

Survey Stations

Existing Ground

Triangulation

Contours

Visualization

Figure 1 − The model file

MX Basics What is String Modeling? Strings and string links  All MX data is held as strings. A string is a series of points, each joined to its predecessor and successor by a straight or curve−fitted line. This is referred to as a string link. Strings in MX have dimensions at each point, where a dimension is simply a piece of data such as an X, Y or Z coordinate, or another attribute such as the bearing at the point. MX recognizes many types of string: S

Station strings link survey instrument stations. The dimensions of each station are the X,Y and Z co−ordinates and the name of the station, so a station string is a 4D string.

S

Contour strings represent contours. The dimensions of each point are the X and Y co−ordinates, so a contour string is a 2D string. The elevation of  the contour (the Z value) is only stored once because it is common to all string points.

S

Feature strings define either linear ground features such as a ridge or the base of a hill, or design features such as a roadway edge or back of unpaved shoulder. The dimensions of each point in the string are the X,Y and Z co−ordinates of the point, so a feature string is a 3D string.

S

Point strings represent discrete items such as manholes and lamp columns.  A point string records the X,Y and Z co−ordinates of a set of like items, but  there is no physical continuity from item to item, ie, there is no string link. MX processes these strings differently from other strings, particularly when sectioning or triangulating. Point strings generally record detail in survey  models.

S

Master strings are used to represent road or railroad alignment center lines and other master design lines. They are 6D strings. The first three dimensions of each point in the string are the X,Y and Z co−ordinates, followed by the station along the string, the bearing of the string at that  point, and the radius of curvature.

S

Section strings represent cross−sections, profiles or baseline sections (profiles taken along a straight baseline). These are all 5D strings. With cross−sections, for example, the first three dimensions of each point are the X,Y and Z coordinates, followed by the offset of the point from the reference string, and the name of the string that was cut to produce the section.  When MX creates section strings, elevations are linearly interpolated to the point at which the section line intersects the string link.

S

Earthwork strings represent the outer limits of embankments and cuttings.  These are 5D strings. The first three dimensions of each point are the X,Y  and Z coordinates, followed by the offset and bearing of a line normal to the line used to generate the string (called the reference line).

S

 Volume strings generally contain earthwork volumes. These are 10D strings and are used to store volumes calculated between successive sections. The

1

MX Basics What is String Modeling? first three dimensions of each point are the X,Y and Z coordinates, followed by the station and the volume between the sections of two specified models (usually ground and design models). The remaining  dimensions record volumes between the various strata, though since this information is not always available, these dimensions are often zero. S

Mass−haul strings contain accumulated mass−haul balances along a road design. These are 10D strings, the first three dimensions of each point are the X,Y and Z coordinates, followed by the station and the accumulated mass−haul balance at that station. The remaining dimensions record cumulative balances for various strata, where these are known; otherwise they are zero.

S

 Triangulation strings contain a lattice of links between 3D triangle vertices.  Adjacent triangle information is also stored to optimize the display and analysis of a triangulated surface. MX always includes string links when triangulating.

S

 Text strings are multi−dimensional strings that hold character information for naming items in drawings. The first two dimensions of each point are the X and Y coordinates of the start of the text. The third dimension specifies the height of the characters when plotted. The fourth dimension is the bearing of the baseline of the characters, and subsequent dimensions contain the characters themselves.

 All strings must have a four−character name, but cannot include spaces or special characters. ABCD, 1234, and XA45 are valid examples, though MX uses a convention for names to indicate the type of the string. Some string types such as cross section strings only require a single character − MX automatically  allocates the remainder. These conventions are stored in feature sets, which are described in more detail later. Points  Within a string, a point is held as a set of dimensions that are associated with each other. Each point has a set of coordinates and may also have other information, for example, to define geometry. For example: S

On a contour, a point is just two dimensions X and Y. The Z value is stored only once because it is common to all the points in the string.

S

 Along a ridge or a curb line, three dimensions X, Y and Z are used.

S

On a road center line, there are six dimensions; X, Y and Z, station, bearing, and radius of curvature (ch, b, rad).

 A point can have any number of dimensions between 2 and 15, depending on the information needed to record in addition to its position. The following  illustration shows the dimensions of points on contour, ridge and road center line strings.

MX Basics What is String Modeling?

(x, y, z, ch, b, rad) (x, y, z) (x, y, z) (x, y, z) (x, y) (x, y) (x, y)

Figure 2 − String points Point numbers Strings consist of sequences of points and, to address and retrieve individual points, MX assigns each point a number relative to the start of the string. The number always remains relative to the start of the string, so if a string has 24 points and point 12 is deleted, the old point 13 becomes point 12, and so on to the last point. Discontinuities  There are two types of discontinuity used in MX; a discontinuity between points on a string, so creating a gap, and a discontinuity of bearing, which indicates an instantaneous change of direction at a point. Gaps 

It may be that one or more gaps or discontinuities in a string are required, for instance, to create a break or gate in a fence. In this case, MX creates a string as a series of part sections of the same string, with a common name.  This technique avoids a profusion or duplication of strings and difficulties in names. before

CASI

after

CASI CASI gap

Figure 3 − Gaps in strings

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MX Basics What is String Modeling? Bearing discontinuities 

 These are used to mark a change in direction within a string, such as in estate roads where curbs often turn through 90 degrees. Null elevations In horizontal alignment design, master alignment strings are created without  elevations, and the elevations are added later in vertical alignment design. Because, the horizontal alignment is defined as a 6D master alignment string, MX assigns a null elevation of −999.0 to every point on the string. In this way  MX is able to register the presence of a elevation while ignoring its value. Null elevations are also useful when recording feature strings for objects such as hedges and fences, where elevations are often not required. Again, MX  automatically assigns null elevations to create a 3D string. Null levels are ignored when creating a triangulation of a surface. Feature sets Feature sets are a means of grouping strings and identifying them with a description. They are used throughout MX to make it easier for you to select  strings for subsequent operations. The strings belonging to a feature set are specified using a partial string name.  As an example, a design feature set might include the following:

Feature

Partial Name

String Type

Road Center Line

MC??

Master

Carriageway (Edge)

CE??

Feature

Carriageway (Top of Curb)

CT??

Feature

Shoulders (Edge)

ES??

Feature

Shoulders (Unpaved shoulder)

EV??

Feature

 When a model is created, you can associate a feature set with the model using  Tools ⇒ Model Defaults . This sets up a string naming convention for the model. Different models can have different feature sets. Default feature sets are provided with the software. Style sets  A style set is a collection of styles which is used to draw a complete model or a selected part of it. Different style sets are used to draw different types of  model. Many style sets are provided with MX and you may add your own style sets if you wish.

MX Basics What is String Modeling? For example, there is a style set to draw a complete contour model with all contours drawn as solid lines and curve fitted. Prominent contours are also drawn for every 5 normal contours with the contour height embedded in the contour line.  Another style set draws a plan view of a road design model with different line styles for each feature type, the alignment with station annotation and the  vertical intersection points with their associated elevations and grades. Style sets rely heavily on the string naming convention used for a model. For this reason, they are closely associated with feature sets and by convention are given the same name as the feature set with which they are associated. Model defaults  You can specify which feature set and which style set to associate with a model  when you create it. You can also specify these defaults for an existing model using Tools ⇒ Model Defaults. Once these defaults have been set up , they are automatically used for every relevant option, such as when you display or create a string. Another way to assign model defaults is to click the right hand mouse button in any model name field on a panel, or on the model name field of the MX Toolbox.  You can also make these assignments automatically if you use a standard model naming convention. Standard string naming convention  A standard string naming convention has been introduced to allow you to take full advantage of the power and flexibility of feature sets and style sets. It may  be switched on or off on a per project basis from the message box which appears when you start a new project, or from the System Parameters  tab on the Project Settings  panel. It uses the feature and style sets  MXROAD.fns  and  MXROAD.pss  for the design model. If you have purchased MXROAD, an application developed for highway design, you must use the standard string naming convention.

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MX Basics MX Environment − Overview

MX Environment − Overview  MX can run in any of three environments; Windows, AutoCAD and MicroStation.

Windows

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Figure 4 − MX Environments  When running under Windows, MX uses its own built−in frame and user interface, presented in the usual way as a series of menus and panels. When running in either of the other two CAD environments, similar options and panels are available from an MX menu which is added to the AutoCAD or MicroStation menu bar. In this way, when you are running in a CAD environment, you have access to both the MX options and the standard CAD options at the same time. Data interoperability and drawings  Whichever environment you are using, MX creates working displays (DPWs) or drawing page files (DPFs) to store the MX graphical elements you create from the model file data. However, MicroStation uses DGN files and AutoCAD uses DWG files. MX  addresses this difference by presenting you with a DGN or DWG file, but in the background it is constantly updating a working display or drawing page file.  The name of the working display or drawing page file corresponds to your current CAD drawing file. In this way, although you are using MX in one environment, for example, MicroStation, the MX drawings created may be opened and edited in any MX environment, for example, AutoCAD. Whichever environment you are using, changes to the drawing are also passed on to the model file where appropriate.

MX Basics MX Environment − Overview In MX, there is a fundamental difference between a DPW and a DPF. A DPW  is an elastic area that grows to accommodate changes to the graphics it holds, and so lets you create, assess, and edit model data to design the project. Once the design is complete, paged drawings are needed, and it is at this point that a DPF is created. This file also displays the MX graphics, but does not let you edit the model data; the only operation available is the addition of lines and text  (enhancements).

1

MX Basics MX Environment − Overview

MX Data

Model file

DPW or DPF

MX Environment 

Windows

User Interface

 AutoCAD or MicroStation DWG or DGN

CAD−only layers/levels

MX layers/levels

User Interface

Figure 5 − MX data interoperability

MX Basics Common Components

Common Components Many components of the MX interface are common to all environments, and these are described in the following paragraphs.  The MX user interface is Windows compliant. This means that many of the operations you have learned in other Windows software, such as Open, Save and Browse are just as valid in MX. Help is obtained for an item on a panel by  clicking the question mark icon on the panel header and dragging it onto the item in question. What’s This Help is then automatically displayed. You can also press the F1 key.  The following sections do not provide all the answers about how to work with MX, they do however provide enough information to begin with. Much MX−specific information is provided as Help and there are many books written about working in the Windows environment, although there is no substitute for trying for yourself. Given that all data critical operations require confirmation before they are carried out, and that Cancel provides an escape route, experimentation will quickly make you proficient.  The mouse  The mouse is used to interact with the display, the data input panels, toolbars and menus. Essentially, the left−hand mouse button selects the data under the position of the cursor. For example if a string name is to be entered in a panel field, move the cursor over the string on the display and click the left−hand button.  You can also click and hold the left−hand button to expand menus, display lists, increment values using spinners and so on. Simple clicking selects items from a list.  The right hand mouse button presents available options. For example, if you click in an XY field on a panel to provide focus, and then click the right hand button the Point Selection Method (PSM) options appropriate to that field are listed. Click the PSM you require to reposition the tick ( √ ) marking the current  method.  Three types of cursor are used in MX to help you recognize the type of input  the program is expecting. By default, these are as follows: the Windows cursor − used in panels and for manipulating Windows. the CAD cursor − used when specifying CAD commands in  AutoCAD or MicroStation. the MX cursor − used when specifying MX options

1

MX Basics Common Components  The keyboard  The keyboard is used for entering data into a field or working in the MX  Linemode panel. Shortcut keys are available, they are marked by _ and activated by using ALT + the character key. For example, use ALT F to gain access to the File  menu. Panels  There are many panels, each providing access to one or more MX options. You  will find that, in most cases, you can have more than one MX panel open at any  one time. Some panels are arranged to appear in sequence, this sequence is known as a  Wizard. A Wizard is a simple means of guiding you through a complex process, making sure that you provide all the information necessary to complete the task.  The panel below is typical and shows the key elements, for which explanations follow;

Figure 6 − Typical panel layout 1.  The panel header bar and the title Design a String: Intersection of Two Slopes 

defines the function of the panel.

MX Basics Common Components 2.  To find out more about any of the panel data requirements click the ?

button, place it on the text about which you need to know more, and click  again. What’s This help will be displayed. What’s This help tells you how to complete the data field, and provides other essential information. 3.

Clicking this button will dismiss the panel without completing the function.

4.

Rather than using 3, use one of these three buttons; OK  completes the function with the data you have supplied and then dismisses the panel,  Apply  completes the function with the data you have supplied and keeps the panel displayed, Cancel  dismisses the panel.

5.  These tabs allow you to get at all the data fields for the option. The left or

top tab contains all the mandatory fields, subsequent tabs and their fields are optional. 6.

Radio buttons permit you to select one of a number of choices, the one  with the black center is the one currently selected. On this particular panel changing the option will gray out some of the other data fields as they are not relevant for the selected option.

7.

Clicking the list button will give you a list of models, strings or options from which to choose. As you run the cursor down the list, the highlight  moves, and clicking transfers your selection to the data field.

8.

Click and hold the up or down spinner to increment the value in the data field.

9.

Click either the up or down arrow button to define the direction of the slope.

10. Click in the check box to apply normal offset. This will change the text 

beside the data field beneath, as the value to be entered into the field changes. 11.  The panel id. If ever you have a problem, and need more information than

the help gives, quoting the panel id to your MX support engineer will help locate where you are and what you are trying to do. MX menu bar  The standard MX menu or menu bar choices are File, View, Tools, Design,  Analysis, Modify, Display, Draw, Visualize, Report, Add−Ins  and Help. You will quickly learn which options are available from each of the pull down menus, but  a click on each will display the menu content. In the CAD environments, MX appears as a separate entry on the AutoCAD or MicroStation menu bar. Once a project is opened, the MX menu changes to reveal all the MX options which are available to you. If you wish, you can display the MX options as an alternative menu bar to the CAD menu bar by  selecting  MX  ⇒ MX Menu .  You may find some options are grayed out in the menus. This may be because they are not installed, you are not licensed to use them or they are not suitable for use at that particular moment.

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MX Basics Common Components  Toolbars  There are a number of MX toolbars which provide shortcuts to the MX  options. You can display the toolbars so that they are docked to the frame, you can move toolbars to different screen locations, or turn them off using the MX  option View ⇒ Toolbars .  To dock or undock a toolbar, double−click the toolbar header.  The Plan with Tools  toolbar is shown below. If an icon needs explanation, rest the cursor on it to display its tool tip.

Figure 7 − Plan with Tools toolbar  Message boxes If you make a mistake or MX wants to communicate with you, a message box  will be displayed. You will have to acknowledge the message by clicking the OK  button. Generally, if you have made a mistake, such as missing a mandatory data field, the message will tell you what’s wrong and how to correct the error. You will have to click  OK  to dismiss the message before you can re−apply focus to the panel field requiring correction.  The MX output window   The MX output window shows the commands sent to the MX engine to carry  out your instructions throughout your MX session. It is not necessary to understand these commands, but they can be decoded using the Linemode Reference Help. The window also displays errors and warnings, and these together with the messages and prompts may assist you in changing the option data to achieve the results you require. In AutoCAD, when focus is in the AutoCAD application you can display the output window by pressing SHIFT−F2. AutoCAD output and command prompts are displayed in the AutoCAD text window, which you can access by  pressing the F2 key. You can also direct MX output to the AutoCAD text   window from the View ⇒ Configuration panel. Moving MX data to other Windows applications Using standard Windows cut and paste techniques, or simply by opening MX  data files in editor applications you can transfer MX data to any other Windows compliant application. Once there, the data can be re−formatted, tabulated into columns or totally reorganized using standard word processing options. This means that you can transfer MX data to tender or contract documents, and present it in any way you choose.

MX Basics Windows Environment

 Windows Environment MX in Windows runs within a frame, but has other windows within the frame.  When you start a new project, two windows are displayed within the MX frame, the display window and the output window. The output window is docked  within the frame, and can be detached and moved to any location.

Figure 8 − The MX frame  You can only have one drawing open at any time, but within the MX frame you can create additional viewports, showing different views of the drawing.

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MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment

 AutoCAD Environment MX runs within AutoCAD, so that when you start the program, the only  obvious changes from standard AutoCAD are that there is an extra MX menu and two extra toolbars, the MX Controls toolbar at the foot of the graphics  window and the MX toolbar. The MX toolbar controls which model an object is added to when it is drawn, and which type of feature is created. As with standard AutoCAD, the display reflects the contents of the DWG file, but with MX in AutoCAD, some or all of the layers in the DWG file contain data which is linked to the MX model file via an MX drawing file. In this way, you can create a DWG file containing both MX layers and layers which contain only   AutoCAD data.

Figure 9 − The AutoCAD frame

MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment MX strings in AutoCAD  You can use either MX options or AutoCAD commands to create and draw  MX model information such as strings in an AutoCAD DWG file. A string is a sequence of points which represents a physical feature, such as a fence or a hedge, or it can represent a non−physical feature such as a contour. MX strings  which are related to each other are stored in models, for example, all strings  which represent a survey are stored in a survey model, and all strings which represent a proposed design are stored in a design model. The set of features used by a model is stored in a feature set and associated with the model. MX model data is displayed on layers created with the same names as the features or a group of features in the model’s associated feature set. These layers are called MX layers, in that anything you draw on them can be linked to the MX model file. You must associate a feature set with the model before using the MX options to ensure that the strings are correctly displayed in their relevant layers. Using AutoCAD commands, when you create a polyline on an active MX layer, MX in AutoCAD creates and displays an MX string custom object and a corresponding string is also written to the MX model file. The string is automatically given the next name in the feature set corresponding to the name of the layer.  A custom object is an object such as an MX string which is not a native  AutoCAD object, but is created by another program (in this case, MX in  AutoCAD). When you modify or delete an MX string, both the MX string  custom object in the drawing and the string itself (in the MX model file) are updated. Custom objects can also be exploded back to equivalent AutoCAD objects and the corresponding data removed (optionally) from the model file.  You can use layers which are not MX layers for information which is not  required by MX, so you can work in AutoCAD (possibly constructing objects or adding annotation) on a layer such as layer 0 and the data is not sent to the MX model file.  The MX Toolbar  The MX toolbar gives you control of the creation of MX strings when using   AutoCAD commands. It has no effect when you use MX options. For example, in MX in AutoCAD you can use most of the AutoCAD Draw and  Modify  commands such as PLINE and MOVE to create and edit MX strings.  With no objects selected, the MX toolbar lets you know what will happen if you create a new AutoCAD object. It tells you if you can successfully create MX  strings, in which MX model any new strings will be created, and the feature that   will be created.

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MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment

Traffic Lights

Hide Current Model

Convert Object Current Model

Current Feature

Display Current Model with Style Set

Create New Feature Set Active Document

Figure 10 − The MX toolbar  If you select an object, the toolbar provides information about the object you select. If the object is an MX string, then the model and feature of the string are displayed in the toolbar.  The toolbar is described in more detail in the following paragraphs. Traffic Lights 

 The traffic lights indicate whether you can create MX strings using AutoCAD commands. S

If a green light is displayed, then when you create an AutoCAD object on an MX layer it will be automatically converted to an MX string in the currently displayed model.

S

If an amber light is displayed, then when you create an AutoCAD object  you can manually  convert it to an MX string by clicking the Convert Object  button and then selecting the objects to be converted.

 To switch between automatic and manual conversion, you click the auto−convert box at the foot of the frame. So, if you were to use an AutoCAD command on the layer Roadway_Edge and the current model’s feature set contained the feature description Roadway (Edge ) then you would see a green (or amber) light and the resultant MX string would have a string name of CE??. Show/Hide Current Model 

 The Show/Hide Current Model  icons provide a quick way to hide or redisplay all the drawn information from the model in the current model field. For example, you can hide the ground model so that only the design model is displayed. Current MX Model 

 The current MX model is the model in which MX strings will be created. This field is grayed out if you select an object which is not in the current model. Current Feature 

 The current feature is the feature type which is given to any MX string you create using AutoCAD options. The field lists all the features in the feature set  associated with the current model.

MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment If you create an AutoCAD object, it will be created on the layer associated with this feature.  To create a layer corresponding to a feature, just select the feature from the list. If you select an object, the current feature list changes to reflect the feature of  the object you have selected.  You can change the feature type of an object by simply selecting the object and then selecting a feature from the list. Convert Object Button 

If an amber traffic light is displayed, select the object to be converted to an MX  string, then click this button . The object will be converted to the feature corresponding to the layer that the object is on.  Auto−Convert Mode 

 Auto−convert allows you to toggle between the automatic and manual modes of  creating MX strings from AutoCAD objects. The auto−convert toggle box is located at the bottom of the MX frame.  With auto−convert on, if the current layer is an active MX layer, when you create an AutoCAD object it is automatically converted to an MX string. The traffic light is green in this case.  With auto−convert off, if the current layer is an active MX layer, when you create an AutoCAD object it is not converted to an MX string. The traffic light  is amber in this case. To convert it manually, use the Convert Object  icon.  A red traffic light indicates a plain AutoCAD layer or an inactive MX layer, ie, a layer whose corresponding features do not exist in the current model.  The auto−convert setting has no effect if you modify an MX string; the MX  model will be automatically updated.  The auto−convert setting has no effect if you change the layer property of an object to an active MX layer; the object is automatically converted to an MX  string. Create New Feature 

 The Create New Feature  button allows you to add features to your feature set  and to create additional AutoCAD layers from the feature set descriptions. If  you use an MX option to display an MX model (for example, Display ⇒ Plan  with Style Set   ), then you will find that the MX layers are automatically created for you. You only need to use Create New Feature  if you want to create a new MX  layer and feature for use with AutoCAD commands.  You can create a new layer from a feature in the current feature set just by  selecting the feature from the MX toolbar.  Any feature you create must have an entry in the corresponding style set so that  MX knows how to draw it. Use the Style Set Editor to modify the appropriate style set.

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MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment Set Active Document 

 The Set Active Document  button defines which drawing is the current MX  drawing. In AutoCAD, you may have more than one drawing open at any one time, but MX operates on one drawing only. MX and AutoCAD commands  You may use either MX options or AutoCAD commands to create and edit MX  strings. For details of the operation of individual AutoCAD commands, refer to the on−line Help.  When you select an MX option from the pulldown menus, it is processed and the AutoCAD command prompt is replaced by an MX prompt. At this stage, some AutoCAD menus, such as Layer  and Linestyle , will be grayed out, because MX in AutoCAD is expecting an MX screen selection. If you then want to use an AutoCAD command, click in the command window or the graphics area, and press the  Esc  key.  To review any information on the command line, press the F2 key to display the full AutoCAD text window. Use SHIFT F2 to display the MX output window,  which contains details of the MX options which are processed. In general, only 2D and 3D MX strings can be edited using AutoCAD commands, although 6D master strings can be moved, copied or rotated. This is because MX uses different types of strings for sections, master alignments, geometry, cadastre, earthworks and drainage, with information stored in extra dimensions of the string that standard AutoCAD commands cannot maintain.  AutoCAD grips are therefore not available for these string types. MX in AutoCAD configuration  The MX in AutoCAD Configuration panel is used to configure the way in  which MX interacts with AutoCAD. It is available from both the MX  View %  Configuration  option and from the MX tab of AutoCAD Tools ⇒ Options panel.  There are four tabs on the panel: S

File handling 

S

General

S

Data conversion

S

 Warnings

 There is one additional tab on the Configuration panel; MX Custom .  A summary of the available preferences is given below, but for full details, refer to the on−line help. File handling 

 The file handling settings allow you to define the AutoCAD drawing templates for creating new DWG files. You can also specify where macros created by MX  in AutoCAD are stored, and whether or not to leave an MX drawing open if  you change the active MX drawing.

MX Basics  AutoCAD Environment General 

 These settings determine whether objects are displayed according to the MX  style set or the current AutoCAD line style and color settings. There are several other settings which relate to how MX data is treated following certain   AutoCAD operations. Data conversion 

 The data conversion settings allow you to define how block attributes are converted, the curve step tolerance, the model and paper space scale factors, and the default auto−convert setting. Warnings 

 You can choose to display warnings when strings are modified which indicate the effects of certain operations. It is recommended that you leave MX in  AutoCAD warnings enabled until you are familiar with MX in AutoCAD.  MX Custom 

 These settings allow you to view line widths and enable AutoCAD geometry  snaps to MX string points. You can also set geometry snap tolerances to control how the geometry of an object is reconstructed from an MX string, and define how null levels are interpreted by AutoCAD.

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MX Basics MicroStation Environment

MicroStation Environment  The MicroStation environment MX runs within MicroStation, so that when you start the program, the only  obvious changes from standard MicroStation are that there is an extra MX  menu, an extra panel called the MX Toolbox and an MX output window. The MX Toolbox controls which model an element is added to when it is drawn. As  with standard MicroStation, the display reflects the contents of the DGN file, but with MX in MicroStation, some or all of the levels in the DGN file contain data which is linked to the MX model file via an MX drawing file. In this way, you can create a DGN file containing both MX levels and levels which contain only MicroStation data. MX output, such as that from commands and reports, is displayed in the MX  output window.

Figure 11 − The MicroStation frame

MX Basics MicroStation Environment MX strings in MicroStation  You can use either MX options or MicroStation tools to create and draw MX  model information such as strings in a MicroStation DGN file. A string is a sequence of points which represents a physical feature, such as a fence or a hedge, or it can represent a non−physical feature such as a contour. MX strings  which are related to each other are stored in models, for example, all strings  which represent a survey are stored in a survey model, and all strings which represent a proposed design are stored in a design model. The set of features used by a model is stored in a feature set and associated with the model. MX model data is displayed on levels created with the same names as the features or a group of features in the model’s associated feature set. These levels are known as MX levels, because anything you draw on them can be linked to the MX model file. You must associate a feature set with the model before using the MX options to ensure that the strings are correctly displayed on their relevant levels. Using MicroStation tools, when you create a SmartLine on an active MX level, MX in MicroStation also creates a corresponding string in the MX model file.  The string is automatically given the next name in the feature set corresponding  to the name of the level.  You can use levels which are not MX levels for information which is not  required by MX, so you can work in MicroStation (possibly constructing  elements or adding annotation) and the data is not sent to the MX model file.

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MX Basics MicroStation Environment  The MX Toolbox  The MX Toolbox gives you control of the creation of MX strings when using  MicroStation tools. It has no effect when you use MX options. For example, in MX in MicroStation you can use many of the MicroStation tools to create and edit MX strings.  With no elements selected, the MX Toolbox lets you know what will happen if  you create a new MicroStation element. It tells you if you can successfully  create MX strings, the MX model in which any new strings will be created, and their feature type. It also gives you control over whether the elements you draw  are converted to strings automatically or whether the elements are to be converted later.

View/change System Parameters Locked/Unlocked  Autoconvert ON/OFF Single/Multi Pick List of MX Keyins MX/MicroStation focus

Traffic Lights

Hide Current Model

Convert Element Current Model

Current Feature

Create New Feature

Display Current Model with Style Set

Figure 12 − MX Toolbox and MX Controls If you select an element, the toolbox provides information about the element  you select. If the element is an MX string, then the model containing the string  is displayed in the toolbox.  The toolbox is described in more detail in the following paragraphs. Traffic Lights 

 The traffic lights provide a visual indication of whether you can create MX  strings using MicroStation tools. S

If a green light is displayed, then when you create a MicroStation element  on an MX level it will be automatically converted to an MX string in the currently displayed model.

S

If an amber light is displayed, then when you create a MicroStation element  you can manually  convert it to an MX string by clicking the Convert Element  button and then selecting the elements to be converted.

MX Basics MicroStation Environment  To switch between automatic and manual conversion, you click the auto−convert box on the MX Controls toolbar.. So, if you were to use a MicroStation tool on a level named Roadway_Edge and the current model’s feature set contained the feature description Roadway (Edge) then you would see a green (or amber) light and the resultant MX string would have a string name beginning with CE??  if this were the partial string name corresponding to the feature. Show/Hide Current Model 

 The Show/Hide Current Model  icons provide a quick way to hide or redisplay all the drawn information from the model in the current model field. For example, you can hide the ground model so that only the design model is displayed. Current MX Model 

 The current MX model is the model in which MX strings will be created. If you select an element, the current model is updated to reflect the model containing the element you have selected. Current Feature 

 The current feature is the feature type which is given to any MX string you create using MicroStation tools. The field lists all the features in the feature set  associated with the current model. If you create a MicroStation element, it will be created on the level associated  with this feature. If you select an element, the current feature is updated to reflect the feature of  the element you have selected. Convert Element 

If an amber traffic light is displayed, select the element to be converted to an MX string, then click this button . The element will be converted to the MX feature corresponding to the level that the element is on. Create Feature Set 

 The Create Feature Set  button creates a feature set from all the named MicroStation levels. This feature is useful if all you have is a MicroStation drawing and you wish to create a feature set to match. In this way, you can create a feature set having feature names derived from MicroStation level names.  Any feature you create must have an entry in the corresponding style set so that  MX knows how to draw it.

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MX Basics MicroStation Environment MX Control Point Selection Methods 

 The Point Selection Method mode controls how points are selected from an MX option on MX strings. As an alternative, you could use MicroStation tentative points instead of MX Point Selection Methods.  Auto−Convert Mode 

 Auto−convert allows you to toggle between the automatic and manual modes of  creating MX strings from MicroStation elements.  With auto−convert on, if the current level is an active MX level, when you create a MicroStation element it is automatically converted to an MX string. The traffic light is green in this case.  With auto−convert off, if the current level is an active MX level, when you create a MicroStation element it is not converted to an MX string. The traffic light is amber in this case. To convert it manually, use the Convert Element  option.  A red traffic light indicates a standard MicroStation level (ie, a level having no interaction with MX) or an inactive MX level, ie, a level whose corresponding  feature is not assigned to the current model.  The auto−convert setting has no effect if you modify an MX string; the MX  model will be automatically updated. MX and MicroStation tools  You may use either MX options or MicroStation tools to create and edit MX  strings. For details of the operation of individual MicroStation tools, refer to the MicroStation on−line help. Only 2D and 3D MX strings can be edited using MicroStation tools. MX uses different types of strings for sections, master alignments, geometry, cadastre, earthworks and drainage, with information stored in extra dimensions of the string that standard MicroStation tools cannot maintain. MX and MicroStation drawings MX creates working displays or drawing page files with a suffix of either DPW  or DPF respectively. These files hold the MX graphics, and can also be plotted. However, MicroStation uses DGN files. MX in MicroStation addresses this difference by presenting you with a DGN file, but in the background it is constantly updating a working display or drawing page file. The name of the  working display or drawing page file corresponds to your current MicroStation DGN file. In this way, although you are using MX in MicroStation, the MX  drawings created may be opened and edited in any MX environment, for example, using MX in AutoCAD.

MX Basics MicroStation Environment In MX, there is a fundamental difference between a working display and a drawing page. A working display, like a DGN, is an elastic area that grows to accommodate changes to the graphics it holds. A working display lets you create, assess, and edit model data to design the project. Once the design is complete, paged drawings are needed, and it is at this point that a DPF is created. This file also displays the MX graphics, but does not let you edit the model data; the only operation available is the addition of lines and text  (enhancements). The DPF is therefore similar to a MicroStation sheet file. Configuration  The Configuration panels are used to configure the way in which MX interacts  with MicroStation. A summary of the available preferences is given below, but  for full details, refer to the on−line help.  MX to MicroStation  S

Mappings − define how fonts, line styles, macro line styles, line widths and macro symbols are mapped.

S

Options − you can choose to ignore line widths, and change the seed file used to create a DGN from MX data. You can also define whether MX  standard point symbols are reproduced as points, and whether elements defining the geometry of a string are created as individual vectors and arcs or as complex chains.

 MicroStation to MX  S

Mappings − defines whether cells are mapped to macro symbols or model data.

S

Options − define whether level overrides are considered, the curve step tolerance, the default MX drawing scale and whether construction lines are stored in the MX model file. You can also define whether information is deleted from the model file when it is erased from the drawing.

S

Convert elements − defines which settings are used when drawing elements (MX or MicroStation).

General  S

Mappings − defines how colors and line styles are mapped and how features are mapped to levels.

S

Options − defines how MX null elevations are interpreted in MicroStation, the default marker size and a check box for scaling to world coordinates, ie, 1:1..

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MX Basics The Applications Toolbar 

 The Applications Toolbar  The Applications toolbar is a special toolbar which provides access to any  applications you have purchased, such as MXRAIL or MXRENEW.

Figure 13 − The Applications toolbar  MXROAD is an application developed for highway design. It provides all you need for preliminary design, roadway widening, superelevation, intersection, pavement layer and subgrade design. You can also customize reports using the report generator and modify designs using the cross section editor. MXROAD requires the standard string naming convention to be in operation, and that all strings (such as alignments) created outside of MXROAD conform to the convention. MXRENEW is an application for the realignment, resurfacing and rehabilitation of existing roads. Parametric fitting is used to automatically generate a new  profile with specified minimum overlay depth, cross slope tolerances and design speed. MXURBAN is an application for the design of road improvements in urban areas. It caters for all kinds of urban rehabilitation works, from overlays within the existing curb lines to full reconstruction of both the road and sidewalks. MXDRAINAGE is an integrated environment for the design of drainage networks for any MX project − road, railway or airport design; urban redevelopment schemes and road upgrades; industrial and residential estate design; landscape design and rehabilitation works. It can be applied at any stage of the design process, from preliminary analysis through to detailed design. MXRAIL is used for the design of railway alignments, light railway alignments, and intersection layouts. It enables you to design three−dimensional alignments representing plain line track, simple turnouts, grade crossings, crossovers and complex multi−lead layouts. Used in conjunction with MXSITE, the MXRAIL package allows you to integrate the design of railroad associated developments, such as depots or freight terminals. Used in conjunction with MXROAD, railroads can be interfaced with highway schemes or street−running light  railroads. MXSITE is an application for the design of housing and industrial estate layouts. It enables you to design three dimensional surfaces representing roads, intersections, cul−de−sacs, building slabs, car parks and earthworks. You can also design storm and foul drainage networks. Sections, volumes, quantities and drawings can all be produced making MXSITE a comprehensive design system.

MX Basics The Applications Toolbar  MXDRAW is used to produce final drawings from working drawings in a rapid and efficient manner. You can create layouts for plans, profiles, composite plans and profiles, and cross sections. In addition, because the final drawings are created using views of a working drawing, any changes you make to the design are automatically reflected in the final drawings so that they are always up−to−date and ready to plot. MXDRAW also provides a suite of geometric annotation tools. You can annotate geometric elements such as arcs, spirals, straights, grades and vertical curves by transferring information from a tool tip directly to the drawing in a pre−defined style. Any annotation you add to the drawing is dynamically updated if the design changes.  A link is provided to the Bentley Home Page on the Web.  Arenium is a technology which enables MX to be used for collaborative engineering projects over a local or wide area network or the Internet. It  provides all the file management and communication facilities required for multiple users to create and complete an MX project no matter where they are located in the world. It also acts as a project control system as it records all events and actions carried out on data. For further information on Arenium, refer to the Arenium User Guide.

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MX Basics Starting MX

Starting MX  There are several ways of invoking MX. These are: S

Click  Start ⇒ Programs ⇒ Bentley MX  ⇒ MXROAD. Once the program starts up, an MX menu is loaded in the main menu bar and the MX startup panel is displayed.

S

Open the MX Program Group and double−click on the  MXROAD icon.  Alternatively, create a shortcut to this program and place it in a convenient  location, such as on your desktop.

S

Once you have created and saved a project, you can double−click on the project icon (.mmd) and the project will be opened automatically from  within MX (provided that this was the association you chose at installation time). Alternatively, create a shortcut to this project and place it in a convenient location, such as on your desktop.

MX Basics Starting a Project

Starting a Project Creating a new project  When you start MX, a startup panel is displayed. The startup panel gives you quick access to the options on the initial File  menu (Windows) or MX  menu (AutoCAD and MicroStation), as well as providing additional facilities for accessing Help and your project settings.

Figure 14 − The MX menu on the MicroStation menu bar 

Figure 15 − Typical startup panel

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MX Basics Starting a Project From either the startup panel or the File / MX  menu, you can create a new  project, open an existing project, archive projects using the zip/unzip facility or access the on−line Help. In addition, the most recently opened projects are listed at the bottom of the menu. MX uses projects to g roup information which relates to a particular design scheme, such as the survey and design models, the drawings and the design parameters used for the project.  To create a new project, click the New Project button on the Startup panel or select  New Project from the MX menu bar, then specify the name of your project, its location and the location of the design parameters to be used for this project. If the folder you specify does not already exist, it is created for you.  You are also given the opportunity to edit the default project settings as you create the project. It is a good idea to look at these even if you do not think you  will want to change them, to familiarize yourself with the settings that are available.  An empty model file is created in your project folder when you start a new  project. However, if MX finds that there is already a model file in the folder, you can choose to keep it rather than overwrite it with an empty one. This gives you the opportunity to move an existing model file in to place so you can continue with a design. if you are working on a project on the network, perhaps because several people need access to the project, you can use the network project facility to copy the project temporarily to your local disk, work on the project, then copy it back  again when you have finished.  You should only have one project in a folder.  You should not create project folders within the MX program structure, ie, C:\Program Files\mfw.

MX Basics Typical Project Sequence

 Typical Project Sequence  The MX project sequence is a broad sequence of activities that must be followed to design any project with MX. The sequence is as follows:

NTF

Draw Report

Alignment DXF

MIFILE

Plan with Style Set SURVEY

Plan with Tools

Design

Perspective

Modify

Visualization

Sections

VOLUMES

Print

GENIO

DXF

Analysis

Plot

IMAGE

Import

GENIO

SETOUT

Display

Design

Output

Export

Figure 16 − Typical project sequence S

import existing survey data

S

create a working display 

S

design, analyze and, if necessary, modify the new work 

S

output new work in all required forms.

Creating a survey model from imported data  The survey model describes the existing ground and any other features which are present in the area of your proposed design. It is essential that the data describing this model is both complete and accurate, as any errors could have a serious impact on the proposed design. It is also important that the string  names in the import file conform to a string naming convention used in a feature set and style set combination. You can either change the names of the strings in your import file to suit an existing feature set and style set, or you can create new ones (see  Assigning model defaults  ).

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MX Basics Creating a survey model from imported data  The data describing the survey model can be input to MX in any of the following formats: S

MX Input 

S

MX GENIO

S

MX Survey 

S

General ASCII

S

MicroStation DGN

S

 AutoCAD DXF / DWG

S

Ordnance Survey NTF (UK only)

S

Softdesk Alignment and DTM

S

  Autodesk LDDT

S

Eagle Point Triangulation

S

LandXML

Figure 17 − File menu If you are running MX in AutoCAD or MicroStation, to import data from an  AutoCAD DWG, a MicroStation DGN or a DXF file, first open the drawing in  AutoCAD or MicroStation. Once you have set the layer or level names to match a feature set for a model (see  Assigning model defaults  below), open your MX  project, select the elements and use the Convert Object/Element  button on the  AutoCAD MX toolbar or the MicroStation MX Toolbox to store the data in the MX model file.

MX Basics  Assigning model defaults  To import data in ASCII file format, select File ⇒ Input for any of the MX  formats (eg, GENIO) or File  ⇒ Import for the external formats. If the imported file contains drawing information, the survey model will be created and drawn on the screen; otherwise you will need to create a plan working display. See Creating a working display  for details. If you already have a model file and wish to use the models in MX, you should exit MX, copy the model file into your project folder and then restart MX.  To create a new, empty model, use  Modify ⇒ Edit Models  ⇒ Create Model.

 Assigning model defaults Now that you have created the survey model, you can set up model defaults by  associating a feature set and a style set with it using  Tools ⇒ Model Defaults . If  you do not have a feature set or a style set which match the string naming  convention you have used, you must create them to take full advantage of the automatic features in MX. Figure 18 − Tools menu  To create a new style set, use Tools ⇒ Style Set Editor  to open a similar style set.  When you have finished, save the style set with a different name. A corresponding feature set is automatically created. Feature sets have the file extension ’.fns’. Plan style sets have the file extension ’.pss’.

Creating a working display  A working display is a plan drawing which is not divided into pag es, but is used to display model information while a project is in progress. From a working  display, you can create plan drawings with the scale and page layout you require at any stage in a project using the Draw options.  There are several options which are used in association with a working display.  These are accessed from the Display  menu:

Figure 19 − Display Menu

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MX Basics Creating a working display Plan with Style Set  is a quick and simple method of displaying information from one or more models in a predefined style. You specify the features to be drawn (or all the features), and a style set is used to interpret each feature and display it  on the screen with any associated annotation. Different style sets are required for different types of model; for example, there is a default style set  MfW Simple  Survey.pss  which can be used for displaying survey models. Each style set is associated with a feature set to ensure that all features in the feature set are drawn appropriately.

Many standard style sets are provided with MX and you should experiment with them to decide whether you can use them directly or whether you need to modify them to suit your own requirements. Use Tools ⇒ Style Set Editor to browse, create or modify style sets. Plan with Tools  provides a series of individual display options which may be used to display and annotate features. They may be used either instead of or in combination with Plan with Style Set . The styles used by the Plan with Tools  options, such as line color, line style etc, are not stored in style sets, but are accessed from the Styles Toolbar. The Styles Toolbar can also be used to change the style and color of features which have already been drawn. You can display the Styles Toolbar by selecting  View %  Toolbars  %  Styles Toolbar .  Erase Display erases the contents of the working display. No model information is deleted. Raster  is used to add an image as a background to your model, such as an aerial photograph or map data. You can either add the image directly or drape the image over a triangulation giving a relief effect. You can then draw over the image using the other Display options. A complete list of supported image formats is provided in the on−line Help.

MX Basics Viewing the working display

 Viewing the working display Once you have a working display on your screen, you can use the View  menu options and the native zoom facilities to examine the survey model in more detail.

Figure 20 − View menu Status  is an interactive tool for providing information from the display, such as the distance between two points, or information about a point.

 You can temporarily or per manently remove information from the working  display using  Show/Hide Graphics . For example, you can hide spot elevations  while you are working on the design. Although information may be hidden on the display, it is still present in the model file. Linemode  provides access to the MX command language (not available in MX  Standard). This is a powerful tool for manipulating and drawing MX model data using commands typed in from the keyboard or processed from an input file.

 The Toolbars  option is used to switch toolbars on and off. Toolbars provide rapid access to many of the menu options. In particular, the Applications toolbar is used to launch the additional applications MXROAD, MXRENEW, MXSITE, MXRAIL and MXDRAW.  The Output Window  is used to display reported information and the commands  which are sent to MX. Use this option to hide or display the window, or use the Shift F2 key. Preferences are used to configure various settings, such as the display of tool tips and the startup panel. Panel Position  sets the default position of panels on your screen; for example, you can set the panel position so that panels are always displayed at the top left of  the screen.

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MX Basics Producing a design  MX Toolbar  (AutoCAD) or  MX Toolbox (MicroStation) gives you control of the creation of MX strings when using CAD commands. It has no effect when you use MX options. For example, in MX in MicroStation you can use most of the MicroStation placement, manipulation and modification tools to create and edit  MX strings. Configuration  is used to configure the way in which MX interacts with AutoCAD or MicroStation.

 You can also correct any discrepancies you find in the model using the Report  and Modify options.

Producing a design  With the survey model in place, you can now begin to create your design. The design options are located on the Design  menu:

Figure 21 − Design menu Some of the options in this menu may be grayed−out dependent on which applications such as MXROAD, MXRAIL or MXRENEW, you have purchased.  You may also find some of the Modify options useful in the course of your design.

MX Basics Producing a design  Alignment  is used to create the master string on which the rest of your design is based; typically, this would be a highway or railway center line or equivalent.

Firstly, in Alignment , you create your alignment horizontally using any of the available methods; Element, Intersection Point (PI) or Spline. The Element  method allows you to construct an alignment from a series of elements, either straights or circular arcs, connected by spiral curves as required. The PI method produces the same end result but allows you to construct the alignment by  entering a series of intersection points. The lines joining these points are tangential to the curves which connect the straight elements. Spirals can also be included if required. Finally, the Spline method allows you to specify a series of  points through which a cubic spline curve is fitted. In all three methods, design and display parameters govern the properties of the curves and how they are displayed on the screen. Once the horizontal design is in place, you can do the vertical design, ie, add elevations to the alignment. Again, three methods are available to you, and to assist you in specifying the elevations, a profile of the ground from the survey  model is displayed so you can see where to position the alignment.  When the alignment is completed, two strings are created in your design model; the master string and its associated geometry string which describes the geometry of the alignment. In addition to smooth alignments, non−tangential alignments can be created for the design of car parks, house pads etc. Design a String options are used to derive additional strings from a master string; typically, for a highway project, these would be strings such as roadway edge or hard shoulder strings. The different options allow you to specify different  information to create the strings, for example, you can specify a horizontal and a vertical offset from the master string, or a horizontal offset and a cross slope.

Feature sets are particularly useful here as you can select the type of feature you  want (eg, shoulder) and the next available string name is automatically assigned.  Amend a String options are similar to those described above, except that they  amend existing strings rather than create new ones.

 The Earthworks Wizard is used to create earthworks strings, ie, strings which define the intersection between your design and the ground. The earthwork  design relies on the specification of earthwork styles, together with any  alternative strategies to be used when certain criteria are met. These strategies determine the shape of the earthworks slope in particular situations.  To make the procedure as simple as possible, the Wizard has access to a library  of earthwork styles such as simple slope and slope/bench combination styles,  which can be used immediately. Additionally, you can create your own custom earthworks styles specific to the current design or your national design rules.  These custom earthwork styles can be saved in your own library for future use. Once created, the earthworks strings may be drawn with tadpole annotation or  with slope signature strings.

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MX Basics  Analyzing the design  MXDRAINAGE creates a drainage network from manhole positions you specify by linking them with pipes. You can place manholes individually or offset them from an existing string. Once the manholes have been linked, inlets can also be added. Data from the drainage network can be exchanged between MX and an external program which analyzes the data and calculates pipe sizes and elevations according to the layout of the network and the hydraulic constraints. Total and impervious sub−catchment areas can also be calculated for each pipe in the network.

Drainage proximity checking searches for a clash between manholes and selected strings. If the distance between the manhole and the string is less than a specified value the clash position is displayed on screen with a warning, and an alternative position is offered.

 Analyzing the design  When you have a preliminary design, you may wish to analyze the design model to check for any errors or to see if the design can be improved in any way. You can do this with the  Analysis  options:

Figure 22 − Analysis menu  The Triangle  options create various types of triangulation. A triangulation is a mesh of triangles created from all the string points in a model. If you imagine that the model strings are the frame of your model, then triangulation is the process of applying a skin over the frame. The links in the strings form triangle sides unless the points contain null elevations. Using a triangulation, the surface can be analyzed anywhere and not just at the string locations. Section  is used to create cross sections from a string, and profiles along a string  or a straight line. Both types of section are useful for checking the quality of a design, and cross sections can also be used to calculate volumes. The sections created are displayed in a separate viewer which can be docked to the MX  frame. In the viewer, you can add many types of annotation and inspect the design for any errors or weaknesses. At any time, you can create a working  drawing of the sections you are viewing. Contour generates height contours from a triangulation. The contours are categorized as either index contours or normal contours, where index contours are used to indicate a significant height interval, for example, an index contour can be generated for every five normal contours. Generate ridge, valley and flow lines  creates ridge and valley strings from which flow  lines can be generated to work out surface water run−off.

 The Area options calculate the plan or surface area of a model. You can define the part of the model whose area is required either by boundary strings or by  means of two strings limited in extent by normals to a reference string.

MX Basics  Analyzing the design Volume  is used to calculate volumes from either triangulated surfaces or sections. Surface Checker  is used to check a surface created from surveyed data once it has been input to MX. It can be used to check any surface in applications such as landfill and quarrying to identify incorrect or incomplete data. This includes null levels, zero levels, single point strings, high points, low points, coincident points and intersection points. The results may be output graphically or as a report. Surface Analysis  is a Wizard which simplifies the analysis processes and displays the results in graphical form. You can perform analyses to show elevations, slopes or aspect bands, or show all slopes which are less than a specified grade.  You can also display flat spots and flow arrows. The Wizard also handles sectioning and triangulation automatically. Volumetric Analysis  is a Wizard for calculating cut and fill areas and volumes, either between two surfaces, or between a surface and a plane. It has many  potential uses in civil engineering, from the analysis of linear schemes such as roads and railroads, through to quarrying and dredging works. Comparing two surfaces could be used to analyze the difference between the existing ground and a pad for a building, or the bottom of a layer of contaminated material. Comparing a surface with a plane could be used to model navigation channels (where the plane could be the mean low water level), or to model retaining  structures such as reservoir dams. Cross Slope Checker  displays a graphical analysis of the superelevation applied to a roadway. The superelevation can be displayed using either drop/rise or percentage diagrams. A superelevation report is then displayed in a separate  window, which you can save or print. Visibility checks and dynamically displays the analysis of through visibility,  visibility at junctions and radial visibility. The analysis can then be output as a report. You can then save or print the report.

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MX Basics Modifying the design

Modifying the design  At any stage of the design, you can edit any of your data using the  Modify  options:

Figure 23 − Modify menu  Edit Models allows you to create, rename or delete a model as well as providing  trimming, security options, and automated generation of composite models.  Trimming allows you to trim a model to a boundary, while the security options allow you to provide read−only access to a model.  Edit Strings and Edit Points  give you complete control over the strings in your model. Although you normally design your main strings using the Design options, you can also create strings with  Modify , and you can also edit any part of  a string and the points within a string. You can also automatically generate boundary strings around a model. Copy , Move and the Copy Transformation Wizard  may be used to copy an entire model, copy or move information from one model to another, or copy or move strings within a model. Model information can also be transformed by defining  shift, rotation, scaling, tilt or mirror parameters.  Explorer is a project management tool which allows you to manage the model file and other information in your project. You use Explorer in the same way as you would use Windows or Internet Explorer, except that it works on MX files rather than all files on your disk.

MX Basics Creating drawings

Creating drawings So far, you have seen how to use Display to draw your model information on the screen without dividing it up into pages. To create a series of drawing pages from a working display, you use the Draw options.

Figure 24 − Draw menu Draw divides the drawings that MX can create into distinct groups of working  and final drawings. Working drawings are those needed by the engineer during  the design phase of a project, and final drawings are those required for the construction phase of a project.

 The final drawings functionality is only available in the CAD environments and uses CAD drawing techniques and drawing style sets to quickly and efficiently  create and annotate the final drawings to a pre−defined standard. Working Drawings  % Create New Drawing  creates a series of drawing pages from the current working display. Firstly, you select an existing page setup or create a page setup interactively to define the page size, margins, grids etc. There are different page setups for plan, cross section and long section drawings. Depending upon the page setup you select, you are presented with different  options.

For cross and long sections, the appropriate viewer is invoked (as from the  Analysis menu) and you display the sections and annotation you wish to draw, either by starting from scratch or by using previously saved settings. You then click the Create a Drawing icon to create a full working drawing of the information you have viewed. For plan drawings, you are led through the process of dynamically placing the pages, either along a string or as adjacent pages in rows and columns. Once you have created your layout, you can save it for future use, and then optionally  create the drawing pages. You have full control over the position of every page in the layout. Working Drawings  % Recreate Existing Drawing  recreates a set of drawing pages from a saved page layout. Working Drawings  %  Enhance Drawing is a drawing toolbox used for adding  annotation to a drawing. It may be used to draw lines, boxes, circles, arcs, symbols, fill areas and text. The major difference between Display %  Plan with  Tools and Enhance Drawing is that  Enhance Drawing adds information to the drawing only, it does not add any information to the model.

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MX Basics Producing visualizations  The Final Drawings  option uses components of MXDRAW to produce final drawings from a working drawing in a rapid and efficient manner. You can create layouts for plans, profiles, composite plans and profiles, and cross sections. In addition, because the final drawings are created using views of a  working drawing, any changes you make to the design are automatically  reflected in the final drawings so that they are always up−to−date and ready to plot. Final Drawings also provides a suite of geometric annotation tools. You can annotate geometric elements such as arcs, spirals, straights, grades and vertical curves by transferring information from a tool tip directly to the drawing in a pre−defined style. Any annotation you add to the drawing is dynamically  updated if the design changes.

 You can specify the content of each view with a high degree of flexibility. MX  objects provide access to model information, while MX style sets and layering  techniques define the way in which the information is presented.

Producing visualizations  Visualization is useful for checking the accuracy of a model at any stage in a design (provided elevations have been assigned to the strings in the model), and also for presentation of a design when it is complete. The visualization options are:

Figure 25 − Visualize menu

Simple Perspective  creates a wire frame view from anywhere in a model. You specify the eye and target points, and whether or not you wish hidden lines to be removed. The resulting perspective view can be enhanced in the same way as any other drawing.

For a greater degree of realism, you can use 3D View and Flythrough  to produce full colored textured renderings of your design. You can also create and save animated 3D views as AVI files. Alternatively, you can use any of the AutoCAD or MicroStation 3D viewing and rendering capabilities at any time.

MX Basics Creating reports

Creating reports

Figure 26 − Report menu Dynamic Reports provides access to a wide range of reporting options from an expanding toolbar. You can include information from models, strings and points, as well as perpendiculars, normals and intersections. You can use the information to annotate the working display or save it to a file for impor ting  into a spreadsheet.

 Alignment Reports  The alignment report options allow you to create customized reports of  horizontal alignment, vertical alignment and setting out data which can be output to the screen or to a file. You can also use cut and paste techniques to copy the data to a spreadsheet.

Figure 27 − Alignment Reports

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MX Basics Exporting data Horizontal Alignment Report  provides details of the horizontal geometry of the alignment, including details of arcs, spirals and straights such as arc length, radius and intersection point coordinates. Vertical Alignment Report  provide details of the vertical geometry of the alignment, including details of curves, spirals and grades such as curve length, radius, stations and elevations.

Many other types of reports can be produced in MX which are written to the output window. You can then copy and paste these reports using standard techniques in to any suitable Windows application.

Exporting data Model and drawing data can be exported in several forms from MX. This allows your design to be transferred easily between different sites, different computer types and other drawing packages. Supported file formats are: S

MX GENIO

S

MX MIFILE

S

DXF

plus any of the native AutoCAD or MicroStation export formats.  Add−Ins  You use the Add−In Manager to add or remove applications so that you can invoke them from within MX for your convenience. For example, you can add  Windows Explorer to the Add−In menu using the Add−In Manager.  Add−In programs (previously known as Bonus Tools) are available to all Bentley  SELECT users from the Bentley web−site at www.Bentley.com.

Help  The Help menu gives access to the on−line help, tutorials, Bentley Web Site information and information about the version of MX currently installed on your machine.

Figure 28 − Help menu

MX Basics Help Help %  About MX gives information about the license you are using, and the currently installed version of MX. It also provides access to the security report   which defines the applications that you are authorized to use.

For further details about the on−line help and tutorials, refer to Using the Online  Help and Tutorials . Overview   The MX Online Documentation suite links together all the documentation for the different MX products. You can access the help, tutorials and various online documents in Adobe PDF format from the relevant Contents page for each product. MX Help  The MX Help system dynamically updates depending upon the MX  environment you are using. It contains information on the following: S

 MX Online Documentation  − contains a navigation page, essential information, a guide to using the help, Release Notes and System Configuration.

S

 MX −  gives access to three folders; Help, Tutorials and Linemode. For details of the content of each folder please see below.

S

Getting Started − an overview of MX.

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Using MX in Windows / Using MX in AutoCAD/MicroStation  − an overview  of features specific to Windows / AutoCAD / MicroStation, and details of  how MX interacts with the CAD application. Plus information about CAD specific commands and configuration settings.

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 Administration − information on how to configure your MX software.

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Options in MX  − contains detailed information about each main menu option.

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Reference Information  − contains reference material for all file formats (including style sets), and software fonts.

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Tutorials − contains the tutorials for MX in each of the environments,  Windows, AutoCAD and MicroStation.

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Linemode − contains complete Help for Linemode. The help has enhanced navigation functions available at the bottom of the frame allowing selection of help by Major and/or Minor option number.

S

 Applications  − contains information about MX application packages, including; MXROAD, MXRENEW, MXRAIL, MXSITE, MXDRAW, MXURBAN and MXDRAINAGE. Each of these sections includes both Help and Tutorials for the application

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Glossary − contains the definition of terms used in the MX products. The glossary is also directly accessed from the Help by clicking red text.

S

Technical Information Resources  − contains information about Bentley and shortcut access to many of the Bentley websites.

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MX Basics Help  Accessing help and documentation Help and documentation can be accessed in a variety of ways as follows: S

By selecting  Start ⇒ Programs  ⇒ Bentley MX  ⇒ Help and Tutorials 

S

By selecting either the Help ⇒ Contents  or Help ⇒ Contents Docked  option on the MX menu bar within MX itself.

S

By pressing the F1 key on the current panel (ie, the panel with the highlit  bar at the top). This method provides in−context Help by taking you directly to the topic associated with the panel.

S

By clicking on the Help (?) button at the top right of any panel to obtain  What’s This? Help. When you click the button, the cursor changes to a ?  which you can then place and click over any piece of text on the panel for  which you require Help.

 Tutorials  The MX tutorials provide step−by−step instructions about how to use many of  the options in MX. They are written in a typical project sequence. You can access them from the relevant Contents page in the MX Online Documentation suite. Online Manuals  These are provided in Adobe PDF for mat for online viewing and printing. You can access them from the relevant Contents page in the MX Online Documentation suite.

MX Basics System Administration

System Administration Backing up your projects  You should take backup copies of all your project files at regular intervals. You should also back up any style sets, styles, macro symbols, or macro lines which you have created. Note that these may not be contained in your project folder; for example, you may have created a new style set and stored it in the …\?? _styles folder in the MXROAD software structure. It is important that  you organize your work in such a way that you know where all your files are located so you can back them up.  The options Zip Project  and Unzip Project , which are available from the File  menu, create a compressed backup file of an entire project in WinZip compatible format. See the on−line help for further details. It is also a good idea to take a backup copy of your system files (ie, the MXROAD software structure) at less frequent intervals.  You should not create any project folders under the MXROAD software structure. Checking and backing up your model file Many options in MX make extensive use of temporary models. Although these models are deleted on completion of an option, the space taken up in the model file is not regained automatically; you must compress the model file in order to regain the space. It is advisable that you carry out a model integrity check and take a fresh backup prior to compressing. The process can be interrupted and fail where there is insufficient disk space, a power supply problem or a corruption in the data. Should a failure occur in compression for any of these reasons the model file will have to be restored from a backup.  The compression process requires that the models are written to a temporary  model file, deleted from the original model file and then read back into the original model file. To do this, you need three times the original model file size of free space available on your hard disk. It is recommended that a regular backup of the model.fil is taken, ideally on a daily basis. This avoids data loss should a problem occur. Problems with model files are very rare, but this should not lead to complacency in maintaining backups. The procedure below describes how to compress a model file. 1.

Open Windows Explorer

2.

Browse the folders to get to your project folder, for example, c:\mx tutorial.

3.

Locate the file model.fil , and click on it with the right mouse button.

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MX Basics System Administration 4.

From the menu, select  Copy .

5.

Click the right mouse button again, and select  Paste .

 A new file is created, called Copy of model.fil . This is a copy of the MX model file. Note that there is no problem doing this even though MX is still running, although you should not have any MX panels open. 1.

From the File  pull down, select  File Management  ⇒ Report Model file 

Figure 29 − Report Model File  The Check Model File Records  option is checked by default. 1.

Click  Apply to run this check.

 The results are displayed in the output window; you will probably need to scroll up a few lines to see it all. It lists the number of records in the model file which are actually filled with data, out of the total number that have been used, and also the total space that will be available after compression. Before you compress the model file, there are two options that you can use to check that it is OK. 1.

On the Report Model File  panel, click  Check Model Pointers , followed by  Apply .

MX looks through the model file, and checks it to ensure that each of the models is arranged correctly inside the model file. The results of this are displayed in the output window again with a summary at the end, where the text  should say ‘END OF POINTER CHECK − 0 POINTER ERROR(S) FOUND’, which indicates that the model file is OK. If there is a number here other than zero, it means that there is a problem with one or more of the models on the model file, which must be investigated before continuing with any MX work. Scrolling up the list in the output window will show you which model(s) and string(s) are affected. These need to be deleted using the MX  options on the Modify pull down, until running this report indicates that there are no pointer errors. 1.

On the Report Model File  panel, click  Cancel .

2.

In Windows Explorer, click on View ⇒ Refresh.

3.

Browse the folders to get back to your project folder, and check the size of  the model file model.fil .

MX Basics System Administration 4.

Ensure that the Status bar shows there to be at least three times the size of  the model file available as free disk space.

If there is not, you will have to create extra free space on the hard disk before you can safely compress the model file. Once you have done this: 1.

From the File  menu, select  File Management  ⇒ Compress .

2.

On the Compress  panel, click   Model File .

3.

Click  OK .

 The option may take a few moments to run, then a note in the output window, if visible, should say  W127 Model file stored & initializsed . If this message is not  given, you should contact your System Administrator, or your MX supplier for further advice. Disk maintenance In order to maintain optimum performance from MXROAD, you should manually delete files from your temporary directory (normally C:\temp) to ensure that it does not become full (you can use Windows Explorer to do this).  You should also empty the Recycle Bin on your desktop at regular intervals. Select the Recycle Bin, click the right hand mouse button and select  Empty  Recycle Bin.  Alternatively, double−click the Recycle Bin icon and check the contents first.

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MX Basics User Support

User Support United States and Canada

For support on this release, please e−mail the Bentley Helpdesk at: [email protected]  Alternatively, phone the number below:  Tel: +1 800−BENTLEY  Elsewhere For worldwide local contacts, see the contacts list on our Web site at  http://www.bentley.com to contact your local MX supplier.

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MXROAD

MXROAD − Overview  MXROAD is an application constructed of a number of modules to permit the efficient design of a road scheme from the input of the existing ground data through to the production of drawings and reports defining the scheme.  Throughout the design, tools are available to permit analysis or visualization of  the design so that you can check and confirm each step of the design process.  The modules that make up MXROAD are: S

Quick Alignment 

S

Road Design and Delete String Groups.

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Shoulder Design and Roadway Widening 

S

Rule−Based Superelevation

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Intersection Design

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Pavement and Subgrade Design

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Cross Sectional Editor

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Report Generator

Other MX options such as MX Explorer and Surface Analysis are included on the MXROAD toolbar for your convenience.  The options within the modules can be accessed via the main menu bar or via the MXROAD toolbar, which in turn is accessed from the  Applications toolbar.  The method of access is not important; however, the advantage of the MXROAD toolbar is that the order of the options reflects the order of a typical project sequence.

Figure 30 − MXROAD toolbar 

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MXROAD Standard String Naming Convention

Standard String Naming Convention  The MX standard string naming convention (SNC) has been introduced to give automatic integration of any design produced from any of the MXROAD options. It may be switched on or off on a per project basis from the message  which appears when you start a new project, or from Tools ⇒ System Parameters . Strings created by the MXROAD options are assigned names which store the following information: S

the string type (first character, eg, M for master string)

S

the specific road feature (second character, eg, C for center line)

S

the associated master alignment which defines the string group (third character, eg, 0 for the first alignment)

S

the side of the master alignment on which the string was created (fourth character, eg, 0 for the left hand side, I for the right hand side)

Because many of the options within MXROAD rely on the information returned from the string names, it is not possible to use MXROAD on models that do not follow the convention.  Any alignment you create and intend to use with MXROAD options must  conform to the convention, ie, the first two characters must be MC, and the third character must be unique.  You must assign the feature set  MXROAD.fns  to any design model which uses MXROAD options. You can do this using  Tools ⇒ Model Defaults . For full details of the SNC, refer to the on−line help.

Options in MXROAD  This section describes the options which are available from MXROAD. All the options in MXROAD can be found within the standard menus, such as Design  and Edit . They are also available from the MXROAD toolbar (accessed from the Applications toolbar) for your convenience to help you with the project  sequence. For all the options in MXROAD, you can find more detailed information in the on−line help.

Import  Although not strictly an MXROAD option, File  ⇒ Import allows you to import  existing ground data on which the road design scheme is to be implemented.  The data may be imported in one of several formats:

MXROAD Surface Analysis S

 AutoCAD DXF (*.dxf)

S

National Transfer Format NTF (*.ntf)

S

MX GENIO (*.txt)

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MX Survey data (*.inp)

S

Softdesk Alignment and DTM

S

Eagle Point Triangulation

S

LandXML

In all cases, a model is created from the ground data. You should assign a default feature set and style set immediately to the new ground model which you can then draw using the option Display ⇒ Plan with Style Set  if required. If you have MX in Windows, but not MX in MicroStation or MX in AutoCAD, you can still import data from a MicroStation DGN or AutoCAD DWG file.  You can either convert the file to DXF format or use the MX data translator program MX Change. NTF file format is used by the United Kingdom Ordnance Survey for map data.

Surface Analysis  This option lets you perform analyses of the surface on which the design is to be built. This is essential to confirm that the imported data is correct and contains no errors. Typically the analysis will highlight errors in level and will also provide a graphical representation of the existing surface; both of which can provide essential information for your design.  There are nine different types of analysis each taking you through the necessary  steps in a minimum amount of time. The options are: S

Display contours

S

Elevation bands

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Slope bands

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 Aspect bands

S

Flat spots

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Steep slopes

S

Flow arrows

S

Simple profile

S

Display triangulation

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MXROAD  Alignment Design

Figure 31 − Ground model showing contours

In MX in Windows, you can also highlight any errors in elevation by color filling  the triangulation and illuminating the view from the Zoom toolbar.

 Alignment Design  The Alignment Design options enable you to create the alignment for the road design. You may use either the Quick Alignment options Horizontal Design and Vertical Profile , or Alignment  which gives greater flexibility but may take longer to learn.  Whichever method is used, the end result is the same, a complete alignment  defined both horizontally and vertically. The alignment is converted to a master string which is generally used as the center line along which a roadway and other features can be designed.

MXROAD  Alignment Design

Figure 32 − Alignment Design Quick Alignment Horizontal Design 

Horizontal Design enables you to create horizontal alignments using dynamic Intersection Point (PI) placement and manipulation.  The following layout options are available: S

 Add PI − adds an PI to an alignment.

S

Move PI − dynamically moves an PI to a new location.

S

Insert PI − inserts an PI between existing PIs

S

Remove PI − select a point near the PI to be removed.

Other features enable you to: S S

edit curves  view details of the currently selected curve

S

draw clearance lines and circles

S

amend the design parameters

S

delete a whole alignment 

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MXROAD  Alignment Design S

snap PIs to an existing point 

S

alter the position of a finished alignment 

S

undo up to 20 previous actions.

 You can also obtain a printed report of the horizontal alignment. Vertical Profile  Vertical Profile  enables you to create vertical alignments using dynamic PI placement and manipulation. The backcloth is a vertical profile of an existing  horizontal alignment extracted from the triangulation model of the ground.

 The following options are available: S

 Add PIs

S

Move PIs

S

Remove PIs

S

Insert PIs

S

Lock PIs

S

Delete profile

S

Calculate overall cut and fill

S

Calculate grade and radius

S S S

 View details of a curve Change the vertical exaggeration  Amend design parameters

S

Set the curve data

S

Change the view of the display area.

 There is also a table editor which you can use instead of dynamic placement to specify values such as grade and curve radius using the keyboard.

MXROAD Road Design  Alignment  Alignment  is used to design alignments for roads and other engineering features.

 An alignment describes the basic horizontal and vertical position of a design from which all other surface features are g enerated. For a road, the alignment  usually represents the center line, but may represent a pavement edge or any  other convenient feature.  Alignments are created in two stages: first the horizontal design, then the  vertical design. For both horizontal and vertical design, there are three design methods; the Element method, the Intersection Point (PI) method and the Spline method.  The Element method allows you to construct an alignment from a series of  elements, either straights or circular arcs, connected by spiral curves as required.  The PI method produces the same end result but allows you to construct the alignment by entering a series of intersection points. The lines joining these points are tangential to the curves which connect the straight elements. Spirals can also be included if required. Finally, the Spline method allows you to specify  a series of points through which a cubic spline curve is fitted. Complete alignments are converted to master strings for use with the other MXROAD options.

Road Design Road Design is a series of options that take you through the process of  designing a road from an existing master string. It consists of a number of  stages; Roadways , Rule−based Superelevation , Road Widening , Shoulder Design and Curbs, Shoulders and Sidewalks .

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MXROAD Road Design

Figure 33 − Road Design Roadways Roadways  creates a road surface using either a standard template or one you have customized yourself. The templates contain all the details of the road surface, including the roadway width and the cross slope or vertical offset to the roadway edge strings. There are standard templates for many different types of  roadway, including single roads, with a single lane either side, and dual roadways  with two or three lanes.

 The process you follow through the Road Design Roadways Wizard is as follows: S

S S S S S

Specify the model and master string along which you wish to create the roadway. This will generally be the model containing the alignment created using one of the Alignment  options. Select the template to be applied. Check the template design details and modify them if required. Specify the start and end of the roadway design. Generate the roadway strings (including a center line level string). Repeat the operation with another template, if the start and end of the roadway was not the whole extent of the alignment.

 You should design the roadway along your alignment in one session of the Road Design Wizard. If you change templates along the master string, you can choose to join the equivalent strings in the two portions of roadway automatically. The roadway 

MXROAD Road Design strings are joined either linearly or with a reverse cur ve, both horizontally and  vertically. If you include a central reser ve in one roadway but not the other, you may need to modify the center line level string to include a vertical step at the correct position. If the results are not what you want, you can remove the roadway strings using   Modify Design ⇒ Edit Strings ⇒ Delete String Groups . This option allows you to select all the roadway strings and delete them. Recreating the roadway using a modified template is quickly achieved. Rule−based Superelevation Rule−based Superelevation provides a simple approach to the application of  superelevation to a road. The superelevation applied is based on parameters specified in design rules files, which conform to either a local or national standard.  The process is defined by the following steps: S

Specify the master string of the road to which you wish to add superelevation.

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Specify the design rules and design speed to be used. The design rules will determine whether single or dual roadway parameters are to be used.

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Select the pivot method to be used.

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Choose a linear, reverse cur ve or biquadratic curve application (only the linear type is available for some pivot methods).

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Select the roadway edge strings to which you wish to apply superelevation.

 The calculations are then made and a summary of the results is displayed. Before you apply the superelevation, you can confirm that the superelevation is correct or amend the calculated values if required. Following the review  process, the superelevation is applied to the roadway. Road Widening  The Road Widening  Wizard provides a simple approach to the process of road  widening, and can be used to create extra lanes, bypass lanes, parking areas or intersection widening.  The process is defined by the following steps: S

Select the road center line and the string to widen.

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Select the type of taper to apply, either linear (as illustrated below) or reverse curve.

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Define how the taper is to be specified; by length, by ratio to the width or by station.

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Specify the length and width of the widening.

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Specify either projected cross slope or hinged cross slope as the method of  application for the widened section.

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Create the widening.

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MXROAD Road Design Road string to widen

after 

before 

Length of taper Road center line

Figure 34 − Road Widening

 You can retain the original roadway string along the widening, or you can delete it. Shoulder Design Shoulder Design  is used to create shoulders from the edge of the roadway. Several different methods are available to apply the cross slope across the shoulder, and the method can be changed automatically when certain criteria are met.

 The standard shoulder methods are: S

Fixed cross slope − specify the cross slope from the roadway edge to the shoulder.

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Follow roadway cross slope − use the same cross slope for the shoulder as that used for the roadway.

 There are other methods which you can specify for the outside curve of a shoulder. These include: S

Maximum shoulder break − uses the standard shoulder settings until the roadway is superelevated and a maximum cross slope difference between the roadway and shoulder is reached. At this point, the shoulder cross slope is set to a specified value or to match the roadway cross slope, depending  on the option selected. The transition length between the maximum cross slope difference and the point at which the new values are in force may be specified, and may also be offset along the roadway from the point of  maximum cross slope difference.

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Shoulder rollover − this works in a similar way to the maximum shoulder break method, except that during restoration the shoulder is split in two  widthways so that the cross slope break at the edge of the roadway is decreased.

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Maximum algebraic difference − uses the standard shoulder settings until the roadway is superelevated and a maximum cross slope difference

MXROAD Intersection Design between the roadway and shoulder is reached. From this point until the roadway achieves full superelevation, the shoulder cross slope is varied so that the maximum algebraic difference is maintained. S

Maximum algebraic difference (part width) − for this method, the shoulder is split in two widthways by a new string and cross slope is applied to the outer portion in the same way as for the maximum algebraic difference method. For the inner portion, ie, between the roadway edge and the new  string, the standard shoulder cross slope is applied at the point of  maximum algebraic distance, which gradually changes to the roadway cross slope at the point where full superelevation begins. It is also over this distance that the new string is created.

Curbs, Shoulders and Sidewalks Curbs, Shoulders and Sidewalks  is similar in operation to Roadways , except that a different set of templates is used to create the required strings. You can choose to apply the templates on either the left of the roadway, the right of the roadway  or both sides.

Normally, you would use this option after you have applied superelevation and completed any intersection design.

Intersection Design  The Intersection Design options are used to create a T intersection between a through road and an intersecting road.

Figure 35 − Intersection Design

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MXROAD Pavement and Subgrade Design Before attempting intersection design you must have completed the design of  both roadways including widening at the intersection and applied superelevation. Once the intersection design is complete, you can complete the design and add curbs, unpaved shoulders or sidewalks.  You can also create cross roads by adding fillets to all corners of two intersecting roadways. You may create fillets from circular arcs or three center curves, and then regrade the entire intersection by dynamically editing the  vertical profile using information from the roadway edges. This may be to improve water flow across the intersection or to relocate a low spot. Once this is done, you can add traffic islands from a pre−defined traffic island style library, and then complete the intersection by automatically joining the fillets to the roadway edges. Earthworks Wizard  The Earthworks Wizard is a standard MX option which is used to design an earthworks structure between two models, the design model containing the new  design surface and the existing ground model. The earthwork design relies on the specification of an earthwork style, together with a number of strategies to be used when specified criteria are met.  The Wizard guides you through the process of specifying models, section sets, earthwork styles and strategies, the criteria to trigger the strategies and so on, until you apply your earthwork design requirement to the models.  The process is defined by the following steps: S S

Specify the models and essential strings.  Assign styles to the four style definition areas (left and right cut and fill).

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Set up analysis control.

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Create the earthwork design.

 To make the procedure as simple as possible, the Wizard has access to a library  of earthwork styles such as simple slope and slope/bench combinations. You can apply different earthwork styles and strategies to lengths of the road by  specifying the start and end points. Alternatively, you can create your own custom earthworks styles specific to the current design or your national design rules. These custom earthwork styles can then be saved in your own library for future use.

Pavement and Subgrade Design  The Pavement and Subgrade Design Wizard is used to create pavement layers and the subgrade for a roadway. You can also produce working drawings of the cross sections, which show the pavement construction in detail, and calculate  volumes between the different construction surfaces and the existing ground.

MXROAD Pavement and Subgrade Design Pavement and Subgrade Design requires the following information before you begin your design: S

the design model and center line of the roadway 

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existing cross sections for every point on the road center line (ie, the master string) for both the ground model and the design model. For example, if you have generated cross sections at tangent points on the master string in your design model, these must also exist in the ground model.

Figure 36 − Cross section showing pavement layers

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MXROAD Modifying the design

Modifying the design

Figure 37 − Modify

 Edit Strings and Edit Points 

 You can use the standard MX  Edit  options during all stages of an engineering  design as follows: S

for the existing surface − to correct erroneous elevations and the ground position of points and strings.

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for feature design − to remove redundant parts of strings where they  intersect other features, or to insert non−standard features.

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for analysis − to create boundaries within which areas or volumes are derived.

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for visualization − to enhance and improve model information for drawings.

Delete String Groups 

 The MXROAD option Delete String Groups  is particularly useful because it allows you to delete strings of a particular type in one operation. For example, if you create a roadway and wish to re−design it using the same alignment, you can delete all the roadway strings associated with the alignment. Cross Sectional Editor 

 The cross sectional editor allows you to view cross sections and modify the points on them. The changes you make to the cross sections are reflected in the model data. For example, you can use this to adjust earthworks slopes so that  they lie within the land take limits of your construction project.

MXROAD Project Sequence Sections can be dynamically edited at individual stations by specifying an offset, elevation or slope. You You can either edit a cross section element in isolation, ie,  without affecting the elements which lie outside of the element you are editing, or you can edit an element and have all outer elements retain the same relative position.  Volumes can be calculated at any time between the ground and design models  within a selected station range.

Project Sequence  The project sequence is critical in MXROAD. MXROAD. For example, you cannot use road  widening if the roadway has not been created, and, if you wish to superelevate the roadway, roadway, you must do this before creating an intersection.  The MXROAD project sequence is shown below: S S

Horizontal Alignment   Vertical  Vertical Alignment 

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Roadways

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Rule−based Superelevation

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Road Widening 

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Create Fillet 

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Regrade Intersection

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Create Traffic Island

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 Tidy Intersection

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Shoulder Design

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Curbs, Shoulders and Sidewalks

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Earthworks Wizard

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Cross Sectional Editor

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Pavement Pavement and Subgrade Subg rade Design

Not all steps need to be carried out each time; for details of which options are mandatory and which are optional at any particular stage, refer to the on−line help.

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MXROAD Project Sequence

Index Numbers

3D View, 1−44 3D View and Flythough, 1−44  A 

 Add−In menu, 1−46  Alignment, creating, 1−39  Alignment design, 2−4  Alignment reports, 1−45  Analysis menu, 1−40  Analysis options, 1−40  Applications toolbar, 1−28  Area calculation, 1−40

DXF format, 2−3 exporting, 1−46 Dynamic reports, 1−45 E

E−mail address, 1−52 Eagle Point Triangulation, importing, 1−34 Earthworks wizard, 1−39, 2−12 Editing strings and points, 2−14 Exporting data, 1−46 F

Backing up projects, 1−49

Feature set, definition of, 1−6 File menu, 1−34 Final drawings, 1−44 Flythrough, 1−44 Full alignment, 2−7

C

G

Configuration MX in AutoCAD, 1−20 MX in MicroStation, 1−27 Contours, generating, 1−40 Cross sections, editing, 2−14 Cross Slope Checker, 1−41 Curbs, shoulders and sidewalks option, 2−11

Gaps, 1−5 GENIO format, 1−34, 2−3 exporting, 1−46

B

H

Help desk, 1−52 Help menu, 1−46 Horizontal design, 2−5

D

Data interoperability, interoperability, 1−8 Deleting strings, 2−14 Design menu, 1−38 Design options, 1−38 Disk maintenance, 1−51 Disontinuities. See Gaps Display, Menu, 1−35 Display options, 1−43 Drainage networks, 1−40 Draw menu, 1−43 Draw options, 1−43

I

Import option, 2−2 Importing data, 1−33 Intersection design, 2−11 L

LandXML, 1−34 M

Menu, Display, 1−35 Menu bar, 1−13

Index Model defaults, 1−35 how to assign, 1−7 Model file, 1−2 Models, editing, 1−42 Modify menu, 1−42 Modify options, 1−42 Mouse, use of buttons, 1−11 MX Basics, 1−1 MX Controls toolbar, 1−26 MX environments, 1−8  AutoCAD, 1−16 MicroStation, 1−22   Windows, 1−15 MX toolbar, 1−17 MX Toolbox, 1−24 MXDRAINAGE, 1−28 MXDRAW, 1−29 MXRAIL, 1−28 MXRENEW, 1−28 MXROAD, 1−28 MXSITE, 1−28 MXURBAN, 1−28 N

Null elevations, 1−6 O

Output window, 1−14 Overview, 2−1 P

Panels, components of, 1−12 Pavement and subgrade design, 2−12 Perspective views, 1−44 Points, 1−4 Preferences, 1−37 Profiles, creating, 1−40 Project, creating, 1−31 Project sequence, 1−33

Q

Quick alignment, 2−4 R 

Raster backcloth, 1−36 Report menu, 1−45 Report options, 1−45 Road design options, 2−7 Road widening option, 2−9 Roadways option, 2−8 Rule−based superelevation, 2−9 S

Security Report, 1−47 Shoulder design option, 2−10 Shoulder rollover, 2−10 SNC, 2−2 Standard string naming convention, 1−7, 2−2 Starting MX, 1−30 Startup panel, 1−31 Strings editing, 1−42 types of, 1−3 Style set  definition of, 1−6 using to create a working display, 1−36 Support, 1−52 Surface analysis, 1−41 of the ground, 2−3  T

 Toolbars, 1−14  Tools menu, 1−35  Triangulation, creating, 1−40 U

User support, 1−52  V 

 Vertical design, 2−6  View menu, 1−37  Visibility, 1−41

Index  Visualize options, 1−44  Visualize menu, 1−44   Volume calculation, 1−41  W

 Web page address, 1−52

 Widening, 2−9  Working display, creating, 1−35  Working drawings, 1−43