TBC Corridor Basics - Create Alignments

The process of creating a horizontal alignment for a project begins with the careful selection of existing line work, specifically utilizing a green center line. This alignment, aptly named 'Paisley', is organized by placing it on a predefined layer, characterized by a distinctive red color and a center line style. The alignment is established by selecting an existing CAD polyline that does not include spirals, resulting in a visually striking red line that measures a total length of 907.02. In this stage, stationing is meticulously adjusted to 500+00, while ensuring that the Northing and Easting values remain consistent. As the design progresses, additional segments such as curves or arcs can be incorporated, each defined by specific parameters that may include tangential arcs or azimuths. Once the horizontal alignment is firmly established, the focus transitions to the creation of a vertical alignment, which is essential for defining the vertical profile of the road's elevation. It is crucial to link the vertical alignment to the stationing of the horizontal alignment. Any adjustments made to the horizontal alignment's stationing necessitate corresponding modifications to the starting point of the vertical alignment, ensuring that both profiles maintain consistency. This synchronization is vital for achieving accurate road design outcomes. Furthermore, the process accommodates the incorporation of super elevations for highways or roads, a feature that is expertly managed through the use of Business Center software, which facilitates comprehensive alignment creation and editing throughout the design process.

In the subsequent discussion, the speaker delves into the intricacies of creating a vertical profile specifically tailored for road design. They emphasize the significance of establishing initial elevations and leveraging plan views to effectively visualize both the horizontal and vertical alignments. The speaker elaborates on the process of entering grade breaks and slopes, underscoring the importance of accuracy by inserting additional rows for any missed data points. To enhance the efficiency of the design process, they suggest utilizing a line string within the plan view, which can automatically generate a vertical profile when it is converted into a 3D alignment. The flexibility of the available tools is highlighted, showcasing the various methods of profile creation that can be employed, including the implementation of vertical curves, which may be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or consist of vertical arcs. In conclusion, the speaker notes the development of a cross-section template derived from a PDF plan set, indicating that the exploration of more advanced functionalities and features will continue in future discussions. The overarching focus remains on grasping the foundational steps necessary to effectively utilize the available tools for road design, with an encouragement for practitioners to engage in hands-on practice with simple data sets to cultivate their proficiency.