Working with the modeler

Tool(s): Bridge, Civil Engineering Component

The bridge and civil engineering modeler is based on the same technology as the girder generator. You can see the cross-sections defined for a station point, the route profile and a 3D view of the component. To edit components, you can use a five-part viewport.
The tree structure lists the routes with their station points. Allplan automatically names the points in ascending order. The position of each station point in the route is clearly defined by its values.
The Plan preview shows the path with its station points. In addition, it indicates the position of the cross-section. The Elevation preview shows the route profile in the longitudinal direction. The Isometric preview shows the current component or all components. The current station point is highlighted in red in all the previews you can show and hide using the View menu.
The remaining graphics area shows the cross-section of the current station point.
You can control how and which objects are displayed in the previews and in the graphics area using Colors and General Properties on the Default toolbar or Edit menu.

Color settings

You can use the following colors to display elements in the bridge and civil engineering modeler. When you click the Default button, the program uses the predefined colors.

• Station points – straight section:
  Use this to define the color used to display station points in straight route sections. This setting applies to the Plan preview and Elevation preview.
• Station points – curved section:
  Use this to define the color used to display station points in curved route sections. This setting applies to the Plan preview and Elevation preview.
• Station points – active:
  Use this to define the color used to display the selected station point. This setting applies to the Plan preview, Isometric preview and Elevation preview.
• Cross-section polygon:
  Use this to define the color used to display the cross-section in the graphics area.
• 3D object:
  Use this to define the color used to display bridge and civil engineering components in the Isometric preview.
• Window – background:
  Use this to define the background color for the graphics area and for the Plan preview, Isometric preview and Elevation preview.

Values of station points

Each station point has the following values:

• X, Y and Z coordinate (in m):
  The coordinates refer to the global coordinate system.
  If you have imported a route with individual sections and the new stationing is within the route, the X and Y coordinates cannot be defined.
  If the route profile is defined automatically, you do not need to specify the Z coordinate.
• Angle of rise (in °):
  If the angle is > 0°, the route rises; otherwise it falls. If the route profile is defined automatically, you do not need to specify the angle of rise.
• Angle in plan (in °):
  Positive angles result in a counter-clockwise rotation. If you have imported a route consisting of individual sections, and the new stationing is within the route, you cannot define the angle in plan.
• Stationing (in m):
  Offset to station origin.
  If you have imported a route with individual sections and the new stationing is within the route, the location of the station point in plan is determined automatically. If you enter a stationing outside the route, you need to specify the station point in plan. This defines a new straight section.

To enter, delete or modify station points, use the shortcut menu in the tree structure, the Station toolbar or the Edit menu. You can define an offset for entering the coordinates and the angle in plan. You can select station points in the tree structure or Elevation preview.
When you have imported a route consisting of sections, Allplan automatically calculates the positions of new station points based on the points already defined.

Use Cross-Section Definition to enter and modify cross-sections for the selected station point. Cross-sections can consist of several parts. The cross-sections can even intersect or complement one another.
You do not have to enter a cross-section for each station point, as the program automatically calculates the missing cross-sections based on the points already defined.
If a cross-section is assigned to the selected station point, you can define the reference point and rotation angle of the cross-section. You can also delete and edit the cross-section.

You define the route profile in the longitudinal direction manually by entering the Z coordinates and the angle of rise in all the station points. As an alternative, you can configure the program to calculate these values automatically. All you have to do is specify the height and height curvature in corner points.