Copyright: ©1997 - 2002 Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved.
Citation: ©1997 - 2002 Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved.


Welcome to Trimble’s RoadLink™ utility.

The RoadLink utility is a powerful interface between third-party road definitions and a Trimble survey device.

Use it to:

 import or key in road definitions

 view road definitions graphically

 edit road definitions

You can then transfer the road definition to a Trimble survey device for use during stakeout.

RoadLink provides two ways to transfer road definitions:

 Automated conversion of horizontal and vertical alignments and cross-section files provided by third-party design software

 Manual input of the complete road definition, horizontal and vertical alignments, templates, and superelevation

An integral component of the Trimble Geomatics Office™ software, RoadLink also calculates cut and fill volumes for earthworks between the road definition and a surface model defined in Trimble’s DTMLink™ utility.

We assume you know the fundamentals of using Microsoft Windows. Consult your Windows documentation if you are in doubt about how to use Windows software.

Trimble hopes you enjoy using this product.


Slope Fields

 See also

Use slope fields to show and enter slope values. Slope fields show slope values in percentage or ratio formats and accepts values in either format.

For example, a slope field accepts the value 12.5 as a 12.5% slope. If you enter 1:20 as a ratio slope it shows as 1 in 20.

NOTE: After a template has been saved the display and reporting of crossfall and side slope values are controlled by the Grade format field and Side slope grade format field in Trimble Geomatics Office™ software.

Use File / Project Properties / Units and Format tab to set the grade and side slope grade format.


Elements

The elements you can specify for the different element types are:

Point

Line

Arc

Spiral

To access the element type, highlight the Element field and select from the list.


Point

Point element type is defined by northing and easting values.

Enter the northing and easting values for the point element into the North and East fields. Enter the values or a select a position from the screen using field fill-in.


Line

Line element type is defined by azimuth and length.

The specified line element is added on to the end of the previous element.

Enter the azimuth of the line element in the Azimuth field and enter the length of the line element in the Length field.

The azimuth of an existing line or between two positions on the screen can be selected using field fill-in or you can enter the azimuth value from the keyboard.

Highlight the azimuth field, press Delete, and Tab to the next field to enter a Null value in the Azimuth field. The azimuth used for the line is the azimuth calculated to maintain tangency to the previous element.

The field shows <Calcd> to indicate that the value is determined by the tangent at the end of the previous element.

If you want to determine the actual azimuth value, browse the line element shown on the screen.

NOTE: Click Apply to apply the line. The North and East fields update with the coordinates for the end of the line. The Station field updates with the station value at the end of the line. Use these fields to confirm the entry.


Arc

Arc element type is defined by radius and length or radius and delta.

You cannot join between arc elements defined in different directions with a single spiral element. You can however use two spiral elements separated by a line element of zero length with a calculated azimuth.

Enter the radius of the arc element in the Radius field and the length of the arc element into the Length fields. Alternatively enter the radius of the arc element in the Radius field and the delta angle in the D. angle field.

The sign of the radius value defines the direction of the arc. Enter a negative radius if the arc turns to the left (when looking from the start of the road). Enter a positive radius value to indicate the arc turns to the right.

If you want to define a fully Spiral | Spiral (SS) curve, specify an arc of the required radius with zero length between two spiral elements of appropriate lengths.

NOTE: You can select the arc method using the Arc entry fields.

NOTE: Click Apply to apply the arc. The North and East fields update with the coordinates for the end of the arc. The Station field updates with the station value at the end of the arc. Use these fields to confirm the entry.


Spiral

Spiral element type is defined by its length.

A spiral element is always preceded or followed by an arc element. The spiral elements are used to form Spiral | Arc | Spiral (SAS) curves between line and arc elements or between two arc elements.

You cannot join arc elements defined in different directions with a single spiral element. You can however use two spiral elements separated by a line element of zero length with a calculated azimuth.

NOTE: You can join two arc elements that have differing radii with a spiral element. However, the two arcs being joined by a spiral must both run in the same direction. That is, both must be right-hand or both must be left-hand arcs.

NOTE: For a spiral connecting two arcs (known as hanging or compound spirals) the end coordinates of the spiral will be incorrect until the second arc is added. This is only true where the connecting spiral is an exit spiral.

If you specify an invalid sequence of elements (for example, two spiral elements with no arc element separating them), an error message appears when you click Apply to update the alignment definition on the screen.

NOTE: Click Apply to apply the spiral. The North and East fields update with the coordinates for the end of the spiral. The Station field updates with the station value at the end of the spiral. Use these fields to confirm the entry.

NOTE: When you close the Road / Horizontal dialog, special station identifiers are added.

Insert

Highlight the element field. Click Insert or press the Insert key to insert elements.

Delete

Click Delete to delete an element. Click Delete or press the Delete key to delete the currently highlighted element. You are asked to confirm that you want to delete the current element. You can also select the option to delete all the elements.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the changes and edits you have made. This action takes effect immediately.

Report

Click Report to write a report of the alignment.

Edit PIs

Click Edit PIs to shift an existing alignment or section of an alignment. The Edit Point of Intersection dialog appears.


Example alignment

The following discussion explains how placement and transition between templates is used to control the road definition. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 : Example of an Alignment (Plan View)

Right-hand side of the road

Template ‘A’ is assigned to stations 0 to 20 meters. The road transitions from template A at station 20m to template B at station 70m. Because a template needs to be assigned at station 40m on the left-hand side, the system template <Interpolate> needs to be assigned to the right-hand side of the road in order to maintain correct interpolation. To correctly represent the gap between stations 70 to 90m the system template <None> is assigned at a nominal distance after station 70m (say 70.005m).  To complete the right-hand side of the road template ‘B’ is assigned from station 90 to 150m.

Left-hand side of the road

Template ‘A’ is assigned from station 0 to 40m. The road transitions from template A at station 40m to template B at station 70m. To correctly represent the design, template ‘A’ is assigned a nominal distance after station 120m (say 120.005m) to 150m.

Assign the templates at the specified start stations as shown in the following table:

Start station	Left templates	Right templates
0.000	Template ‘A’	Template ‘A’
20.000	Template ‘A’	Template ‘A’
40.000	Template ‘A’	<Interpolate>
70.000	Template ‘B’	Template ‘B’
70.005	Template ‘B’	<None>
90.000	Template ‘B’	Template ‘B’
120.000	Template ‘B’	Template ‘B’
120.005	Template ‘A’	Template ‘B’
Template Interpolation

The following two cases show the method of interpolating templates. The two cases are:

  both templates have an equal number of design line elements

  the templates have a different number of design elements

Interpolating between templates with an equal number of design line elements

Templates with an equal number of design line elements interpolate to their equivalent element in the next template. See Figure 2.

Figure 2 : Interpolating Between Templates (Equal Number of Design Line Elements)

In Figure 3 the template at station 0+100 includes a first element with a crossfall of –2% and an offset of 4.0 meters. The next template is assigned at station 0+400 and has a first element with a crossfall of –5% and an offset of 7 meters. The cross section for stations 0+200 and 0+300 are interpolated as shown to provide even grading from station 0+100 to 0+400.

Interpolating between templates that have a different number of design elements

For templates with an unequal number of design line elements the template with the least elements has zero length elements added before the side slope element. The interpolation is then performed given an equal number of elements exist. See Figure 3 where a zero length element ‘3’ has automatically been inserted.

Figure 3 : Interpolating Between Templates (Different Number of Design Line Elements)

By adding zero length template elements you can further control the interpolation process to best represent the road design.

NOTE: If the design requires a gap in its definition use <None> templates.

NOTE: No interpolation occurs between a null and a valid template.

NOTE: Templates are interpolated after superelevation and widening have been applied.

Interpolation of side slopes

If consecutive templates contain side slopes of differing values intermediate stations have side slopes interpolated based on the slope value.

For example if the side slope at station 0+600 is 1:2 and at station 0+800 it is 1:4 the side slope value at station 700 will be 1:3.


Edit VPIs dialog

Use the Edit VPIs dialog to specify the shift dimensions to the elevation of an individual VPI or section of an alignment.

Edit VPIs By

From the Edit VPIs By group, select the option you require. The available options are Delta and Position.

Delta

Select the Delta option to specify the shift of the vertical alignment elevation by delta. Enter the value you require in the Delta Elevation field below the group.

You can select a continuous sequential range of VPIs by highlighting an individual VPI on the table and dragging with the mouse to highlight the extent of the alignment to be shifted. Alternatively, hold down Shift and click on the last VPI in the range that you want to select.

TIP: Use the Delta elevation field as a calculated field. To do this, highlight the field, select the current position of the VPI on-screen, and then select the new position from the screen. RoadLink calculates the value for the delta elevation and shows it in this field.

Position

Select the Position option to specify the shift of the vertical alignment station and elevation by position. Enter the values in the table.

TIP: With the Edit by Position option, you are automatically in edit mode.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the new values.

NOTES:

The RoadLink software shows on-screen a boxed colored triangle icon to indicate the new elevations of the VPIs before actually adjusting the elevations. The triangle icons are in addition to the boxed colored cross icons that indicate the current elevations of the selected VPIs.

You can only make changes within the station range specified. If the changes are outside the range, RoadLink reverts to the original values.


Cut, Copy, Paste
Edit / Cut, Copy, Paste

	Cut
	Copy
	Paste
The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands are a convenient way to move or copy text.

"Move" means to remove (Cut) the selection from one field and insert (Paste) it in another field or software application.

"Copy" means to make a duplicate (Copy) of the selection and insert (Paste) it in another field or software application.

The clipboard is the temporary holding area when you are moving or copying a selection of text.

Each time you use the Cut or Copy commands, the selection replace the contents on the clipboard. After you paste the selection into a project or another software application, the copy of the selection remains on the clipboard. You can paste the selection again whenever you want.


Undo
Edit / Undo

	Use the Undo tool on the Standard toolbar
Use this command to undo the previous action in any field.

CAUTION: If you click Delete or press the Delete key the Undo action is unavailable to recover work.

You can undo more than one action.


Edit Menu

Use the Edit menu to edit project data. The Edit menu has the following commands:

Cut

Copy

Paste

Undo


New Road
File / New Road

Use this command to create a new road.

Road name

The Road name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) or fewer alphanumeric characters. To rename an existing road, select File / Rename Road.

Start station

Enter the starting station for the new road in this field.

Surface

The Surface list displays all surfaces for the current project, plus any surface imported from another project. From the list, select the contour surface to be associated with the road. You can then calculate earthworks volumes, or view the surface in the Plan, Profile, and Section views.

To import a surface from another project, see File / Import − Surface tab  − Contour surface option.

NOTE: If you want to associate a surface model with the road, first create the surface in the DTMLink utility. (Surfaces imported into DTMLink from third-party software are not available in RoadLink.

NOTE: To change the start station, surface, and surface sample width for an existing road, select Road / Road Options.

Click OK. The Horizontal dialog appears.

Click Cancel to leave the New Road dialog.


Open Road
File / Open Road

Use this command to select an existing road for editing.

Road name

Enter the name for the road you want to edit in the Road name field or select a name from the list.


Save Road
File / Save Road

Use this command to save the current road.

The project is saved under C:\Trimble Geomatics Office\Projects\xx\ …, where xx is the name of the project.


Close Road
File / Close Road

Use this command to close an open road.


Save Road As
File / Save Road As

Use this command to save the current road with a new name.

New road

Enter a new name in the New road field. The name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) or fewer alphanumeric characters.

NOTE: If the name already exists, you are asked if you want to overwrite the existing file.

This command saves all the aspects of the design:

  horizontal and vertical alignment

  templates

  superelevation


Delete Road
File / Delete Road

Use this command to permanently delete a road.

Road name

Enter the name in the Road name field or select from the list. The road is deleted once you select OK.

CAUTION: You cannot recover (undelete) a road once you have deleted it.


Rename Road
File / Rename Road

Use this command to rename the current road.

Road name

Enter the new name for the current road. The Road name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) or less alphanumeric characters.


Import
File / Import

	Click the Import tool on the Standard toolbar.
When you select File / Import, the Import dialog appears. The Import dialog comprises three tabs: Road, Surface, and Background. Each tab lists the files of that type that you can import, as shown below:

Tab	Files for import
Road	Third-Party Road Definition File  Road Definition from Trimble Survey Controller  Road Definition from Trimble Survey Controller File  Road Definition from SDR33 File  ASCII Road Definition File (*.TDF)
Surface	Contour Surface
Background	Background Linework from TerraModel Project File (*.pro)  Background Linework from AutoCAD Drawing File (*.dwg)  ASCII AutoCAD Drawing eXchange (DXF) File  Bitmap Image


ASCII Road Definition File

 See also

Use this format definition for importing horizontal and vertical alignments, templates and superelevation and widening details from an ASCII file.

  Use the Road / Horizontal and Road / Vertical commands to view or edit the alignment.

  Use the Road / Templates command to reassign templates.

  Use the Road / Superelevation command to edit the superelevation and widening details.

  Use the Utilities / Template Editor command to edit the templates.

Header

The header includes:

CLINE FILE V1.00	default

METRES	distance units

DEGREES	angle units

START CHAINAGE,   X.XX	where X.XX is the start station value

Horizontal format

The format begins with:

HORIZ	this indicates the start of the horizontal definition

RN, YY	where YY is the road name

N,  ZZ	where ZZ is the alignment name

The format enables the entry of a horizontal alignment using points, lines, spirals, and arcs.

The codes for these elements are:

PT for a point	This defines the coordinates which must have easting first
R. for a line	This defines a length and an azimuth. To automatically calculate the azimuth (where applicable) enter <calc> for the azimuth value.
CL for a spiral	This is defined by length, K factor, or both. The RoadLink software calculates any missing value using the formula: Where: A is the K factor R is the radius of the adjacent curve L is the length of spiral A spiral element must always be preceded or followed by an arc element.
CC for an arc	This defines the arc as a length and a radius. A negative value indicates a left-hand curve.
The format for the horizontal alignment is described in the following table:

Vertical format

The format must begin with:

VERT	this indicates the start of the vertical definition

N,   XX	Where XX is the alignment name. This must match the horizontal alignment name.

The format enables the entry of the following curve types to define the vertical alignments.

The curve types are:

symmetrical parabola	defined as a VPI (Vertical Point of Intersection) and its half length

asymmetric parabola	defined as a VPI and its in and out length

circular	defined as a VPI and the radius of the arc

none	defined as a station and elevation

The format for the vertical alignment is described in the following table:

Template format

The format lets you enter the template definitions. The format must begin with:

TEMPLATE	this indicates the start of the template definition

N,   XX	where XX is the template name

Templates are defined by the following values:

O	this defines the starting coordinate which must be 0.00, 0.00

D	this defines a template element by a delta offset and elevation, if the element is adjusted by superelevation and widening and a code

G	this defines a template by an offset and a crossfall, if the element is adjusted by superelevation and widening and a code

B	this defines the side slope values (cut and fill), the cut ditch width and a code

The format for the template is described in the following table:

Station Format

The format lets you enter the station to which the templates are assigned.

The format must begin with:

SECTION	This indicates the start of the section format. The format lists the station and the template name assigned left and right of the centerline.

Super Format

The format lets you enter the superelevation and widening values and pivot option for the station values. The format must begin with:

SUPER	This indicates the start of the super format. The format lists the station and the left and right superelevation and widening values and the pivot option.

NOTES:

The header details must be included.

The order entry for each element must be respected.

The full stop (.) after the R must be included.

The horizontal alignments are imported and shown in Element form within the RoadLink. You can show the horizontal alignment in PI form by selecting the PI tab.

The file format includes commas to separate entries and are required to indicate fields that are blank.

  If the road definition included templates, a new template library is created. All templates associated with the imported road are stored in this library. The library name is the road name.


Road Definition from Trimble Survey Controller

 See also

Use this option for importing horizontal and vertical alignment, templates, and superelevation and widening values from a Trimble Survey Controller.

Select the file from the appropriate device.

NOTE: If the road definition included templates, a new template library is created. All templates associated with the imported road are stored in this library. The library name is the road name.


Road Definition from a Trimble Survey Controller file

 See also

Use this option for importing the horizontal and vertical alignments, templates, and superelevation and widening values from a Trimble Survey Controller file.

File name

Enter the file name of the Survey Controller file you want to import.

Open

Click Open to import the file.

NOTE: If the road definition included templates, a new template library is created. All templates associated with the imported road are stored in this library. The library name is the road name.


AutoCAD Drawing eXchange (DXF) File

 See also

Use this option to import a DXF file.

NOTE: If you want to assign units of measure to the DXF file being imported, or if you want to remove unnecessary points from line, curve, and arc definitions, click Configuration in the Import dialog and complete the Import DXF Configuration Options dialog.

File name

Enter the name of the DXF file you want to import.

Open

Click Open to import the file.


Import DXF Configuration Options dialog

 See also

The Import DXF Configuration Options dialog comprises two sections: File units and Compress Polylines.

File units

From the File units field, select the correct unit of measure for the DXF or DWG file being imported. For example, if a site uses International Feet as its coordinates but the DXF file to be imported was generated with Meters, then select Meters when importing that DXF file.

Compress polylines

In an AutoCAD polyline, the distance between two points comprises many small line segments, arcs, or curves. You can reduce the number of these segments at import, creating one "compressed" straight line, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.  Compression tolerance

In Figure 1, the segments within a tolerance of XX mm of the "compressed" line, or those marked Y, are removed.

To set the compression tolerance of a file:

 Select the Compress Polylines check box and then set a compression tolerance for the polyline. Individual line segments, arcs, or curves will be removed from the DXF or DWG file at import, reducing the number of lines, arcs, and curves to a minimum.

NOTE: The smaller the compression tolerance, the more accurate the diagram representation.


Background Linework from TerraModel Project File

 See also

Use the Background linework from TerraModel Project (*.pro) file option to import linework from a TerraModel Project file.

File name

Enter the name of the .pro file to be imported.

Open

Click Open to import the file.

The Select Layers to Import dialog appears. Use this dialog to select the appropriate layer to import. Click OK to import the selected layers.


Select Layers to Import dialog

 See also

Use the Select Layers to Import dialog to select the layers of a background file for import.

Layers

In the Layers field, select the layers to be imported.

All

Click All to select all the layers.

None

Click None to clear the selection of all the layers.


Background Linework from AutoCAD Drawing File

 See also

Use Background linework from AutoCAD Drawing (*.pro) file option to import linework from an AutoCAD Drawing (*.dwg) file.

NOTE: To assign units to the file being imported, and to remove unnecessary points from line, curve, and arc definitions, in the Import dialog, click Configuration to access the Import DXF Configuration Options dialog.

File name

Enter the name of the DWG file to be imported.

Open

Click Open to import the file.

The Select Layers to Import dialog appears. In this dialog, select the layers to be imported and then click OK.


Bitmap Image

 See also

Use this option to import a bitmap (.bmp) into the project.

Filename

Enter the filename of the image you want to import.

Browse

Click Browse to open the Open file dialog.

Geographic Position

Use the Geographic Position group to position the imported bitmap.

Origin North

Use field fill-in to complete the Origin North field or enter a set of coordinates.

Origin East

Use field fill-in to complete the Origin East field or enter a set of coordinates.

Width

Use the Width field to set the width of the imported bitmap in the project.

Height

Use the Height field to set the height of the imported bitmap in the project.

NOTE: The origin is the bottom left corner of the bitmap.


Contour Surface

 See also

Use this option to import a surface file from another project into the open project.

Surfaces available in

Click Folder and navigate to the RoadLink – DTMLink folder of the project where the surface(s) are located. Below the Surfaces available in field is a list of surfaces in the selected project. Highlighting one of these surface names automatically enters the name in the Surfaces available in field and stores the surface in the current project in the RoadLink – DTMLink folder.

Import

Click Import to begin importing the surface file.

Note: The imported surface can be associated with a road.


ASCII File Example

 See also

An example of an ASCII file follows:

CLINE FILE V1.00

METRES

DEGREES

START CHAINAGE,12760.00

HORIZ

RN,Frontage road A1

N,CENTERLINE

PT,2330.0000,2046.8115,

R.,869.1748,97.74034,

CC,335.5834,-800.0000,

R.,388.7497,73.70595,

CL,63.0000,

CC,107.5127,400.0000,

CL,63.0000,

R.,518.2418,98.13010,

VERT

N,CENTERLINE

,,12760.0000,4.6765,,,

,,13515.5012,4.5551,,,,150.0000,

,,14282.9090,6.6985,,,,250.0000,

,,14975.4563,7.1029,,,,

,,15105.2620,7.1029,,,

TEMPLATE

N,Type 1-A

O,0.000,0.000

G,18.000,-0.02000,Y,Y,

D,0.000,0.750,N,N,

G,3.000,-0.04000,Y,N,Shoulder

G,3.000,-0.20000,N,N,Ditch

B,0.500,-0.200,1.200,Catch

N,Type 1-B

O,0.000,0.000

G,18.000,-0.02000,Y,Y,

D,0.000,0.750,N,N,

G,3.000,-0.04000,Y,N,Shoulder

G,3.000,-0.20000,N,N,

B,0.500,-0.200,0.000,

SECTION

12760.000,Type 1-A,Type 1-A

13670.000,Type 1-B,Type 1-A

14230.000,Type 1-B,Type 1-B

SUPER

13519.174,-0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

13579.174,-0.02000,0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

13629.175,-0.05333,0.05333,0.000,0.000,CROWN

13669.174,-0.08000,0.08000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

13924.759,-0.08000,0.08000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

13964.758,-0.05333,0.05333,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14014.759,-0.02000,0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14074.759,-0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14337.758,-0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14353.508,0.00000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14369.258,0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14416.508,0.08000,-0.08000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14524.021,0.08000,-0.08000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14571.271,0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14587.021,0.00000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN

14602.771,-0.02000,-0.02000,0.000,0.000,CROWN


Road Definition from SDR33 File

 See also

Use this option for importing the horizontal and vertical alignments, templates, and superelevation and widening values from an SDR 33 file.

File name

Enter the file name of the SDR33 file you want to import.

Open

Click Open to import the file.

NOTE: If the road definition included templates, a new template library is created. All templates associated with the imported road are stored in this library. The library name is the road name.

NOTE: Both TRIMMAP and SDRmapping and Design can output SDR33 roading files for direct import into RoadLink.


Third-Party Road Definition File

 See also

Use this option to import a third-party road definition file defined by a third-party or other Trimble software package.

NOTE: In the RoadLink Help, "third-party" includes other Trimble software such as Terramodel.

A road definition file includes the horizontal alignment. It can also include the vertical alignment and cross-section data:

  Horizontal alignments can include straights, spirals, and arcs. They cannot include a curve with a deflection angle of more than 180 degrees. If the deflection angle is greater than this, divide the arc by two or more.

  Vertical alignments can include straights, symmetric parabolas, asymmetric parabolas, and circular arcs.

  Cross-section data is defined by station value, offset and elevation.

A wizard guides you through the import process. The RoadLink utility automatically creates a new road when the alignments are imported.

RoadLink calculates imported spirals as Clothoid spirals, which can slightly alter geometry. RoadLink does not accept any alignment defined by ASAASA, where A is arc and S is spiral.

WARNING: You must set the units in the Trimble Geomatics Office software to match the third-party definition file being imported:

 For SDMS files containing a UL:M record, the file is interpreted as meters, irrespective of the Trimble Geomatics Office software units.

  For SDMS files containing a UL:F ecord, the file is interpreted as international feet, unless the Trimble Geomatics Office software units are set to U.S. feet.

  For SDMS files not containing the UL record, the file is interpreted using the Trimble Geomatics Office software units that are set.

RoadLink supports the following third-party software packages:

Autodesk Civil Design / Softdesk	CAiCE (via the SDMS format)
CLIP	Cremer
DRD	Eagle Point
FastMap	Geodimeter (are)
Geodimeter (rln)	GEOPAK
Inroads	ISPOL
Istram	Leica RoadED
ModelMaker	MX GENIO
MXROAD SNC	NRG
REB	SDMS
SELM	Teku CAD
Terramodel	TRIMDESIGN / SDRdesign
TRIMMAP / SDRmap road coordinates	Wild GRE
Select Road / Horizontal to view and edit the horizontal alignment. Select Road / Vertical to view and edit the vertical alignment. If the road data included a cross-section file RoadLink creates templates from this file. Similarly if a MXROAD SNC file is imported, templates are generated from the strings. The templates are stored in a new template library. Select Utilities / Templates to view the templates. Select Road / Sections to view the resultant sections.

NOTE: RoadLink will thin templates if adjoining templates are identical or if the template can be interpolated between adjoining templates. If adjoining templates have a different number of elements, RoadLink inserts a <None> template 2 mm (0.006ft) beyond the first adjoining template. When staking out a road with <None> templates, three-dimensional stakeout cannot occur for station values that lie between the adjoining templates. Displaying the linework clearly indicates these areas of limited stakeout, as no linework will connect between templates with a different number of elements. This precaution has been taken because the software cannot be sure how to interpolate between templates with a different number of elements.

NOTE: Files that include station equations will have their station values reduced to true station values—RoadLink and Trimble Survey Devices do not support station equations.

TIP: If the RoadLink utility reports a coordinate difference, choosing to adjust the design will maintain the coordinate values and modify the geometry to fit the coordinates. If you do not choose to adjust the design, the geometry will be maintained and the coordinates adjusted to fit the design.

If the RoadLink utility reports an elevation difference when importing a vertical alignment, Trimble recommends that you regenerate the vertical alignment file to at least three decimal places, and values for vertical slopes should be to at least five decimal places.


Template Contains Additional Elements

When a road alignment is not connected to the template surface, RoadLink adds additional template elements to the exported surface.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 are examples of surfaces where additional template elements (indicated by the dashed lines) were added to connect the alignment to the surface.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

The addition of these elements results in two issues:

  The additional elements do not necessarily represent the design.

  If the template surface was exported so that the "outside" points were converted to side slopes, the side slope element adjacent to the alignment is exported as a non-side slope element (see Figure 1), because the additional template elements connecting the surface to the alignment caused it to no longer be an outside point.

NOTE: If you are staking out with the Trimble Survey Controller software when Stake field is set to Station and offset, make sure the offset selected truly represents the surface. If the Stake field is set to Position on road, reported cut/fill values will only be correct when you are positioned over the surface.


Exporting from Autodesk Software

 See also

The following sections show how to transfer Autodesk road definitions into RoadLink so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions include horizontal and vertical alignments and cross-section data, and are defined using the Autodesk Land Development Desktop software (release 1 and later).

Exporting horizontal and vertical alignments

To export the horizontal or vertical alignments:

1.	Start the Land Development Desktop software and open the project.

2.	Select the Civil Design Palette.

3.	Do one of the following:

  For horizontal alignments, select Alignment / ASCII File Output / Alignment. Graphically select the horizontal alignment.

  For vertical alignments, select Profile / ASCII File Output / Profile.

4.	In the command line, confirm the following:

  Output folder

  Output file name

5.	Click Enter to write the file.

Exporting cross-sections

To export the cross-sections:

1.	In the Civil Design Palette of your Land Development Desktop project, select Project / Drawing Settings.

2.	In the Edit Settings dialog, set the Program field to Civil Design.

3.	From the Settings list, select Cross Section Sampling and click Edit Settings. The Section Sampling Settings dialog appears.

4.	To ensure that the most accurate representation of the road is exported, select the following options from the Additional Sample Control group:

  PC’s / PT’s

  TS − SC’s / CS − ST’s

  Alignment start

  Alignment end

5.	Click OK and then Close

6.	Select Cross Section / ASCII File Output / Sections.

7.	In the command line, confirm the following:

  Output folder

  Output file name

  Beginning station

  End station

8.	Click Enter to write the file.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import road definitions:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select Autodesk Civil Design / Softdesk and click Next.

5.	Select the road data files as exported from Autodesk and click Next.

6.	Select the alignment containing the vertical alignment and click Next.

7.	Select the surface containing the cross-sections and click Next.

8.	Do the following:

  If necessary, select the Left of road and Right of road check boxes. For example, if the cross-section file includes the catch points, select these check boxes to convert the outside points in the cross-section file to side slopes.

  Specify the Side slope tolerance value. Use this value to round the side slope value to a whole number.

  If necessary, select the Exclude main alignment from template check box. Select this check box whenever the surface you are importing does not coincide with the design profile. For example, if the cross-section point on the centerline has an elevation that does not match the design profile elevation, select this check box to ensure that the profile elevation is not included incorrectly in the resultant template.

9.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink, where you can confirm and edit it, if necessary, before exporting it to a Trimble survey device.

TIP: If you import a cross-section file, RoadLink creates a new template library with templates defined from the imported file. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.

NOTE: For users with Autodesk R2 or greater, a road can be exported directly to the Trimble Survey Controller software using the Trimble Link software that is part of the Autodesk system. Alternatively, a .dc file defining the road can be exported from Autodesk and imported into RoadLink for confirmation and editing before exporting to the Trimble Survey device. For both options the Section Sampling Settings dialog should be configured as discussed above in Exporting cross-sections, steps 1−4.

To export directly to the Trimble Survey Controller software, select Utilities / Trimble Export / Road to Survey Controller. To export as a .dc file, select Utilities / Trimble Export – Road for SiteVision. To import the .dc file into RoadLink select from the File / Import / Road tab − Road definition from Survey Controller file.


Exporting from CAiCE Software

See also

The following section shows how to transfer CAiCE road definitions into RoadLink, so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions only include horizontal alignments. They are defined using the CAiCE software. Export from the CAiCE software is via SDMS files, which RoadLink reads.

Exporting horizontal alignments

To export the horizontal alignment:

1.	Start the CAiCE software and open the project.

2.	Select File / Export translators / To SDMS / Alignment to Alignment File.

3.	Select SNAPL and the alignment to be exported. (Select only one alignment.)

4.	Left-click to return to the dialog. Check that there is only one chain name in the objects check box. If there is more than one, clear the check box and return to Step 2.

5.	Click OK. The Save dialog appears.

6.	Enter a file name and click Save.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select SDMS and click Next.

5.	Select the file containing the horizontal alignment.

6.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink, where you can confirm and edit it (adding the vertical alignment, templates, and superelevation if necessary), before exporting it to a Trimble Survey Device.


Exporting from Eagle Point Software

 See also

The following section shows how to transfer Eagle Point (version 2000 and earlier) road definitions into RoadLink so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions include the horizontal and, optionally, vertical alignments. They are defined using Eagle Point software.

There is no direct export option from the Eagle Point software. RoadLink reads the subproject files generated by the Eagle Point software when the road is defined.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select Eagle Point and then click Next.

5.	From the appropriate folder, select the RCA**???.DAT and RCD**???.DAT files.

The RCA**???.DAT file defines the horizontal alignment and the RCD**???.DAT file defines the vertical alignment. The ** represents the alignment number and ??? the subproject number.

6.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink, where you can confirm and edit it (including adding templates and superelevation if required), before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

Note: For Eagle Point version 2001 and later use the SDMS export option within the software to export the horizontal and vertical alignments. Select the SDMS data type from the File / Import – Third party road definition file to import the SDMS file into RoadLink.


Exporting from GEOPAK Software

 See also

The following section shows how to transfer GEOPAK road definitions to RoadLink so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions include the horizontal and vertical alignments, and optionally the cross-sections. GEOPAK exports a .dc file, version 6.5 or later.

To export the horizontal and vertical alignment:

1.	In GEOPAK version 2000 and later, open COORDINATE GEOMETRY and select the gpk file where the chains and points are stored.

2.	In the COORDINATE GEOMETRY dialog press FILE>EXPORT>ALIGNMENT AND PROFILES.

3.	For "Export Format" select TRIMBLE DC.

4.	Select the version (6.5, 7.0, or 7.5).

5.	If in GEOPAK ROAD SITE OR SURVEY> USER PREFERENCES you chose English Units, you have the choice of USFOOT or INT'L FOOT.

NOTE: If you chose METRIC in USER PREFERENCES then the reports will automatically be built in metric units.

6.	Select the chain and profile and then type a name for the file to be created. Only one chain and one profile per .dc file is created.

7.	Click Apply, to generate the .dc file.

To include cross-section data:

  In GEOPAK ROAD > CROSS SECTIONS > CROSS SECTIONS REPORT > MULTILINE, select TRIMBLE DC in "Output Format". You can generate this report for existing ground cross-sections and/or proposed cross-sections. The cross-sections should be plotted on a 2D dgn file prior to generating the reports.

NOTE: The .dc files do not include projection and datum information. They are set to None.

The .dc file can be imported into RoadLink for confirmation and editing before exporting to a Trimble Survey device. To import the .dc file into RoadLink, select File / Import. In the Road tab, select Road definition from Trimble Survey Controller file.


Exporting from InRoads Software

 See also

The following section shows how to transfer Inroads road definitions to RoadLink, so that you can then export them to a Trimble survey device for stakeout. These road definitions include the horizontal and, optionally, vertical alignments, and cross-sections. These are all defined using InRoads version 7, InRoads SelectCAD, or SiteWorks SelectCAD software.

Setting up the Trimble reporting macro

To export the cross-section data, you need the special reporting macro GeoTNL.dba. This macro exports the cross-sections to a file in a format that RoadLink can process.

To install the macro:

  The macro file is available from the Trimble Geomatics Office install CD.

Copy the file, GeoTNL.dba, from the <cd drive>\Additional Utilities and Files\RoadLink macro files\Inroads folder to the Inroads system folder containing other database template files—usually <drive>\winapp32\Ingr\Inroads\Data.

NOTE: The following procedures only relate to an Inroads system running on a Microstation platform.

Before you can export cross-section data, you need to define elements defining common features (for example, curbs) as complex chains. This means that they are joined as a contiguous entity before being imported as alignments. To do this:

1.	Select Settings / Locks and select the Write and Auto Plot check boxes.

2.	From the Main or Groups tool bar on the main tool frame, select Create Complex Chain. The Create Complex Chain dialog appears.

3.	In the Method list, do one of the following:

  If you want the software to automatically connect elements that are not contiguous, select Automatic. In the Max Gap field, enter an appropriate value—one that ensures that all elements defining a complex chain are connected.

  If you want to manually accept or reject noncontiguous elements, select Manual.

4.	Click on the first element at the start of the feature you wish to define as a complex chain:

If you selected the Automatic method above, this element, and all subsequent elements, join to form a complex chain. The elements defining the complex chain are highlighted on-screen.

If you selected the Manual method above, all elements defining the feature join to form a complex chain until the software finds a gap. When it finds a gap between elements, the following message appears in the status bar: Automatic Create Complex Chain > Accept/Reject. Do one of the following:

  To accept the gap and continue until all elements defining the feature are connected as a chain, left-click anywhere in the graphics window.

  To reject the gap, right-click in the graphics window.

5.	To end the process of defining a complex chain, left-click anywhere in the graphics window.

Repeat this procedure for all features that you want to define as alignments.

TIP: If you need to define a complex chain, it is helpful to create a new layer for the chains—one with a unique color.

Warning: All chains must run in the same direction as the road.

To import the features (defined as complex chains) as geometry alignments:

1.	Select File / Geometry / Open. The Open Geometry dialog appears.

2.	From the appropriate folder, select the .alg file and click OK.

3.	Select File / Import / Geometry from graphics. The Import Geometry From Graphics dialog appears.

4.	In the Select list, select Horizontal or Vertical.

5.	In the Name field, enter a name for the alignment and click Apply. In the graphics window, select the appropriate feature (complex chain).

6.	To accept the alignment, left-click anywhere in the graphics window. A message appears in the status bar, confirming that the alignment was imported successfully.

Repeat this procedure for all complex chains.

Exporting from Inroads Version 7.00 Software

The following sections describe the export process for the horizontal and vertical alignment files and the cross-section files.

TIP: To ensure that exported alignments and cross-sections are accurate, set distance values to at least three decimal places, and vertical slopes to at least five decimal places.

Exporting horizontal and vertical alignments

To export alignments:

1.	Start the Inroads software.

2.	Select File / Export / Ascii Geometry.

3.	Select the horizontal or vertical alignment.

4.	Enter or select the job name and click Apply.

5.	Enter the name of the export file and select an export folder and click Save.

Exporting cross-sections

To export the cross-sections:

1.	Select Utilities / Reports / Geometry.

2.	Set the Report Type button to Station base.

3.	In the DBAccess Library field, select the GeoTNL.dba library.

4.	In the DBAccess Template field, select the Trimble_XREPORT template.

5.	In the Output group, do the following:

  Select the ASCII option.

  Enter a name for the file.

NOTE: The path and file name must not include spaces. Use the DOS 8.3 format for the file name.

6.	In the Parameters group:

  To report cross-section data for all alignments associated with the active horizontal alignment, in the Include alignments field, enter *.

  Select the Include On Alignment Points check box.

  If necessary, select the Station limits check box.

  In the Start and Stop fields, enter appropriate values

  In the Interval field, enter an appropriate value.

  In the Offset field, enter 0.000.

7.	Click Apply.

Export from InRoads SelectCAD or SiteWorks SelectCAD, Version 8.00

The following sections describe the export process for the horizontal and vertical alignment files and the cross-section file.

Exporting the horizontal and vertical alignments

To export the alignments:

1.	Start the InRoads SelectCAD/SiteCAD software.

2.	Select File / Export / Geometry.

3.	Select the ASCII tab.

4.	Select the Type, Horizontal Alignment or Type, Vertical Alignment options.

5.	Enter or select the project job name.

6.	Select the horizontal or vertical alignment.

7.	Enter the name of the export file and select an export folder.

8.	Click Save.

Exporting cross-sections

To export cross-sections from InRoads SelectCAD or SiteWorks SelectCAD version 8.00 software, follow the procedure for Inroads version 7.00 software, above.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definitions:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select Inroads and click Next.

5.	Select the three road files that were exported from the Inroads software and click Next.

6.	Do the following:

  If necessary, select the Left of road and Right of road check boxes. For example, if the cross-section file includes the catch points, select these check boxes to convert the outside points in the cross-section file to side slopes.

  Specify the Side slope tolerance value. Use this value to round the resultant side slope value to a whole number.

  If necessary, select the Exclude main alignment from template check box. Select this check box whenever the surface you are importing does not coincide with the design profile. For example, if the cross-section point on the centerline has an elevation that does not match the design profile elevation, select this check box to ensure that the profile elevation is not included incorrectly in the resultant template.

7.	Click Finish.

  The road definition appears in RoadLink, where you can confirm it or edit it, if necessary, before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

TIP: If a cross-section file was imported, RoadLink creates a new template library with templates defined from the imported file. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.


Exporting from Leica RoadED Software

 See also

The following section shows how to transfer Leica RoadED road definitions so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions include the horizontal and vertical alignments. They are defined using Leica RoadED.

There is no direct export option from RoadED. RoadLink reads the alignment files generated by RoadED when the road is defined.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definitions:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	In the Road tab, select Third party road definition and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select the Leica RoadED option and click Next.

5.	From the appropriate folder, select the aln*.gsi and prf*.gsi files generated by RoadED.

NOTE: The aln*.gsi file defines the horizontal alignment and the prf*.gsi file defines the vertical alignment. The * represents a user-entered name. The software supports both GSI-8 and GSI-16 format files.

6.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink, where you can confirm it and edit it (including adding templates and superelevation, if necessary) before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.


Exporting from MXROAD Software

 See also

The following section shows how to transfer master and related strings from MXROAD software into RoadLink, so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. RoadLink can read the GENIO file defining the road as output from MXROAD software.

To transfer MXROAD road definitions that include master and related strings, you need the following from the MXROAD software:

  Make sure standard string naming convention (SNC) has been switched on. This functionality is available in MXROAD version 1.2 and later. You can do this from one of the following:

−	The message which appears when you start a new project

−	The System Parameters tab on the Project Settings panel

−	The Tools / System Parameters command

(From the String naming tab, select the String naming check box.)

With SNC switched on, you can store a maximum of 36 road center lines per model, since only alphanumeric characters are permitted.

  Make sure all master strings created in a single model have a unique third character; otherwise conflicts occur.

Exporting a GENIO file for the master alignment

To export a GENIO file:

1.	Start MX for Microsoft Windows.

2.	Select the appropriate MX project.

3.	Select File / Export / GENIO – Output Strings to File. The Output Strings to File dialog appears.

4.	In the Details tab, do the following:

a.	In the File Name field, enter a file name. Change the file extension to .crd.

b.	In the Model Name field, select the model containing the strings to be exported.

c.	In the String name field, select the name of the string(s) to be exported.

d.	To select a particular string ‘group’, select it from the list.

e.	To export all strings, enter ????, or select All from the list of string ‘groups’.

f.	Make sure the Rename String check box is clear.

g.	If necessary, in the Chainage Interval field, enter a new interval for the master string. The new interval must be a multiple of the existing chainage interval.

h.	Select the Output Headers check box.

i.	Select the Close File on Exit check box.

5.	In the Method tab, clear the Specify Format check box.

6.	In the Start & End tab, make sure the Start and End fields are clear.

7.	Click OK to export the file.

NOTE: No more than 18 instances of a single feature are possible in a single model. However, making extensive use of discontinuous strings can minimize this limitation.

NOTE: You can select multiple master strings for export in the same GENIO file, but when the file is imported into RoadLink, you can only select one master string for import at a time.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, do one of the following:

  Select MX GENIO.

  If the file includes master and related strings, and SNC was switched on, select MXROAD SNC.

5.	Click Next.

6.	Select the GENIO file as exported from the MXROAD software.

7.	Do one of the following:

  If an MXROAD SNC file is being imported, click Next.

  If not, skip to Step 9.

8.	Do the following:

  If necessary, select the Left of road and Right of road check box. If the GENIO file includes a string for catch points, select these check boxes to convert the string to side slopes.

  Specify the Side slope tolerance value. Use this value to round the side slope value to a whole number.

  If necessary, select the Exclude main alignment from template check box. If there is a string on the centerline with an elevation that does not match the elevation of the master string profile, select this check box to ensure that the profile elevation is not included incorrectly in the resultant template.

9.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink where you can confirm it and edit it, if necessary, before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

TIP: For MXROAD SNC files, and MX GENIO files that relate the master string to other strings, RoadLink creates a new template library with templates defined from the imported file. Templates that link the MXROAD master and related strings are generated whenever there is any variation in the string geometry. A new template library containing the imported templates is created. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.


Exporting from Terramodel Software

 See also

The following section shows how to export road definitions to RoadLink so that you can then export them to a Trimble survey device for stakeout. These road definitions include the horizontal and vertical alignments, and the cross-sections. Terramodel 9.82 or later exports a version 10.0 or later.dc file.

Before exporting the road you must create an export script:

1.	Start Terramodel and open the project file of the road job you want to export.

2.	Select the File\Export/Upload\Export script manager menu option.

3.	Click New to create a new script file.

4.	Enter a script file name, click on Export to disk, and Next.

5.	Select Roading 3D (DC) as the export file format. Click Next.

6.	In the Roading DC target file dialog, do the following:

  File: Enter (or browse for) the file that you want to create.

  Road job: Select the road job to export. If station equations are used in the main alignment, stationing will be based on the station properties of the segment of the hal that is selected on the first page and the effects are removed from all of the stations. The cross sections will be limited by the extents of the stationing that the user selects. The entire hal and val will be written out regardless of the station extents selected.

  Segments: Select the segment of the road job to export from the segments listed.

  Begin/End: If you want to limit the extent of the segment, modify the beginning and ending station values.

  Click Next to go to the next dialog box.

NOTE: If you do not have a project open when creating the script, the Road Job, Segments and Begin/End fields do not need to be completed.

7.	In the Coordinate shift dialog box, enter any offsets that you want to add to each coordinate value. Click Next to go to the next dialog box.

8.	In the Cross section settings dialog box, you have the following options:

  XS interval: Use this option to specify the interval for the template cross-sections.

  Min tolerance: Enter the tolerance for an area around a cross-section element. If each element of a cross-section falls within its tolerance, the cross-section is defined as "identical" and a template is not printed out. A small tolerance increases the number of templates in most circumstances; a large tolerance decreases the number of templates.

  Design surface/Bottom subgrade: If you have defined subgrades (with the Subgrade Template Editor in Terramodel), you can choose to export the data for either the design surface (default) or the bottom of the bottom-most subgrade.

  Click Next to go to the next dialog box.

9.	Review your choices in the Export summary dialog box and click Export.

10.	The Export summary dialog box appears (again) with a report of the export. Click Finish to exit.

You can now use this script to export the road. To do this:

1.	Select the File\Export/Upload\ menu option and then the name of the export script you created in step 4 above.

2.	Follow the script as defined in steps 6 to 8 above to export the DC file.

NOTE: The DC file does not include projection and datum information; they are set to None.

The .dc file can be imported into RoadLink for confirmation and editing before exporting to a Trimble Survey device. To import the .dc file into RoadLink select from the File / Import / Road tab − Road definition from Trimble Survey Controller file.

TIP: If the cross-sections were imported, RoadLink creates a new template library with templates defined from the imported file. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.


Exporting from TRIMMAP or SDRmap Software

 See also

The following sections show how to export the following from TRIMMAP and SDRmap software:

  Simple road definitions

  Road definitions that include dependent subalignments

  Complex road definitions

Transferring simple road definitions

The following sections show how to transfer TRIMMAP or SDRmap simple road definitions to RoadLink so that you can then export them to a Trimble Survey Device for stakeout. These road definitions must include the horizontal master and, optionally, vertical master alignments; templates; and superelevation records. The road definitions are defined using the Design module of TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design (version 5.0 or later).

NOTE: Simple road definitions cannot include asymmetric parabolas in the vertical definition. Also, the templates must consist of a single surface with no decision elements. Sub-alignments are not supported.

Exporting horizontal and vertical alignments

To export the alignments:

1.	Start TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design.

2.	Select Tools / Design / Hz and Vt design and then select the road.

3.	Select Report / Alignment.

4.	In the All active alignments, All non active alignments, and Vert annot fields, select No.

5.	In the Super, Horizontal, Vertical and Templates fields, select Yes and click Report. The Send report to dialog appears.

6.	Select the DC file or SDR file check box and click OK. The DC Header information, or SDR Header information, dialog appears.

7.	In the DC job ID or SDR job ID field, enter the SDR file name.

8.	From the DC version or SDR version list, select SDR33 V04-03 and click OK. This writes an SDR file (even when exporting from TRIMMAP) that contains the horizontal and vertical alignment definitions, the superelevation and widening records, and the station values that the templates are assigned.

Adding template definitions to this file

To add the template definitions:

1.	Select Tools / Design / XS Design & Comp.

2.	Select Template management / Report template.

3.	Toggle to One template and select one of the templates applied to the selected road.

4.	Click OK. The Send report to dialog appears.

5.	Check that the DC file or SDR file check box is selected and click OK. The Confirm DC, or SDR file, dialog appears.

6.	Select the Append check box and click OK.

Repeat this procedure for all templates assigned to the road.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Road definition from SDRfile and click OK. The Open dialog appears.

4.	Select the SDRfile and click Open.

The road definition appears in RoadLink where you can confirm it and edit it, if necessary, before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

TIP: If templates were included in the SDR33 file, RoadLink creates a new template library containing the imported templates. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.

Transferring road definitions that include dependent subalignments

The following sections show how to transfer TRIMMAP or SDRmap road definitions to RoadLink so that you can then transfer them to a Trimble Survey device. These road definitions include the horizontal and vertical master alignments, and, optionally, dependent subalignments. The road definitions are defined using the Design module of TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design (version 6.5 only) software.

NOTE: The software ignores any superelevation and widening applied to the sub-alignments. You cannot export independent sub-alignments and templates.

Exporting horizontal and vertical alignments

To export the alignments:

1.	In the TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design software, select Tools / Design / Hz and Vt design / Road management – Export road.

2.	Select the road to be exported and click OK.

This writes a Trimble Design Format (TDF) file called Export00x.job, where ‘x’ is the road number. The file is stored in the job data folder.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select TRIMDESIGN / SDRdesign data format and then click Next.

5.	Select the file containing the road definition file.

6.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink where you can confirm it and edit it, if necessary, before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

TIP: RoadLink creates a new template library containing the imported templates as defined from the dependent sub-alignments. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.

Transferring complex road definitions

The following sections show how to transfer TRIMMAP and SDRmap complex road definitions to RoadLink so that you can then transfer them to a Trimble Survey device. These road definitions must include the horizontal and vertical master alignments, and coordinated points defining the cross-sections. They are defined using the Design module of TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design (version 6.5 only).

Complex road definitions may include asymmetric parabolas, sub-alignments, and templates. Templates can include multiple surfaces and decision elements.

To transfer complex road definitions, you need the following in the TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design software:

  Make sure that for each template used to define the road, the element type, Design point, follows each surface element for each Design surface you want to stake out.

  Coordinate the road, with all points defining the end of each surface element added to the database:

−	Select Tools / Design / XS design & comp – Coordinate road.

−	Select the Database control option and assign codes to all design points used in the templates used to define the road. To keep it simple, give the points the same code as the design point name.

  Re-code the catch points (usually defined by design points called End of cut and End of fill) to a common name:

−	Select Tools / Database editing / Set values.

−	Select Select points.

−	Select all points defining the catch and click OK.

−	In the Code field, enter a new common code name (for example, Catch) and click OK.

  Create an ASCII output format for roading data that will write out the northing and easting values to four decimal places.

Exporting horizontal and vertical alignments

To export the alignments:

1.	In the TRIMMAP or SDRmapping and Design software, select Tools / Design / Hz and Vt design / Road management – Export road.

2.	Select the road to be exported and click OK.

This writes a Trimble Design Format (TDF) file called Export00x.job, where ‘x’ is the road number. This file is stored in the job data folder.

Exporting points defining the template ‘Design surface’ you want to stake

To export these points:

1.	Select Tools / Import/Export / Write/read ASCII.

2.	In the Action field, select Create.

3.	From the Output format field, select TRIMMAP roading if exporting from TRIMMAP, or SDRmap roading if exporting from SDRmap.

4.	Use Select points to select all points defining the design surface you want to stake out.

5.	Enter an Output file name.

6.	In the Primary Sort field, select Station.

7.	In the Secondary Sort field, select Offset and click OK.

This writes a roading coordinate file.

Importing road definitions into RoadLink

To import the road definition:

1.	Start RoadLink.

2.	Select File / Import. The Import dialog appears.

3.	Select the Road tab and from the Types list, select Third party road definition file and click OK. The File Open wizard appears. Each time you click Next, a new dialog appears, depending on the options you select.

4.	In the Data format list, select TRIMMAP / SDRmap road coordinates and click Next.

5.	In the Road definition file field, select the file containing the horizontal and vertical alignments.

6.	In the Road coordinates field, select the file containing the points defining the template surface and click Next.

7.	Select the road number of the points to process and click Next.

8.	Do the following:

  If necessary, select the Left of road and Right of road check boxes. For example, if the road coordinates file includes the catch points, select these check boxes to convert the outside points in the cross-section file to side slopes.

  Specify the Side slope tolerance value. Use this value to round the side slope value to a whole number.

  If necessary, select the Exclude main alignment from template check box. Select this check box whenever the surface you are importing does not coincide with the design profile. For example, if the cross-section point on the centerline has an elevation that does not match the design profile elevation, select this check box to ensure that the profile elevation is not included incorrectly in the resultant template.

9.	Click Finish.

The road definition appears in RoadLink where you can confirm it and edit it (including adding templates and superelevation if necessary), before exporting it to a Trimble Survey device.

RoadLink creates a new template library containing templates defined from the imported cross-section file. Its name is the name of the imported road. To view the templates, select Utilities / Template editor. To view the resultant cross-sections, select Road / Sections.


Export
File / Export

	Click the Export tool on the Standard toolbar
Use this command to export road and surface data to a data collector or a file.

NOTE: This command is only available when a road is open.

From the Road tab you can export the following types:

Road Definition to Survey Devices

Road Definition to Trimble Survey Controller File

Road Definition to Trimble 3600/5600 GDM File

Road Definition to Trimble 3600/5600 TDS File

Road Definition to TDS Survey Pro CE File

Road Definition to an SDR File

Stakeout Coordinates to Survey Devices

Stakeout Coordinates to Trimble Survey Controller File

Stakeout Coordinates to Trimble 3600/5600 GDM File

Stakeout Coordinates to Trimble 3600/5600 TDS File

Stakeout Coordinates to TDS Survey Pro CE File

Stakeout Coordinates to SDR File

ASCII Road Definition File (*.tdf)

From the Surface tab you can export the following types:

Road Surface to Trimble Survey Controller

Road Surface to Trimble TIN DTM file (*.ttm)

Road Surface to Trimble 5600 TDS

Road Surface to Trimble 5600 TDS File (*.dtm)

Road Surface to TDS Survey Pro CE

Road Surface to TDS Survey Pro CE File (*.dtm)

NOTE: Any coordinate system you choose in the Trimble Geomatics Office software is transferred to the Trimble Survey Controller software when the file is exported. If no coordinate system is specified in Trimble Geomatics Office, select one in Trimble Survey Controller before you stake out.


ASCII Road Definition File - Export

 See also

Use this option to export an ASCII Road Definition file (*.tdf) from the project as an ASCII file.

The ASCII file that is created writes out the horizontal and vertical alignment definitions, template definitions (including the stations they are applied at) and the superelevation and widening values as an ASCII file for export.


Road Definition to Survey Devices

 See also

Use this option to export a road definition file directly to a survey device. Supported devices include:

  Trimble Survey Controller

  Trimble 3600/5600 GDM

  Trimble 3600/5600 TDS

  Sokkia data recorder (SDR)

The RoadLink utility creates a road definition file for transferring to a survey device.

NOTE:

If you use this option to export the road to the Trimble Survey Controller software, select Survey / Stakeout / Road when you stake out the road.

If you use this option to export the road to a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, select Program 39 when you stake out the road.

For rules regarding the compatibility of roads exported from RoadLink to a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, see Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument.

If you use this option to export the road to a Trimble 3600/5600 instrument running TDS software, select Road / Road stakeout (or Slope staking) when you stake out the road.

For rules regarding the compatibility of roads exported from RoadLink to a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument, see Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument or TDS Survey Pro CE.


Road Definition to a Trimble Survey Controller File

 See also

Use this option to export a road definition file from the project as a Trimble Survey Controller (*.dc) file that can be read by a TSC1/TSCe controller (running the Trimble Survey Controller software version 6.50 or later) with the roading option installed.

Configure

Click Configure to select the version of the Trimble Survey Controller software you require.

Select the Append to file check box to append the road definition to an existing Trimble Survey Controller file. This option is useful for including control points with the road definition.

A road definition file has the horizontal alignment. It may also have the vertical alignment, templates, and superelevation records—these are optional.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the road, select Survey / Stakeout / Roads to stake out the road using the Trimble Survey Controller software.


Configuration Options

 See also

Click Configure to select the version (if available) of the controller you require.

Select the Append to file check box (if available) to append the file.

These options are shown in the following table:


Stakeout Coordinates to Survey Devices

 See also

Use this to option to export the coordinates and elevations for the road definition direct to a survey device. Supported devices include:

  Trimble Survey Controller

  Trimble 3600/5600 GDM

  Trimble 3600/5600 TDS

  Sokkia data recorder (SDR)

The RoadLink utility creates a file for transferring to a survey device.

NOTES:

A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in Road / Road Options.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, select Survey / Stakeout / Points when you stake out with Trimble Survey Controller.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, select Program 23 or Progam 39 when you stakeout with a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, select Stakeout / Stake points when you stakeout using the TDS software.


Stakeout Coordinates to Trimble Survey Controller File

 See also

Use this option to export the coordinates and elevations for the road definition as a Trimble Survey Controller (*.dc) file  that can be read by a TSC1/TSCe controller (running the Trimble Survey Controller software version 4.0 or later).

Configure

Click Configure to select the version of the Trimble Survey Controller software you require.

Select the Append to file check box to append the road points to an existing Trimble Survey Controller file. This option is useful for including control points with the road points.

NOTES:

A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in Road / Road Options.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, select Survey / Stakeout / Points when you stake out using the Trimble Survey Controller software.


Stakeout dialog

 See also

Use the Stakeout dialog to select stakeout coordinates for a road design. You can produce a stakeout report for the entire road or for a selected portion of the road.

Start station

Enter the start station value for the section of road for which you want to produce a stakeout report.

End station

Enter the end station value for the section of road for which you want to produce a stakeout report.

Design surface

Select the Design surface option to provide a stakeout report that automatically gives all nodes defining the entire design surface running across the design cross-sections.

Codes

You can select the codes that you want stake out positions reported for. Click the codes that you want. A check mark appears to the left of the selected codes.

NOTE: The list shows all codes that appear in the templates used for the road definition.

Name points from

Use this field to enter a starting point name.


Road Definition to an SDR File

 See also

Use this option to export a road definition file from the project as an SDR file that can be read by a Sokkia data recorder (version 04-03 or later) with the roading option installed.

 Configure

Click Configure and select the Append to file check box to append the road definition to an existing SDR file. This option is useful for including control points with the road definition.


Stakeout Coordinates to SDR File

 See also

Use this option to export an SDR file of the coordinates and elevations for the road definition file that can be read by a Sokkia data recorder (version 04-03 or later).

Configure

Click Configure to append the road points to an existing SDR file. This option is useful for including control points with the road points.

NOTE: A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in the Parameters tab of the Road Options dialog. To access this dialog, select Road / Options.


Road Definition to a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM File

 See also

Use this option to export a Road Definition (*.rln) file from the project as a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM file to be read by a Trimble 3600/5600 instrument. A road definition file contains horizontal alignments. It may also have the vertical alignment and templates records.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the road, when you stake out with the Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, select Program 39.

For rules regarding the compatibility of roads exported from RoadLink for a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, see Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument.


Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM Instrument

 See also

For a road to be exported for stakeout using a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, it must comply with the following rules.

For horizontal alignments:

  The road name cannot exceed 13 characters.

  The first and last segment of the alignment must be a straight line.

TIP:  Spiral/Spiral curves are not supported but can be approximated by inserting a small arc between the two spirals.

For vertical alignments:

  The start and end stations must match the horizontal alignment.

  The first and last segments must be a straight line.

  The road cannot include asymmetric parabolas

For templates:

  The template name cannot exceed 13 characters.

  Templates cannot include more than 12 elements.

  Templates cannot include a side slope element.

TIP:  A Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument always treats the last template element as a side slope element. Therefore, when importing third-party road definitions into RoadLink that will later be exported to a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, it is recommended you leave the Convert outside points to side slope fields clear so that the Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument can correctly use the last element as a side slope.

  Templates cannot include superelevation or widening.

  All templates assigned to a particular side of the road must have the same number of elements.

TIP:  While the Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument supports templates with a different number of elements, it does not support transition between these templates. It is therefore recommended that if you want to transition between two templates you maintain the same number of elements in the templates.

For Template assignments:

  The road cannot include <None> and <Interpolate> templates.


Road Definition to a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS File

 See also

Use this option to export road definition files (*.CR5, *.RD5 and *.tp5) from the project to be read by a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument running TDS Survey Pro CE software.

The *.RD5 road definition file includes the horizontal and vertical alignments. A *.tp5 files includes a template. There is one .tp5 file for each template.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the road, when you stake out using the Trimble 3600/5600 instrument running TDS software, select Road / Road stakeout (or Slope staking).

Trimble recommends exporting the road to a new folder to avoid overwriting existing .tp5 files.

For rules regarding the compatibility of roads exported from RoadLink with a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument, see Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument or TDS Survey Pro CE data collector. .


Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS Instrument or TDS Survey Pro CE Controller

 See also

For a road to be exported for stakeout using a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument or a TDS Survey Pro CE data collector, it must comply with the following rules.

For horizontal alignments:

  The road name cannot exceed 8 characters.

For vertical alignments

  The road must have a vertical alignment.

  The start station must match the horizontal alignment and the vertical alignment must be equal to or longer than the horizontal alignment.

  The road cannot include asymmetric parabolas or circular vertical curves.

For templates:

  The template name cannot exceed 8 characters.

  Templates must have at least one element.

  The first template element must have an offset greater than zero.

  Templates with side slope elements cannot include a cut ditch width.

  Templates can only have superelevation or widening applied to the first template element.

  All templates assigned to a particular side of the road must have the same number of elements.

For superelevation and widening application:

  Superelevation with widening can only be pivoted about the crown.

For Template assignments:

  The road cannot include <None> and <Interpolate> templates.

  Templates must be assigned to both the left and right sides of the road.

  Templates must be assigned to the start station.


Exporting Stakeout Coordinates to a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM File

 See also

Use this option to export a Trimble 3600/5600 GDM (*.are) file of the coordinates and elevations for the road definition, which will be read by a Trimble 3600/5600 instrument.

NOTES:

A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in Road / Road Options.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, when you stake out with the Trimble 3600/5600 GDM instrument, select Program 23 or Program 39.


Exporting Stakeout Coordinates to a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS File

 See Also

Use this option to export a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS (*.cr5) file of the coordinates and elevations for the road definition, which will be read by a Trimble 3600/5600 instrument running TDS Survey Pro CE software.

NOTES:

A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in Road / Road Options.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, when you stake out with the Trimble 3600/5600 instrument, select Stakeout points and offset.


Exporting a Road Definition to TDS Survey Pro CE Files

 See also

Use this option to export files defining a road (*.JOB, *.RD5 and *.tp5) from the project that can be read by the TDS Survey Pro CE controller.

The *.RD5 road definition file includes the horizontal and vertical alignments. A *.tp5 files includes a template. There is one .tp5 file for each template.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the road, select Road / Road stakeout (or Slope staking) when you stake out using the TDS Survey Pro CE controller.

Trimble recommends exporting the road to a new folder to avoid overwriting existing .tp5 files.

For rules regarding the compatibility of roads exported from RoadLink for a TDS Survey Pro CE, see Compatibility with a Trimble 3600/5600 TDS instrument and TDS Survey Pro CE data collector.


Stakeout Coordinates to a TDS Survey Pro CE File

 See also

Use this option to export a TDS Survey Pro CE (*.job) file of the coordinates and elevations for the road definition to be read by a TDS Survey Pro CE data collector.

NOTES:

A contour surface must be associated with the road if you want catch points included. You can select the surface in Road / Road Options.

If you use this option to export the coordinates, when you stake out using the TDS Survey Pro CE data collector, select Stakeout / Stake Points (or Stake List of Points).


Road Surface to Trimble Survey Controller

 See also

Use this option to create a triangulated DTM file (.ttm) of the road for export directly to a TSC1/TSCe controller running Trimble Survey Controller 6.50 or later.

Trimble Survey Controller reads the file at stakeout time.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, when you stake out using the Trimble Survey Controller software, select Survey / Stakeout / DTM.


Road Surface to a Trimble TIN DTM file (*.ttm)

 See also

Use this option to create a triangulated DTM (*.ttm) file of the road to be read by a TSC1/TSCe controller running Trimble Survey Controller 6.50 or later.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, select Survey / Stakeout / DTM when you stake out using Trimble Survey Controller.


Road Surface to a Trimble 5600 TDS

 See also

Use this option to transfer a triangulated DTM file of the road surface direct to a Trimble 5600 TDS instrument. The RoadLink utility creates a file for transferring to a Trimble 5600 TDS instrument.

Configure

Click Configure to specify the units the file is to be exported in.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, when you stake out using a Trimble 5600 TDS instrument, select Stakeout / Stake DTM.


Road Surface to a Trimble 5600 TDS file (*.dtm)

 See also

Use this option to export a surface of the road as a Trimble 5600 TDS (*.dtm) file to be read by a Trimble 5600 TDS instrument running the TDS Survey Pro CE software.

Configure

Click Configure to specify the units the file is to be exported in.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, when you stake out using the Trimble 5600 TDS instrument, select Stakeout road / Stake DTM.


Road Surface to a TDS Survey Pro CE

 See also

Use this option to export a triangulated DTM file of the road surface directly to a TDS Survey Pro CE controller. RoadLink creates a file for transferring to a TDS Survey Pro CE controller.

Configure

Click Configure to specify the units the file is to be exported in.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, when you stake out using the TDS data collector, select Stakeout / Stake DTM.


Road Surface to a TDS Survey Pro CE file (*.dtm)

 See also

Use this option to export a surface of the road as a TDS Survey Pro CE file (*.dtm) that can be read by a TDS Survey Pro CE controller.

Configure

Click Configure to specify the units the file is to be exported in.

NOTE: If you use this option to export the surface, when you stake out using the TDS Survey Pro CE controller, select Stakeout Road / Stake DTM.


Export TDS TIN DTM Options

 See also

Use this option to specify the units the file is to be exported in.

To change the units, click the menu and choose from the available options.


Parameters

The Parameters tab on the Road Options dialog shows the available options.

Road details

Use the fields in the Road details group to edit the current Start station and the surface associated with the road.

Start station	Use this field to change the start station.

Station interval	Use this field to specify the interval that cross-sections will be generated at.

The RoadLink utility automatically generates cross sections at:

  the start and end stations

  the interval specified

  any horizontal curve feature points (that is, PC, PT, TS, SC, CS, and ST positions )

  any other change in horizontal direction of the alignment. Where there is a change in horizontal direction with no curves, the cross-sections are taken at the half angle. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 : Cross-Sections Taken at the Half Angle

  any vertical curve feature points, that is, the start and end of vertical curves and the VPI position when no curve is assigned.

  any superelevation record

Surface	Use the Surface list to select or change the surface to be associated with the road. You must select a surface to calculate earthworks volumes, or to view the surface in the Plan, Profile, and Section views.  The Surface list displays all surfaces for the current project plus any surface imported from another project. (To import a surface from another project, use the Contour surface option in the Import dialog. NOTE: If you want to associate a surface model with the road, first create the surface in the DTMLink utility. (Surfaces imported into DTMLink from third-party software are not available in RoadLink.)
Surface sample width (This field is only available when a surface has been selected.)	Use the Surface sample width field to specify the width for sampling the surface. The value specified applies to the left and right of the centerline.  The field defaults to 20 m for a metric project and 50 ft for a non-metric project. For accurate volume calculations, and reporting and exporting of catch points, make the surface sample width at least as wide as the maximum side slope extent.
Curve drawing

Use the field in the Curve drawing group to specify the vertical curve drawing interval.

Vertical curves that show on the screen within the RoadLink™ software are approximated by short line segments. The Vertical curve drawing interval field lets you specify the interval (in ground units) between points used for drawing these line segments. The greater the interval the quicker the drawing time, but the curve is less accurately defined on the screen.

Centerline annotation details

Use the Centerline annotation details group to control the display of the labeling of the centerline.

Curve position labels

Select the Curve position labels check box to turn off the automatic station labeling of the centerline at the curve features (that is, PC, PT, TS, SC, CS, and ST).
This check box is selected by default.

Cross-section position labels

Select the cross-section position labels check box to turn on the automatic station labeling of the center line at the regular station intervals as specified when defining a new road. Select Road / Options / Station interval to edit the interval.

Annotation height

Use this field to set the text height of the centerline labeling.


Open Recent Road List
File / Open Recent Road List

A list of recently used roads appears at the bottom of the File menu. A number precedes each name. To open a file, click any file name in the list, or use the keyboard to enter the number listed next to the road.


Exit
File / Exit

Use this command to close the current project and exit the RoadLink utility.

You are asked if you want to save any changes before you exit RoadLink.


File Menu

Use the File menu to manage roads, import and export data to and from projects, and to set project options. It has the following commands:

New Road

Open Road

Save Road

Save Road As

Close Road

Delete Road

Rename Road

Import

Export

Open Recent Road

Exit


Help Topics
Help / Help Topics

Within the RoadLink utility, commands are grouped in menus.

The menu commands are:

File

Edit

View

Road

Utilities

Window

Help

The Utilities menu has the following command:

Template Editor


Tip of the Day
Help / Tip of the Day

The Tip of the Day system provides small, helpful tips that assist you in operating the system.

Select this option and the next tip of the day appears. A check box on the Tip of the Day dialog lets you choose whether a tip appears each time you start the system.


About
Help / About

The About command in the Help menu shows program and copyright information on the RoadLink software.

NOTE: It is not permissible to copy this program except for archival and backup purposes.


Help Menu

The Help menu provides information about the RoadLink software.

It has the following commands:

Help topics

Tip of the Day

About


Using the Toolbars

Toolbars provide quick, one-step access to frequently used menu commands. A short description of each toolbar button appears on the Status bar as you hold the mouse over the button.

For example, the message "Shifts center of zoom area" appears when you click the Pan toolbar button [image] on the View toolbar.

You can hide, move, or resize any of the toolbars and arrange them to suit your working preference.

Toolbars snap to either side of the main window, to the top of the workspace below the menus, or to the bottom of the workspace below the Status bar. Alternatively, you can move any toolbar to anywhere on the screen and orient it vertically or horizontally.

To restore the default settings, press the Reset button in View / Toolbars. (Each toolbar snaps back to the default settings if you double-click on the title bar of the toolbar.)

ToolTips

When you place the cursor over a tool button, a small window called a ToolTip pops up to tell you what that tool does. The brief description appears near the cursor and below the tool.

For example, the message "Pan" appears when you press the Pan toolbar button on the View toolbar.

NOTE: Docking the toolbars hides the titlebar.

The two toolbars are:

Standard toolbar

View toolbar


Standard Toolbar

The Standard toolbar provides quick access to some of the main menu items.

The following options are available from the Standard toolbar:

Button	Menu command	Description
	File / Import	Imports data from a file
	File / Export	Exports data to a file
	Edit / Paste	Pastes the clipboard contents
	Edit / Cut	Cuts the selection and put it on the clipboard
	Edit / Copy	Copies the selection and puts it on the clipboard
	Edit / Undo	Reverses the last action
	View / Properties	Shows the Properties window so the current selection’s properties can be viewed or edited


View Toolbar

The View toolbar provides navigational tools to assist viewing in the main graphics window.

The following options are available from the View toolbar:

Button	Menu command	Description
	Select	Click to select the select mode.
	View / Pan	Shifts the center of the view
	View / Zoom In	Zooms in by a factor of 2
	View / Zoom Out	Zooms out by a factor of 2
	View / Zoom Extents	Zooms to the model’s extents
	View / Zoom Previous	Zooms to the previous settings
	View / Zoom Views	Adds the current view to a list of saved views or selects a view to edit
	View / Layers	Edits the visibility of layers
	View / Floating Window	Opens the floating window


Shortcut Menus

You can use the right mouse button while in a graphics window to see a shortcut menu. This is a context-sensitive menu with different options available depending on the context that you click the right mouse button.


Viewing Reports

The RoadLink software generates a number of different reports. An example of a report is the Templates report. The Templates report shows the station intervals and the name of the templates applied at different stationings along the alignment.

All reports are stored in your reports folder (C:\ Trimble Geomatics Office\Projects\xx\Reports…., where xx is the name of the project).

You can view the report later by opening it in Microsoft Windows Explorer from this folder.


Title Bar

The title bar extends along the top of the screen, above the menu bar. It contains the name of the currently selected project.


Menu Bar

The menu bar is below the title bar. It contains the following menus:

File

Edit

View

Road

Utilities

Window

Help

When the Utilities menu is open, the following menu is available:

Template Editor

Choosing a command

To choose a command from a menu, click it with the mouse.

If you prefer to use the keyboard, press Alt and the underscored letter that corresponds to the menu you want. Then press the underscored letter that corresponds to the command you want, or use the up and down arrows and press Enter to make the selection.


Keyboard Shortcut

You can use a mouse to choose any menu command that you access from the menu bar. However, you can also use the keyboard.

TIP: For most shortcuts, press Alt then the first letter of the menu name then the first letter of the command. You can also use familiar Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98 shortcuts for the most common commands, namely New, Open, Save, Copy, and Paste.


Status Bar

The status bar shows a variety of messages and provides immediate and concise feedback about the current status of the RoadLink software.

The status bar shows at the bottom of the main graphics window.

Messages pane

The messages pane of the status bar shows information about the operation of the RoadLink software.

Depending on the operation, this pane:

  describes actions of menu items as they are highlighted. For example, the message "Creates a new road" shows while the File / New Road command is highlighted.

  shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you select them, before releasing them. For example, the message "Shifts center of zoom area" shows when you select the Pan tool on the View toolbar.

Coordinates pane

When the mouse is inside a graphics window, the corresponding coordinates are displayed.

Extents pane

This pane shows the width and height of the graphics window that the mouse is over.

Indicators pane

The Layer indicator is highlighted in this pane when a project has a hidden layer(s).

Window corner

The window corner lets you resize the main graphics window.


New
Library / New

Use this command to create a new template library for the project.

Enter library name

Enter a new name in the Enter library name field in the Create New Template Library dialog to create a new library.

Click OK to create a new library. Any new library created becomes the current library.

Click Cancel to exit this option.


Save
Library / Save

Use this command to save a template library.

The completed templates are stored in a template library in the project folder. The template library is a file called TEMPLAnnnn.DAT (where nnnn is a number). There is no fixed limit on the number of templates that can be stored in each template library.


Delete
Library / Delete

Use this command to delete a template library.

Click OK to confirm the library deletion.


Report
Library / Report

Use this command to generate a report about the current template library.


Rename
Library / Rename

Use this command to rename the current template library. Enter a new library name in the Enter library name field.

Click OK to rename the current library.


System
Library / System

Use this command to replace the default system library with the current library you have selected.

The RoadLink™ software initially provides a system template library. When you start a new project, the system library is copied into the project folder. In this way, the system library is available for all projects.


Library Menu

Use the Library menu to manage the template libraries

It has the following commands:

New

Save

Delete

Report

Rename

System


Horizontal
Road / Horizontal

Use this command to open the Horizontal dialog to specify and edit the arcs, spirals, and lines that make up the alignment.

The Plan View window opens. If an alignment exists, it displays. As you enter the horizontal alignment, it appears in this window.


Horizontal dialog

Use the Horizontal dialog to specify and edit the arcs, spirals, and lines that make up the alignment.

Alignment Name

You can edit the name of the alignment in the Alignment Name field.

PI / Elements

These tabs control the horizontal alignment input method for the alignment.

When you select the PI tab, you can enter the alignment in terms of points of intersection (PI) using the Insert option. The points of intersection can be edited into curves.

When you select the Elements tab, you can enter the horizontal alignment as a series of connected point, line, arc, and spiral elements by using the Insert option.

NOTE: An alignment initially specified using the Elements method can later be edited using the PI method by selecting the PI tab in this dialog. The only exception to this is where an arc to arc spiral has been specified during entry using the Elements method. Similarly, it is possible to later edit an alignment specified by the PI method using the Elements method by selecting the Elements tab.

NOTE: The result of editing an horizontal alignment varies depending on whether it was specified by the PI or Element method. For more information about editing horizontal alignments, see the topic Editing Horizontal Alignments.

NOTE: When you browse an element in an alignment the start station and end station of the element is given. However, if you are currently editing the alignment the browsed stations may not be updated with the last change made.


Editing Horizontal Alignments

 See also

This topic shows how editing the horizontal alignment by the PI or Element method can affect the alignment definition.

PI method

Edit the alignment using the PI method when you want to change only the selected PI. You can edit all values defining the curve and the coordinates for all PI’s will be maintained including the curve details for adjacent curves. Use this option to adjust the alignment to avoid an on-site obstacle.

Element method

Edit the alignment using the Element method when you want to change a selected element and have the station and coordinate values for all subsequent elements updated to reflect the change. All remaining values defining the subsequent elements are maintained.

Edit PI’s

For both PI and Element methods of entry you can edit the coordinates defining the PI’s using the Edit PI’s option.

When editing using this option, RoadLink maintains the coordinates of the start and end PI’s and, where possible, maintains the radius of any curves assigned. All remaining PI’s and curve details are adjusted to fit the new geometry. When the new PI position defines geometry that prevents any existing curves from being redrawn with the same radius, the curve is removed.


Alignment Input by Points of Intersection (PI)

 See also

Select the PI tab to enter the alignment by points of intersection points (PI). The track bar shows the total number of PIs in the project and the slider highlights the specific PI you have selected. The values that appear in the fields relate to the specific PI.

NOTE: The fields available in the dialog depend on the options chosen.

PI

To select a PI enter a specific PI number in the PI field or use the track bar.

NOTE: As you build up the alignment definition by specifying the details relating to each curve, the definition is checked to confirm that no curve overlap was caused by the definition. If an overlap does occur a warning message appears.

Curve type

The Curve type field defines the horizontal geometry of the alignment.

Use the list to select an option. The available options are:

Circular	When you select the circular curve option, the circular curve is defined by its radius, arc length, and tangent length.
Spiral | Arc | Spiral	The Spiral | Arc | Spiral (SAS) option is similar to the circular curve definition except for the additional spiral length in and spiral length out parameters.
Spiral | Spiral	Spiral | Spiral (SS) curves are similar to SAS curves except that there is no circular arc length and therefore no spiral to arc ratio. The incoming spiral progresses until its end radius equals the specified radius value, then the outgoing spiral immediately starts and is a mirror image of the incoming spiral. The In and Out spiral lengths (and therefore tangent lengths) must be the same length in fully SS curves.
None	Use the None option where you want to change a previously defined curve back to a plain PI intersection.
Radius

Enter the required radius for the current curve in the Radius field. The arc length and tangent lengths for the curve are computed and appear in the appropriate fields.

Arc Length

Enter the required arc length for the curve into the Arc Length field. RoadLink computes the appropriate radius and tangent lengths for the curve and the results appear in the appropriate fields.

Tangent length

There are two Tangent length fields. The In field shows the in tangent length. The Out field shows the out tangent length. The two tangent lengths are always equal to each other for a circular and SS curve.

Spiral length

The Spiral length In and Out fields let you specify the incoming and outgoing spiral lengths for the SAS and SS curves. You can specify different values for the In and Out values if required. You cannot specify different values for SS curves. The spiral length is always less than the equivalent tangent length.

Figure 1 explains the features of a SAS curve.

Figure 1 : Features of an SAS Curve

The following table describes Figure 1 :

Key	Description	Key	Description
1	Tangent to spiral	7	Radius (R)
2	Spiral length	8	Circular to Spiral position
3	Tangent length	9	Spiral length
4	Spiral to Circular arc position	10	Spiral to tangent
5	Arc length	11	Delta angle
6	Point of intersection (PI)	12	Deflection angle
Insert

Click Insert or press the Insert key to insert PIs. The Insert PI dialog opens. When complete, the dialog lets you continue to insert PIs.

NOTE: By default new points are inserted after the currently selected PI. Thus by changing the current PI, new points can be added anywhere on the alignment. You can also select the check box to clear the After current PI check box. This inserts a PI before the current PI.

Delete

Click Delete or press the Delete key to delete the currently selected PI. You are asked to confirm that you want to delete the currently selected PI. You can also select the option to delete all PIs.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the changes and edits you have made. This action takes effect immediately.

Route

Select this option to define a route from lines or points.

Report

Click Report to produce a report on the alignment.

TIP: Click Calc to:

 calculate the coordinates and elevation for an entered station and offset value

 calculate the station and offset for entered coordinate values

Edit PIs

Click Edit PIs to shift an existing alignment or section of an alignment. The Edit Point of Intersection dialog appears.


Select Route

Select this option to define a horizontal alignment from linework imported from a DXF file, or a range of points transferred from the Trimble Geomatics Office software or imported from a DXF file.

Select the Lines tab to define the route from linework.

Select the Range tab to define the route from a range of points.


Calc

Use this option to calculate the coordinates and elevation for an entered station and offset or to calculate the Station and Offset for entered coordinate values.

Calculate Coordinate

Select the Calculate Coordinate option and enter a station and offset value. (The station value must be within the station range for the road.)

Click Calculate. The Northing, Easting, and Elevation fields update with the calculated values.

NOTE: The elevation is for the road surface, and is only reported when templates have been assigned or the offset is 0.000.

Calculate Station and Offset

Select the Calculate Station and Offset option and key in or use field fill-in to enter northing and easting values.

Click Calculate. The Station and Offset fields are updated with the calculated values.


Lines

 See also

Use field fill-in to select the start and end of the linework defining the appropriate route. If the points defining the linework have elevations, the software uses them to define the vertical alignment. However, when it encounters a point with no elevation, the vertical alignment ends.

If there is more than one solution the Select Line dialog lets you select the appropriate route.


Select Line

 See also

Use Field fill-in to select the end of the linework defining the appropriate route.


Range

 See also

Enter the point range for points defining the road. If the points have elevations, the software uses them to define the vertical alignment. However, as soon as it encounters a point with no elevation, the vertical alignment ends.


Import Road

 See also

If the file contains multiple roads, use this option to select the road you want to import.

NOTE: Only one road can be imported at a time.


Alignment Input By Elements

Select the Elements tab to enter the alignment as a series of connected Point, Line, Arc, and Spiral elements.

The fields available in this tab depend on the options chosen.

An alignment initially specified using the Elements method can later be edited using the PI method by selecting the PI tab in this dialog. The only exception to this is where an arc to arc spiral has been specified during entry using the Elements method. Similarly, it is possible to later edit an alignment specified by the PI method using the Elements method by selecting the Elements tab.

NOTE: The result of editing a horizontal alignment varies depending on whether it was edited by the PI or Element method. For more information, see Editing Horizontal Alignments.

When entering an alignment using the Elements method, it is necessary to ‘anchor’ it. To do this, specify the first element as a point immediately followed by a line element (that may have zero length).

This combination of elements provides a fixed position and orientation for the alignment, thereby providing a basis for the computation of the positions of the other elements making up the alignment.

Adding elements to a definition

After the point element has been specified, you can start adding the further elements that make up the horizontal definition. The available element types are line, arc and spiral

To add these extra elements, do one of the following:

  press the Tab key from the last active field in a row

  click Insert

The new element is inserted following the element that the highlighted field is currently positioned. As each new element is inserted you may choose the element type.

TIP: As the elements are added the North / East and Station fields display the coordinates and station value at the end of each element. Use this feature to confirm correct entry of the element.

Insert

Click Insert or press the Insert key to insert a new element.

NOTE: By default new elements are inserted after the currently highlighted element. Highlight the element immediately before the one you want to insert.

Delete

Click Delete to delete existing elements. Click Delete or press the Delete key, to delete the currently selected element after confirmation that this is the element that you want to delete. You can also select the option to delete all elements.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the changes and edits you have made. This action takes effect immediately.

Report

Click Report to produce a report of the alignment.

TIP: Click Calc to:

 calculate the coordinates and elevation for an entered station and offset value.

 calculate the station and offset for entered coordinate values

Edit PIs

Click Edit PIs to shift an individual point of intersection or section of an alignment. The Edit Point of Intersection dialog appears.

NOTE: If the alignment was initially defined using the Element method, and includes an arc to arc spiral, you cannot shift the alignment.

NOTE: For a spiral connecting two arcs (known as hanging or compound spirals), the coordinates of the spiral will be incorrect until the second arc is added.


Station Identifiers

Special station identifiers show labels in the graphics window. The station identifiers are described in the following table.

Identifier	Description
RS	At the road start. This is the starting station for the road.
RE	At the road end. This is the end or maximum station for the road.
TS	At tangent/spiral position. This is the station of the point at the start of an entry spiral.
SC	At spiral/circular arc position. This is the station of the point in an SAS curve at the end of the entry spiral and start of the circular arc portion of the curve.
CS	At circular arc/spiral position. This is the station of the point in an SAS curve at the end of the circular arc portion of the curve and the start of the exit spiral.
ST	At spiral/tangent position. This is the station of the point at the end of an exit spiral.
PC	At tangent/circular arc position. This is the station of the point in a circular curve at the start of the circular arc.
PT	At circular arc/tangent position. This is the station of the point in a circular curve at the end of the circular arc.


Edit Point of Intersection dialog

Use the Edit Point of Intersection dialog to shift an existing alignment or section of an alignment.

Unavailable fields appear grayed out.

NOTE: If the alignment is initially defined using the Element method, and includes an Arc to Arc Spiral, you cannot shift the alignment.

Edit PI by

From the Edit PI by group, select the option you require.

Delta

Click the Delta option to shift the position of points of intersection (PI) by specifying delta positions. The Delta East and Delta North fields below the Edit by group become available with this option.

Enter the distance north and the distance east you want to shift the alignment into the Delta East and Delta North fields respectively.

You can select a continuous, sequential range of PIs by highlighting an individual PI on the table and dragging with the mouse. Alternatively, hold down the Shift key and click the mouse on the last PI in the range you want to select.

TIP: Use the Delta East and Delta North fields as calculated fields. To do this, highlight the fields, select the current position of a PI, and then select the new position from the screen. RoadLink calculates the values for the Delta East and Delta North fields and inserts these values into the fields.

Delta East

Use this field to specify the easting value for the shift. This field is only available for the Edit by delta option.

Delta North

Use this field to specify the northing value for the shift. This field is only available for the Edit by delta option.

Position

Click the Position option to shift the position of a PI by editing the coordinate values. You can manually edit these fields or use field fill-in by browsing off the screen.

TIP: With the Edit by position option, you are automatically in edit mode.

Table

The table shows the values of the selected PI (or PIs). Use the scroll bars to scroll through the values.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the new values to the points.

NOTE: RoadLink shows on the screen a boxed colored triangle icon to indicate the new positions of the PI (or PIs) before actually shifting the points. The triangle icons are in addition to the boxed colored cross icons that indicate the current positions of the selected PI (or PIs).


Vertical
Road / Vertical

 See also

Use this command to open the Vertical dialog. Use the Vertical dialog to carry out graphical vertical input of the alignment.

The Profile view window opens. If an alignment exists, it is displayed. As you enter the vertical alignment, it appears in this window.


Vertical dialog

 See also

Use this dialog to carry out graphical vertical input of the alignment.

Alignment Name

The Alignment Name field shows the current alignment name.

Horizontal Curve Markers

Select the Markers check box to enable markers (icons) to be shown on the longsection alignment. These markers show the key features of any horizontal curves. Key features include arc positions (indicated by colored icons) and spiral positions (indicated by black icons).

Vertical Point of Intersection (VPI)

The VPI field shows the current VPI. To select a VPI enter a specific VPI number in this field. The track bar shows the total number of VPIs in the project. The slider highlights the selected specific VPI. The values that appear in the fields relate to the specific VPI.

NOTE: As you build up the vertical alignment definition by specifying the curve details at each VPI, the RoadLink software checks the definition to verify there is no curve overlap caused by the definition. If an overlap occurs a warning message appears.

Curve Type

The available options are:

None	The None option inserts no curve at the VPI. Click Details to view and edit the Station, Elevation, Slope in and Slope out fields.
Sym parabola	The Sym parabola option inserts a symmetrical parabola as the vertical curve. A symmetrical parabola is defined by a Length. The Length field lets you enter the length of the symmetrical parabola. Click Details to view and edit the Station, Elevation, Slope in and Slope out fields.
Asym parabola	The Asym parabola option inserts an asymmetrical parabola as the vertical curve. An asymmetrical parabola is defined by an In length and an Out length. The In length and Out length fields lets you enter the in and out lengths of the asymmetrical parabola. Click Details to view and edit the Station, Elevation, Slope in and Slope out fields.
Circular	The Circular option inserts a Circular curve as the vertical curve. A circular curve is defined by a radius. The Radius field lets you enter the radius of the circular curve. Click Details to view and edit the Station, Elevation, Slope in and Slope out fields.
NOTE: On a new vertical alignment the option defaults to None.

NOTE: The fields available in the dialog depend on the curve type chosen. Unavailable fields appear grayed out.

Length

Use the Length field to view and edit the length used for the symmetrical parabola.

In length

Use the In length field to view and edit the In length used for the asymmetric parabola.

Out length

Use the Out length field to view and edit the Out length used for the asymmetric parabola.

Radius

Use the Radius field to view and edit a radius value to define a circular curve.

Details

Click Details to see further curve details.

Station

The Station field shows the station of the selected vertical point of intersection.

NOTE: It is not possible to edit the station value so that it is less than the station of the previous VPI or greater than the station of the next VPI.

Elevation

The Elevation field shows the elevation of the selected vertical point of intersection.

NOTE: To hold the current values in the Station or Elevation fields when editing the Slope in and Slope out values make sure that the appropriate check box is selected.

Slope in

The Slope in field shows the slope from the previous VPI to the current VPI. You can edit this field and use it to specify a new slope leading to the current VPI.

If you enter a new Slope in value you must select either the Station or Elevation check box. The Station and Elevation fields update with the new values associated with the changed slope value.

If the first VPI is the currently selected VPI the Slope in field shows 0% and cannot be edited.

Slope out

The Slope out field shows the slope from the current VPI to the next VPI. You can edit this field to specify a new slope leading from the current VPI. If you enter a new Slope out value, you must select either the Station or Elevation check box. The Station and Elevation fields are updated with the new values associated with the changed slope value.

If the last VPI is the currently selected VPI the Slope out field shows 0% and cannot be edited.

Insert

Use the Insert VPI dialog to insert new VPIs. To insert a new VPIs enter the station and elevation details into the fields or select a position from the screen.

Delete

To delete the highlighted VPI click Delete, or press the Delete key. The screen updates to reflect the change. Alternatively, you can simply delete all VPIs.

Apply

Click Apply to update the screen and reflect the edits specified.

Report

Click Report to produce a report on the vertical curves defined for the alignment.

TIP: Click Calc to calculate the coordinates and elevation for the entered station value.

Edit VPIs

Click Edit VPIs to shift an existing vertical alignment or section of an alignment. The Edit VPIs dialog appears.


Templates
Road / Templates

 See also

Use this command to open the Templates dialog. The dialog lets you apply the templates to the Horizontal alignment at specific stations. You apply the constructed template to the right and left sides of an alignment.


Templates dialog

Use the Templates dialog to apply the templates to the Horizontal alignment at specific stations. You apply the constructed template to the right and left sides of an alignment.

Current template library

Use the current template library shown or select a template library from the list.

Start Station

Use the Start Station column to specify the start station the templates are assigned from. A road can be made up of a number of Start station entries.

Insert

To insert unique Start Station entries, click Insert.

To insert a new row into the table for specification of a new Start Station, highlight a field on the row immediately above the new row that you want to create, and click Insert.

Delete

To delete a highlighted row from the table, click Delete.

Left Template and Right Template

From the list of available templates, select the left or right template that you want to assign for the current Start Station. However, you must have created the template(or templates) using the Utilities / Template Editor command first. The templates assigned to the alignment can be different at selected stations along the road.

The station value shows that the selected templates are to apply at, and from, the specified station.

TIP: Use the scroll bar to view all of the template assignment entries.

NOTES:

All the templates used in a road definition must be contained in the same library; that is, you can only use one template library for each road.

When you select the Start Station name field, an icon on the screen shows the position on the selected alignment. If a template has been assigned to a road and is subsequently renamed or deleted using the Utilities / Template Editor option, the template has to be reassigned.

The example alignment with the associated table shows how the template assignments including the system templates <None> and <Interpolate> can be made to achieve a required road definition.

TIP: Click Cancel to exit without saving any changes.

Report

Click Report to produce a report of the template assignments for the different stations.

Delete all

Click Delete All to delete all template assignments.


Superelevation
Road / Superelevation

 See also

Use this command to apply superelevation and widening values to a road.

Point of Intersection (PI)

Select the point of intersection of the curve to be superelevated. A colored icon indicates the center of the chosen curve.

Use the track bar or the PI number field to select a specific existing PI.

If the PI has no curve assigned, no superelevation can be assigned by parameters and the fields are unavailable.

Curve Type

This display-only field shows the curve type of the selected curve.

Pivot

Use the Pivot field to select the position about which the pivoting of the superelevation is to be done, for each position in the superelevation table, when the superelevation is applied. The available options are Crown, Left, and Right.

For example, if you do not want the left edge of the road surface to dip when superelevation is applied to the curve, you can specify that the pivot point is to be the left edge for the superelevation values where the crossfall on the right side of the road exceeds the normal crossfall for the road surface.

Markers

Select the Markers check box to highlight the key points of the horizontal curve definition. The key points are shown as icons on the plan view. The markers are placed as follows:

Spiral | Arc | Spiral (SAS) and Spiral | Spiral	Spiral/arc junction
	Spiral/line junction
Circular curves	Arc/line junction
NOTE: Before superelevation values have been applied to the curve, the ends of the lines leading to and from the curve are marked if the Marker check box is selected. When superelevation values have been applied, additional markers are placed at the positions where the superelevation starts and ends.

Auto Insert

Use this option to apply superelevation by entering parameters. These vary depending on the curve type. For a Spiral | Arc | Spiral curve enter the following:

Maximum superelevation:	Enter the maximum superelevation value for the curve.

Unsupered crossfall:	Enter the value representing the crossfall of the road before superelevation is applied.

For a circular curve enter the maximum superelevation and the unsupered crossfall values as described above plus the following:

Runoff % in curve, In/Out:	Enter the percentage of the runoff length that lies within the curve for both the In and Out fields.

Runoff Length In/Out:	Enter the runoff length coming into (In) and going out of (Out) the curve.

Station

The Station column shows the stations for the adjacent superelevation and widening values.

Superelevation Left and Right

The Superelevation Left and Right columns show the superelevation values for the adjacent stations for the left and right sides of the road.

Widening Left and Right

The Widening Left and Right columns show the widening values for the adjacent stations for the left and right sides of the road.

Pivot

Use the Pivot column to edit the default position about which the pivoting of the superelevation table is to be done as the superelevation is applied. The available options are Crown, Left, and Right.

Insert

Click Insert to create a new row in the superelevation definition. The row is created immediately after the row with the currently highlighted field. The superelevation graphics are automatically updated.

Delete

Click Delete to delete the row with the currently highlighted field. Click Apply to update the superelevation graphics.

Apply

Click Apply to calculate the superelevation values at the appropriate stations when entering superelevation by parameters.

Report

Click Report to produce a report on the superelevation applied to the horizontal alignment.

Clear all

Click Clear all to clear all superelevation entries for the road.

Clear PI

Click Clear PI to clear the superelevation entries associated with the current PI.

TIP: To calculate an interpolated superelevation or widening value between known values, click Insert to insert a new row, highlight the relevant field to be calculated, and press Delete and then press [Tab] to move to the next field. The field shows <Calc’d> to indicate that the value is interpolated from the adjacent values. Generate a report to determine the actual value.

NOTE: All entries other than those associated with the current PI are shown with a grayed background.

Graphics window

The superelevation diagram in the graphics window is a graphical representation of the superelevation. You can browse the window to show the true station and  rate of super. The graph changes to reflect any editing you do to the superelevation definition and gives visual feedback of the effects of the editing.

TIP: As each PI is selected, the superelevation view and table update to display the selected PI. To maintain the current view, right-click in the Superelevation view window and select the Hold View option from the short-cut menu. This is useful if you want to scroll through the table while viewing the zoomed extents of the superelevation graph.

The superelevation graph reflects the values shown in the table.

TIP: Click Apply to update the superelevation graph after editing superelevation values.


Sections
Road / Sections

 See also

Use this command to view computed cross-sections and confirm the applied design. RoadLink provides a graphics window that shows the cross-section at the selected station. Use the track bar to move down the road to select a station. Alternatively, use the page up or page down keys, or enter a station value in the Station field.

TIP: The station value entered must lie between the start and end station values for the road. If a valid vertical alignment and template exists for the entered station, the calculated cross section will be displayed.

NOTE: Click Report to generate a report of the offset, elevation and code for each node in the current section and the crossfall for each template element.

TIP: Right-click in the Cross Section view window and select "Hold View" from the shortcut menu to maintain the current view extents for subsequent cross sections.

The status bar in the graphics window shows which station (and section number) is currently selected. The total number of stations available also appears.


Display Road Linework
Road / Display Road Linework

 See also

Use this command to display the linework that connects cross-sections. Use the linework to confirm the road definition.

Note: Use the View / Layers option to hide displayed road linework. The layer name is the name of the road.

NOTE: For cross-section data that is imported from a third-party road definition file, linework is only drawn between common cross-sections, that is, cross-sections with an equal number of elements. Where there are an unequal number of elements in successive cross-sections, the connectivity is ambiguous, so no linework is drawn and no interpolation can occur between those sections when staking out using a survey device.

NOTE: When the road definition includes templates that have been created using the template editor, the linework is drawn obeying the connectivity rules as defined in the Example alignment.


Display Road Surface
Road / Display Road Surface

 See also

Use this command to display a contour surface model of the road. Use the surface model to confirm the road definition. The resultant surface model can be exported for stakeout.

NOTE: Use the View / Layers option to hide a displayed road surface. The layer name is the name of the road followed by (TTM).


Reports
Road / Reports

 See also

Use this command to create the following types of report:

  Road

  Stakeout

  Volumes

NOTE: Volume reports are only available if the road has a surface associated with it. If you did not select a surface when creating the road, you can select one now. Select Road / Options and from the Surface drop-down list select the appropriate surface.


Road Report

 See also

Use this option to create a report of the road definition that includes the horizontal and vertical alignments, the templates, and superelevation applied.

NOTE: The report format for the horizontal alignment reflects the input method (that is, PI or Element). The following example shows an alignment input using the Element method.


Road Report Example

 See also

The report format for the horizontal alignment reflects the input method (PI or Element). The following example shows an alignment input using the Element method:

Road Report

Project Tutorial_2

Project name	Tutorial_2
Road	Demo
Units	Meters
Date printed	21/04/00 4:07pm
Horizontal geometry

Start point

Element    North        East      Azimuth     Radius    Length   D. Angle    Station

Point      4000.000    2000.000                                               500.000

Line       4000.000    2433.333   90°00'00"             433.333               933.333

Arc        4100.000    2733.333              -500.000   321.751  36°52'12"   1255.084

Line       4251.317    2935.089   53°07'48"             252.195              1507.278

Arc        4325.658    3076.975               500.000   160.875  18°26'06"   1668.154

Line       4500.000    3600.000   71°33'54"             551.317              2219.470

Vertical geometry

  Vertical start point

  Slope In                0.000000%     Slope Out                -4.500000%

      Coordinates        Station      Elevation

      VPI Point             500.000    46.000

  Vertical curve details for curve no  1

  Curve type   Sag Symmetric parabola

  Length                    500.000

  Slope In               -4.500000%     Slope Out                -0.571429%

      Coordinates        Station      Elevation

      VPI Point             900.000    28.000

      Curve start           650.000    39.250

      Curve end            1150.000    26.571

  Vertical curve details for curve no  2

  Curve type  Summit Symmetric parabola

  Length                    500.000

  Slope In               -0.571429%     Slope Out                -1.129998%

      Coordinates        Station      Elevation

      VPI Point            1600.000    24.000

      Curve start          1350.000    25.429

      Curve end            1850.000    21.175

  Vertical end point

  Slope In               -1.129998%     Slope Out                 0.000000%

      Coordinates        Station      Elevation

      VPI Point            2219.470    17.000

Templates

Station             Left templates      Right templates

    500.000         Section3            Section3

   2219.470         Section3            Section3

Superelevation

                  Superelevation            Widening

  Station       Left       Right       Left       Right       Pivot

    863.333    -2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

    923.333    -2.000%     2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

    933.333    -2.667%     2.667%      0.000      0.000       Crown

    953.333    -4.000%     4.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1235.084    -4.000%     4.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1255.084    -2.667%     2.667%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1265.084    -2.000%     2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1325.084    -2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1437.278    -2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1497.278     2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1507.278     2.667%    -2.667%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1527.278     4.000%    -4.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1648.154     4.000%    -4.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1668.154     2.667%    -2.667%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1678.154     2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown

   1738.154    -2.000%    -2.000%      0.000      0.000       Crown


Stakeout Report

 See also

Use this option to create a stakeout report of the road definition.

NOTE: If no contour surface is available the report will exclude any catch points.

If you did not select a surface when creating your road, you can select one now. Select Road / Options and from the Surface list select the appropriate surface. The list displays all surfaces for the current project or any surface imported from another project. To import a surface from another project see File / Import - Surface tab  – Contour Surface option.

To ensure accurate reporting of the catch points, set the Surface sample width value to at least as wide as the maximum side slope extent.

Note: If you want to associate a surface model with the road, first create the surface using the DTMLink software. Surfaces that have been imported into DTMLink from third-party software are not available in RoadLink.


Stakeout Report Example

 See also

A sample Stakeout Report follows.

Stakeout Report

Project Tutorial_2

Project name	Tutorial_2
Road	Demo
Units	Meters
Date printed	21/04/00 4:08pm

Design Surface

Offset   Elevation       North        East Code

Station =  500.000

     -19.271      47.655    4019.271    2000.000  Catch

     -15.200      45.620    4015.200    2000.000

     -14.000      45.620    4014.000    2000.000

     -11.000      46.220    4011.000    2000.000  Shoulder

      -8.000      46.340    4008.000    2000.000

      -8.000      45.840    4008.000    2000.000

       0.000      46.000    4000.000    2000.000

       8.000      45.840    3992.000    2000.000

       8.000      46.340    3992.000    2000.000

      11.000      46.220    3989.000    2000.000  Shoulder

      14.000      45.620    3986.000    2000.000

      29.548      42.510    3970.452    2000.000  Catch

Station =  520.000

     -21.681      47.961    4021.681    2020.000  Catch

     -15.200      44.720    4015.200    2020.000

     -14.000      44.720    4014.000    2020.000

     -11.000      45.320    4011.000    2020.000  Shoulder

      -8.000      45.440    4008.000    2020.000

      -8.000      44.940    4008.000    2020.000

       0.000      45.100    4000.000    2020.000

       8.000      44.940    3992.000    2020.000

       8.000      45.440    3992.000    2020.000

      11.000      45.320    3989.000    2020.000  Shoulder

      14.000      44.720    3986.000    2020.000

      19.926      43.535    3980.074    2020.000  Catch


Volumes Report

 See also

Use this option to produce a cut/fill earthworks volume report. It is only available if you have a contour surface associated with your road.

Use the Start station and End station fields to define the extent of the road to be used for the volume report.

If you did not select a surface when creating your road, you can select one now. Select Road / Options and from the Surface list select the appropriate surface. The list displays all surfaces for the current project or any surface imported from another project. To import a surface from another project see File / Import - Surface tab  – Contour Surface.

To ensure accurate volume calculations, set the Surface sample width value to be at least as wide as the maximum side slope extent.

Note: If you want to associate a surface model with the road, first create the surface using the DTMLink utility. Surfaces that have been imported into DTMLink from third-party software are not available in RoadLink.


Volumes Report Example

 See also

A sample Volumes Report follows.

NOTE: All earthworks volumes are calculated using the centroid length between effective end areas. Depending on the contour of the land and the geometry of the road, a warning message may appear regarding centroid errors.

 See also

Volume Report

Project Tutorial_2

Project name	Tutorial_2
Road	Demo
Units	Meters
Date printed	21/04/00 pm
Station:    500.000 to:    2219.470

Road : Demo

             ------ XS area ------   ------ Volume ------    ---- Accumulated ----

     Statn         Cut        Fill         Cut        Fill         Cut        Fill

    Meters        Sq m        Sq m        Cu m        Cu m        Cu m        Cu m

   500.000       14.98       32.19        0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00

   520.000       29.51        8.14      444.86      403.24      444.86      403.24

   540.000       45.45        1.98      749.57      101.19     1194.43      504.43

   560.000       54.54        0.00      999.88       19.83     2194.31      524.26

   580.000       63.14        0.00     1176.79        0.00     3371.10      524.26

   600.000       65.63        0.00     1287.70        0.00     4658.81      524.26

   620.000       58.16        0.00     1237.89        0.00     5896.69      524.26

   640.000       40.84        0.00      990.01        0.00     6886.70      524.26

   660.000       41.79        0.00      826.34        0.00     7713.04      524.26

   680.000       40.12        0.00      819.11        0.00     8532.15      524.26

   700.000       25.84        0.00      659.57        0.03     9191.72      524.28

   720.000        2.02       14.41      278.57      144.12     9470.29      668.40

   740.000       11.28       10.78      133.00      251.85     9603.29      920.25

   760.000       14.01        3.52      252.91      142.94     9856.20     1063.20

   780.000        3.97        2.32      179.80       58.42    10036.00     1121.61

   800.000        0.53       19.66       45.02      219.82    10081.02     1341.43


Options
Road / Options

 See also

Use this command to edit the defaults for the road.


Road Menu

Use the commands in the Road menu to apply and edit a design in preparation for transferring for stakeout.

It has the following commands:

Horizontal

Vertical

Templates

Superelevation

Sections

Display Road Linework

Display Road Surface

Reports

Options


New
Template / New

Use this command to create a new template that represents the design cross-section for the road design. You construct a template for one side of the alignment only. Use the Flip View option to better visualize a template to be used for the left side of the road.

A template, once created, is stored in a project template library file. You can use the template for other roads and projects.


Template Construction

The Template / New command lets you create a new template.

Template name

Select Template / New and enter the name for the template in this field. The name can be any combination of 16 alphanumeric characters, and must be unique to this library.

Click OK to start the template edit function.

The graphical window shows the coordinate axis that represents the intersection of the Horizontal and Vertical alignments.

The window in the Edit template dialog shows the names and relationships between the templates in the current library. This window shows these relationships as a tree view. This tree view can be collapsed or expanded at the nodes. Click the plus (+) sign to expand the view, or click the minus (-) sign to collapse the view. See Figure 1.

Figure 1  Window in the Edit Template

The collapsed tree view shows only the template names. However, when it is expanded, the design surface and their element names appear. (Every template consists of a single design surface, initially named Subgrade. To change this name, use the Subgrade name field.)

Every design surface begins with a template element called Subgrade01. This element defines the starting point of the design surface. The elevation and offset values in the Elevation field and Offset fields are fixed at the origin of the coordinate axes (0,0). The origin represents the intersection of the horizontal and vertical alignments to which the template is assigned.

Apply

Select Apply to accept the fields defining the element.

New

Select New to add a new element to the current element. The element name is automatically filled in when elements are added. The name is unique and is the default design surface name with a two-digit suffix. If necessary, you can change this name.

Delete

Select Delete to delete the current element.

Element type

The sequence of template elements defining the design surface can be made up from:

  Design line elements

  Side slope elements (that is, cut and fill)

TIP: Use the Properties toolbar button or the shortcut menu to open the Properties window in the graphical window. The Properties window helps to identify the properties and values of the elements you select.

NOTE: Use the Flip view option to help visualize the templates during construction. Offsets specified are always positive values irrespective of the template view.


Design Line
Element Type / Design Line

Design line elements always start from the current evaluation point (that is, the end of the previous element).

Method

Choose Design line in the Element type field and the Method field appears. Select the definition method for design line elements. The available methods are:

  Crossfall and offset

  Delta elevation and offset


Crossfall and Offset

When you select this command, the options in the Edit template dialog change.

Apply superelevation

Select the Apply superelevation check box and the design line is adjusted in response to any superelevation value specified in Road / Superelevation.

Apply widening

The Apply widening check box is only available if the Apply superelevation check box is selected. Select the Apply widening check box and any widening value specified in Road / Superelevation is applied to this line element.

Crossfall

The Crossfall field specifies the slope of the element.

Offset

The Offset field specifies the length of the element and must be a positive value.

Code

A code can be specified. The code is assigned to the end of the design line and is indicated by a diagonal cross. The code name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) alpha numeric characters.

NOTE: The Crossfall field can be filled in, or shown, as a percentage crossfall or a ratio. Ratios are entered with a colon separating the numerator and denominator (for example, 1:3.333). Numbers entered without a colon and, with or without, a percent character are assumed to be percentages (for example, 30 or 30%). Horizontal grades are entered and shown as 0%.

After a template has been saved the display and reporting of the crossfall and side slope values are controlled by the Grade format field and the Side slope grade format fields in File / Project Properties / Units and Format tab in the Trimble Geomatics Office™ software.

NOTE: The crossfall value of the first Design line, with the Superelevation box selected and with a positive offset, is used in the calculation of superelevation when the pivot position is set to Left or Right. This crossfall value is also used in the comparison with the start and end superelevation values in a superelevation table. Any mismatch is reported before the road is exported.


Delta Elevation and Offset
Method / Delta Elevation and Offset

The Delta elevation field lets you specify the difference in elevation from the start to the end of the line.

The Offset field lets you specify the difference in offset from the start to the end of the line.

Apply superelevation

Select the Apply superelevation check box to adjust the design line in response to any superelevation value (specified in Road / Superelevation).

Apply widening

The Apply widening check box is only available if the Apply superelevation check box is selected. Select the Apply widening check box to apply any widening value (specified in Road / Superelevation) to this line element.

Code

A code can be specified. The code is assigned to the end of the design line and is indicated by a diagonal cross. The code name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) alpha numeric characters.


Superelevation and Widening Application

This section discusses how the superelevation, widening, or both are applied to the elements within a template.

The superelevation that is applied to each element to be superelevated is determined by the first Design line element, with the Apply superelevation option set to Yes. The amount of superelevation is determined by the relationship of the crossfall of this first line to the superelevated cross fall as specified in Road / Superelevation.

For example, if the first element to which superelevation can be applied in a template has a cross fall of −2%, and the superelevation at the station is to be +6%, then 8% is added to the cross falls of all the elements that are superelevated in the template.

Figure 1 shows a cross-section view of how the superelevation is applied.

Figure 1  Applying the Superelevation

The amount of widening as specified in Road / Superelevation is applied to each template element for which the Apply widening option is selected.

The superelevation and widening occur when the superelevation is applied to the road. To view the result, select Road / Sections.


Side Slope
Element Type / Side Slope

Side slope elements specify the cut or fill slopes and the cut ditch width at the end of a design surface. Side slope values cannot be vertical.

Cut slope

Enter the value for the Cut side slope in this field.

Fill slope

Enter the value for the Fill side slope in this field.

Cut ditch width

Enter the value for the Cut ditch width in this field. This field enables a flat bottomed ditch to be inserted before a cut slope.

NOTES:

1.	Side slopes are the last element in a template.

2.	A code can also be specified. The code is assigned to the end of the Cut side slope or the Fill side slope.

3.	The start point for the evaluation of each design surface element is the end point of the previous element. You cannot have gaps within a template design surface.


Delete
Template / Delete

Use this command to delete the highlighted template in the Edit Template dialog.

TIP: Click Delete or press the Delete key to delete elements.

NOTE: If you delete a template that has been assigned to a road you will need to reassign templates at the Road / Templates option.


Import
Template / Import

Use this command to import a template into the current library.

Click Open and the RoadLink utility imports the template. If the template already exists, the software asks you to enter a new template name. The name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) or less alphanumeric characters.

When a template is imported a backup of the original template library is created. This file is called TEMPLAnnnn.BAK (where nnnn is a number) and can be renamed to TEMPLA0001.DAT to restore the template library to its original state before the importing of templates.


Export
Template / Export

Use the Export command to export an individual template. By using the Import template option, you can add the export template to an existing template library in another project.

NOTE: You must highlight the name of the template you want to export before you can select this option.


Report
Template / Report

Use this command to generate and view a report about the currently selected template.


Copy
Template / Copy

Use this command to copy a template from one library to the current or another library. The Template Copy dialog appears.

NOTE: You must highlight the name of the template you want to copy before you can select this option.


Template Copy dialog

Use this dialog to copy a template from one library to the current or another library.

From library

Select the library where you want to copy a template from. Enter a name in the From library field or select from the list. A list of the available templates in the selected library appears in the window. Highlight the name of the template.

To library

Select the library where you want to copy a template to. Enter a name in the To library field or select from the list. The name of the template you want to copy appears in the New template name field. Use the field to edit this name. The RoadLink software warns you if the new template name already exists.


Rename
Template / Rename

Use this command to rename a template.

Template name

Highlight the name of the template you want to rename and select the Rename template command. The Rename template dialog appears. Enter the new name in the Template name field. The name can consist of any combination of sixteen (16) or less alphanumeric characters.

The RoadLink™ software warns you if there is an existing template with this name.

NOTE: If you rename a template that has been assigned to a road you will need to reassign templates at the Road / Templates option.


Template Menu

Use the Template menu to create templates. A template is a typical cross section of the road. The templates can be stored in a library to be available for all roads.

It has the following commands:

New

Delete

Import

Export

Report

Copy

Rename


Template Editor
Utilities / Template Editor

Use the Utilities / Template Editor command to open the Edit template dialog and show the first template in the current library.

The template shows as a graphic simultaneously in the graphical window and updates automatically as you edit the Edit template dialog.

The completed templates are stored in a template library in the project folder. The template library is a file called TEMPLANnn.DAT (where nn is a number). There is no fixed limit on the number of templates that can be stored in each template library.


Utilities Menu

Use the Utilities menu to create and edit templates.

It has the following command:

Template Editor


Zoom In
View / Zoom In

	Click the Zoom In tool on the View toolbar
Use this tool to closely examine a section of the graphics window.

1.	Select the Zoom In tool.

2.	Move the pointer over the graphics window. The magnifying glass pointer appears enclosing a plus sign. Cross-hairs above the magnifying glass pointer mark the hot spot.

3.	Do one of the following:

  Click on a position in the graphics window to zoom in by a factor of two, centered on the hot spot.

  Click and drag the pointer across the graphics window to produce a rectangle containing the area you want to Zoom In on. The smaller the area, the greater the scale changes. The content of the area contained by the rectangle occupies the entire graphics window when the mouse button is released. To cancel the Zoom In, return to the point from where you began to drag before you release the mouse button.

NOTES:

Press Esc while the left mouse button is pressed to cancel the current operation of the Zoom In tool.

Hold down Shift while performing the Zoom operation opens a floating window of the zoom area.


Zoom Out
View / Zoom Out

	Click the Zoom Out tool on the View toolbar
Use this tool to view a greater area on a graphics window.

1.	Select the Zoom Out tool.

2.	Move the pointer over the graphics window. The magnifying glass pointer appears enclosing a minus sign. Cross-hairs above the magnifying glass pointer mark the hot spot.

3.	Do one of the following:

  Click on a position in the graphics window to zoom out by a factor of two, centered on the hot spot.

  Click and drag the pointer across the graphics window to produce a rectangle that contains the area you want to Zoom Out then release the mouse button. The scale of the graphics window changes, and the area previously contained in the rectangle is displayed. To cancel the Zoom Out, return to the point from where you began to drag before you release the mouse button.

NOTES:

Press Esc while the left mouse button is pressed to cancel the current operation of the Zoom Out tool.

Click and drag a rectangle on the graphics window. When the Zoom Out operation is performed, the previous view is contained in the rectangle. The smaller the rectangle, the greater the scale changes.


Pan
View / Pan

	Click the Pan tool on the View toolbar
Use this tool to shift the contents of the graphics window to display a different area of the screen view. The Pan tool moves the origin of the view.

1.	Select the Pan tool.

2.	Move the pointer over the graphics window. The hand pointer appears. Cross-hairs above the hand pointer mark the hot spot.

3.	Do one of the following:

  Click on a position in the graphics window. That position becomes the new center of the window.

  Click and drag the hand pointer in the direction and for the distance you want to pan. A line appears to indicate the direction and distance the screen is to move. Release the button. The screen view moves to this new position. To cancel the pan, return the hand pointer back to the point from where you began to drag before you release the mouse button.

NOTE: To cancel the current operation of the Pan tool, press Esc while holding down the left mouse button.


Pan To
View / Pan To

Use this dialog to pan and scale to a particular location on the graphics window. The options available depend on the current graphics window.

Plan view

Point name	Use this field to specify a name for the center of the view.

Easting/Northing	Use these fields to locate the center of the view.

Radius to view	Sets the extent of the view.

The center of the screen moves the distance of the radius you specify. The distance depends on the orientation of the graphics window. The following figure shows this:

Profile view

Station/Elevation	Use these fields to locate the center of the view.

Width/Height of view	Use these fields to define the size of the view.

Superelevation view

Station/Super	Use these fields to locate the center of the view.

Width/Height of view	Use these fields to define the size of the view.

Cross section view and Template view

Offset/Elevation	Use these fields to locate the center of the view.

Width/Height of view	Use these fields to define the size of the view.

TIP: Click in the graphics window to field fill-in from the screen.


Zoom Extents
View / Zoom Extents

	Click the Zoom Extents tool on the View toolbar
Use this command to view all visible points in the current project.

When you select the Zoom Extents command, the graphics window automatically adjusts so that all data is visible.


Zoom Previous
View / Zoom Previous

	Click the Zoom Previous tool on the View toolbar
Use this tool to view the previous view.

Use this command to go back through each of the previous views since you entered the project.


Zoom Views
View / Zoom Views

	Click the Zoom Views tool on the View toolbar
Use this tool to save the current screen view, recall a previously saved view, or maintain a previously saved view.

Use this command to add the current view to a list of saved views. The current list of saved views (to a maximum of ten) appears in the order you saved them.

To modify the list, see Edit.

Select from the list to restore and display any of the saved views.

Save

Enter the name for the view in the Name field.

Edit

Select the name of the view you want to edit from the list shown in the Views box.

Click Rename and enter the details in the Rename View dialog.


Floating Window
View / Floating Window

	Use the Floating window tool on the View toolbar
Use this command to show the Floating window. When open, the Floating window always remains on top.

The floating window provides another view. As with other graphics windows, you can use field fill-in and zooming from within the Floating window.

This means, for example, you can use the floating window as a tool to provide a bird’s-eye view or a magnified view independent of the graphics window. Both windows can be used for usual operations (such as field fill-in and zooming).

NOTE: View / Zoom to Extents operates in the graphics window. If you want to perform a Zoom to Extents in the floating window, click the shortcut menu.

To get a magnified view in the floating window, specify in the graphics window the area to be magnified by holding down Shift and dragging with the Zoom in tool.

To get a magnified view in the graphics window, specify in the floating window the area to view by holding down Shift and dragging with the Zoom out tool. This demonstrates how the floating window can be used as a bird’s-eye view.

NOTE: The floating window title bar is shown as active when the associated graphics window is active.


Surface
View / Surface

Use this command to graphically show an existing contour surface.

NOTE: This option only controls the display of available surfaces as created in DTMLink. To display a contour model of the road surface, select Road / Display Road Surface.

Surface

Select from the list of surfaces available. The list displays all surfaces for the current project or any surface imported from another project. For more information, see Contour Surface option.

NOTE: If you want to view a surface you must first create the surface using the DTMLink software. Surfaces imported into DTMLink from third-party software are not available in RoadLink.

Minor and Major intervals

Edit the minor and major intervals you require.

Display triangles

Select the Display triangles check box to display triangles.


Grid Lines
View / Grid Lines

Use this command to graphically show grid lines for the Horizontal, Vertical, Superelevation, and Cross-section views.

Show Grid lines

Select this check box to apply grid lines to the selected view.

For each view you can:

 apply a fixed number of grid lines to be displayed.

 apply grid lines at a specified interval. For the Horizontal view, enter a grid interval value. For all other views, enter horizontal and vertical grid interval values.

Grid line type

From the list, select the grid line type.

Grid line color

From the list, select the grid line color.

Label grid lines

To label the grid lines, select the check box.

Apply

Click Apply to apply the grid lines to the view.

NOTES:

 The Grid line type, Grid line color, and Label grid lines options apply to all views.

 The grid line settings for the Cross-section view also apply to the Template view.


Layers
View / Layers

	Click the Layers tool on the View toolbar
Use this command to show or hide the layers in the current view.

When you show or hide a particular layer, RoadLink shows or hides the entities in it.

Layer visibility

The Layer visibility list shows the names of all layers in the project. A check mark indicates that the layer is visible. Select the check mark for a particular layer to toggle the layer’s visibility off or on.

TIP: When you close a road it is saved to a layer. The layer’s name is the name of the road. If the project consists of multiple roads, the current road can be viewed in conjunction with previously opened roads.

All

Click All to show all the layers in the list.

None

Click None to hide all the layers in the list.

TIP: When all layers are hidden no entities display on the screen.

Apply

Click Apply to see the results of your editing.


Image
View / Image

Use this command to show or hide the display of an imported image when you use the File / Import command.

To show an imported image, toggle the View / Image command to on  and the image will be shown when using the File / Import command.

NOTE: The View / Image is toggled to on when a check mark appears next to it.


Toolbars
View / Toolbars

Use this command to show or hide any of the toolbars.

Each of the toolbars is a series of tools shown by buttons. Each tool is available as a menu command.

Toolbars

To display a particular toolbar, click its name in the menu. A check mark appears beside the name when a toolbar is displayed.

This is a toggle switch. To hide the toolbar, click its name again. The check mark disappears when the toolbar is hidden.

Close

Click Close to leave the dialog.

All

Click All to show all the toolbars.

None

Click None to hide all the toolbars.

Reset

Click Reset to restore the toolbars to the default arrangement.


Refresh
View / Refresh

Use this command to refresh the screen.

Choose this command (or press F5) to redraw the graphics view when the graphics window becomes overwritten and difficult to read.


Properties
View / Properties

	Property browser
Use the Properties window to view the properties of a selected entity. This window shows the names and values of that entity.

When you view an element (using the Properties window) in a horizontal alignment, the start station and end station of the element is given. However, if you are currently editing the horizontal alignment, the viewed stations may not be updated with the last change made.


View Menu

The View menu provides commands for controlling and maintaining the display of individual graphics windows. The following commands are available:

Zoom In

Zoom Out

Pan

Pan To

Zoom Extents

Zoom Previous

Zoom Views

Floating Window

Layers

Image

Surface

Grid lines

Toolbars

Refresh

Properties


New Window
Window / New Window

Use this command to open another window for the current project.

Use this command to open a new window with the same contents as the active window. You can open multiple windows to show different parts or views of a road definition at the same time. If you change the contents in one window, all other windows containing the same graphics view reflect those changes. When you open a new window, it becomes the active window and is displayed on top of all other open windows.


Cascade
Window / Cascade

Use this command to resize the open windows and dialogs on the desktop and to arrange them in an overlapping pattern from top left to bottom right.

When you cascade the windows, they are layered and you can see the window title bars for all windows on the desktop.


Tile
Window / Tile

Use this command to move and resize the open windows and dialogs on the desktop and to arrange them to form a tile pattern.


Arrange Icons
Window / Arrange Icons

Use this command to rearrange any icons of minimized windows into a tidy pattern on the screen. It arranges icons at the bottom of the window.


List of Windows
Window / List of Windows

Use the bottom section of this menu to display a list of currently open windows or dialogs on the desktop. The active window or dialog has a check mark.

Select the name of a particular window or dialog to make it active.


Window Menu

The Window menu contains commands for viewing options. The following commands are available:

New window

Cascade

Tile

Arrange icons

List of windows


Technical Assistance

If you have a problem and cannot find the information you need in the product documentation, contact your local dealer. Alternatively, request technical support using the Trimble website at www.trimble.com/support.html.


Trademarks

The Globe & Triangle logo, Trimble, DTMLink, RoadLink, Trimble Geomatics Office, Trimble Survey Controller, TSCe, and TSC1 are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited.

The Sextant logo with Trimble, Geodimeter, and Terramodel are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


Warranty

Disclaimer of Warranty

Except as indicated in "Limited Warranty" herein, Trimble Hardware, Software, Firmware and documentation is provided "as is" and without express or limited warranty of any kind by either Trimble Navigation Limited or anyone who has been involved in its creation, production, or distribution including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk, as to the quality and performance of the Trimble Hardware, Software, Firmware and documentation, is with you. Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you.

Limitation of Liability

In no event will Trimble Navigation Limited or any person involved in the creation, production, or distribution of the Trimble Software be liable to you on account of any claim for any damages, including any lost profits, lost savings, or other special, incidental, consequential, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to any damages assessed against or paid by you to any third party, rising out of the use, liability to use, quality or performance of such Trimble Software and documentation, even if Trimble Navigation Limited or any such person or entity has been advised of the possibility of damages, or for any claim by any other party. Some states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages so, the above limitations may not apply to you.

Software and Firmware Limited Warranty

Trimble Navigation Limited warrants that Software and Firmware products will substantially conform to the published specifications provided it is used with the Trimble products, computer products, and operating system for which it was designed. For a period of ninety (90) days, commencing thirty (30) days after shipment from Trimble, Trimble also warrants that the media on which Software and Firmware are distributed and the documentation are free from defects in materials and workmanship. During the ninety (90) day warranty period, Trimble will replace defective media or documentation, or correct substantial program errors at no charge. If Trimble is unable to replace defective media or documentation, or correct program errors, Trimble will refund the price paid for The Software. These are your sole remedies for any breach in warranty.


World Wide Web site

For an interactive look at Trimble, visit our site on the World Wide Web
(www.trimble.com/)


Feedback

Thank you for purchasing this product. We would appreciate any feedback you have about it. Send comments and suggestions to:

Trimble Navigation Limited
Engineering and Construction Division
5475 Kellenburger Road
Dayton, Ohio 45424-1099
U.S.A.
www.trimble.com/

If you have any feedback about this documentation, please contact us. Your feedback will help us to improve future revisions.

To forward your feedback, send your comments and suggestions to the address above, or send an e-mail to ReaderFeedback@trimble.com

All comments and suggestions become the property of Trimble Navigation Limited.


Calculating Earthworks Volumes

The volumes are calculated using the average end formula:

where

A1 and A2 are the effective areas of two sections and L1 is the centroid distance between them.

NOTE: The actual end areas are adjusted to account for any skewing of the centroid to give an effective area. Effective area adjustment is not used for horizontal curves. Instead L is calculated using the Pappus theorem.

NOTE: The centroid length is the 3-D distance between the centroids of the end areas. The centroid length can be curving in the horizontal and the vertical plane. It can also be offset in the horizontal and vertical plane.

All earthworks volumes are calculated using the centroid length between effective end areas. The warning message

Area centroid offset is greater than the station difference

appears when the volume at a particular station is calculated using a centroid offset length that is greater than the difference between two cross-sections. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 Calculating Volumes Using Centroid Length

The message appears when distance Y exceeds distance X. This occurs if the topography changes suddenly or if there is a change in the templates that are applied, causing the end area centroid offsets to be significantly different between adjacent cross-sections.

How you should respond to this message depends on the situation. You could, for example:

  do nothing

  create additional cross-sections between the two stations

  compute volumes in two passes, excluding the portion between the two stations

Generally, you can ignore the message.


Pivot

The Pivot field lets you select the point about which the superelevation is to pivot.

The available options are:

  Crown

  Left

  Right

The following three figures illustrate these options:

Figure 1	Crown Pivot

Figure 2	Left Pivot

Figure 3	Right Pivot


Automated Superelevation Development

Superelevation can be applied to a curve by specifying the defining parameters. These parameters vary for circular and spiral curves. This topic describes how RoadLink develops superelevation values from specified parameters.

Circular curves

Superelevation development for a circular curve is based on the Maximum superelevation value, the Unsupered crossfall and the superelevation Runoff length (and its relationship to the PC and PT). See the following figure:

Superelevation graph for a circular curve

The following table sets out a description of the superelevation graph shown in the figure above:

Key	Description
1	Unsupered crossfall
2	Runoff length (In)
3	PC (Point of Curvature)
4	Maximum superelevation
5	Start of maximum superelevation
6	Percentage of runoff length within the curve (In)
7	End of maximum superelevation
8	PT (Point of Tangency)
9	Runoff length (Out)
10	Percentage of runoff length within the curve (Out)
Description Key to Superelevation graph

RoadLink automates superelevation values for a circular curve. This is described in the following paragraphs:

  From the known PC and PT station values and the entered parameters the RoadLink software calculates the Start and End max station values as follows:

Start of maximum superelevation = PC + % of runoff length within the curve (In)

End of maximum superelevation = PT – % of runoff length within the curve (Out)

The superelevation value for the start and end maximum superelevation positions, (left and right edges) is the ‘Maximum superelevation’ value.

  The ‘X’ in/out station values are defined from the previously calculated start/end maximum superelevation positions as follows:

X in = Start of maximum superelevation – Runoff length (In)

X out = End of maximum superelevation + Runoff length (Out)

The superelevation values used are the ‘Unsupered crossfall’ and 0%.

  The ‘Y’ in/out station values are calculated as follows:

Y in = X in – (absolute Unsupered crossfall x Runoff length / maximum superelevation)

Y out = X out + (absolute Unsupered crossfall x Runoff length / maximum superelevation)

The superelevation values are the ‘Unsupered crossfall’.

Finally the ‘Z’ in/out station values are calculated based on the fact that the distance from Y to X equals the distance from X to Z as follows:

Z in = X in + (X in – Y in)

Z out = X out – (Y out – X out)

The superelevation values are the ‘Unsupered crossfall’.

All values can be edited after the superelevation has been applied.

Spiral curves

Superelevation development for a spiral curve is based on the maximum superelevation value and the unsupered crossfall. See the following figure.

Superelevation graph for a spiral curve

The following table sets out a description of the superelevation graph shown in the figure above.

Key	Description
1	Unsupered crossfall
2	Maximum superelevation
3	TS (Tangent to Spiral)
4	SC (Spiral to Circular)
5	CS (Circular to Spiral)
6	ST (Spiral to Tangent)
The RoadLink software automates superelevation values for a spiral curve as follows:

From the known TS, SC, CS and ST station values and the entered parameters the RoadLink software calculates the X in/out station values as follows:

X in = TS – (absolute Unsupered crossfall x SC station value -TS station value / maximum superelevation)

X out = ST + (absolute Unsupered crossfall x ST station value -CS station value / maximum superelevation)

The Superelevation values for the X in and X out positions are the ‘Unsupered crossfall’ value.

Finally the Z in/out station values are calculated based on the fact that the distance from X to the TS/ST position equals the distance from TS/ST position to Z as follows:

Z in = TS + (TS – X in)

Z out = ST – (X out – ST)

The superelevation values for Z in/out are the ‘Unsupered crossfall’ value.

The superelevation values for the TS and ST position is the ‘Unsupered crossfall’ value and 0%. The superelevation values for the SC and CS position is the ‘Maximum superelevation’ value.

All values can be edited after the superelevation has been applied