On road construction plans we need to label/annotate change points. We need to label where changes (lane width, superelevation transitions, side slope transitions, component start and end points, etc. ) from the “default” condition happen. The software knows where the change points are. These are the start and end stations for parametric constraints, template drops, and point controls. The current process to label the change points requires the designer to create a list of all of the change points from the corridor objects dialog, find these change points in the plan sheet files, and place station and dimensions or slope labels. It would be great if we had a way to tag the points to be labelled either in the templates or the corridor, for example: label the start and end station of a lane width transition/taper and label the slope and station at superelevation transitions start and end. The labels could be automatically generated for the entire corridor and linked so that if changes are made to the transition in the corridor model the labels would automatically update.
| Civil Product Used | OpenRoads Designer, OpenRail Designer |
Unfortunately, it seems the software is often not discussed with real-world, experienced PE's whose clients are hiring and paying them to produce Plans. The software folks seem more concerned with trying to render pretty pictures of a 3D model, rather than focusing on the tools we need to deliver a professional-looking Set of Plans for construction. I believe most client agencies (and their Engineers) are less concerned with a precise electronic model, than with whether or not the Plans provide clear direction of what is to be physically built in the field.