Module 15-Roadway Alignments and Profiles

NOTES
Module 15
Roadway Alignments and Profiles
In this module, you learn how to create horizontal alignments, surface profiles,
layout (design) profiles, and profile views in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
This module is the first in a series of four modules that address road and
highway transportation design tasks using AutoCAD Civil 3D. The road
design concepts presented in Modules 8 to 11 are applicable to subdivision
design projects.
The process for corridor design for subdivisions is different from the process
for corridor design for road and highway transportation projects. Modules 15
to 18 introduce extended road design functionality typical for road and
highway projects.
Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
 Create a horizontal alignment using the Alignment Layout tools.
 Assign station reference points and design speeds, and calculate and apply
superelevations.
 Assign an alignment style, label the alignment, and create a table.
 Create a surface profile and profile view.
 Create, edit, and annotate layout profiles.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Education Curriculum NOTES
Notes to Instructor
Data for this module resides in the \AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Education
Curriculum\Module 15 - Roadway Alignments and Profiles\ folder.
Exercises
The following exercises are provided in step-by-step format. Open the

AutoCAD Civil 3D program prior to beginning the lesson by double-clicking
the Civil 3D icon on the desktop.
For those working in the Imperial system use the drawing files beginning with
the letter I, while those working in the metric system should use the drawing
files beginning with the letter M. You are provided with a drawing for each
exercise in the lesson.
You must open the drawings provided with each exercise.
The exercises in this module are as follows:
1. Create a Horizontal Alignment Using the Alignment Layout Tools
2. Use Station Reference Points, Design Speeds, and Superelevations
3. Assign and Alignment Style, Label the Alignment, and Create a Table
4. Create a Surface Profile and a Profile View
5. Create, Edit, and Annotate Layout Profiles
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Module 15 - Roadway Alignments and Profiles NOTES
Roadway Alignments and Profiles

Roadway alignments and profiles set the horizontal and vertical positions for
transportation corridor models.
The horizontal alignment is created to not only serve a functional purpose,

but to meet the design standards criteria of the local jurisdiction. Alignment
objects can represent centerlines, lanes, edge of pavement, shoulders, right-
of-ways, or construction baselines. Design speeds can be assigned to
different positions along the horizontal alignment.
You use commands on the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar to create the
alignment geometry.
There are a number of useful commands to create tangents, curves, and

spirals.
You can also assign design speeds to different station locations on an

alignment. These station locations and design speeds are referenced when
superelevation is calculated for the alignment.
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Civil 3D comes with both Imperial (AASHTO) and Metric design speed and
superelevation tables.
Once superelevation is applied, Civil 3D calculates and displays the critical

superelevation points along the alignment. The station locations,
superelevation descriptions (types), and slopes can be manually adjusted for
each station to suit the needs of the design.
Alignment styles control the display of alignment objects. Major Station,

Minor Station, and Geometry Point label styles are collected in a label set
and applied to an alignment object.
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You can also apply tag labels on an alignment and create an associated
segment table.
In Civil 3D, profile objects are used to represent existing ground profiles
(surface profiles) and design (layout) profiles. Surface profiles are calculated
for an alignment from a selected DTM surface. The Profile style controls the
display of the surface profile. Surface profiles dynamically react to changes
in alignment geometry and surface data.
The profile view is the object representing the profile grid that displays the
profile object data. The Profile View style controls the display of the profile
view. The profile view and a surface profile are as shown.
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Design (layout) profiles are also displayed in the profile view. There are a
number of commands on the Profile Layout Tools toolbar to help you create
design profiles.
Design profiles can be edited graphically using grips on the PVI’s, tangents,
and vertical curves.
The design profile can also be edited in a table.
As with horizontal alignments, a profile label set is a collection of individual

profiles styles and is applied to a design profile. The position of profile
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labels can be edited graphically.
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Key Terms
Alignment The alignment controls the horizontal location of a transportation corridor
model. Alignments can be made from lines, curves, and arcs. Alignments
are created from commands on the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.
Alignments can also be created from AutoCAD objects such as lines, arcs,
and polylines.
Alignment Alignments are created and displayed with components. The alignment
Component components are the line, curve, spiral, arrow, line extensions, and curve
extensions.
Alignment The alignment style controls the display of an alignment object. You can
Style apply specific markers to alignment geometry points and assign the display
properties for the alignment component.
Alignment An alignment label set is a collection of alignment label styles and is

Label Set applied to an alignment.
Alignment An alignment label style is used to annotate stationing and geometric data
Label Style along an alignment. Individual alignment label styles are used to annotate
major stations, minor stations, and geometry points.
Design Speed Design speeds are assigned to an alignment and are part of the design
criteria. Design speeds are established based on safety parameters and are
used to indicate substandard horizontal and vertical curves and for
superelevation calculations.
Profile A profile represents surface and design (layout) profiles.
Profile The existing surface profile is a dynamic profile and is calculated from a
(Existing Civil 3D DTM surface. The existing surface profile automatically updates
Surface) when the alignment geometry or surface data changes.
Profile Design profiles are created from commands on the Profile Layout Tools
(Design) toolbar. In Civil 3D, the design profile is called a layout profile.
Profile The design profile.

(Layout)
Profile View The object that represents the profile grid. Existing surface and design
profiles are displayed in the profile view.
Profile View Controls the display of the profile view.

Style
Profile Style Controls the display of the profile object.
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Profile Label A collection of profile label styles that is applied to a design profile.
Set
Profile Label Used to annotate tangent and vertical curve data on a design profile.
Style
Tags Used to assign tag labels to an alignment and then show corresponding data
in an alignment table.
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EXERCISE 1: CREATE A HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT USING ALIGNMENT LAYOUT TOOLS
In this exercise, you create the 8th Avenue horizontal alignment using the
Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.
In the drawing area, notice the 8th Avenue alignment. This alignment runs along the
west side of the proposed subdivision. The south part of the centerline alignment has
been designed and is represented with AutoCAD tangents and arcs.
Your task is to create the 8th Avenue alignment and design the north part of the
alignment.
Use the alignment layout tools to:
 Convert the existing AutoCAD lines and arcs to an alignment object.
 Create a spiral in, curve, spiral out, and tangent geometry.
When you are finished, the 8th Avenue alignment displays as shown:
For this exercise open …\Module 15 – Roadway Alignments and Profiles

I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX1.dwg (M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-
EX1.dwg).
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Create the Alignment
Click Alignments menu > Create Alignment by Layout.
1. In the Create Alignment – Layout dialog box, for Name, enter 8th Avenue.
 For Site, select <None>.
 For Alignment Style, select Proposed.
 For Alignment Label Set, select Major Minor and Geometry Points.
2. Click the Design Criteria tab.
You can assign a design speed and use criteria-based design to help you design
the alignment.
3. Click OK.
Civil 3D displays the Alignment Layout Tools – 8th Avenue toolbar.
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4. Hover your cursor over the icons on the toolbar and review the tooltips.
5. Click the down arrows and review the commands on the toolbar.
6. Click Convert AutoCAD Line and Arc.
7. At the Convert AutoCAD Line and Arc prompt, from left to right, select the five
centerline alignment entities (three tangents and two arcs in the order: tangent,
arc, tangent, arc, and tangent) that form the south part of 8th Avenue.
8. Press ENTER.
Civil 3D creates an alignment object from the selected entities.
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The original line and arc entities are still in the drawing and unnecessarily duplicate
the alignment object. In the next few steps, you remove the original line and arc
entities.
Remove Lines and Arcs
1. Select the alignment in the drawing area.
2. Right-click and click Display Order > Send to Back.
3. Erase the three tangents and two arcs you selected to create the alignment.
Construct the Remainder of the Alignment
You now construct the remainder of the alignment, which begins with a floating
curve attached to the north end of the alignment.
1. On the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, select Floating Curve with Spiral
(From Entity End, Radius, Length).
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2. Select a point on the tangent near the north end of the alignment.
3. At the Specify Radius prompt, enter 500 (185 m). Press ENTER.
4. At the Specify Spiral in Length prompt, enter 175 (50 m). Press ENTER.
5. At the Specify Curve Direction prompt, press ENTER to accept Clockwise

curve direction.
6. At the Specify Length prompt, enter 400 (170 m). Press ENTER twice.
The entrance spiral and the curve of the new portion of the alignment are
complete. Now create the exit spiral and tangent.
7. On the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, select Floating Line with Spiral (From
Curve End, Length).
8. At the Select Entity To Attach To prompt, select the last curve near the endpoint
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of the new curve.
9. At the Specify Spiral in Length prompt, enter 175 (50 m). Press ENTER.
10. At the Specify Line Length prompt, enter 100 (30 m). Press ENTER twice.
Civil 3D applies stationing to the remainder of the alignment.
Now review the alignment data in a table.
11. On the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, click Alignment Grid View to view the
alignment data.
Civil 3D displays the alignment data in the Panorama window.
12. Close the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.
13. Close the drawing and do not save the changes.
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EXERCISE 2: USE STATION REFERENCE POINTS, DESIGN SPEEDS, AND SUPERELEVATIONS
In this exercise, you assign a station reference point and design speeds, and you calculate the
superelevation values for the 8th Avenue alignment. You also edit the alignment geometry and
modify the substandard curves. Superelevation rates for the design speeds are drawn from
industry standard tables that are included with Civil 3D.
When you create an alignment, the station reference point defaults to the alignment
beginning. When you change the station reference point, you assign a new location on the
alignment from which alignment stationing is based.
You can assign design speeds for different station locations. In this exercise, the first design
speed is assigned at the beginning of the alignment. The second design speed is assigned at
the intersection of 8th Avenue and Orchard Road.
Once the design speeds have been assigned, you calculate the superelevation for the 8th
Avenue alignment.
For this exercise, open …\Module 15 – Roadway Alignments and

Profiles\I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX2.dwg (M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-
EX2.dwg).
Label Station and Offset
Begin by labeling the station for 8th Avenue at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Orchard
Road. You will use this information later.
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1. Click Alignments menu > Add Alignment Labels > Add Alignment Labels.
2. In the Add Labels dialog box, for Label type, select Station Offset – Fixed Point.
3. For Station Offset Label Style, select Station and Offset.
4. Click Add.
5. At the Select Alignment prompt, in the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue centerline.
6. At the Select Point prompt, snap to the intersection of 8th Avenue and Orchard Road.
Civil 3D creates a Station and Offset label. Now drag the label away.
7. In the Add Labels dialog box, click Close.
8. In the drawing area, click the Station and Offset label.
9. Click the square drag label grip.
10. Drag the label to the left of the alignment and select a new location for the label. Press
ESC.
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Assign a Station Reference Point
1. In the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue alignment.
2. Right-click and click Alignment Properties.
Civil 3D displays the Alignment Properties dialog box.
3. In the Alignment Properties dialog box, click the Station Control tab and review the
settings.
When the alignment was created, the reference point for the station defaulted to the
beginning of the alignment in the southwest corner.
You now change the location of the reference point for the alignment stationing.
4. Click Pick Reference Point to graphically pick the station reference point.
5. Read the warning. Click OK.
6. At the Select Alignment Reference Point Location prompt, use the intersection object
snap and snap to the intersection of 8th Avenue and the southerly alignment that runs in
the west-east direction.
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7. For Station, enter 1000 (10000 m). Press ENTER.
8. Click OK on the warning.
9. Click OK and in the drawing area, notice the updated station labels.
Assign Design Speeds
You now assign design speeds and use design criteria to check the alignment.
1. In the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue alignment. Right-click and click Alignment
Properties.
2. In the Alignment Properties dialog box, click the Design Criteria tab.
West of the subdivision, the design speed for 8th Avenue is 20 mph (30 kM/h). The design
speed for 8th Avenue north of Orchard Road increases to 50 mph (70 kM/h).
In these next few steps, you assign design speeds to the 8th Avenue alignment.
3. Click Add Design Speed to assign a design speed at the start station.
Civil 3D displays the first design speed entry at the alignment start station.
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4. For the first Start Station, enter 151.86 (9741.22).
5. For the first Design Speed, enter 20 (30 kM/h).
6. Click Add Design Speed again.
7. For the second Start Station, enter 1488.40 (10148.87).
8. For the second Design Speed, enter 50 (70 kM/h)
Note: You can also graphically select the station location using the icon in the Start
Station field.
9. Click Apply.
Use Criteria Based Design
You now use design criteria to check the alignment.
10. On the Design Criteria tab, select the Use Criteria-Based Design check box.
11. Clear Use Design Check Set.
12. For the Default Criteria – Minimum Radius Table, select AASHTO 2001 eMax 6%.
13. Click OK.
14. Notice that the curve in the 50 mph (70 kM/h) zone has a design speed violation.
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15. Click Alignments menu > Design Criteria Editor.
16. Expand the Alignments and Minimum Radius Tables trees.
17. Select AASHTO 2001 eMax 6% and review the minimum radius associated with each
design speed.
Note: You may need to select the appropriate table to match your drawing units (imperial
or metric). In the Design Criteria Editor, click the file folder icon and browse to
…\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D
2009\enu\Data\Corridor Design Standards. Select the appropriate units folder and design
standards file.
18. Click Cancel to close the Design Criteria Editor.
19. In the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue alignment.
20. Right-click and click Edit Alignment Geometry.
21. On the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, click Alignment Grid View.
22. The Panorama window displays the data for the substandard curve.
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23. In Panorama, change the substandard radius to 930 (195 m). Press ENTER.
24. Close the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.
In the drawing area, the alignment geometry updates and the warning symbol disappears.
Calculate Superelevation
You now apply the superelevation.
1. In the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue alignment. Right-click and click Alignment
Properties.
2. In the Alignment Properties dialog box, click the Superelevation tab.
3. Click Set Superelevation Properties to calculate the superelevation.
4. Scroll up and down in the dialog box.
Notice the three superelevation regions. Each superelevation region represents a curve in
the alignment.
For this exercise, you apply superelevation to the third curve only.
5. Close the Superelevation Region 1 and Superelevation Region 2 trees.
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6. For Superelevation Region 3 under Design Rules, change the Superelevation Rate Table
to AASHTO 2001 eMax 6%.
7. Click OK.
Civil 3D calculates superelevation for the three curves. For this exercise, you concentrate
on the third curve.
Delete the superelevation data for the first two curves.
8. Use the scroll bar in the Superelevation tab to scroll to the top of the superelevation data.
9. Select the 1st row.
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10. Scroll down to last entry for Superelevation Region 2.
11. Hold the SHIFT key and click in the row with the last entry for Superelevation Region 2.
All entries for superelevation regions 1 and 2 (curves 1 and 2) are highlighted.
You now delete the superelevation entries for regions 1 and 2.
12. Click Delete Transition Station.
Only the superelevation entries for the third curve remain.
13. Analyze the values in the superelevation table.
14. Click in the cells.
Notice that you can modify superelevation stations, types, and values in this table. You
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can also add other locations for superelevation.
15. Click OK.
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EXERCISE 3 – ASSIGN AN ALIGNMENT STYLE, LABEL THE ALIGNMENT, AND CREATE A

TABLE
In this exercise, you assign an alignment style, label the alignment, and create a table.
The alignment style controls the display of the alignment. You select an alignment style based
on the task, which could be either design or publish. You can also set display parameters for
the line, curve, tangent, PI, and other alignment components. The component color can be
assigned by a layer or directly within the style. You can also assign Markers to alignment
geometry points.
You then use station label sets to assign multiple types of station label styles to an alignment.
Station label styles are used for major station, minor station, and geometry point labels.
The next step is to label the 8th Avenue alignment with tag labels. Tag labels are applied to the
alignment tangents, curves, and spirals.
The final step in the exercise is to create and modify an alignment table. The alignment table
references the alignment tags and shows the geometry values for the alignment.
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For this exercise, open …\Module 15 – Roadway Alignments and Profiles\

I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX3.dwg (M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX3.dwg).
Review Alignment Style
You now review the alignment styles.
1. In Toolspace, click the Prospector tab.
2. Expand the Alignments tree.
3. Right-click 8th Avenue and click Properties.
4. In the Alignment Properties dialog box, click the Information tab.
5. Change the Object Style to Layout. Click OK.
Civil 3D displays the alignment object with a different style.
6. Select the alignment in the drawing area.
7. Right-click and click Edit Alignment Style.
8. Click the Display tab.
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9. Change the colors of the line, curve, and spiral components to colors red, cyan, and
magenta (colors 1, 4 and 6).
10. Click OK.
You modified the style used to display the 8th Avenue Alignment. Notice that the display
of the alignment changes.
Now review the alignment styles in Toolspace.
11. In Toolspace, click the Settings tab.
12. Expand the Alignment and Alignment Styles trees.
Notice the collection of alignment styles. These were developed for the designer and
originated in the drawing template.
The yellow triangle marker indicates styles in use.
In the next few steps, you learn how to label an alignment with stations.
Label Alignment with Stations
When you created the alignment, you assigned a label set, which is a collection of label styles
used for alignment station labeling. Review the Alignment Label Set.
1. Under the Alignment tree, expand the Label Styles and Label Sets trees.
2. Right-click Major Minor and Geometry Points. Click Edit.
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Notice the label types in use in the Alignment Label Set. The Major Minor and Geometry
Points label set includes a Major Stations label style, Minor Stations label style, and a
Geometry Points label style.
When an alignment is created, the alignment label set is applied. You can either modify
and apply the alignment label set, or you can modify the labels directly on the alignment.
You now modify the labels on the alignment.
3. Click OK.
4. Select the 8th Avenue alignment in the drawing area.
5. Right-click and click Edit Alignment Labels.
6. In the Alignment Labels dialog box, for Major Stations Increment, enter 50 (100 m).
7. For Minor Stations Increment, enter 10 (20 m).
8. For Type, select Design Speeds.
9. Click Add.
10. Click OK.
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You have now modified the alignment to display labels for design speed.
Add Alignment Segment Labels
You add tag labels to the alignment segments. The tag labels are later referenced when
creating an alignment segment table.
1. Click Alignments menu > Add Alignment Labels > Add Alignment Labels.
2. For Label Type, select Multiple Segment.
3. For Line Label Style, select Tag.
4. For Curve Label Style, select Tag.
5. For Spiral Label Style, select Tag.
6. Click Add.
7. Select the Alignment.
8. On the Add Labels dialog box, click Close.
Civil 3D has added tag labels to the alignment tangents, curves, and spirals.
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Now create the alignment table.
Create Alignment Table
1. Click Alignments menu > Add Tables > Add Segments.
2. In the Alignment Table Creation dialog box, review the settings. Click OK.
3. At the Select Upper Left Corner prompt, click a location in the drawing to create the
table.
Notice the table does not include a station column.
You modify the Segment Table Style to add a column for stations.
4. In the drawing area, select the table.
5. Right-click and click Edit Table Style.
6. Click the Data Properties tab.
7. Click Add Column to add a column.
8. Scroll to the right and notice the blank column.
9. Double-click the blank column header.
10. On the right side of the dialog box, enter Station.
11. Click OK.
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12. For the Value: Line row, double-click Station.
13. For Properties, select Start Station.
14. Click .
15. Click OK.
16. Repeat the last three steps for the Value: Curves row and Value: Spiral row.
Now drag the column to the left.
17. Click the column header and drag the new column to the left and release over the Radius
column.
18. Scroll to the left.
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The Station column is between the Number and Radius columns.
19. Click Apply.
20. Select Sort Data.
21. Change Sorting Column to 2.
22. Click OK.
Civil 3D updates the display of the table to reflect the redefined label style.
Note: You can renumber the alignment tags with Alignments menu > Add Tables >
Renumber Tags.
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EXERCISE 4: CREATE SURFACE PROFILE AND PROFILE VIEW
In this exercise, you create an existing ground surface profile and a profile view.
A surface profile is a dynamic profile that reacts to changes in the alignment and the
surface. For example, if you edit the horizontal alignment geometry, the surface
profile dynamically updates.
The profile style controls the display of the profile.
The profile view is the grid that contains the surface profile.
The profile view style is used to control the display of the profile view.

Profiles\I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX4.dwg
(M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX4.dwg).
Create the Surface Profile
1. Click Profiles menu > Create Profile from Surface.
2. For Alignment, select 8th Avenue.
3. In the Select Surfaces box, select Existing Ground. Click Add.
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Civil 3D assigns a name to the surface profile and adds it to the Profile List.
4. Click OK.
The Panorama window displays a message indicating that a profile has been
created.
5. In the Panorama Window, click Action menu > Clear All Events.
6. Close the Panorama window.
7. In Prospector, expand Alignments, 8th Avenue, and Profiles.
The 8th Avenue – Existing Ground profile is displayed in the Profiles collection.
Now create the profile view.
Create the Profile View
1. Click Profiles menu > Create Profile View.
Civil 3D displays the Create Profile View dialog box.
2. On the General page, review the settings. Click Next.
3. On the Station Range page, review the settings. Click Next.
4. On the Profile Display Options page, review the settings. Click Next.
Use Profile Display Options to control which profiles you show in the profile
view, grid clipping, and profile split parameters.
5. On the Data Bands page, review the settings.
Data bands are used to annotate profile data and other Civil 3D data adjacent to
(usually below) the profile view.
6. Click Create Profile View.
7. At the Select profile View Origin prompt, select a location in the drawing for the
profile view origin. The origin is the left bottom corner of the profile view.
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Note that a profile view for Orchard Road already exists in the drawing. Civil
3D creates the profile view for 8th Avenue in the drawing area.
Now make an adjustment to the alignment.
8. On the command line, enter VPORTS. Press ENTER.
9. Select Two: Horizontal. Click OK.
10. Double-click in the top viewport to make it active.
11. Zoom so you can see the northeast curve and tangent on the 8th Avenue
alignment.
12. Double-click in the bottom viewport.
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13. Zoom so you can see the profile view for 8th Avenue.
14. In the top viewport, select the 8th Avenue alignment.
15. Click the blue triangle grip on the tangent end.
The grip turns red.
16. Select a new location for the tangent endpoint.
Notice that Civil 3D updates the profile and the profile view.
17. On the command line, enter VPORTS.
18. Select Single. Click OK.
Now review the profile properties.
Review Profile and Profile View Properties
1. In the profile view, select the existing ground profile.
Note: This is the green line.
2. Right-click and click Profile Properties.
The Object Style is the profile style and controls the display of the profile. The
current profile style is Existing Ground Profile.
Now review the Existing Ground Profile style
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3. Click Edit Current Selection to the right.
4. In the Profile Style dialog box, click the Markers and Display tabs and review
the settings.
5. Click OK twice.
Now review the profile styles collection in Toolspace.
6. In Toolspace, click Settings.
7. Expand the Profile and Profile Styles trees.
The yellow triangle marker indicates the profile styles that are in use.
Now review the profile view styles.
8. Collapse the Profile tree.
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9. Expand the Profile View and Profile View Styles trees.
Notice the collection of profile view styles in this drawing. These are provided to
the designer and originate in the drawing template.
10. In the Profile View Styles tree, right-click Profile View. Click Edit.
11. In the Profile View Style dialog box, click the Graph tab.
Note that profile Vertical Exaggeration is controlled by the Profile View Style.
The style can be controlled by either Vertical Scale or Vertical Exaggeration.
12. Click the Display tab.
13. Click the remaining tabs and review the settings for the Profile View Style.
14. Click OK.
Now review the Profile View Properties.
15. Select the profile view in the drawing area.
16. Right-click and click Profile View Properties.
17. In the Profile View properties dialog box, click the Information tab.
Here you can rename the profile view and assign a different profile view style.
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18. Change the profile style to Major Grids and click Apply.
Civil 3D assigns the Major Grids Profile View Style to the profile view.
19. Change the style back to Profile View. Click Apply.
20. Click the other tabs in the Profile View Properties dialog box and review the
settings.
21. Click OK.
Close the drawing and do not save the changes.
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EXERCISE 5: CREATE, EDIT, AND ANNOTATE LAYOUT PROFILES
In this exercise, you create, edit, and annotate design profiles in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
You use the Profile Layout Tools to create a design profile. In Prospector, design profiles are
found in the Alignments – 8th Avenue collection.
When you create a design profile, you assign a site, name, profile style, and profile label set.
Commands on the Profile Layout Tools toolbar are used to design the design profile within
the profile view.
A preliminary profile is created by picking the PVI locations to match the existing surface
profiles as close as possible. Vertical curves are automatically added based on preset values
for length or K values.
You then graphically edit the profile using the profile grips.
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The final step in the exercise is to import the design profile from a Land XML file and apply
annotation.

Profiles\I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX5.dwg (M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-
EX5.dwg).
Begin by navigating to the 8th Avenue profile view.
2. Expand the Alignments, 8th Avenue, and Profile View trees.
3. Right-click PV1 and click Zoom To.
Create the Design Profile
Now use the Profile Layout tools.
1. Click Profiles menu > Create Profile by Layout.
2. At the Select Profile View prompt, in the drawing area, select the PV1 8th Avenue
Profile View.
3. In the Create Profile dialog box:
 For Name, enter Design 1.
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 For Profile Style, select Design Profile.
 For Profile Label Set, select Complete Label Set.
4. Click the Design Criteria tab and review the settings.
5. Click OK.
Civil 3D displays the Profile Layout Tools toolbar for the Design 1 profile.
The toolbar contains a number of commands to help you create design profiles.
6. Hover your cursor over the icons on the toolbar and review the tooltips.
7. Click the down arrows and review the commands on the toolbar.
You now create a preliminary profile design for 8th Avenue.
First, set the default vertical curve value.
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8. On the Profile Layout Tools toolbar, click the down arrow on the first icon.
9. Select Curve Settings.
10. In the Vertical Curve Settings dialog box, for Crest Curve Length and Sag Curve
Length, enter 400 (100 m).
11. Click OK.
12. On the Profile Layout Tools toolbar, click the down arrow again on the first icon.
13. Select Draw Tangents with Curves.
14. For start point, in the drawing area, snap to the endpoint of the beginning of the existing
ground surface profile.
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Note: If the running object snaps are on, you can use the F3 function key to turn object
snaps on and off.
15. Select three or four PVI locations while trying to match the grade of the existing ground
surface profile as much as possible.
16. After you select the last PVI location, press ENTER.
Civil 3D creates and annotates the Design 1 profile.
17. Zoom into any 8th Avenue PVI with a vertical curve.
18. In the drawing area, select the Design 1 profile again.
Notice the grips that appear on the vertical curve and tangents.
19. Click the red grip and move the PVI.
Civil 3D displays graphics showing the resultant tangents and vertical curves before you
select a new location. The labels also update.
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20. Select a new location for the PVI.
Civil 3D recalculates the vertical curves and tangents.
The blue triangle grips on either side of the red PVI grip are used to adjust the position
of the PVI and maintain the grade of one of the tangents.
The circular grips are used to adjust the length of the vertical curves.
The square grips are used to adjust the position of the tangents.
21. Using the different grips, graphically edit the Design 1 profile to match the existing
grade as close as possible.
Note: You may need to adjust the length of the vertical curves near the north end of the
alignment.
Now review the tabular editing techniques.
22. On the Profile Layout Tools toolbar, click Profile Grid View .
Civil 3D displays profile data in the Panorama window.
Note: You can right-click column headers to control the display of columns. You can
also drag columns left and right to preferable positions.
23. Make slight adjustments to the Grade In and Grade Out values. Round the grades to the
nearest tenth of a percent.
Notice that the Design 1 profile updates in the drawing area.
25. Close the Profile Layout Tools toolbar.
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Import Final Design Profile From XML
You now import the final design profile for the project from a Land XML file. The Land
XML file contains the 8th Avenue alignment, the existing ground profile, and the Design 1
profile.
First, delete the 8th Avenue alignment.
1. Zoom to the 8th Avenue alignment in plan view.
2. Use the standard AutoCAD Erase command to erase the alignment.
Notice that the profile view, the existing ground surface profile, and the Design 1 profile
are removed. These cannot exist without the alignment. Also notice that the alignment
table is now blank.
3. Click File menu > Import > Import LandXML.
4. Browse to \Module 15 - Roadway Alignments and Profiles\.
5. Select I_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-EX5.xml (M_RoadwayAlignmentsAndProfiles-

EX5.xml).
6. Click Open.
7. Review the settings in the Import LandXML dialog box. Click OK.
Civil 3D displays the alignment in the drawing area.
Now review the data in Prospector.
10. Expand the Alignments – 8th Avenue – Profiles trees.
11. Notice that profiles exist but the profile view still needs to be created and the design
profile needs to be renamed to Design 1.
12. Click Profiles menu > Create Profile View.
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13. For Alignment, select 8th Avenue.
14. For Profile View Name, enter PV1.
15. Click Create Profile View.
16. Select a location in the drawing to create the profile view.
The existing ground surface profile and the Design 1 Profile are displayed using the
same style.
Change the style for the Design 1 profile.
17. Zoom into and select the Design 1 profile.
18. Right-click and click Profile Properties.
19. Click the Information tab.
20. For Name, enter Design 1.
21. Change the Object Style to Design Profile. Click OK.
The display of the Design 1 Profile changes.
Now add the labels.
22. Select the Design 1 profile again if it is not already selected.
23. Right-click and click Edit Labels.
Civil 3D displays the Profile Labels dialog box.
24. Click Import Label Set.
25. Select Complete Label Set. Click OK.
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26. Review the settings. Click OK.
Civil 3D places the labels in the drawing.
You can grip the labels to control their placement.
27. Zoom to the last vertical curve and select the vertical curve label.
The diamond-shaped grip is used to control the vertical placement of the vertical curve
label.
The square-shaped grip is used to drag the entire label away from the vertical curve.
When this grip is used, the label adopts its dragged state display property.
28. Use the grips to modify the label positions for the vertical curve, PVI, and tangent
labels.
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Questions
1. Explain how horizontal alignments are labeled.
2. What is the purpose of the station reference point?
3. The Alignment Style controls the display of the alignment. What are the
six components in the Alignment Style? Explain how you can control the
display properties.
4. Explain how superelevation is calculated for a horizontal alignment.
5. What are the two types of profile objects in Civil 3D? Offer an
explanation of each.
6. What is a profile view?
7. Explain the process for applying labels to a design profile.
Answers
1. Individual alignment label styles are collected in an alignment label set
and applied to an alignment.
2. The station reference point is the point on the alignment about which
horizontal stationing values are calculated.
3. The six components in the Alignment Style are the line, curve, spiral,
arrow, curve extensions, and line extensions. For each of these
components you can turn them on/off, assign display properties from a
layer, or assign the display properties from directly within the style.
4. The engineer determines the design speeds of an alignment for different

locations along the alignment. Superelevation tables that are included with
Civil 3D reference the assigned design speeds and are used to calculate the
superelevation points along the alignment.
5. The surface profile is calculated from a Civil 3D surface object. The

surface profile is dynamic and reacts to changes in alignment geometry
and surface data. The layout profile is a static profile and represents the
design profile. Layout profiles are created from tangents and vertical
curves.
6. The profile view is the object that represents the profile grid. Surface and
design profiles are displayed in a profile view.
7. Profile label styles to annotate tangent grades and vertical curve data are
collected in a profile label set. The profile label set is applied to the profile.
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You can use grips to modify the position of profile labels.
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Module Summary
In this module, you learned how to create horizontal alignments using the
Alignment Layout Tools toolbar. They also assigned a station reference point,
design speeds, and calculated superelevation rates for the alignment. You
then edited the alignment using both graphical and tabular editing techniques.
Alignment labels were then placed with an alignment label set.
Once the alignment was complete, you created an existing surface profile for
the 8th Avenue alignment from the Existing Ground DTM surface. You then
created a profile view to display the surface profile. Next, you created a
design profile that represented a design scenario. You then modified the
design profiles and applied profile labels.
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Module 15-Roadway Alignments and Profiles

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NOTES

 Create a horizontal alignment using the Alignment Layout tools.

 Assign an alignment style, label the alignment, and create a table.

 Create a surface profile and profile view.

 Create, edit, and annotate layout profiles.

The following exercises are provided in step-by-step format. Open the

You must open the drawings provided with each exercise.

The exercises in this module are as follows:

1. Create a Horizontal Alignment Using the Alignment Layout Tools

2. Use Station Reference Points, Design Speeds, and Superelevations

4. Create a Surface Profile and a Profile View

5. Create, Edit, and Annotate Layout Profiles

Roadway Alignments and Profiles

The horizontal alignment is created to not only serve a functional purpose,

There are a number of useful commands to create tangents, curves, and

You can also assign design speeds to different station locations on an

Once superelevation is applied, Civil 3D calculates and displays the critical

Alignment styles control the display of alignment objects. Major Station,

The design profile can also be edited in a table.

As with horizontal alignments, a profile label set is a collection of individual

labels can be edited graphically.

Alignment An alignment label set is a collection of alignment label styles and is

Profile A profile represents surface and design (layout) profiles.

Profile The design profile.

Profile View Controls the display of the profile view.

Profile Style Controls the display of the profile object.

EXERCISE 1: CREATE A HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT USING ALIGNMENT LAYOUT TOOLS

Use the alignment layout tools to:

 Convert the existing AutoCAD lines and arcs to an alignment object.

 Create a spiral in, curve, spiral out, and tangent geometry.

For this exercise open …\Module 15 – Roadway Alignments and Profiles

Create the Alignment

Click Alignments menu > Create Alignment by Layout.

 For Site, select <None>.

 For Alignment Style, select Proposed.

2. Click the Design Criteria tab.

Civil 3D displays the Alignment Layout Tools – 8th Avenue toolbar.

6. Click Convert AutoCAD Line and Arc.

Civil 3D creates an alignment object from the selected entities.

Remove Lines and Arcs

1. Select the alignment in the drawing area.

2. Right-click and click Display Order > Send to Back.

Construct the Remainder of the Alignment

5. At the Specify Curve Direction prompt, press ENTER to accept Clockwise

of the new curve.

Civil 3D applies stationing to the remainder of the alignment.

Now review the alignment data in a table.

Civil 3D displays the alignment data in the Panorama window.

12. Close the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar.

13. Close the drawing and do not save the changes.

EXERCISE 2: USE STATION REFERENCE POINTS, DESIGN SPEEDS, AND SUPERELEVATIONS

For this exercise, open …\Module 15 – Roadway Alignments and

Label Station and Offset

3. For Station Offset Label Style, select Station and Offset.

7. In the Add Labels dialog box, click Close.

8. In the drawing area, click the Station and Offset label.

9. Click the square drag label grip.

Assign a Station Reference Point

1. In the drawing area, click the 8th Avenue alignment.

2. Right-click and click Alignment Properties.

Civil 3D displays the Alignment Properties dialog box.

5. Read the warning. Click OK.

7. For Station, enter 1000 (10000 m). Press ENTER.