SiteModel1

The sitework-related commands allow the development of complex 2D and 3D models of site terrain in the Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products. The Vectorworks Landmark product contains certain additional commands.

The source data for a site model is the 3D information used to create a representation of the existing site. The information can be in the form of 3D loci, 3D polygons, or surveyor data. The site model object created from the source data contains both 2D and 3D site information, and it can be copied to other layers and files. Special “snapshot” copies of the site model allow different forms of site model to be shown side by side.

Once generated, two forms of the site model can be displayed—the existing site model and the proposed site model. The existing site model is a direct representation of the source data, including any existing site modifications. The proposed site model is the existing site model, plus the geometric effects of proposed site modifiers, such as roads and pads. The existing and proposed site models can be displayed or hidden at creation or from the Object Info palette.

Site models use the Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) method to connect input data. This method can work with data that are scattered and in clumps—they do not have to be organized in a rectangular grid. The model uses all the data, without doing approximations, to create a network of triangles. These triangles form the terrain model; the model then performs interpolation to calculate the threading of contour lines.

After generation, the site model is cached by default so that updating occurs more efficiently; however, large file sizes can result. See “Document Display Preferences” on page 66 for information on changing the default setting.

Site Model Source Data

There are four commands available to input source data into a drawing for the development of a site model; each uses a different type of source information.

In addition, stake objects, 3D loci, or 3D polygons can be used directly as the source data for the site model. No conversion is necessary before using this type of source data.

The Modify by Record command can convert 2D polygons or polylines with attached record elevation data directly to 3D contours at the proper elevation. See “Modifying Objects by Record Value” on page 294.

Before you create the site model, check the source data with the Validate 3D Data command to ensure that a valid site model will be created.

Importing Source Data from an External File

Site model source data can be generated by tabular coordinate information from an external file. This file must be a text file with fields delimited by separators in one of the formats available.

1 On the layer to receive the imported data, select Active Layer Scale from the drawing context menu to set the scale, or select the File > Document Settings > Document Setup command (see “Document Setup” on page 82).

3 The Import Survey File dialog box opens. Specify the file format options, scrolling through each line of data if necessary, and set the file import options.

Parameter	Description
Data from selected file	Displays the first line of data in the selected file
Line #	Displays the line number of the data displayed; click the < or > button to check each line in the file
File format	Select the file format of the imported file
Units	Select the unit of the imported file
Field separator	Specifies the file field delimiter
Tab delimited	Select if fields are separated by tabs
Other character	If fields are not separated by tabs, select Other character and then enter the character separating each field
Import Options
Create Stake Objects	Places stake objects to represent each 3D point in space, with text to display the elevation when in Plan view (see “Inserting Stake Objects” on page 821). Stake objects include the appropriate Easting, Northing, and Elevation values. For big sets of source data, creating large numbers of stake objects could result in performance issues. It may be preferable to create 3D loci instead.
Create 3D Locus Objects (imports only location)	Places 3D loci, which contain only location information (X, Y, and Z coordinate)

As each line of the file is read, either 3D loci or stake objects are inserted into the drawing at the coordinates specified by the file. If this is the first time a stake object has been inserted in the drawing, the Object Preferences dialog box opens. Accept the defaults and click OK.

Adding Source Data with 2D Polygons

Another way to generate the site model source data is to draw, trace, or import 2D polygons representing contours; then use the 2D Polys to 3D Contours command to convert the polygons to 3D polygons.

Polylines cannot be used. If contours are drawn with polylines, convert them to polygons first with the Modify > Convert > Convert to Polygons command.

The 2D Poly to 3D Contour Setup dialog box opens. Enter the first elevation and change in elevation between contour lines, and then select the type of object to be created.

Parameter	Description
Start Elevation	Indicates the elevation of the lowest contour in the drawing
Interval	Specifies the change in elevation from one contour line to the next
Create 3D Polygons/3D Loci	Select whether to create 3D polygons or 3D loci

The Set Elevation dialog box opens, and the first polygon in the drawing order is highlighted. If necessary, use the Up or Dn buttons to set the elevation of the highlighted polygon, and then click Next. When prompted, indicate whether to delete the original 2D polygons.

Parameter	Description
Up/Dn	Changes the elevation of the selected polygon
Use same height as prev.	Sets the elevation for successive polygons to the same value
Next	Selects the next polygon
Done	Stops setting polygon elevations; click when all the polygon elevations have been specified

To interrupt this process, click Done. To resume setting elevations, select the starting polygon and select the 2D Polys to 3D Contours command.

Either 3D polygons or loci are created from the 2D polygons, with Z values equal to the assigned elevations. These Z values can be edited from the Object Info Palette if they are incorrect.

Converting 3D Polygons to 3D Loci

The 3D Polys to 3D Loci command converts the vertices of 3D polygons into 3D loci. These loci can then be used to create the site model.

3 Click OK. The vertices of any 3D polygons located in the current layer are converted to 3D loci. The loci retain the Z values of the original polygons. These 3D loci can then serve as source data for the site model, or can be converted to stake objects and modify an existing site model.

Adding Source Data by Grid Method Entry

The Grid Method Entry command creates a rectangular grid of points on the screen, and prompts you to enter the elevations of those points. The Create Site Model command then creates a topographical model based on those points.

Use this method when the source data is extracted from a paper map. Draw a grid on the map, and then determine the elevation of each grid intersection by interpolation between adjacent contour lines. Use these elevation values to create the grid.

2 After the starting point is picked, the Point Entry Grid Setup dialog box opens.

Enter the number of rows and columns of points to be created, as well as the distance between the points (Grid Spacing), and then click OK. A grid of red 3D loci is created.

The first point on the drawing, at the upper left hand corner, is automatically selected. Enter the elevation of the point, and click Next. The elevation is applied to that point, and then the second point in that row is automatically selected. Enter the elevation for that point; continue until elevations have been entered for all of the points in the grid, and then click Done.

Validating 3D Source Data

Use the Validate 3D Data command before you create the site model, to check the 3D source data for errors. Even if a site model already exists, the source data can be checked. If problems occur due to erroneous site model source data, error alerts are automatically displayed. A site model with errors can still be created; however, results may not be as expected.

1 Select the source data (3D loci, 3D polygons, or stake objects) to be checked.

3 If the source data are valid, a dialog box states that no problems were found. Proceed with creating the site model as described in “Creating the Site Model” on page 692.

4 If there are errors in the source data, the Problems with Site Model Source Data dialog box opens.

Problems encountered are listed, and some conditions have an associated button for correcting each error by modifying or deleting the erroneous data.

If a site model already exists, the problem data can be viewed by selecting the site model and selecting Modify > Edit Site Model, or right-clicking (Windows) or Ctrl-clicking (Mac) and selecting Edit Site Model Source Data from the context menu. Problem data conditions are highlighted and annotated.

Simplifying 3D Polygons

If the existing site model was created from 3D polygons (not 3D loci), you can reduce processing time by removing redundant polygon vertices within a specified tolerance. For example, this removes extra vertices in straight or nearly-straight segments of imported 3D polygons used as source data. This feature does not significantly change the appearance of the site model, but it can dramatically decrease the time it takes to process the model.

The Simplify 3D Polygons command available in Vectorworks Architect and Landmark is specialized for certain site model workflows. To simplify 2D polygons, 3D polygons, and polylines in other workflows, see “Simplifying Polygons and Polylines” on page 1144.

3 Enter a Simplification Tolerance value, and select a layer from the Put Simplified Result in Layer list.

Redundant vertices are removed from the 3D polygon(s) and the results are sent to the layer specified.

Creating the Site Model

Creating a Site Model from the Source Data

Once source data has been obtained for the site model, the site model can be created. After generation, the site model is cached by default so that updating occurs more efficiently; however, large file sizes can result. See “Document Display Preferences” on page 66 for information on changing the default setting.

Parameter	Description
Site Model Name	Enter a name for the site model object
Keep Original Source Data in Layer	Leaves a copy of the source data in the layer (the site model always retains a copy of the source data in its profile group). This parameter displays only during initial site model creation.
Settings
Minor Contour Interval	Specifies the standard contour line placement interval
Major Contour Multiple	Specifies the placement interval of major (heavy) contour lines
Start Contour Offset	Controls the starting elevation of the 2D contours
Maximum Elevation	Specifies the highest contour elevation to be displayed. No contours are created if the maximum elevation is lower than the minimum elevation, but this can be useful for cut and fill calculations (for example, for pond or backfill volumes). If a site model update will result in contours exceeding the minimum/maximum range, an alert displays, allowing the range to be adjusted.
Minimum Elevation	Specifies the lowest contour elevation to be displayed
Datum Elevation	Indicates the reference elevation used to define the bottom of a site model when the 3D Mesh Solid style is selected in 3D Display Settings; set to zero for normal cut and fill calculations
Flow Arrow Spacing	Determines the placement of the flow arrows
3D Grid Spacing	Sets the grid (mesh) size for 3D display; also determines flow arrow placement
Smoothing Interval	When selecting a triangulation method for 2D and/or 3D site model display, sets the distance for adding new points to the contours. Certain site models, since they are created from randomly-located origin points, may have an uneven triangulation distribution. Smoothing forces the site model to create an even distribution of data points along each contour line, simulating even sampling. Enter zero to use the original contour points for triangulation. Low values may result in long calculation times.
2D Display Settings
Display	Select whether to display the existing site model only, proposed site model only, or both existing and proposed site models. The display option can be changed later from the Object Info palette.
Existing Only	Displays only the existing model, including any site modifiers that apply to the existing site model
Proposed Only	Displays only the proposed model (the current model changed by any site modifiers that apply to the proposed site model)
Proposed + Existing	Displays both the proposed model and the existing model; this option is useful when using the site model for a grading plan, with different existing and proposed topographical line styles
Style	Select a 2D site model display mode
2D Contour	Draws contour lines
2D Contour (smoothed)	Smooths contour lines
2D Contour (colored elevations)	Draws contour lines and colors the elevations for conducting an elevation analysis (elevation analysis parameters are specified by clicking Graphic Properties and selecting the Site Analysis tab)
2D Contour (colored slopes)	Draws 2D contour lines by triangulation, according to the specified Smoothing Interval, and colors the slopes within specified angle ranges for conducting a slope analysis
2D Triangle	Represents the surface as triangular facets
2D Triangle (colored slopes)	For 2D triangle display, colors the slopes within specified angle ranges for conducting a slope analysis (slope analysis parameters are specified by clicking Graphic Properties and selecting the Site Analysis tab)
2D Triangulated Contours	Draws 2D contour lines by triangulation, according to the specified Smoothing Interval
Show Flow Arrows	Adds arrows to show the downward direction for drainage analysis
Show Labels	Labels major 2D contour line elevations
Parallel to the topo line	When labels are selected for display, labels are parallel to the topography lines
Draw Site Border	Draws a closed 2D polygon along the site border (outer edge) of the site model
3D Display Settings
Display	Select the 3D site model display. The display option can be changed later from the Object Info palette.
No 3D Display	Displays only the 2D site model, with no 3D component
Existing Only	Displays the existing 3D site model
Proposed Only	Displays the proposed 3D site model
Cut and Fill	Displays the 3D cut and fill volumes. Areas where existing and proposed site models are the same are represented by a flat area. Cut areas display as a depression in the 3D surface, and fill areas display as a raised area in the 3D surface. (Select cut and fill colors by clicking Graphic Properties and selecting the Site Model tab.)
Style	Select a 3D site model display mode
3D Contour	Draws the site model using horizontal 3D polygons
3D Grid	Draws the site model using a regular grid (mesh) of horizontal four point rectangles, spaced by the 3D Grid Spacing value; the mesh can be colored, filled, and rendered with shadows
3D Mesh solid	Groups 3D triangles to form a Vectorworks mesh; a skirt and bottom are added to create a valid solid
3D Triangle	Generates 3D triangles with the Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) method; this method is the most accurate, as it involves no interpolation
3D Triangles (colored slopes)	Generates 3D triangles with the Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) method, and colors the slopes within specified angle ranges for conducting a slope analysis
3D Extruded Contour	Creates horizontal solids with a thickness equal to the contour interval; top edges run along contour lines or the site border. This creates a “layer cake” or “chipboard model” effect.
3D Triangulated Contours	Draws 3D contour lines by triangulation, according to the specified Smoothing Interval
3D Triangulated Contours (colored slopes)	Draws 3D contour lines by triangulation, according to the specified Smoothing Interval, and colors the slopes within specified angle ranges for conducting a slope analysis
Show 3D Grid	Superimposes a 3D grid on the model; specify the grid spacing value in Spacing
Fill	Displays 3D grid squares with a fill; Show 3D Grid does not need to be selected to display a filled grid
Show 3D Contour	Superimposes a 3D contour on the model
Use Site Modifiers on
All Layers	Modifies the proposed site model with modifiers from any layer in the file
Visible Layers Only	Modifies the proposed site model with modifiers from visible layers only; modifiers on invisible layers do not affect the site model
Same Layer as Site Model only	Modifies the proposed site model with modifiers that exist only on the site model layer
Select Layers	Opens the Select Layers dialog box, to choose which layers with modifiers can affect the proposed site model. Selected layers display a check mark in the Use column. To create a new design layer, click New Layer; specify the name for the new layer, and click OK. Click OK to return to the Site Model Settings dialog box. The Use Site Modifiers on list displays Custom Set of Layers.
Graphic Properties	Specifies the site model appearance, along with slope and elevation analysis parameters

Setting Site Model Graphic Properties

The site model 2D and 3D graphic display properties can be specified to obtain the desired graphic component colors and line styles. In addition, specify the colors for elevation and slope analyses, and for the 3D cut and fill volume representation. These graphic properties can be set when the site model is first created, or changed later from the Object Info palette.

1 When creating a new site model, click Graphic Properties from the Create Site Model dialog box. To edit a current site model, click Site Model Settings from the Object Info palette, double-click the site model, or right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on a site model and select Edit from the context menu to open the Site Model Settings dialog box, and then click Graphic Properties from the Site Model Settings dialog box.

2 On the Site Model tab, the 2D (existing and proposed) and 3D site model display can be completely customized by selecting the class and color for all components, as well as the line type, line thickness, and, for certain components, marker style. Double-click a line to set attributes, or select the item and click Edit.

An Attributes dialog box opens. Select an overall class for each site model component to control its appearance and visibility. The classes present in the drawing are listed; alternatively, create a new class by selecting New, or select the class named <Site Model Class> which places the site model component in the same class as the site model object.

Each attribute (color, line type, line thickness, and marker) can be set to the “By Class” setting. The attributes are then controlled by the class assigned to the component. (See “Setting Class Attributes” on page 187.)

3 On the Site Analysis tab, set the slope and elevation analysis graphic parameters. A slope analysis shows the slope change of the site model with color ranges indicating the steepest to the shallowest slope. An elevation analysis shows the elevation change of the site model as a gradient of color from the minimum to the maximum elevation.

Parameter	Description
Slope Colors	Specify the slope analysis settings
Number of slope categories	Indicate the number of slope levels to use in the analysis
Category __ maximum slope %	For each category, indicate the maximum slope percentage and its associated color; slopes below the specified percentage will be colored as specified
Slopes exceeding maximum category	Slopes above the maximum category’s percentage will receive the selected color
Elevation Colors	Specify the elevation analysis color settings; a color gradient from the minimum to the maximum elevation is applied to the site model for the elevation analysis
Minimum Elevation Color	Select the starting color for the lowest elevation
Maximum Elevation Color	Select the starting color for the highest elevation
2D Cut & Fill Area	Draws a polygonal representation of the cut and fill over the 2D representation of the site model with the specified colors
Cut Volume Area Color	Select the color for the volume that is cut from the site model
Fill Volume	Select the color for the volume of fill required for the site model

5 To display a slope analysis, select a 2D display style of 2D or 3D Triangle (colored slopes), 2D Contour (colored slopes), or 3D Triangulated Contours (colored slopes) for the site model. To display an elevation analysis, select a 2D display style of 2D Contour (colored elevations) for the site model.

Setting Site Model Properties

Site Model Properties

The site model object can be copied, cut, pasted, rotated, and deleted like other objects. In Top/Plan view, the 2D Display selected for the site model is shown; if both existing and proposed models are selected for display, they are superimposed. In any 3D view, the 3D Display selected (if any) is shown.

If the Renderworks product is installed, the site model can be textured from the Render tab of the Object Info palette. The texture is applied to the surface of the site model, and is scaled to fit the site model bounding box.

To see the original source data that were used to create the site model, select Modify > Edit Site Model, or select Edit Site Model Source Data from the site model context menu. Changes can be made to the source data, and the source data can be validated (see “Validating 3D Source Data” on page 691). Return to the site model by clicking Exit Source Data at the top right of the drawing window. Click Update from the Object Info palette, or select Update from the site model context menu, to reflect any source data changes in the site model.

In addition to the Site Model Settings dialog box, you can change many parameters of a selected site model from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Site Model Settings	Opens the Site Model Settings dialog box. The settings here (and the related graphic properties settings) are identical to those specified at site model creation. The option to keep or delete original source data is only available at site model creation.
Update	Updates the site model and any associated snapshots, when the existing site data has changed or site modifiers have been added or changed
Create a Snapshot	Creates a snapshot of the site model with the current site model settings, for displaying different versions of the site model
2D Display	Select the display type for the 2D site model
2D Style	Select the display style for the 2D site model
3D Display	Select the display type (or no display) for the 3D site model
3D Style	Select the display style for the 3D site model
Area Display Type	Select the units for displaying the projected and surface areas for existing and proposed site models
Projected Area	Displays the projected area (the area projected in plan view) of the site model
Surface Area (Existing)	Displays the 3D surface area of the existing site model
Surface Area (Proposed)	Displays the 3D surface area of the proposed site model (when one exists)
Update Cut and Fill Calculations	Recalculates the site model cut and fill; after modifying and updating the proposed site model, click to view the resulting cut and fill volumes (see “Creating a Spoil Pile Area” on page 712). When the calculated volumes indicate that updating is necessary, click to display the latest results.
Volume Display Type	Select the units for displaying the cut and fill volumes (or allows cut and fill volumes to be hidden, if desired)
Volume (Existing)	Displays the total volume of the existing site model
Volume (Proposed)	Displays the total volume of the proposed site model
Cut Volume	When the proposed site model has been modified by a site modifier, displays the volume cut from the site model
Fill Volume	When the proposed site model has been modified, displays the volume of fill added to the site model
Net C&F Volume	Displays the net cut or fill volume, indicating whether fill is required or extra cut volume needs to be removed from the site
Total C&F Volume	Displays the sum of the cut and fill volumes
Error Count	When site modifier errors prevent the site model from updating correctly, displays the number of errors in red; see “Correcting Site Modifier Errors” on page 806
Show Errors	Select to display site modifier error icons on the drawing, or deselect to hide the icons

Updating a Site Model

If a site modifier object is moved or modified on any layer, the site model displays with a red and white striped border to indicate that the site model requires updating.

Alternatively, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the site model and select Update from the context menu.

If the update causes the site model contours to fall outside the minimum/maximum elevation range specified in the site model settings, an alert displays, allowing the range to be adjusted.

Cropping a Site Model

The site model can be cropped by a custom site border shape. This allows you to limit the area of the site model, without permanently excluding the original extents of the source data. The original site model can easily be restored by editing the site model crop object.

1 Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the site model and select Edit Site Model Crop from the context menu.

2 In site border editing mode, any existing site border object is selected. Move the site border, or use the Reshape tool to reshape (edit) the site border object; see “Reshaping Objects” on page 1095. The site border object can also be deleted and a new site border object can be created from any closed 2D shape.

To remove the cropping from a site model, delete the site border object. This restores the site model to its original bounds.

3 When the site border is ready, click the Exit Site Model Crop button (or select Modify > Exit Site Model Crop) to return to the drawing.

With the Draw Site Border option selected in the site model settings, the site border displays in Top/Plan view. Adjust the color of the site border in the graphic properties of the site model settings.

Reshaping the Site Model

The edge of a selected site model displays a crop or border (select Draw Site Border in the Site Model Settings to draw a 2D polygon on the edge of the site model in Top/Plan view). In Vectorworks Architect or Landmark, the Reshape tool reshapes the crop. This is similar to editing the site model crop object as described in “Cropping a Site Model” on page 700.

2 Click the Reshape tool from the Basic palette, and click Edit Site Model Crop from the Tool bar.

Editing Contour Labels

To change the font size of the contour labels, set the size from the Text > Size menu, and then click Update from the Object Info palette of a selected site model.

Normally, contour labels are distributed along the major contour lines at regular intervals. Occasionally, this is not desirable and a label needs to be moved. When a site model is selected, two additional modes are available for the Reshape tool. These modes allow the contour labels to be repositioned, added, and removed.

2 Click the Reshape tool from the Basic palette, and click Edit Site Model Label Position from the Tool bar.

Each label on the major contours of the site model displays with a control point.

Only one contour label can be edited at a time. The Reshape tool marquee modes have no effect on contour label operations. See “Reshaping Objects” on page 1095 for more information.

If the site model changes later, the relative label positions are preserved, reducing the need to reposition them again.

Creating a Site Model Snapshot

Creating a snapshot of the site model allows several display styles of the site model to be viewed at one time. The snapshot views cannot be edited directly; however, if the original site model is modified, the changes apply to all related snapshots automatically upon updating.

1 Set the properties of the site model for the snapshot. The snapshot’s appearance is based on the current site model settings, and its location is based on the original source data.

2 From the Object Info palette of a selected site model, click Create a Snapshot.

3 The snapshot is created on the active layer, over the original site model. The Object Info palette of a selected snapshot displays the parameters of the original site model, and cannot be changed for the snapshot (with the exception of the display units).

4 Any changes to the original site model are reflected in associated snapshots when clicking Update from the Object Info palette of the selected original site model.

Sending Objects to the Site Model Surface

Trees, parking areas, retaining walls, site retaining modifiers, and other site objects may need to be placed on the surface of the model. For this purpose, use the Send to Surface command.

This command is effective for 3D loci, 3D polygons, extrudes, sweeps, meshes, slabs, light objects, walls, and symbols with a 3D component. If a 2D polyline or 2D polygon is selected, it will first be converted into its 3D equivalent before being sent to the surface.

2 Place the object on the active layer plane and move it to the desired location on the site model.

Alternatively, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the object and select Send to Surface from the context menu (Vectorworks Landmark required).

4 If the object is a retaining wall or pad with retaining edge site modifier, the Send to Surface dialog box opens. Select the method of sending the object to the surface of the site model, and click OK.

Parameter	Description
Elevate the retaining edge	Sets the existing vertices of the retaining edge or retaining wall left/right edge to the surface elevation
Fit the retaining edge	Fits the retaining edge or retaining wall left/right edge to the surface of the site model, modifying existing vertices and/or adding new vertices
Elevate the pad	Sets the elevation of the retaining edge pad or retaining wall pad to the surface elevation; the edges remain unchanged

5 The correct Z value is given to the object’s insertion point, bottom-most point, or specified portion, placing the object on the surface of the site model.

Site Model Modification Overview

As discussed in “Sitework Overview” on page 687, when the site model is generated, two different display modes of the site model object are available—existing and proposed. The existing site represents the site prior to your project; the proposed site incorporates the project’s changes. To modify the site model, use the Site Modifiers tool, along with other site modification tools in the Vectorworks program; a site modifier can be applied to either the existing or proposed site model.

Site modifiers can be placed on any layer. The site model properties specify whether modifiers in another layer can affect the site model (see “Creating the Site Model” on page 692). You might put various site modifiers on separate layers, for example, so that you can show each modifier’s effect on the site model individually. When a site modifier is placed in the drawing, the Site-DTM-Modifier class is created automatically.

Creating a Pad

A pad is a 3D polygon representing the shape of an element which is to be added to, and normally modifies, the site model. The modifier can be applied to the existing or proposed site model; the site model is modified when the site model is updated. Draw a pad with the Site Modifiers tool, or draw a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command to change it to a pad object (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

2 Draw the pad object. Pads can be drawn closed or open (open pads are sometimes called “break lines”).

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

4 If the pad is sloping, enter the Slope value (positive for rising, negative for falling), and select the slope definition unit (Angle or Percent in the SlopeDef field).

A slope arrow is automatically drawn on the pad, indicating the direction of the slope. The bull’s-eye at the start of the slope arrow indicates the zero elevation point of the sloping pad. Select the control points of the slope arrow to move either end. Deselect Show Slope Arrow to hide the slope arrow.

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Elevation	Sets the reference elevation of the pad at its control point; if a Z-height is also specified, the resulting elevation is additive
Slope	Determines the angle of the pad; if the value is zero, the pad has no slope, and the following two parameters are not displayed
SlopeDef	Select Angle or Percent to determine the slope units
Apply To	Specifies whether the site modifier applies to the existing or proposed site model
Show Slope Arrow	If selected, displays a modifiable slope arrow and the current slope in Top/Plan view; Show Slope Arrow only displays if the slope is a value other than zero
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the site modifier
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume. For more information, see “Site Model Properties” on page 697.

The Site Modifiers tool generates a 3D pad polygon modifier that is always planar.

6 To reflect the pad modification, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

For predictable results, pads should not overlap. All pads should be either completely inside or completely outside of all grade limits. Pads, including those that may be incorporated into plug-in objects (such as landscape walls) cannot cross outside the grade limits.

Creating a Pad with a Retaining Edge

A pad with a retaining edge is similar to a regular pad site modifier, but it includes an additional configuration that defines an edge around the pad, allowing the terrain to be shaped around the pad. For example, the retaining edge can be used to adjust the terrain around a hardscape, offering precise control over the cut and fill amounts.

The modifier can be applied to the existing or proposed site model; the site model is modified when the site model is updated. Draw a pad with the Site Modifiers tool, or draw a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command to change it to a pad object (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

3 In the Object Info palette, select Pad with Retaining Edge in the Config field.

4 If the pad is sloping, enter the Slope value (positive for rising, negative for falling), and select the slope definition unit (Angle or Percent in the SlopeDef field).

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Elevation	Sets the reference elevation of the pad at its control point; if a Z-height is also specified, the resulting elevation is additive
Slope	Determines the angle of the pad; if the value is zero, the pad has no slope, and the following two parameters are not displayed
SlopeDef	Select Angle or Percent to determine the slope units
Apply To	Specifies whether the site modifier applies to the existing or proposed site model
Show Slope Arrow	If selected, displays a modifiable slope arrow and the current slope in Top/Plan view; Show Slope Arrow only displays if the slope value is other than zero
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the site modifier
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume. For more information, see “Site Model Properties” on page 697.
Vertex parameters	Edits the path vertices; see “Editing Vertex-Based Objects” on page 1053
Move	Select the portion of the retaining edge modifier to edit (vertex or edge), and then edit its Z value, or scroll through its vertices with the left and right arrows and change the selected vertex Z value
Edit	For vertex selection made in Move, scrolls through the vertices, highlighting the currently selected vertex. Click the center button to highlight the selected vertex.
Z	Sets the elevation of the modifier item selected in Move or the vertex selected in Edit

The Site Modifiers tool generates a 3D pad polygon modifier that is always planar.

5 The retaining edge modifier is drawn separately, and it can be used to control the depression around the pad. Reshape the retaining edge either from the Object Info palette or with the Reshape tool.

• The Object Info palette vertex parameters include the ability to edit the Z value of the selected retaining modifier vertex or retaining modifier edge.

• The retaining edge site modifier can be reshaped with the Reshape tool, similar to reshaping walls (see “Reshaping Walls” on page 579). Move vertices, and add or delete vertices to reshape the retaining edge.

• The Send to Surface command can be used to send either the retaining modifier edge or the pad to the surface of the site model.

6 To reflect the pad modification, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Creating Grade Limits

Grade limits define the area of topographical transition between existing site data and the site modifiers enclosed within the grade limits; they can be thought of as a “limit of construction.” Outside the grade limits, the site remains unchanged; within the grade limits, the site model is defined by the pads. Grade limits can overlap, but cannot completely enclose, another grade limit area. Grade limits should not cross a pad or spoil pile.

Grade limits are created automatically around certain site modifiers, such as massing models. Grade limits can also be created automatically from pads (Vectorworks Landmark required). To draw grade limits manually, use the Site Modifiers tool, or draw a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Apply To	Specify whether the grade limits apply to the existing or proposed site model
Show 3D	In 3D views, represents the grade limits with a 3D polygon; deselect this option to hide this geometry
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the site modifier
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume. For more information, see “Site Model Properties” on page 697.

4 To reflect the grade limit modification, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Creating Grade Limits Automatically

Because grade limits are often associated with a pad or other type of site modifier, the Vectorworks Landmark product can create grade limits automatically around a site modifier, based on specific parameters. Grade limits can be created with a gradual sloping transition from the existing site contours to the modifier, placed at a variable or fixed distance from the modifier. The grade limits cut and fill the site model to create a constant slope (batter slope).

1 Select the site modifiers which require the grade limits. Valid modifiers include pads, road objects, massing models, and landscape walls.

The Create Grade Limits from Pad dialog box opens. Select the grade limit parameters.

Parameter	Description
Grade Limits Offset Control
Distance	Creates the grade limits at a fixed offset distance
Batter Slope	Creates variable offset grade limits based on slope (the slope variation determines the offset; the grade limits are located at the intersection of the slope and the existing terrain)
Max. Offset	Sets the fixed offset distance for Distance offset control, or specifies the maximum offset distance allowed for Batter Slope offset control
Max. Slope	For Batter Slope offset control, specifies the maximum allowable slope (in degrees)
Slope Control Options
Use Midpoints	Enables additional testing points for a more uniform slope
Test Increment	Specifies the number of midpoints to test; a smaller increment distance increases the accuracy of the slope calculations, but can also increase the time to create the grade limits (the minimum increment is 12”)

4 To reflect the grade limit modification, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Creating a Pad from Grade Limits

With Vectorworks Landmark, a pad modifier can automatically be created within defined grade limits. The pad is placed so that the cut and fill amounts of the underlying proposed site model are set equally, helping site designers start with a balanced solution. Batter slope angles can be different on the different sides of the modifier.

• The polygon that defines the grade limit area must be closed. If more than one grade limit area is selected, all the grade limit polygons must be closed. (To close the polygon, select the grade limit and then select Closed from the Object Info palette.)

• If more than one grade limit is selected, the created pads must have a uniform batter slope. To set the batter slopes individually, select only one grade limit object at a time.

• The specified batter slope or slopes cannot be too small to create the pad; slope values that are too low prevent balanced cut and fill.

The Create Pad from Grade Limits dialog box opens, and if necessary, the view temporarily changes to optimally display the area. Specify a uniform batter slope for the entire pad, or scroll with the Prev and Next buttons to set the slope individually for each side of the pad. The slope values must be greater than 0 but less than 90 degrees.

Parameters	Description
Uniform	Applies the batter slope value equally to all sides of the pad
Per side	Sets a slope value for the selected side of the pad
Select a side	Scrolls through each side of the pad; enter an individual slope value for each selected side
Data display method	Select the method of specifying the slope value: • Angular: specifies the slope in degrees, radians, or gradians (example: 26.7°) • Rise-over-run: specifies the slope as a ratio of vertical change to horizontal change (example: 1:3) • Percent: specifies the slope as a grade percentage (example: 50%)

Individual slope values are retained for each grade limit object. The values can be reused for the creation of a new pad by selecting the grade limit object, and then selecting Create Pad from Grade Limits again.

Creating a Spoil Pile Area

A spoil pile refers to an area where excess earth is used to help balance the cut and fill, so that the site does not require earth to be moved in or out. A spoil pile area applies an even thickness of cut or fill for the site. To create a spoil pile, either use the Site Modifiers tool, or draw a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

1 Create the site model and add any modifiers, such as pads and roads, and update the proposed site model by clicking Update from the Object Info palette of the selected site model.

If this is the first time the Site Modifiers tool has been used, the Object Preferences dialog box opens. Accept the defaults and click OK.

5 In the Object Info palette, select Spoil Pile from the Config field. Adjust the elevation of the spoil pile up or down depending on whether fill is required or excess fill is present.

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Elevation	Sets the reference elevation of the spoil pile; a positive elevation is reported as fill volume, while a negative elevation is reported as cut volume, when calculating the underlying existing or proposed site model
Apply To	Specifies whether the site modifier applies to the existing or proposed site model
Show 3D	In 3D views, represents the spoil pile with a 3D polygon; deselect this option to hide this geometry
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the site modifier
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume.

7 With the site model still selected, click Update Cut and Fill Calculations from the Object Info palette.

Evaluate the results of the spoil pile by checking the Net C&F Volume results in the Object Info palette of the selected site model. If the spoil pile elevation needs adjustment, select the spoil pile and enter a new Elevation value from the Object Info palette. Then select the site model, click Update, and then click Update Cut and Fill Calculations.

8 Continue adjusting the spoil pile elevation until a balanced cut and fill volume is achieved.

Display the 3D cut and fill volumes by selecting Cut and Fill as the 3D Display from the Object Info palette of a selected site model. The cut and fill colors are specified on the Site Model tab of the Graphic Properties dialog box. In addition, a 2D polygonal representation of the cut and fill area can be displayed by selecting 2D Cut & Fill Area from the Site Analysis tab.

Creating a Texture Bed

When Renderworks is installed, the texture bed site modifier can convert a 2D polygon into an area of the drawing that can be textured. For example, texture a lawn with grass, a terrace with bricks, or a sand trap with sand for a photorealistic rendered appearance. To draw a texture bed, either use the Site Modifiers tool, or draw a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Elevation	Sets the reference elevation of the texture bed above the site model surface; normally, set this value to zero. The texture is designed to lie on the surface of the site model when the texture bed is set to an elevation of zero.
Apply To	Specifies whether the site modifier applies to the existing or proposed site model
Texture from Class	The classes present in the drawing are listed; alternatively, create a new class by clicking New, or select the class named <Site Modifiers Class> to derive the texture and its associated surface hatch from the class of the site modifier. The indicated class should have a texture applied on the Other tab, with Use Textures/Surface Hatches At Creation selected. See “Applying Object Textures by Class” on page 1623.
Show 3D	In 3D views, enabling this option represents the texture bed with a 3D polygon; deselect this option to hide the geometry and display the texture bed only with its texture
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the site modifier
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume. For more information, see “Site Model Properties” on page 697.

4 To reflect the texture bed modification, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Mapping Images on the Site Model

When Renderworks is installed, images can be mapped to the surface of the site model; for example, use an aerial image of the site. Unlike the texture bed, which is a site modifier, mapping of an image texture occurs from the Render tab of the Object Info palette, and is adjusted with the Attribute Mapping tool.

2 Select the site model. From the Object Info palette, select the image texture from the Texture list on the Render tab.

3 Switch to a 3D view from the Views > Standard Views menu, and render the site model to view the mapped image.

4 Click the Attribute Mapping tool from the Visualization tool set to position, move, resize, and rotate the image texture. Mapping adjustments are constrained to the 2D texture space plane; the image cannot be skewed or tilted.

Creating Custom Site Modifiers

As the Site Modifiers tool creates a pad, grade limits, spoil pile, or texture bed site modifier, the site modifier contains geometry that is placed in the Site-DTM-Modifier class. It is also possible to create site modifiers with polygons and NURBS curves; placing them in the Site-DTM-Modifier class causes them to modify the proposed site model.

To obtain uniform sloping sides on an open 3D polygon used as a swale or break line, place the 3D polygon in the Site-DTM-Modifier class, and select Create Grade Limits from Pad (Vectorworks Landmark required). See “Creating Grade Limits Automatically” on page 709.

Creating a Massing Model

The Massing Model tool creates a building shell for illustrative purposes. This is an easy way to create a representative or context building when a detailed building is not required. Building models can also be created by drawing a polyline and then selecting the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301). A massing model can be a site modifier.

2 Click to begin drawing the outline of the building. Continue clicking to draw the shell polyline. Double-click, or click once at the start point, to end the polyline.

Parameter	Description
Name	Enter a building name for labeling
Show in Plan	Select whether to show the building roof or footprint in Plan view
Label	Select a text label, if any, for the building shell in Plan view; move the text control point to reposition the text
Height	Specifies the building height (to the eave)
Floor Count	Specifies the number of floors in the building
Floor Usage Data	Opens the Floor Usage Data dialog box, for reporting the usage of massing model floors. This is useful in worksheets, for example, when reporting the usage data of the floors using the ‘FloorUsageData’ parameter (see “Worksheet Functions” on page 1401). The number of floors listed depends on the Floor Count (if the Floor Count is reduced later, floor usage data will be lost). By default, each floor’s usage is “Unspecified.” To specify the floor usage data, select each floor and enter the Usage Data for that floor. A semi-colon cannot be used in the usage data, because this is the delimiter for the FloorUsageData function.
Wall Class	To control appearance, select a class to use for wall style attributes from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class
Use Custom Roof from Profile	Select to create a custom roof. The first roof created by the object is used as the default custom roof; if the number of stories has changed, the height of the custom roof needs to be manually adjusted.
Roof Overhang	Specifies the distance the roof extends from the building
Roof Thickness	Indicates the roof thickness
Roof Class	To control appearance, select a class to use for hipped roof style attributes from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class
Pitched Roof	Select to add a roof to the building shell
Eave Style	Select an eave style from the list
Roof Slope	Specifies the roof pitch angle in degrees
Draw Floors	Select to draw floors in the building
Slab Thickness	Specifies the floor thickness
Display Shadow in Plan View	Select to display a shadow based on the roof outline in Top/Plan view. Document-wide settings from the Plan Shadows pane on the Document Preferences dialog box are applied. Click Shadow Settings to open the Document Preferences dialog box to review and edit the settings (see “Plan Shadows Preferences” on page 69).
Use Site Modifiers	Adds a pad and grade limits to the base of the building and allows the building to modify the site model
Use Grade Limits	Uses grade limits to define the site modifier modification area
Grade Limits Off.	Sets the offset of the grade limits from the massing model
Gross Area	Displays the gross area value for all the floors
Vertex parameters	Edits the object vertices. See “Editing Vertex-Based Objects” on page 1053.

4 If the massing model is used as a site modifier, the proposed site model requires updating. Select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

If the standard flat or pitched massing model roof is not sufficient for portraying a more specific type of model, the roof geometry can be customized.

In this mode, the roof can be selected and modified by standard editing methods used in the Vectorworks program; see “Editing Objects” on page 1049. The Reshape tool can also be used.

The first roof created by the object is used as the default custom roof; if the number of stories has changed, the height of the custom roof needs to be manually adjusted. A pitched roof is treated as a roof object; edit its parameters as described in “Editing Roof Objects” on page 619. Eaves can be changed to gables, for example.

The geometry of a pitched roof can be further edited by selecting Modify > Edit Group and creating cut-outs; see “Creating Cutouts in a Roof Object” on page 621. Geometry can be added to the roof (a dome or cupola), or subtracted from the roof using 3D tools. Click the Exit Group button (or select Modify > Exit Group) to return to the roof profile editing mode.

Deleting the existing custom roof causes a copy of the current standard roof, pitched or flat, to be placed in the group when the group is exited.

4 When the roof edits have been made, click the Exit Profile button (or select Modify > Exit Profile) to return to the drawing.

Changes to the massing model may require manual updates to the custom roof; select the massing model and select Modify > Edit Massing Model to make any changes.

Creating Roads

The Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products offer a variety of different tools and commands for creating roads, depending upon the complexity of the roadway. A road object can be set to be a site model modifier, and changes the proposed site model when the site model is updated.

• The Roadway (Poly) tool is the most straightforward, yet flexible way of creating a roadway in the Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products.

• The Roadway (Custom Curb) tool joins roadways for Vectorworks Architect and Landmark users. This tool can model exits, merges, traffic circles, intersections, cul-de-sacs, dead ends, and more.

• The Roadway (NURBS) tool offers an alternative way of inserting a road on a site model, and is available in both the Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products.

• The Vectorworks Landmark product includes commands that create a roadway from a polyline in several steps, with complete control over each step.

• For simple roadway representations in the Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products, build sections of a road with the Roadway (Straight) and Roadway (Curved) tools, and connect them with the Roadway (Tee) tool.

Creating Polyline Roadways

The Roadway (Poly) tool creates a road defined by a path polyline or polygon. In Top/Plan view, the curbs and pavement are represented by filled polygons. In 3D views, extrudes are generated to represent the curbs and pavement. Polyline roadways can also be created by drawing a polyline or polygon and then selecting the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

2 Click to begin drawing the roadway polyline path; click to set each polyline vertex. Click again back at the start point (or press K) to complete a closed polyline, or double-click to create an open path polyline. For more information on polylines, see “Creating Polylines” on page 322.

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Paving Width/Thickness	Sets the width and thickness of the roadway paving
Curb Width/Height	Sets the width and height of the roadway curb
Show Joints	Displays the roadway joints (the hidden sides where there is no curb) as dashed lines
Show Stations	Stations report the road elevation at intervals along the roadway. Select the option to show station information along the roadway curves at corner vertices; in Top/Plan view, the display includes the segment index (the number of the station, counted from the start of the roadway polyline) and the station offset from the beginning of the road curve. In 3D views, a locus displays.
Create Pad for Site Model	Creates an embedded pad site modifier around the road, following the road curvature and the elevation defined at each station point. A path polyline with many vertices will have less segmentation when the pad is created; increase the number of vertices with the Reshape tool if necessary to reduce the segmentation. The 3D resolution selected in the Vectorworks preferences determines the resolution of curved segments of the roadway. A site model must exist under the roadway object to create a pad modifier.
Create Grade Limits for Site Model	Creates an embedded grade limits site modifier around the road. A site model must exist under the roadway object to create a grade limits modifier.
Grade Limits Method	When creating grade limits around the road, select whether to specify the grade by offset or by slope
Grade Limits Off	For offset grade limits, specifies the offset distance of the grade limits area on all sides of the road
Grade Limits Slope	For slope grade limits, specifies the slope as an angle in document units, as a rise:run ratio (using : as the delimiter), or as a percentage, using the % symbol as a suffix. The grade limits object is created on all sides of the road so that the slope of the underlying site model is equal to the specified value.
Paving/Curb/Stations Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for each category of roadway geometry from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Roadway (Poly) Class> to place the component attributes in the same class as the roadway object.
Set Stations	Opens the Redistribute Stations dialog box, for creating stations along the road at a specific spacing value. Enter the spacing distance and click OK. Any previous station points are cleared, and new stations are created. The station spacing value can be used in worksheet reports. If the roadway is reshaped, the station points are redistributed, and elevations are adjusted accordingly.
Clear Stations	Removes all station points from the selected roadway
Send Stations to Surface	Opens the Send Stations to Surface dialog box, for creating stations along the road at a specific spacing value, while also setting the elevation of the station points to the surface of the site model. Any previous station points are cleared, and new stations are created. The station spacing value can be used in worksheet reports. If the roadway is reshaped, the station points are redistributed, and elevations are adjusted accordingly.
Align Stations Vertically	Opens the Align Stations Vertically dialog box, which displays the grade between specified station points. Enter the station point starting number and ending number (Station 1 is the station at the beginning of the roadway). The selected stations are highlighted on the drawing. Click OK. The stations between the starting and ending stations are fit to the slope grade.
Vertex parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the roadway is based upon; see “Editing Vertex-Based Objects” on page 1053. The elevation of station points can also be viewed and edited by selecting Stations from the Move list.
Roadway parameters	Displays roadway parameters for the selected road, such as area and length

3 If necessary, use the Reshape tool to modify the locations of the vertices after object creation, or use the vertex editing controls from the Object Info palette to move the vertices, or change the elevation of station points.

Joining Roadways with a Custom Curb

The Roadway (Custom Curb) tool creates sections of roadways that join other roadways in various ways, such as intersections, exits, merges, traffic circles, intersections, cul-de-sacs, dead ends, and more.

The tool creates a free-form roadway shape that is extremely flexible, and can be reshaped to fit the needs at the particular location. The curb can be hidden along the sides of the roadway object, where it connects to other roadways.

Custom curb roadways can also be created by drawing a polyline or polygon and then selecting the Create Objects from Shapes command (see “Creating Objects from Shapes” on page 301).

2 Click to set the starting point of the roadway. Click again to set the ending point. These clicks determine the initial length and orientation of the curb roadway. When selected, the roadway displays with two control points which define the length and orientation.

3 Use the Reshape tool to reshape the curb roadway as described in “Reshaping Objects” on page 1095. Roadway vertices can be repositioned, added, and deleted; however, the two control points that define the roadway cannot be reshaped. The Change Vertex mode of the Reshape tool can switch vertices to arc vertices to use curves in the curb roadway. The Hide or Show Edges mode of the Reshape tool can hide and show the portions of the curb where the roadway intersects with other roadway objects.

The curb roadway can be reshaped while in path editing mode. Select Modify > Edit Roadway (Custom Curb), or right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the curb roadway and select Edit Path from the context menu.

4 The Roadway (Custom Curb) parameters can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Road Length	For worksheet reporting purposes, specifies the length of the roadway; however, this setting has no effect on the actual road length, which is edited by adjusting the control points with the Selection tool
Paving Width	For worksheet reporting purposes, specifies the width of the roadway; however, this setting has no effect on the actual road width, which is edited by adjusting vertices with the Reshape tool
Curb Height/Width	Indicates the width and height of the roadway curb
Paving Thickness	Sets the thickness of the road paving
Rise	Sets the difference in height between the start and end of the roadway segment
Show Joints	Displays the roadway joints (the hidden sides where there is no curb) as dashed lines
Use Site Modifiers	Creates a pad and grade limits to modify the site model
Create Grade Limits for Site Model	Uses grade limits to define the site modifier modification area
Left/Right Grade Limits Off	Controls the grade limit offset distance on either side of the road
Paving/Curb Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for each category of roadway geometry from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Roadway (Custom Curb) Class> to place the component attributes in the same class as the roadway object.

5 If the roadway sections include pads or grade limits, and a site model exists, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Creating NURBS Roadways

The Roadway (NURBS) tool uses NURBS curves to define the road shape. However, the Roadway (NURBS) object does not represent accurate alignments of low-speed roadways, which are typically constructed with arcs (constant radius) and tangents (straight lines); use the Roadway (Poly) tool for this.

• Select Redistribute and Smooth Curve from the Object Info palette of the selected roadway once or twice to smooth out the road slightly, so it does not follow every hill and valley in the existing terrain.

• Manually reshape the road in 3D as required (to match other road elevations, garage elevations, and so on).

• Only select Redistribute Stations for more or fewer station annotations. Fewer stations are easier to work with when sketching and reshaping, but a road construction company might require more stations to be specified. Redistribute Stations is also useful to ensure that the station spacing is equal after reshaping the road.

2 Click in the drawing file to set the start point of the road, and then click to set the position of each additional NURBS vertex. Double-click the last point to complete creation of the roadway (NURBS) object.

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Z height	Adjusts the elevation of the entire road
Rotation	Specifies the number of degrees to rotate the object (0.00 is horizontal)
Text Style	Select a text style from a library or the current file. To use the style defined for the object’s class, select <Class Text Style>. To format the text using options on the Text menu, select <Un-Styled>. See “Using Text Styles” on page 431 and “Formatting Text” on page 427.
Road Length	Displays the length of the road
Paving Width	Specifies the overall width of the paved road surface (without curbs)
Paving Height	Specifies the road paving thickness (without curbs)
Curb Width	Specifies the curb or shoulder width
Curb Height	Specifies the curb or shoulder height
Left Guardrail	Adds a guardrail to the left side of the road
Right Guardrail	Adds a guardrail to the right side of the road
Show Stations	The NURBS curve vertices are used as the station points; select to display the station points. In 2D, stations display as loci with text displaying the point elevation. In 3D, the stations display as round stakes.
Create Pad for Site Model	Creates a pad modifier for the Roadway (NURBS) object
Create Grade Limits for Site Model	Creates a grade limits modifier for the Roadway (NURBS) object, to control the zone where the terrain transitions between the existing elevation and the road elevation
Grade Limits Method	Specify whether to create offset or sloped grade limits
Grade Limits Off.	When creating offset grade limits, specify the distance from the road to the grade limits
Grade Limits Slope	When creating sloped grade limits, specify the batter slope
Paving/Curb Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for each category of roadway geometry from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Roadway (NURBS) Class> to place the component attributes in the same class as the roadway object.
Redistribute Stations	Redistributes the stations at a specified spacing interval
Redistribute and Smooth Curve	Redistributes the station points at a specified spacing interval and smooths the NURBS curve
Send Stations to Surface	Click to set the Z value of the stations to the surface of the site model. The stations can be set to either the surface of the existing site model, or to the surface of the proposed site model, which may have been altered by modifiers. If the stations are sent to the surface of a proposed site model which has been changed by modifiers, it may be necessary to deselect Create Pad for Site Model and Create Grade Limits for Site Model for the Roadway (NURBS) in order to prevent site modifier errors caused by crossing pads or grade limits.
Align Stations Vertically	Sets the elevation of the indicated station points to a specific plane. As the starting and ending stations are indicated, a red line previews the included station points. The % Grade indicates the grade that will be set between station points.
NURBS curve parameters	Edits the roadway NURBS curve

4 Update the site model. Select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

Creating a Roadway with the Vectorworks Landmark Commands

The Vectorworks Landmark road commands create a roadway with a multi-step procedure. The centerline of the road is defined with a polyline, and then stakes are added. The elevation of the stakes, which are initially set to the surface of the site model, can be modified before the road is created. Finally, the site model is updated and modified by the road object.

The Roadway (Poly) tool is the most straightforward, yet flexible way of creating a roadway in the Vectorworks Architect and Landmark products.

The road design elements can be created on a separate layer to facilitate modifications later.

1 If desired, create a new layer for the road by selecting Tools > Organization. The layer scale should be the same as the site model layer scale. Set the site model layer to visible, and select View > Layer Options > Show/Snap Others.

Interior vertices of the polyline must be arc-smoothed (no Bézier or cubic vertices).

The Vectorworks Landmark product places station points (stake objects) along the selected polyline at a specified interval.

1 Select the polyline, and then select the Station on Polyline command from the appropriate menu:

2 The Place Station Points Along Polyline dialog box opens. This command places stations at 100’ (or 30.48 m) intervals. In addition, partial station points can be placed at smaller intervals. Enter the interval between partial stations and select a labeling option for the curve information.

Parameter	Description
Partial station interval	Indicates the spacing interval between partial station points
Create individual curve labels	Creates curve data tables at each polyline curve. The curve labels include the following data:
Create circular curve data table	Creates a Station Worksheet with the curve data; the worksheet number corresponds to the polyline number
No Curve Data	No curve data tables or tangent guide lines are created

The first time you use the command in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette. Stake properties are described in “Inserting Stake Objects” on page 821.

Each station point is labeled. If curve data tables were created, they can be selected and moved if necessary.

4 The stakes have all been set to the elevation of the site model; the next step is to automatically set the road stake elevations as described in “Setting Stake Elevations” on page 728.

In “Placing Station Points Along the Road Polyline” on page 726, the stake elevations were set according to the site model; in real situations, a road is often set to a grade other than natural grade. The Align Stakes Vertically command sets the elevation of the stakes to a specific plane.

1 Set the elevation of only one of the terminal stakes (one of the stakes at the ends of the segment to align) by selecting the stake and entering its elevation in the Object Info palette. If a site model was present when the Station on Polyline command was executed, the elevation of the stake is set to the proposed site model elevation for reference.

2 In the segment to align, press the Shift key to select both the first and last stake (the stakes at either end of the desired elevation alignment), and then select the Align Stakes Vertically command from the appropriate menu:

3 Enter either a slope value as a rise over run ratio for the road (using a forward slash (/) as a delimiter), or the elevation of the last stake, and click OK.

The elevations of the stakes located between the selected stakes are set to the specified plane.

This procedure creates the road by automatically making a single polyline roadway, or by creating curved or straight road objects between each stake. The road follows the centerline polyline, and is set to the elevations specified by the stakes.

1 Select the center polyline or any of the station points, and select the Create Road from Stakes command from the appropriate menu:

The Create Road from Stakes dialog box opens. Enter the road parameters and click OK.

Parameter	Description
Select the result type
A single Roadway (Poly) object	Creates the road as a Roadway (Poly) object
A set of Roadway (Curve) and Roadway (Straight) objects	Creates the road as a series of curved and straight roadway objects along the stations
Width	Specifies the road width between the curbs
Curb Height/Width	Specifies the height and width of the road curbs
Paving Thickness	Sets the thickness of the road paving

2 Click OK. The polyline and stakes are used to create a Roadway (Poly) object, or a series of road section between adjacent stakes.

The first time a road is created in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

3 If a single roadway was created, create a pad and grade limits for the roadway to modify the site model by selecting the options from the Object Info palette. See “Creating Polyline Roadways” on page 719.

If a set of straight and curved roads was created, the straight and curved sections of the road need to become site modifiers by selecting the road sections and then selecting Use Site Modifiers from the Object Info palette. Use the Custom Selection command to select the straight and curved road sections; see “Creating Custom Selection Scripts” on page 1851. The grade limits offset can be set manually, or the grade limits can be turned off and created separately using the Create Grade Limits from Pad command (see “Creating Grade Limits Automatically” on page 709). When site modifiers are used, each road section contains a pad (see “Creating a Pad” on page 704 and “Creating Grade Limits” on page 708).

Stakes should not be moved (except in elevation) when using the Create Road from Stakes command. If an additional stake is required, add a vertex point to the polyline, provide an elevation value, and run the Create Road from Stakes command again.

4 The proposed site model requires updating. Select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

If the road was created on a different layer from the site model, click Site Model Settings from the Object Info palette and ensure that Use Site Modifiers on includes the layer with the road.

The proposed site model is updated. If Use Site Modifiers is selected for the road sections, the contour lines are adjusted to rise or fall to meet the level of the road.

Creating and Joining Straight and Curved Roadways

Simple roadway tools allow you to assemble and join straight and curved roadway sections. The roadway tools can modify the site model.

1 Click the Roadway (Straight) tool, Roadway (Curved) tool, or Roadway (Tee) tool from the Site Planning tool set.

• To place a straight roadway section, click once to define the starting point of the road, and then click again to set the ending point.

• To place a curved or tee roadway section, click to place the object in the drawing, and click again to set the rotation.

The first time you use each tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and click OK. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

3 Continue to assemble the roadway by placing curved and straight sections, as well as tee intersections.

Parameter	Description
Z	Sets the elevation of the first stake in the roadway segment
Radius (curved and tee roads)	Specifies the arc radius (measured to the center of the road) of a curved roadway segment; the locus indicates the center of the arc (or for tee roads, indicates the center of each arc)
Width (curved roads)	Sets the width of a curved roadway segment
Throat Width (tee roads)	Indicates the width of a tee “throat” section
Road Length (straight roads)	Specifies the length of a straight roadway segment
Paving Width (straight roads)	Sets the width of a straight roadway segment
Curb Height/Width	Indicates the width and height of the roadway curb
Paving Thickness	Sets the thickness of the road paving
Rise	Sets the difference in height between the start and end of the roadway segment
Show Joints	Displays the roadway joints (the hidden sides where there is no curb) as dashed lines
Use Site Modifiers	Creates a pad and grade limits to modify the site model
Left/Right Grade Limits Off. (curved and straight roads)	Controls the grade limit offsets on either side of the road
Sweep (curved and tee roads)	Sets the degree (arc angle) of the sweep of the segment
Draw Gutter Curb (tee roads)	Draws a curb on the gutter side of a tee roadway; deselect the option to hide the curb
Gutter Width (tee roads)	Specifies the width of the gutter for tee roadways
Paving/Curb Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for each category of roadway geometry from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Roadway Class> to place the component attributes in the same class as the roadway object.

4 If the roadway sections include pads or grade limits, and a site model exists, select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.