Creating terrains with graphical filters can be difficult in many chases because all elements in the active file and reference files are processed in the filter.
Using graphical filters there really isn't a way to control which part of a file can be added to a terrain. Some users create multiple corridors in a file with gaps between corridors. The way the software is currently designed if users create terrains of these separated corridors using graphical filters the terrain will be connected with triangles running across gaps.
A simple feature to create a terrain using a graphical filter inside a fence would be great. Or allow level control or allow reference clip boundaries to work. Our surveyors have trouble with this because they may want to have a bridge or a special area in a separate terrain. Right now to create separate terrains all the data needs to be in a separate files.
| Civil Product Used | OpenRoads Designer |
0
Future consideration
Yes, I work on projects with 10 designers and it is very hard to monitor every file at all times Most users aren't aware of this problem with ORD. Re-modeling files after the fact just to get terrains to work is very concerning.
I had an interchange project where the infield between the mainline and ramps would triangle with graphical features. I had no way to control what the graphical filter was looking at. Can't clip data , remove an area no solution but manually select elements and add to terrain. Have run into this multiple times with gaps in models. "InRoads import surface Advanced" worked great why not expand on this tool?
It is a best practice to put separate survey sections in separate files if the two surveys are not connected. It is the same for corridors at well. Corridors should be continuous. If you have a gap, it is recommended to put it in a different file. This follows the federated model workflow.
Is there a problem with having the bridges in separate files?
InRoads v8i had this functionality in the Import Surface Advanced tool. When creating a DTM using import surface advanced the option toLoad From: All, Fence, Single Elementwas available. You could then apply the import rules to the selection Set. It worked great. Like the OP I would very much like to see this same functionality incorporated into the Create Terrain by Graphical Filter tool - the ability to apply a graphical filter to a selection set.