SITE CEM EVALUATION Guide

SITE CEM V1.
0
E VALUATI O N G U ID E
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Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
Technical Review Case Study .............................................................................................................................. 6
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................... 8
How the Software Works .................................................................................................................................... 8
Technology ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Surface Modelling ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Volume Analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Feature Lines ................................................................................................................................................ 10
Starting the Software ........................................................................................................................................ 11
HIGHLIGHTS OF SOFTWARE FEATURES .......................................................................................................... 13
Toolbar and Ribbon Overview .......................................................................................................................... 13
Program Settings .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Properties ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
Project Explorer ............................................................................................................................................ 14
Import Survey Points .................................................................................................................................... 15
Surface .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
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Feature Lines ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Building Footprint ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Design Pad .................................................................................................................................................... 17
Area .............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Curb .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Sidewalk ........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Retaining Wall ............................................................................................................................................... 19
Custom Sweep .............................................................................................................................................. 19
Design Surface .............................................................................................................................................. 20
Create Feature Line from Surface ................................................................................................................. 20
Grade to Surface ........................................................................................................................................... 21
Grade to Offset ............................................................................................................................................. 22
Grade to Feature .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Grade Radial Transition ................................................................................................................................ 23
Grade to Linear Transition ............................................................................................................................ 24
Edit ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Cross Section................................................................................................................................................. 25
Cut & Fill ....................................................................................................................................................... 25
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Feature Line Profile....................................................................................................................................... 26
Help............................................................................................................................................................... 26
Transoft Solutions Online ............................................................................................................................. 26
TECHNICAL EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................... 27
Objectives, Overview and Getting Started ....................................................................................................... 27
Preset Program Settings ............................................................................................................................... 27
Review or Modify New Object Properties .................................................................................................... 31
Launch and Dock Project Explorer ................................................................................................................ 33
Create - Surface and Import Survey Points ................................................................................................... 36
Create – Reports – Cross Section, End Area, and Cut & Fill Volumes ........................................................... 53
Mass Grading with Design Pad ..................................................................................................................... 71
Modeling Curbs and Islands ........................................................................................................................ 108
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................................... 130
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INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Transoft Solutions Inc. invites you to discover the strengths of the SITE CEM 1.0 software for yourself. The
primary purpose of this evaluation manual is to:
• Help you identify primary features of the new software applied to a Site Design
• Incrementally build your awareness of and proficiency through use of its key functions
• Develop a better understanding of how to apply SITE CEM for practical site grading
• Provide you with a direct communication channel to our Product Management Team to ensure your
requirements are clearly understood and are considered for prioritization with other features for
future releases.
Upon completion of the exercises contained in this guide, you will be:
• Fully familiar with the software and its benefits

• Able to utilize it in a more productive manner
• Able to quickly and confidently develop solutions to complex problems
SITE CEM, packed with powerful and intuitive features, can greatly simplify how engineers design site grading –
even within basic CAD packages like Autocad or BricsCAD.
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Technical Review Case Study
For the software review in this evaluation guide a simple site has been provided for a large warehouse retail
facility where the parking layout was designed using ParkCAD, the site entrances were verified with AutoTURN,
and the remaining 2D geometry for the building location was drafted as 2D CAD linework. Delimited data files
in industry standard formats have been provided for the existing ground, sub-grade surfaces, and existing
utilities to be comparable to survey data to support a typical project.
During the evaluation the following process has been developed for review in Autocad, BricsCAD, or Civil 3D:
1. Verification of design unit and review of default CAD standard for SITE CEM object creation (can be
customized).
2. Existing Ground surface from survey points file (XYZ)
3. Sub-Grade surfaces from survey points file (NEX)
4. 3D line work to mark existing sub-grade utilities from survey file (PXYZD)
5. Define property line in 2D and 3D
6. Cross Sections of existing conditions
7. End Area Report for Order of Magnitude Quantities
8. Cut & Fill volume report for stripping site to prepare for construction
9. Mass Grading with Design Pad
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a. Set elevation and slopes to balance Cut & Fill
b. Control grading to existing ground
c. Define building footprint area and elevation to control surface for preliminary drainage away
from foundation
d. Design additional surface drainage with feature lines or high/low points
e. Drape 2D site features to Design Pad elevation (islands/curbs)
10. Model of site features
a. Curbs
b. Islands
The review for this evaluation does not produce a final design and final volumes reporting, but does cover
portions of the process to allow a comprehensive discovery of the software tools along with suggested
workflow. Portions of the software capabilities to be explored beyond the guide would be:
1. Grading Tools – Grade To Surface, Grade To Offset, Grade To Feature, Radial Transition Grading, and
Linear Transition Grading.
2. Sweep Tools – Sidewalk, Retaining Wall, and Custom Sweep
3. Design Surface – Creation and Management
While this guide is comprehensive in its design to support the evaluation process an experienced SITE CEM
designer could complete the same design and reporting in approximately 30-45 minutes.
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SOFTWARE OVERVIEW
How the Software Works

Technology
The SITE CEM software utilizes a layer of underlying technology from the widely adopted but discontinued
Eagle Point software. The time tested and trusted Eagle Point algorithms have been modernized for
programming optimization and presented with a new user interface to simplify workflows and tools to provide
users with an intuitive set of capabilities specific to site grading design.
A new modern system of change notifications has been developed for the SITE CEM software architecture.
Changes to SITE CEM objects will trigger notifications to automatically update dependent geometry. For
example,
Modifying the base feature line for a grading object will update the grading, which will in turn update the
target catch line. If a grading or swept object had been generated from the catch line that is updated they will
also follow a sequence of updating.
In addition placed reports can be flagged as being out of date to be manually recalculated, or the reports can
be set to be automatically recalculated upon changes if the preferred.
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Surface Modelling
Surface modelling is performed using the Delaunay triangulation methodology whereby given a set of survey
points, the Delaunay triangulation produces triangles to use as polygons in the model. These collection of
triangles are grouped as a collection of objects to create a DTM (Digital terrain Model) that can be viewed with
various display properties to see the defining points, the TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface, or the
resulting contours.
Volume Analysis
Volume calculations between two selected surfaces are produced using a methodology whereby a consistent
boundary is set for both surfaces and a uniform grid is then generated so that the grid tiles will overlap the
boundary. Each grid is bisected into two identical triangles where the vertices are projected to the surface
below and the surface above. These projections produce 3D prismoidal shapes where the volume becomes the
sum of all 3D prisms inside of the boundary plus 1/3 of the prismoidal volume if a single vertex falls within the
boundary and 2/3 of the prismoidal volume if 2 vertices fall within the boundary for the entire perimeter of
the common boundary extents.
As the software continues to be developed additional methodologies for volume analysis and estimation are
being reviewed and in time multiple algorithms should be available for the user to choose their preferred
method. An industry standard method for creating End Area Reports to calculate the Order of Magnitude
Quantities is also possible in SITE CEM for engineers to work in a familiar manner along with allowing
independent verification of volume calculations from the software’s volume reporting.
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Feature Lines
Feature Lines in SITE CEM are essentially intelligent 3D polylines with a comprehensive set of tools for editing
the 3D elevations of the feature line to produce different profile geometry that can be used for grading,
sweeping models, or to drive the surface drainage of the Design Pad. Feature lines represent 3D radii as
tessellated lines that closely approximate the curvature and are normalized for intersection and calculations
with TIN based surfaces.
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Starting the Software
Before you begin the SITE CEM 1.0 Evaluation, there are a few items that you should become familiar
with for starting the software:
If you are using Autocad Release 2010 - 2016
1. Open Autocad 2010 - 2016.

2. Start a new drawing
3. Start SITE CEM by typing “appload” or “ap” into the command line, navigate to the SITE CEM
program directory:
C:\Program Files\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1
Select the ARX file which relates to your release of 32-bit or 64-bit Autocad and select load (files
named with x64 are for 64-bit operating systems and CAD platforms).
Alternative 1 - SITE CEM can be launched by clicking the icon on your desktop or start menu
Alternative 2 - SITE CEM can be demand loaded in a running session of CAD by selecting any tool on the ribbon
or toolbar and accepting to load the software.
When you are presented with the User Registration screen please complete the details and click OK.
When you are presented the Program Authorization dialog please select BYPASS to access the software
as a fully functional time limited evaluation.
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If you are using BricsCAD V15 or later
4. Open BricsCAD V15 or later.

5. Start a new drawing
6. Start SITE CEM by typing “appload” into the command line, navigate to the SITE CEM program
directory:
C:\Program Files\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1
Select the “BCAD” ARX file which relates to your release of 32-bit or 64-bit BricsCAD and select load
(files named with x64 are for 64-bit operating systems and CAD platforms).
Alternative 1 - SITE CEM can be launched by clicking the icon on your desktop or start menu
Alternative 2 - SITE CEM can be demand loaded in a running session of CAD by selecting any tool on the ribbon
or toolbar and accepting to load the software.
When you are presented with the User Registration screen please complete the details and click OK.
When you are presented the Program Authorization dialog please select BYPASS to access the software
as a fully functional time limited evaluation.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF SOFTWARE FEATURES
Toolbar and Ribbon Overview
The new SITE CEM 1.0 features were developed as a direct response from our clients regarding
challenges in mastering other industry solutions due to complicated user interface and non-intuitive
workflows. The features were developed to provide users with superior control and flexibility in their
designs. The following is a review of all features available in the SITE CEM 1.0 software.
Program Settings
Sets various general program settings, such as the project name, working directory, drawing units, display
units, precision and surface creation settings.
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Properties
Sets the various global draw and display properties for feature lines, surfaces, points, building footprints,
Grading Objects, Design Pads, Curbs, Sidewalks, Retaining Walls, Custom Sweeps, Reports, and Areas.
The “Out of the Box” layer standards have been developed based on the US National CAD Standard V5.0,
but can be easily customized through the software user interface or by editing an ASCI based text file.
Project Explorer
Provides the ability to navigate the objects within the current project in order to create, edit, report, or
change the display. The Project Explorer interface can be docked in your CAD workspace and provides all
abilities through a right-click context menu as well as automatically highlighting the selected object in the
CAD drawing window.
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Import Survey Points
Provides the ability to import a delimited text file of points or line work to draw the 3D geometry as a
reference for ensuring the conditions have been met (i.e. minimum grade cover over existing utilities and
services)
Surface
Creates a surface from an imported points file from a delimited text file, from an import LandXML file, or
from existing CAD objects within the drawing.
There are 4 unique classifications of surfaces in SITE CEM, each with their own set of display properties.
These first 3 types are created using this tool by importing data or selecting basic CAD geometry and are
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Existing Ground, Prepared Ground, and Sub-Grade. The 4 type is a Design Surface and has its own
specific user interface for creating a surface from SITE CEM design objects (covered below)
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Feature Lines
Feature Lines are a core SITE CEM object providing the required 3D geometry and elevation editing controls to
either place features in relation to a surface, or to drive the creation of the surface geometry when added as
break lines or as grading lines in a design pad to control the interior surface for drainage.
Building Footprint
The building footprint creates a representation of the Finished Floor Elevation and the depth of
foundation to provide the reference for excavation. The building footprint geometry includes a perimeter
feature line and the slab/foundation volume where the perimeter feature line elevation can be set to the
surface elevation or can be set in relation to the Finished Floor Elevation.
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Design Pad
Provides the ability to select 2D or 3D geometry to create a mass grading area for development that is
dynamically tied to a selected surface to review cut/fill quantities. The design pad offers unique controls
to relate the area to be graded to a selected surface, to control the exterior grading, and to define
internal features such as a building footprint, feature lines, and high/low points that will control the
interior surface from surface drainage.
Area
Provides the ability to pick closed polygon to define as an area in the design that can be used during volume
reporting to provide earthwork quantities between two selected surfaces only within the selected area.
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Curb
Provides the ability to select a curb profile that can be swept along a 2D/3D polyline or along a SITE CEM
feature line by a specified anchor location. Curbs have an advanced capability to allow the curb height to
be dropped to an elevation above the flow line for the design of driveways or ramps. Draw options are
included to create SITE CEM feature lines along the curb geometry as the anchor for other swept profiles
or grading to be performed in relation to the curb.
While the software provides an initial set of curb profile templates it is possible to create new profile
templates by copying and editing simple ASCI text files for the geometric definition.
Sidewalk
Provides the ability to parametrically control the sidewalk geometry and to then sweep the sidewalk
profile along a 2D/3D polyline or along a SITE CEM feature line by a specified anchor location, as well as
the ability to create the sidewalk between two selected “Paths” to design non-uniform sidewalk
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geometry. Draw options are included to create SITE CEM feature lines along the sidewalk geometry as the
anchor for other swept profiles or grading to be performed in relation to the sidewalk.
Retaining Wall
Provides the ability to parametrically control the retaining wall geometry and to then sweep the retaining
wall profile along a 2D/3D polyline by a specified anchor location. Draw options are included to create
SITE CEM feature lines along the retaining wall geometry as the anchor for other swept profiles or
grading to be performed in relation to the retaining wall.
Custom Sweep
Provides the ability to select 2D drafted open or closed geometry and to then sweep the custom profile
along a 2D/3D polyline by a specified anchor location. Draw options are included to create SITE CEM
feature lines along the custom sweep geometry as the anchor for other swept profiles or grading to be
performed in relation to the custom sweep.
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Design Surface
Provides the ability to create a single surface object from a selection and priority order of SITE CEM objects.
This surface can be defined as the top-most or bottom-most surface that can be used for volume analysis,
cross-sections, or for export as LandXML for use in other software.
Create Feature Line from Surface
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Provides a quick ability to select 2D or 3D CAD geometry to create a feature line whose elevations are set from
a selected surface. The resultant feature line will have PI’s added along the 3D geometry for the intersection
with every triangle from the surface TIN model.
Grade to Surface
Provides the ability to select 2D/3D CAD geometry or a SITE CEM feature line to create a uniform grading
based on input cut/fill slope factors to a selected surface. A resultant catch line is drawn with the grading that
can be used as the anchor for other grading or for sweeping profiles (curbs, sidewalks, retaining walls, or
custom sweeps) in relation to the to surface grading.
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Grade to Offset
Provides the ability to select 2D/3D CAD geometry or a SITE CEM feature line to create a uniform grading
based on input cut/fill slope factors to an offset distance. A resultant catch line is drawn with the grading that
can be used as the anchor for other grading or for sweeping profiles (curbs, sidewalks, retaining walls, or
custom sweeps) in relation to the to surface grading.
Grade to Feature
Provides the ability to select 2D/3D CAD geometry or SITE CEM feature lines to create a grading between. The
slope can be a result based on the elevation difference between the selected geometry, or the slope can be
specified with the grading target sets only the horizontal limits of the grading. A resultant catch line is drawn
with the grading that can be used as the anchor for other grading or for sweeping profiles (curbs, sidewalks,
retaining walls, or custom sweeps) in relation to the to surface grading.
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Grade Radial Transition
Provides the ability to select two SITE CEM grading objects that have a common 3Dpoint of intersection to
create a radial grading solution between them. The grade of the radial solution may not be uniform based on
the unique grade of each selected grading object.
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Grade to Linear Transition
Provides the ability to select 2D/3D CAD geometry or a SITE CEM feature line to create a grading of changing
slope between the start and end of the selected geometry,
Edit
Provides a single context sensitive editing tool where the presented user interface is specific to modifying
the selected SITE CEM object.
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Cross Section
Provides the ability to create a cross section or end area report by selecting a 2D/3D cut line that crosses
through SITE CEM objects. Specific controls are available to control the display, scale, and format of the
drawn section including filters to include or exclude SITE CEM object types. End area reports require that
two surfaces are selected to provide the cut/fill areas for use in earthwork Order of Magnitude
calculations.
Cut & Fill
Provides the ability to create a cut/fill volume report between two selected surfaces with an option to
uniquely report volumes within a selected SITE CEM area object. This report can be placed in CAD or it
can be exported as a CSV format.
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Feature Line Profile
Provides the ability to create profile report for a selected feature line that marks all VPI locations and
elevations that define the 3D geometry.
Help
Provides access the help file to search for detailed descriptions of SITE CEM features, settings, and capabilities.
Context sensitive help is accessible from the Help button located within all SITE CEM dialog user interfaces.
Transoft Solutions Online
Provides a single-click direct link to the Transoft Solutions website for product information or Technical
Support.
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TECHNICAL EVALUATION
Objectives, Overview and Getting Started
These examples will illustrate the basic steps for creating an existing ground and sub-grade surfaces.
Preset Program Settings
1. Start a new session of SITE CEM and open the drawing of your preferred design unit (feet or
meters) from C:\Users\Public\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1\SITE CEM Evaluation\Warehouse
Retail Grading Site\
Feet\SITE CEM Evaluation_FT.dwg or Meters\SITE CEM Evaluation_Meters.dwg
The drawing contains a 2D CAD drafted site layout where the parking and site entrance geometry
was originally created and validated using the Transoft Solutions ParkCAD® and AutoTURN®
software. All other features were drafted as simple 2D CAD objects.
2. Click the Program Settings button on the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 1 – Program Settings
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3. Select the General category settings as illustrated in Exhibit 2.
The path defined for the

project directory is where the
software will default to when
browsing to select import
data or for writing out reports
or files.
Exhibit 2 – Program Settings – General
4. Name the project Warehouse Retail Grading Site

5. Click the folder icon next to the Project Folder to browse to the folder and select the appropriate
folder for your desired design units (feet or meters):
C:\Users\Public\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1\SITE CEM Evaluation\Warehouse Retail Grading Site
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6. Select the Units tab
Exhibit 3 – Program Settings – Units
7. Here you specify the design unit and control the software’s input/display unit’s formats as well as the
precision. Please change the Drawing Unit to match that of your desired design unit.
8. Select the Surface Settings tab
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Exhibit 4 – Program Settings – Surface Settings – Before and After Limit to Maximum Triangle Length
9. The Surface Settings provide the ability to exclude points for surface creation that are outside of an
expected or desired elevation range, as well as provide an ability to specify a maximum triangle
length to be able to prevent the creation of long triangles that may be created by the software that
are undesirable (i.e. outer edges of survey data)
10. Click OK to close the Program Settings dialog saving the settings changes.
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Review or Modify New Object Properties
1. Click the Properties button on the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 1 – Properties
The Properties command provides the controls necessary to change the default SITE CEM object display
properties for new objects to be created; Created objects have their own property editing abilities to allow
the flexibility of unique object display after creation. Initial defaults for layer naming have been developed
based on the US National CAD Standard V5.0 convention.
Each category of SITE CEM object has unique settings for the main object’s layer, color, and linetype, as
well as options for the display of categorized sub-object display properties (i.e. surface boundary,
triangles, points, contours, etc.)
The properties defined in this file are written to an external SiteCEMProperties <Imperial or Metric>.set
file under the C:\Users\Public\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1\Settings directory. This is a simple ASCI text
file in a JSON format that can easily be edited using Notepad if there is a requirement to change the
default layer scheme for project requirements.
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2. Select the category Existing Ground Surfaces
Exhibit 2 – Default Properties – Existing Ground Surfaces
3. Review the object defaults and available controls for display to familiarize yourself with the
interface.
4. Click OK to close the Default Properties dialog.
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Launch and Dock Project Explorer
1. Click the Project Explorer button on the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 1 – Project Explorer
The Project Explorer interface provides a simple and intuitive organization of SITE CEM objects within the
project to manage.
Right-clicking on a main object type heading provides the ability to create a new object
Right-clicking on created objects beneath a main object type heading provides the abilities to rename,
edit, view/change properties, export data, delete, zoom, report, or recalculate (for reports flagged as out
of date).
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2. By default the Project Explorer launches in a minimal size of an undocked state floating in your CAD
window. If you prefer you certainly can work with the Project Explorer in this state. However, you
may find that this tool is best experienced when docked in your Autocad environment
3. Left-click and hold down the left mouse button on the left-hand side of the Project Explorer where
the dialog title “Project Explorer” is displayed and drag the dialog to left edge of your CAD
environment.
4. The Project explorer automatically resizes to fit the height of the window and docks into the CAD
working area
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5. The controls along the bottom of the Project Explorer allow you to:
a. Expand all tree items
b. Minimize all tree items
c. Refresh the Project Explorer
d. Access Help for Project Explorer
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Create - Surface and Import Survey Points
In this section you will learn how to create surfaces and reference survey points/line work by importing
external survey point files
1. Click the Surface button from the ribbon or tool bar.
Exhibit 1 – Create Surface
2. In the Create Surface dialog select Import Point File as the method of creation
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3. In the Create Surface from Point File dialog name the surface Existing Ground, specify the surface
type as Existing Ground, and select the Browse button to open a data file.
Providing a meaningful name for created

surfaces ensures clarity when selecting for
design or editing.
Classifying the surface as either Existing

Ground, Prepared Ground, or Sub-Grade sets
unique display properties based on the
surface type. These properties can be further
modified for every surface.
Note that you can preview the first line of the

data as well as change the file type extension.
Exhibit 3 – Create Surface from Point File
4. In the Open dialog the focus should be set to the project directory that was specified in the first
functional review of How to Preset Program Settings – Step 5. As the examples for this evaluation
have been provided in both Imperial and Metric values please select the appropriate folder for your
preferred design unit and then select the file Site_XX.xyz where XX will be wither the FT (Feet) or M
(Meters) unit abbreviation.
37
Exhibit 4 – Open - .XYZ file for Surface Creation
5. Click Open
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6. The surface will be created and displayed based on the Properties for Existing Ground type surfaces.
Controls are available to adjust the surface creation properties as well as the surface display
properties prior to ending the command. For now leave the default settings and display properties,
simply click OK.
Exhibit 5 – Surface Created with Default Existing Ground Surface Display Properties
In SITE CEM when you create a reference surface you have a surface displayed right away – not an empty container
for a surface that needs further definition before it can be displayed.
Note that the Existing Ground surface is now displayed under Project Explorer
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7. Next we will review the triangulation of the existing ground surface against the contours to correct
the surface triangulation.
In the Project Explorer please locate Surfaces Existing Ground and right-click to select Edit from the
menu.
Alternately, the context sensitive

Edit command from the ribbon or
toolbar could have been selected
and then when prompted the
Existing Ground surface picked in
the drawing to be the object to edit
Exhibit 6 – Project Explorer – Surfaces - Edit

8. Select the Properties control in the bottom of the Edit Surface dialog to turn on triangles under
Surface Properties then click OK to dismiss the Surface properties dialog.
Exhibit 7 – Edit Surface – Properties – Surface Properties
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9. Review the surface triangulation in relation to the drawn contours. Locations where the contours are
abruptly changing likely can be improved by swapping the triangle faces to be created in the opposite
orientation.
In order to locate the identical displayed contour issues from the sample data please turn on the layer
Contour Issues to draw the circles identifying the area for correction. This can be performed by
entering LAYON in the command line then ENTER.
Exhibit 8 – Edit Surface – Swap Triangles

10. We should visually see that the triangulation is causing the contour to abruptly change; in the Edit
Surface dialog select the Swap Triangle Edge button and then select the same line as represented in
the graphic above onscreen.
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Exhibit 9 – Contour Improved After Swap Triangle Edges
11. As shown by the new triangulation orientation above the change has corrected or “smoothed” the
contour. For this evaluation we will only correct this single contour issue.
12. Click OK to close the Edit Surface command
13. On the CAD command line please input the standard command LAYER and hit ENTER.
14. Locate the thaw the frozen layer C-SITE-BRHL
15. Simple geometry has previously been placed into the drawing as a reference for bore hole sampling
locations to develop sub-grade surfaces. For this evaluation the surface data has already been
formatted into NEZ point files for each layer of surface.
As the development of the software continues specific tools for the creation of bore holes and the
related surfaces should be advanced.
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Exhibit 10 – Bore Hole Locations
16. Select the Surface command from the ribbon or tool bar.
17. In the Create Surface dialog select Import Point File as the method of creation
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18. In the Create Surface from Point File dialog name the surface Sub-Grade Layer 1,specify the surface
type as Sub-grade, and select the Browse button to open a data file.
Beyond unique surface naming and type

classification you can adjust the properties so
that the surface features are uniquely
displayed.
This is most useful when cutting Cross

Sections/End Areas as in the reports the
surfaces are drawn based on each surfaces
color of triangulation.
Exhibit 13 – Create Surface from Point File
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19. In the Open dialog select the appropriate units folder for your design unit and select the file Sub-
Grade Surface 1.nez
Exhibit 14 – Open - .NEZ file for Sub-Grade Surface Creation

20. Click Open
21. Select the Properties command from the bottom right-corner of the Create Surface from Points
dialog.
22. In the Surface Properties dialog check to Draw Triangles, uncheck to draw all Contours, and then scroll
back up and select the color swatch next to the Triangles category
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Exhibit 15 – Current Surface Properties
23. In the Select Color dialog select the highlighted color cell or enter the index color number 55
Exhibit 16 – Select Color (for Current Surface Triangles)

24. Click OK to close the Select Color dialog
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Exhibit 17 – Modified Surface Properties
25. Click OK to accept the property changes for this surface and to close the dialog.
26. The surface will be created and displayed based on the Modified Properties for this Sub-grade type
surface.
Exhibit 18 – Surface Created with Default Sub-Grade Surface Display Properties
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27. Click OK to close the Create Surface from Point File dialog
NOTE: The triangulation for the Sub-Grade Surface has convergence at bore hole locations
28. Repeat steps 10 thru 21 to create a second sub-grade surface

a. Name – Sub-Grade Layer 2
b. Filename - Sub-Grade Surface 2.nez
c. Triangulation Color – Index Color 93
29. Next we use each surface’s unique display properties to simplify our view.
Right-click on Surfaces Existing Ground in Project Explorer and select Properties
Exhibit 19 – Project Explorer Right-Click Menu to Access Object Properties
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30. In the Surface Properties dialog please uncheck the draw options for all options except for the surface
Boundary
31. Click OK
32. Repeat steps 23 thru 25 for the other 2 surfaces Sub-Grade Layer 1 and Sub-Grade Layer 2.
33. Now you have a simple view of the 2D Site with only surface boundaries and bore hole markers.
Exhibit 20 – Simple View of Site after Turning Off Surface Draw Options
34. On the CAD command line please input the standard command LAYOFF and hit ENTER; Select any one
of the bore hole marker symbols to turn off their display to further simplify the view.
35. Next we would like to import survey data to properly locate existing services with 3D line work. Please
select the Import Survey Points command from the ribbon or toolbar.
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Exhibit 21 – Import Survey Points
36. Select the Browse button
Exhibit 22 – Import Survey Points

37. In the Open dialog select the appropriate units folder for your design unit and select the file Existing
Services.pxyzd file
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Exhibit 23 – Open – Survey Points File
38. Click Open
39. In the Import Survey Points dialog ensure the File Type format matches the file extension of PXYZD.
Import Survey Points will draw

either points with labels or
Feature Lines as chain geometry
where each Feature Line is
named as a line work object
with the descriptor from the
import file appended to the end
of the object naming.
Feature Lines will be visible in

drawn Cross Sections for
Exhibit 24 – Survey Points Drawn as Feature Lines reference
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40. Click OK to close the Import Survey Points dialog.
41. This is the last step in the initial Create Tools discovery. Please save the drawing as:
SITE CEM Evaluation_FT_<Your Initials>.dwg
Or
SITE CEM Evaluation_M_<Your Initals>.dwg
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Create – Reports – Cross Section, End Area, and Cut & Fill Volumes
1. Open or continue the SITE CEM Evaluation drawing that you saved from the previous set of
functional review steps and load SITE CEM if you had closed your session.
2. Zoom the working CAD desktop area to view the extents of the 2D site layout.
3. Draw two lines bisecting the site horizontally and vertically as shown below. The vertical line
should be in alignment with the 2D geometry representing the proposed gas line service to the
site.
Exhibit 1 – 2D Lines Bisecting the Site for Cross Sections
4. Trim the horizontal line so that it ends at the property boundary. Trim the vertical line so that
the top extends to the property boundary, but so that the bottom extends beyond the property
boundary to the opposite edge of the roadway.
5. Click the Analyze Cross Section on the ribbon or toolbar.
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Exhibit 2 – Analyze Cross Section
6. Left-click a point on the horizontal line to use the geometry
for the Cross Section NOTE: The length of the
7. Drag you cursor above or below the cut line and note the drawn cross section is
dynamically drawn arrow indicating the section viewing dependent on the length
direction. of the selected CAD
geometry.
The section viewing
direction is set
dynamically based on
cursor position in
relation to the line.
Exhibit 3 – Setting the Cross Section Viewing Direction

8. Move your cursor above the line and left-click to accept the
viewing direction.
9. The section will be drawn attached to your cursor allowing
you to left-click a point for insertion. Left-click a location
directly above the site layout.
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Exhibit 3 – Initial Cross Section Placement – Section Controls
10. Note that the newly created cross section is created under Project Explorer and that the
software has generated the section line complete with direction symbols and labels controlled
from the Analyze Cross Section dialog and that the cross section report is titled with the cross
section name.
11. In the Analyze Cross Section dialog change the name to be Site Section 1 then hit the TAB key
to change the focus to the next input. Note that the object in the Project Explorer is renamed
and the title beneath the section is automatically updated.
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Exhibit 4 – Analyze Cross Section Controls – Drawn Section
NOTE: The dialog controls provide the ability to adjust the name and number along with a listing of all surfaces
with controls to draw or not draw; as previously noted surfaces are drawn with the color of their triangles. In
addition, other SITE CEM objects (if created) can be displayed in the section view.
Separate controls are available to independently control the vertical and horizontal scale and if changed they
will be labelled appropriately in the section title.
The Y Range & Grid Line Intervals allow the formatting of the axes and the Properties control in the bottom left
corner provides access to the layers, colors, linetypes, and size of items to be drawn.
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12. Under the Scale heading change the vertical scale to 10:1 then hit the TAB key.
Exhibit 5 –Cross Section Controls – Drawn Section at 10:1 Vertical Scale

13. Select the Y range & Grid Line Intervals tab in the dialog
14. Click the Set check boxes next to the X Major and Y Major inputs to allow new values to be
specified and change as follows
Feet - X Major – 50.00 Meters – X Major - 10
Feet - Y Major – 5.00 Meters – Y Major – 2
The minor values will be calculated to be ½ of the input value for the specified Major interval
NOTE: In order to have the input changes applied you need to TAB to change the input field focus, or
simply click in any other input field to have the report redrawn.
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15. Now we will adjust the display properties for the drawn section. Select the Properties icon in
the bottom left hand corner of the dialog.
Exhibit 6 – Analyze Cross Section - Properties

16. In the Cross Section Report Properties dialog locate the draw check box for the X Axis Grid and
for the Legend; Check both of these boxes.
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NOTE: The Cross
Section Report
properties allow
you to control the
look and format
of the report
along with an
optional legend
Exhibit 7 – Cross Section Report Properties

17. In the Cross Section Report Properties uncheck X Axis Grid and click OK to close the properties
dialog.
18. You will now be returned to the Analyze Cross Section dialog where we can review the creation
of an End Area Report rather than a basic Cross Section. Please change back to the Cross
Section Elements tab and select the check box under End Area Report.
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NOTE: When the End
Area Report is enabled
you have the ability to
select two different SITE
CEM surfaces and the
drawn report will be
automatically updated to
highlight the cut/fill area
along with a block of End
Areas and the Balance
Ratio.
Exhibit 8 – Analyze Cross section – End Area Report
19. Please specify the Comparison Surface to be Sub-Grade Layer 1.
20. Click OK to accept the creation and placement of the End Area Report. Certainly with multiple
created sections an Order of Magnitude Quantities could be calculated.
21. Next we will use the SITE CEM tools to define a2D project area and 3D feature line to mark the
property line. Select the Create Feature Line from Surface command from the toolbar or
ribbon.
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NOTE: Create Feature Line from
Surface is a simple and specific tool to
project the selected geometry to the
intersection with a selected surface to
produce a “draped” 3D Feature Line.
As with other solutions there are
many means and methods of editing
feature Lines to be covered later.
Exhibit 9 – Create Feature Line from Surface
22. Select anywhere along the dashed 2D polyline that represents the property line and then pick
the geometry that represents the Existing Ground surface boundary.
Property Line
NOTE: If you do not
select the right
Existing Ground surface in the
Boundary drawing it can be
changed through
the software
interface.
Exhibit 10 – Create Feature Line from Surface – Select Objects

23. In the Edit Feature Line dialog that is presented first select the Properties control in the bottom
left corner to turn off Annotations and Spot Elevations in the Feature Line Property dialog.
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Exhibit 11 – Edit Feature Line - Properties
24. Click OK to dismiss the Feature Line property dialog.
25. In the Edit Feature Line dialog change the name to Property Line Reference, ensure the surface
under Conversion Options is Existing Ground, and then click OK to close the dialog.
NOTE: A named Feature Line is

created in Project Explorer for
the 3D Property Line reference
Exhibit 12 – Edit Feature Line – Project Explorer
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26. Next we will create a 2D SITE CEM area to be used for further reporting. Select the Area
command from the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 13 – Create Area

27. Select the newly created SITE CEM Feature Line as the 3D Property Line Reference
NOTE: Since the geometry selection is

ambiguous with multiple objects at the
same location and differing elevations
the AutoCAD Selection dialog might be
displayed depending on the setting of
the CAD system variable
SELECTIONCYCLING. If set to 2 the
AutoCAD Selection dialog will be
displayed.
Exhibit 14 – Create Area – Select Object
28. If presented the Selection dialog please select the 3D polyline.
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Exhibit 15 – Edit Area
29. Enter the name Property Line and change the Type to Property then click OK to end the
command.
30.
NOTE: The Property Line’s perimeter length and area are reported in the dialog as well as
placed as annotations in the drawing. The display of the drawing annotations can be
controlled with the Area Properties.
31. Now we will create the cross section for the vertical line bisecting the site to further review the
draw options. Select the Cross Section command from the ribbon or toolbar.
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Exhibit 16 – Cross Section
32. Select the vertical line that runs across the site.
NOTE: Since the geometry

selection is ambiguous with
multiple objects at the same
location and differing
elevations the Selection dialog
will be presented.
Exhibit 17 – Cross Section – Select Section Line

33. In Selection dialog please select the Line.
34. Drag the cursor to the right of the cut line to set the section viewing direction.
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Exhibit 18 – Setting the Cross Section Viewing Direction
35. Name the section Site Section A; Number A; and set the vertical scale to 10:1 then hit the TAB
key.
Exhibit 19 – Analyze Cross Section
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36. Elements to Draw - SITE CEM objects can be displayed in the section view when selected under
this control. Currently there are Feature Lines within the current section that have been drawn
as “X”’s generated based on their default color. These Feature Lines represent the existing gas
line and storm sewer from the Import Survey Points command and the 3D Property Line
Reference.
37. Left-click a point in the drawing to place the section
38. Click OK to close the Analyze Cross Section dialog.
39. Under Project Explorer locate the Feature Line object Linework GSLN 1 and right-click to select
Properties from the menu.
Exhibit 20 – Feature Line Properties

40. Change the Feature Line for the gas line to be red to be uniquely identified then click OK.
41. Repeat steps 39 and 40 for Linework SSWR 1 and Linework SSWR 2 representing the storm
sewers and change them to color index 111.
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42. Repeat steps 39 and 40 for Property Line Reference and change to index color 21.
43. Under Project Explorer locate Site Section A under reports and right-click to select Recalculate
from the menu.
Property Line Reference
Existing Gas Line
Existing Storm Sewer
Exhibit 21 – Report - Recalculate
NOTE: There is an option to Automatically Recalculate reports when creating, editing, or

through the Project Explorer right-click menu. Setting reports to automatically recalculate
requires additional computations after each action requiring more processing time before
continuing on with design commands.
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44. Lastly in this review section will create a Cut & Fill Report for initial earthworks volumes. Please
select the Cut & Fill command from the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 22 – Cut & Fill

45. In the Analyze Cut & Fill Volumes dialog specify the report name as Site Stripping
NOTE: No volumes are initially reported as

two different surfaces need to be selected
for the analysis.
Exhibit 22 – Analyze Cut & Fill Volumes

46. In order to compute the amount of material to be stripped to prepare the site for construction
a volume should be estimated for the first layer of material to be removed (i.e. organic
material). Leave the Base Surface as Existing Ground and change the Comparison Surface to
Sub-Grade layer 1.
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NOTE: Since a previous SITE CEM Area was
created for the Property Line the volumes
are reported separately as Area totals and
Overall totals. The Overall total reports to
the extents of both surfaces and is not the
critical estimate for the project.
Exhibit 23 – Analyze Cut & Fill Volumes

47. Select Place Report and left-click a suitable location in the drawing to place the volume report
into the drawing.
NOTE: Controls are available
for the layer, color, and text
size of the report. The report
is also created automatically
under Project Explorer.
Exhibit 23 – Cut & Fill Volume Report Placed in Drawing

48. In the Analyze Cut & Fill Volumes dialog select Summary to save an external copy of the initial
volume report in a simple CSV format – by default the location will be the Project Folder.
Further editing of the report output can be performed using standard office applications.
49. Select the Close button to end the command.
50. Save the drawing.
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Mass Grading with Design Pad
2. Zoom the working CAD desktop area to view the extents of the 2D site layout.
3. Select the Design Pad command from the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 1 – Design Pad

4. As prompted please select the closed 2D polygon that represents the extents of the mass
grading area then pick the Existing Ground surface boundary.
Mass Grading Boundary
Surface Boundary
5.
Exhibit 2 – Design Pad – Select Objects
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6. The software automatically creates the mass grading interior surface (shown as contours by
default) along with grading from the perimeter of the area to Existing Ground where cut is
displayed in red and fill displayed in green. In addition, initial volumes for the design pad are
displayed. The Design Pad will also be created in Project Explorer.
Exhibit 3 – Design Pad – Volume + Creation Method (PI’s from Surface)

7. The default Design Pad Creation Method is PI’s from surface. This method projects all natural
vertices of the 2D geometry to surface elevation so the interior surface will likely not be a
planar surface.
8. The second Design Pad Creation Method is Plane. The software defaults the datum to be the
centroid of the 2D polygon and sets the datum elevation to the intersection with the surface.
All vertices will have the same elevation resulting in a horizontal surface (no contours will be
displayed) and the volume will be recalculated.
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Centroid
Exhibit 4 – Design Pad – Creation Method (Plane)

9. The datum is expressed as CAD X,Y coordinates that can be changed or a new datum other
than the centroid can be selected to specify the elevation.
10. The slope and elevation can be modified, but before reviewing those controls select the
Average button to review its operation.
NOTE: The In-fill creation method becomes the default option when a SITE CEM Feature Line is selected. An
interior surface is triangulated based on the elevations of the Feature Line’s PI’s and a new Design Pad
Perimeter Feature Line is created. In order to modify the In-Fill Design Pad’s elevation the Design Pad
Perimeter Feature Line must be edited outside of the Design Pad tool.
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Exhibit 5 – Design Pad – Creation Method (Plane) - Average
11. The calculations for the Average button analyze the Design Pad Boundary and compute a new
datum location (Centroid of all triangles within the mass grading area), slope, and slope
direction to set to a Design Pad elevation based on the average triangle heights contained
within the extents of the mass grading.
12. The result of the Average operation provides a good starting point for further adjustments to
the Design Pad’s slope, direction, and elevation to find an “optimized” solution of Cut & Fill.
13. Please set the elevation, slope, and direction as follows:
Feet Meters
Elevation: 293.5’ 89.5 m
Slope: -2.0% -2.0 %
Direction: 270° 270°
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14. In the Edit Design Pad dialog please select the Calculate in the Volume area to recalculate the
Cut & Fill for the changes made in the previous step.
NOTE: Minor changes to

Design Pad settings require
that volumes are manually
recalculated. Changing the
Creation Method
automatically recalculates
the volumes.
Exhibit 6 – Design Pad – Creation Method (Plane) – Change Slope, Elevation, Direction
15. Next refine the Exterior Grading settings; select the Exterior Grading tab and change the To
Surface then hit the TAB key to accept the input by changing the focus:
Cut Slope - 3:1 - H/V
16. Select the Calculate in the Volume area to recalculate the Cut & Fill for the changes made in
the previous step.
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NOTE: The default Exterior Grading creation method is
grading to a selected surface, grading to a selected 2D/3D
CAD object/SITE CEM Feature Line projected to a surface
elevation, or to have no automatic exterior grading.
It is expected that the To Surface option is useful for Design
Pad initialization, but would later be changed to None to
allow specific grading to be performed in consideration of
site entrances and differing elevations from the interior
surface (i.e back of curb, sidewalk, or retaining wall)
Exhibit 7 – Design Pad – Exterior Grading – Calculate

17. With the new exterior grading Cut Slope applied the initialized Cut/Fill volumes have been
reasonably balanced. Next the Building Footprint will be added to the Design Pad; select the
Interior Grading tab.
18. In the bottom left-hand corner of the Design Pad dialog select Properties to allow a change in
drawn attributes.
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NOTE: Further Spot
Elevations can be
drawn uniquely for
building footprints,
Interior Feature
Lines, and Catch
Lines from the
exterior grading.
Exhibit 8 – Design Pad – Interior Grading – Properties
19. Scroll down in Design Pad Properties to locate Spot Elevations just before the Building
Footprint – this draw control will display the spot elevations for the perimeter of the Design
Pad.
20. Click OK to close the Design Pad Properties dialog and then zoom in the drawing to provide a
good view of the back right corner of the site to view the corner spot elevation of 299.84’ /
91.43 m. This elevation will be considered when specifying the Finished Floor Elevation for the
building footprint.
Exhibit 9 – Spot Elevation at Back Corner of Design Pad
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21. Zoom to see the extents of site to start creating objects within the Design Pad.
22. The Interior Grading tab provides the abilities to add/remove building footprints, Feature Lines,
and High/Low Points that will drive the interior surface triangulation in consideration of
drainage or to add Feature Lines for modeling of curbs, sidewalks, or additional surfaces. The
user interface provides a tree structure to navigate objects along with a right-click
Add/edit/delete menu.
Right-click on Building Footprints and select Add Building Footprint.
Building Footprint
Exhibit 10 – Design Pad – Interior Grading – Add Building Footprint

23. Left-click to select the 2D polygon that represents the building footprint.
24. In the Edit Building Footprint dialog that is presented change the default name of Building
Footprint 1 to Main Building then hit TAB to accept the input and change the focus.
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Exhibit 11 – Design Pad – Edit Building Footprint
NOTE: The Building Footprint is initialized so that the centroid of the Building Footprint
is set to its intersection with the Design Pad’s interior surface elevation along with a
default thickness to represent the depth of the slab or any required excavation for a
foundation and footing; the thickness can be drawn as a Cross Section element.
In addition, the Building Footprint is created with a Building Footprint Perimeter Feature
Line to control the interior surface by either specifying an elevation in relation to the
Finished Floor Height or at the Design Pad surface elevation.
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25. Change the Building Footprint creation settings and hit the TAB key after each input to set the
value and change the focus, then click OK.
Feet Metres NOTE: Thickness specified
Elevation: 300’ 91.50 m for excavation depth of
Thickness: 14’ 4.0 m foundation and footing
for sub-grade floor.
Feature Line from Finished Floor Elevation: -0.50’ -0.10 m
Building Footprint
Feature Line @-0.50’ / -0.10 m

controls Interior Surface
Thickness
Exhibit 12 – Design Pad – Edit Building Footprint

26. With the Building Footprint added to the Design Pad and where the elevation was set with a
Building Footprint perimeter feature Line to drive the interior surface the result is no longer a
planar surface. The back of the site has become flat and the sides and front are sloping away
from the building. In order to review the interior surface the Slope directions and labels should
be reviewed by drawing through the Design Properties.
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Exhibit 13 – Design Pad – Properties
27. Under Edit Design Properties scroll down to check to draw the Triangles and the Interior
Grading Slope Arrows and Labels; uncheck the draw for Major and Minor Contours and Labels.
Exhibit 13 – Design Pad Properties – Draw Triangles, Slope Arrows & Labels – Hide Contours & Labels
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28. Change the Size of the Interior Grading Slope Arrows and labels to be:
Feet Meters
Interior Grading Slope Arrows: 10.00’ 3.0 m
Interior Grading Slope Labels: 5.00’ 1.5 m
29. Click OK to close the Design Pad Properties dialog.
30. Review the surface slope labels. They are currently in H/V format – it would be preferred to
view as slopes for the interior grading so to adjust select the Design Pad Settings in the bottom
left-hand corner of the Edit Design Pad dialog.
Exhibit 13 – Design Pad Properties – Slope Arrows & Labels in H/V Format
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31. In the Design Pad Settings dialog change the Interior Grading slope unit format to be % then
click OK.
Exhibit 13 – Design Pad Settings – Interior Grading Slope Units

32. By reviewing the Design Pad surface slopes and directions it is evident that there are both flat
areas and slopes higher than desirable that need to be addressed.
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Flat
Too Steep
Exhibit 14 – Design Pad Settings – Review of Surface Slope & Direction
33. Before adjustments are performed to the interior surface the Design Pad Perimeter Feature
Line should be edited to address the most significant slope of 8.86% (for feet example – 9.12%
for meters example) to the right of the building. Click OK in the Edit Design Pad dialog to close
the tool.
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34. To have a good reference elevation prior to editing the feature line the Building Footprint Spot
Elevations should be displayed. In Project Explorer locate Main Building under the Building
Footprints section and right-click to select Properties and check draw for Spot Elevations
Exhibit 15 – Project Explorer – Main Building - Properties

35. Under the Project Explorer locate the Feature Line named Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line
and right-click to select Edit from the menu.
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Exhibit 16 – Project Explorer – Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line - Edit
36. In the Edit Feature Line dialog there are controls to create, edit, or report on the selected
Feature Line. To improve the surface grading to reduce the interior slope issue of 8.86% a new
PI will be added and its elevation adjusted.
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NOTE: Each PI from the Beginning
of Vertical Profile (BVP) to End of
Vertical Profile (EVP) is listed on
each row of the grid control along
with their unique distance from
the start of the geometry with the
elevation and slope to adjacent PIs
PI Marker for selected PI(s)
37.
Exhibit 16 – Edit Feature Line – Add VPI
38. Select the Add VPI control
39. In the Add VPI dialog select the Pick Point button with the arrow graphic to specify the VPI
location in the drawing.
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Selection Point
Feature Line VPI Point
40.
Exhibit 17 – Add VPI – Pick Point
41. Using a CAD endpoint object snap pick the bottom right corner of the building. This will create
the new VPI at a distance along the Design Pad 1 Perimeter feature Line that is a perpendicular
projection from the selected point as the VPI must be on the Feature Line geometry.
NOTE: The PI elevation is

reported and can be
changed along with the
2.0 % slope grade out
slope that was specified
in the Design Pad’s
original planar definition.
Exhibit 18 – Add VPI – After Selecting in Drawing
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42. The PI elevation on the Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line is obviously much lower in
elevation to produce the 8.86% slope which is easily referenced by comparing the Building
Footprint Spot Elevation to the VPI elevation. To reduce the 8.86% slope click on Elevation in
the Add VPI dialog to set the focus for input and enter an elevation of:
Feet: 298’
Meters: 90.8 m
High Slope Resolved

Then click OK.
Slopes Still High
Exhibit 19 – Edit Feature Line – VPI Added – Interior Surface Changed
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The software returns you to the Edit Feature Line dialog with the new VPI [1] added. This new
VPI has resulted in a change to the Design Pad interior surface to no longer have the 8.86%
slope along the right of the building, but has resulted in ~-5.0% slope along the front of the
building. To resolve the PI for the bottom right corner of the Design Pad should be elevated.
43. In the Edit Feature Line dialog click on the first VPI - BVP and either left click in the Elevation
field of the grid control to directly input a new elevation, or select the Edit VPI button (Pencil).
NOTE: The values in grid

control fields can be directly
edited or the specific editing
tools above the grid control
can be used to change the
elevation or Grade In/Grade
Out slopes
Exhibit 20 – Edit Feature Line – BVP - Elevation

44. Enter a new elevation
Feet: 295’
Meters: 90.0 m
45. The change to raise the VPI – BVP elevation has brought the interior surface to acceptable
slopes less than 4.0%.
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Exhibit 21 – Edit Feature Line – BVP – After Elevation Change
46. Click OK to close the Edit Feature Line dialog.
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47. Now to address the flat areas along the back left of the building new Feature lines and
High/Low Points will be added to the Design pad interior grading.
In Project Explorer locate Design Pad 1 and right-click to select Edit from the menu.
No Slope Label – 0% Slope
Exhibit 22 – Project Explorer – Design Pad 1 - Edit

48. In the Edit Design Pad dialog note that since the Design Pad perimeter Feature Line was edited
to control the interior slopes along the right and front of the building the creation method has
changed to In-Fill.
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NOTE: Now that the Design Pad 1
perimeter Feature Line is no longer a
planar definition after adding/editing
PI’s the Design Pad Creation Method
has been changed to In-Fill. Further
elevation changes should be
performed by editing the Feature line
outside of Design Pad.
Exhibit 23 – Edit Design Pad – Creation Method - In-Fill

49. Change to the Interior Grading tab.
50. In the CAD drawing window draw 2 lines extending from the left-most corners of the building
footprint to a perpendicular intersection with the Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line:
NOTE: While the Edit

Design Pad dialog is open
you can still pan, zoom,
and create/modify CAD
geometry in the drawing.
Exhibit 24 – CAD Lines Drawn for Feature Line Creation
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51. Once the lines have been created right-click on the Interior Grading - Feature Lines heading to
Add Feature Lines and then when prompted select the top created line.
52. In the Edit Feature Line dialog select the Add VPI control
Exhibit 25 – Edit Feature Line – Add VPI

53. In the Add VPI dialog select Pick a Point button with the arrow icon and using a midpoint snap
select the middle of the drawn CAD line (should be at a distance of 180.25’ / 90.58 m).
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Exhibit 26 – Add VPI – Pick Point – Midpoint Snap on CAD Line
54. In the Add VPI dialog select the radio button to define the VPI elevation by Grade In. This
allows a specific grade from the previous VPI on the feature line to set the elevation of the new
VPI. Enter a slope of -1.5% then click OK to close the dialog.
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Exhibit 26 – Add VPI – Grade In to Set VPI Elevation
55. In the Edit Feature Line dialog select the Properties command in the bottom-left corner.
Exhibit 27 – Edit Feature Line - Properties
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56. In the Feature Line Properties dialog check to draw Annotations and Spot Elevations then click
OK.
Exhibit 27 – Edit Feature Line – Annotation and Spot Elevation Properties Drawn
58. In the Edit Design Pad dialog right-click again on Feature Lines to Add Feature Line and follow
steps 52 to 58 on the bottom CAD line to create as a feature line with a -1.5% slope away from
the building footprint.
59. With the addition of the recently added “top” feature line at -1.5% from the building a new
interior surface triangle has been added with a 9.70% (for feet example – 9.31% for meters
example) slope that needs to be addressed. This will require further editing of the Design pad 1
Perimeter Feature Line. Click Ok to close the Edit Design Pad dialog.
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Exhibit 27 – Design Pad – Visual Identification of High Slope Triangle
60. Under the Project Explorer heading for Feature Lines locate and right-click on Design Pad 1
Perimeter Feature Line to select Edit from the menu.
The feature line should be edited to introduce two new VPI locations aligned with the back left
corner of the building so that corner of the site can be lowered by editing it’s VPI elevation and
containing the grade changes up to the new VPI locations.
61. In the Edit Feature Line dialog select the Add VPI button and in the dialog select Pick Point,
snapping to the back corner of the building.
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Exhibit 28 – Edit Feature Line – Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line – Add VPI
62. Do not make any elevation changes to this VPI, simple click OK to close the dialog.
63. In the Edit Feature Line dialog select Add VPI and in the dialog select Pick Point, snapping to
end of the “top” Feature Line at its intersect with the Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line.
Exhibit 29 – Edit Feature Line – Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line – Add VPI
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64. Do not make any elevation changes to this VPI, simple click OK to close the dialog.
65. Now the VPI for the back left corner of the Design Pad Perimeter Feature Line can be adjusted
without limited the effect of the elevation change to the two adjacent VPI. In the Edit Feature
Line dialog left-click on the row for VPI 4 (ensure that the VPI marker for the back left corner is
displayed) and then select Edit VPI.
Exhibit 30 – Edit Feature Line – Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line – Edit VPI
66. Change the edit method to Elevation and enter
Feet: 298’
Meters: 90.8 m
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NOTE: Trial elevation
values can be entered into
the Edit VPI Elevation field
and reviewed by hitting
TAB. The focus change
causes the model to be
updated, but the changes
are not committed until OK
is selected.
Exhibit 31 – Edit Feature Line – Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line – Edit VPI
67. Now that the grades in this area are in acceptable ranges click OK to close the Edit VPI dialog
and then click Ok again to close the Edit feature line dialog.
68. Note that warning symbols have been drawn at the end of the interior Feature Lines at the
Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line indicating that the feature lines are crossing or
intersecting at differing elevations.
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Exhibit 33 – Feature Line Warning Symbols – Differing Elevations
69. To correct locate Design Pad 1 Interior Feature Line 1 in Project Explorer and right-click to
select Edit from the menu.
70. In the Edit Feature Line dialog select the row for EVP to make this the active VPI for editing (A
symbols highlights the VPI in the drawing).
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Exhibit 34 – Edit Feature Line – Correct Crossing Feature Line Profile
71. Select the Correct Crossing Feature Line Profile command from the tools above the grid
control.
72. When prompted select the Design Pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line as the reference geometry to
obtain the elevation for the active VPI. If prompted with the Autocad selection dialog please
select 3D polyline and then when prompted by the SITE CEM Select Element dialog select
Design pad 1 Perimeter Feature Line and click OK.
NOTE: The SITE CEM selection dialog is displayed
in case the AutoCAD selection dialog has been
disabled - AutoCAD system variable
selectioncycling set to 0 to disable, or standard
operation changed under OPTIONS.
Exhibit 35 – Selection Dialogs
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74. Repeat steps 70 thru 74 for the Design Pad 1 Interior Feature Line 2 as well to resolve the
differing elevations.
Exhibit 35 – Edit Feature Line – Correct Crossing Feature Line Profile

75. The last Design Pad Surface grading to be completed will be to address the near flat slopes
along the back of the building and towards the building footprint by introducing Low Points. In
the Project Explorer under the heading Design Pads locate Design pad 1 and right-click to select
edit from the menu.
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Exhibit 36 – Edit Design Pad – Low Slope Area to the Back of Building
76. In the Edit Design Pad dialog change to the Interior Grading tab and right-click on the heading
for High/Low Points to Add High/Low Point
Exhibit 37 – Edit Design Pad – Interior Grading – High/Low Points
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77. In the drawing left-click a point above the second mid-island about half way vertically within
the roadway.
Exhibit 38 – Add High/Low Point – Select Point in Drawing

78. In the Edit High/Low Point dialog change the Point Type to Relative and set the Relative Delta
to:
Feet: -0.5’
Meters: -0.15 m NOTE: High/Low Points can be specified with a relative or
absolute elevation. A relative elevation is set as a delta to
the Design Pad surface and will maintain that delta if the
surface is modified. An absolute elevation is a fixed
elevation that does not move with the changes to the
Design Pad, but rather stays fixed at its assigned elevation
and causes the design pad surface to change to it.
Exhibit 39 – Edit High/Low Point – Relative with Relative Elevation
106
79. Click OK to accept adding the Low Point to the Design Pad.
80. Repeat steps 78 thru 80, selecting the next Low Point to be above the last mid-island along the
back of the building. The final surface result should look as shown below.
Exhibit 40 – Add High/Low Point – Select Second Point in Drawing

81. Click OK to close the Edit Design Pad dialog.
82. This concludes the last step in this section – please save the drawing.
NOTE: The completed grading for the Design Pad in this evaluation by no means constitutes an ideal
final grading/drainage design, but has been developed to be a reasonable evaluation of the software
functionality allowing a detailed review of the Design Pad creation methods and surface design
allowing exploration of the Building Footprint, Interior/Perimeter Feature Lines, and High/Low Points.
107
Modeling Curbs and Islands
2. Please select the Edit command from the ribbon or toolbar (alternately locate Design Pad 1 in
Project Explorer and right-click to select Edit).
Exhibit 1 – Edit
3. Left click in the drawing on any portion of the Design Pad geometry.
4. In the Edit Design Pad please select the Properties command in the bottom left-hand corner.
Exhibit 1 – Edit Design Pad - Properties
108
5. Uncheck the Draw option for the Interior Grading Slope Arrows and Interior Grading Slope
Labels to simplify the view and then click OK.
6. In the Edit Design Pad dialog please change to the Interior Grading tab.
Exhibit 3 – Edit Design Pad – Interior Grading – Add Feature Line

7. Right click of Feature Lines to select Add Feature Line from the menu.
8. Left-click in the drawing to select the perimeter curb geometry along the right edge of the site
109
NOTE: To create SITE CEM Feature Lines from
2D CAD geometry it is a best practice to ensure
that the 2D geometry has been created as
opened or closed polylines that are the entire
length of the feature to be designed. In this
example the 2D polyline geometry for the curb
runs continuously along the right edge and top
edge of the site to the top left site entrance.
Exhibit 4 – Edit Design Pad – Interior Grading – Add Feature Line – Select Object in Drawing
9. The Feature Line is initially created by projecting all of the natural vertices to the Design Pad
surface. As the slopes between the Feature Line vertices at elevation may differ from the
surface grading, causing it to change, it is ideal to have the Feature Line’s full profile to be
obtained from the surface triangulation. Select the Extract Full Profile from Surface tool above
the grid control.
110
NOTE: Extracting a Feature Line Profile
from Surface creates new VPIs at every
intersection with triangle edges of the
surface. This method of “draping” ensures
that surface grading is not changing when
the feature line is added.
E-N Perimeter Curb Feature Line
Exhibit 5 – Edit Feature Line - Extract Full Profile from Surface

10. In the Extract Full profile from Surface dialog please select Design Pad 1 and click OK.
11. In the Edit Feature Line dialog change the name to E-N Perimeter Curb Feature Line to make it
easily identifiable from other feature lines then click OK to close the dialog.
111
12. Repeat steps 6 thru 10 for the curb geometry along the left of the site between the site
entrances, the building entrance, and interior parking island naming as shown below:
a. W Perimeter Curb Feature Line
b. S-W Perimeter Curb Feature Line
c. Island 1 Curb Feature Line
Island 1 Curb Feature Line
W Perimeter Curb Feature Line
S-W Perimeter Curb Feature Line
Exhibit 6 – Named Curb Feature Lines

13. Once the named feature lines have been created click OK to close the Edit Design Pad dialog.
112
14. Now that some interior feature lines have been created for curb modeling at surface elevation
the Create Curb tool can be used to sweep curb profiles. Please select the Create Curb tool
from the ribbon or toolbar.
Exhibit 7 – Create Curb

15. When prompted select the E-N Perimeter Curb Feature Line
E-N Perimeter Curb Feature Line
Exhibit 8 – Create Curb – Select Object
113
16. If presented the Autocad Selection dialog select the 3D polyline; when presented the SITE CEM
Select Element dialog please select the named E-N Perimeter Curb Feature Line and click OK.
17. When prompted to Pick Start Point (right-click to skip) please use the right-click option. This
will start the curb sweep at the start of the than geometry rather than manually selecting.
18. When prompted to Pick End Point (right-click to skip) please use the right-click option. This will
end the curb sweep at the end of the geometry rather manually selecting an end.
19. In the Edit Curb dialog that is presented change the name to E-N Perimeter Curb and under the
definition tab change the Cross Section to Type C – Barrier Curb and Gutter – 6H x 6W x 12W x
13D.
NOTE: The displayed profile changes

based on the selection of the Cross
Section. The crosshair indicates the
current anchor position for
sweeping that can be changed from
the anchor dropdown. The
highlighted pink vertices indicate the
locations where feature lines can be
created with the curb for further
sweeping, grading, or surface
creation.
Exhibit 9 – Edit Curb
114
20. In the drawing zoom into view the curb as its being created.
21. Change the radio button to Right to orient the curb properly
Curb in Isometric View

Gutter Edge
Curb in Plan View Back of Curb
Exhibit 10 – Edit Curb – Views of Curb during Creation
NOTE: The curb is swept along the selected feature line at the surface (asphalt) elevation of the design
pad so the desired anchor is the gutter edge. Since the flow line of the curb is at a lower elevation the
feature line for the flow line should be created to add to the Design Pad to clean up the visual display.
22. Change the anchor to Gutter Edge

23. Under Feature Lines check both Back of Curb and Flowline to be created.
115
24. Click OK to close the Edit Curb dialog.
25. Repeat steps 14 thru 24 for the other named curb feature lines naming each curb the same as
the feature line name for clarity. All curbs should use the same cross section, anchor, and
drawn feature lines. The only difference to watch for is the Side (Left or Right) for creation. This
can be easily verified in the plan view as the gutter flange width is greater that the raised curb
width.
26. Now that there are some curbs modeled in the drawing it might be desirable to fix the Design
pad surface visualization by adding the curb flow lines to drive the surface (the goal will to set
just lower than the flow line). Locate Design Pad 1 in Project Explorer and right-click to select
Edit.
Exhibit 11 – Project Explorer – Design Pad 1 - Edit

27. In the Edit Design Pad dialog select the Interior Grading tab and right-click on Feature Lines to
Add Feature Line.
28. Left-click in the drawing to select the curb flow line feature line for the Island 1 Curb
116
Curb Flow Line
Exhibit 12 – Add Feature Line – Select Element – Curb Flow Line

29. When prompted by the Autocad Selection and SITE CEM Select Elements dialogs pick the 3D
Polyline/Island 1 Curb Flow Line then click OK.
30. Since the object is a SITE CEM created feature line at elevation you will be prompted if you
would like to retain the Feature Line Profile. Click Yes, otherwise the elevations will be changed
to the Design Pad surface elevations.
31. Expand the tree view beneath Feature Lines and right-click on Island 1 Curb Flowline and select
Edit from the menu.
117
NOTE: It would also have been possible to close the
Edit Design Pad dialog by selecting OK and then
editing the Island 1 Curb Flowline by selecting Edit
and picking in the drawing or right-clicking on the
object to select edit in Project Explorer
Exhibit 13 – Edit Design Pad – Edit – Island 1 Curb Curb Flowline

32. In the Edit Feature Line Dialog left-click once on BVP to set the focus in the grid control then
hold down the SHIFT key and scroll down to select EVP; All VPIs should be highlighted for
selection.
118
Exhibit 14 – Edit Feature Line – Select All VPIs
33. In the tools above the grid control select Raise/Lower VPI(s)
34. In the Raise/Lower VPI(s) dialog specify a Delta of
Feet: -0.01’
Meters: -0.003 m
35. Click OK to close the Edit Feature Line dialog and review how this has changed the view of the
Design Pad surface between the curb gutter edge and flow line.
119
Exhibit 15 – Resultant Display after Lowering Flowline Elevation
36. Next the curb will be edited to drop the curb profile to facilitate a ramp for accessibility. In
Project Explorer under the Curbs heading locate Island 1 Curb and right-click to select Edit from
the menu.
37. In the bottom of the Edit Curb dialog select the Add Drop Curb button.
120
Exhibit 16 – Edit Curb – Add Drop Curb
38. In the drawing note that there is a temporary marker moving with your mouse position for the
curb drop location.
39. Using an object snap along with polar tracking can assist in specifying the start of the drop
curb. Alternately reference 2D/3D CAD geometry could be placed in the drawing to assist with
placement. Left-click with your preferred snap method to place the insertion of the Drop Curb
as shown below.
121
NOTE: In the graphic to the left a
temporary object snap with Polar
Tracking was used for the back of
curb alone the center path to set
the ramp start location.
Alternately a CAD snap or
reference geometry could be
drafted in advance to aid in
positioning.
Once the insertion location is
selected the direction is dynamic
to the cursor position.
Exhibit 17 – Edit Curb – Add Drop Curb – Specify Insert Location in Drawing
40. Move the cursor so that the direction for the Drop Curb is oriented upwards on screen then
left-click to accept the direction.
41. While the length that the Curb Drop will be applied to can be dynamically controlled by mouse
position in the drawing it would be preferred to right-click to initialize at the 10:1 slope and
then adjust in the dialog that is presented. Please right-click to continue adding the Drop Curb.
122
Exhibit 18 –Add Drop Curb – Dialog Controls
42. For demonstration purposes the 10% slope is acceptable; please click OK.
43. A single Drop Curb has been added to the island and a second Drop Curb needs to be added on
the opposite side to bring the elevation back to full height. Click the Add Drop Curb button
again.
123
NOTE: The same type of
reference snap on the
opposite back of curb
with polar tracking was
used for the second Drop
Curb insertion location.
Exhibit 19 – Edit Curb – Add Drop Curb – Specify Insert Location in Drawing
44. Left-click with your preferred snap method to place the insertion of the Drop Curb as shown
above.
45. Move the cursor so that the direction for the Drop Curb is oriented downwards on screen then
left-click to accept the direction.
46. Right-click to accept the default 10:1 slope. In the Add Drop Curb dialog that is presented no
further changes are required; Click OK to close.
124
47. Now two Drop Curbs have been added to bring the full curb height down to an elevation above
the flowline from either side.
nd
2 Drop Curb
st
1 Drop Curb
Exhibit 20 – Edit Curb – Add Drop Curb – Two Drop Curbs Applied
48. In the Edit Curb dialog please click OK to close the dialog.
125
49. Now for modeling purposes an island interior surface will be created by creating a surface from
drawing geometry. Please Select Surface from the ribbon or toolbar.

50. In the Create Surface dialog that is presented please select From Elements.
Exhibit 22 – Create Surface – From Elements

51. In the drawing left-click the Back of Curb Feature Line that was created with the curb. And if
prompted for Autocad Selection pick the 3D Polyline.
126
Back of Curb Feature Line
Exhibit 23 – Create Surface – From Elements – Select Object(s)

52. Right-click to accept the selection. You will be prompted that “You have selected a closed area,
is this a boundary?” – click YES to accept.
53. In the presented Create Surface From Elements dialog name the surface Island 1 Top Surface.
127
Exhibit 24 – Create Surface – From Elements – Name – Type - Properties
54. Change the surface Type to Prepared Ground.
55. Select the Properties button from the bottom left-hand corner.
56. In the Properties dialog
a. Check to Draw Triangles and change the color to index number 81
b. Uncheck Major and Minor Contours and labels to draw
Exhibit 25 – Surface Properties

57. Click OK to close the Properties dialog.
128
58. Click OK to close the Create Surface from Elements dialog
59. Review how the Island 1 Top Surface has been displayed in the drawing
60. If desirable to annotate the ramp slop of the Island 1 Top Surface a Feature Line could be
created from the surface and then labeled to show the surface slope.
Exhibit 26 – Feature Line Created on Surface to Annotate Ramp Slope

61. This is the last step in this section of the evaluation review. Please close the drawing saving
your changes.
As a reminder, please review and complete the evaluation questionnaire as your feedback and
opinions will be instrumental in ensuring that further software development efforts are focused on
industry driven requirements to provide the right tools to meet the challenges of site grading design.
129
GLOSSARY
Area - A closed element that lists perimeter length and area. Areas can be used in the Analyze Cut & Fill
Volumes reporting tool to get volumes of portions of the project.
Base Surface - The surface's volume from which the Comparison Surface's volume is subtracted in the End
Area Report and Cut & Fill Volumes Report.
Boundary- A closed polyline or feature line that is added to a surface to restrict the displayed size of the
surface.
Breakline - A line, arc, polyline, closed polyline or feature line that is added to a surface to affect the
triangulation of the surface.
Building Footprint -The perimeter of the building foundation or structure that meets the ground.
Comparison Surface - The surface whose volume is subtracted from the Base Surface's volume in the End Area
Report and Cut & Fill Volumes Report to determine the project's cut and fill areas and volumes respectively.
Contour Interval - The difference in elevation between two successive contour lines.
Cross Section Report - A vertical cross section of a design at a cutting plane line creating an annotated section
detail. In addition, an End Area Report can be included in the report which is calculated by subtracting the
Comparison Surface from the Base Surface,
Curb - A raised or vertical element to provide drainage control, pavement edge delineation, right of way
reduction, aesthetics, delineation of pedestrian walkways, reduction of maintenance operations and assistance
in orderly roadside development.
130
Curb and Gutter - A curb element combined with a gutter section to provide an improved longitudinal
drainage system.
Curve Length -Length of vertical curve in a feature line. The vertical curve is an equal length vertical curve with
each tangent length being equal to one half of the Length value.
Cut & Fill Volumes Report - A textual report placed in the drawing showing a design's cut and fill volumes.
Design Pad - A grading construct being comprised of a perimeter feature line which is typically graded to the
existing ground while the interior is graded to suit the project's particular drainage needs.
Design Surface - A SITE CEM created surface that can be used to link the project's Design Pad, Gradings, Curbs,
Sidewalks, Retaining Walls, etc., together to get Cross Section Reports as well as Cut & Fill Volume Reports.
Designators - Symbols used in point files to describe the line work recorded in the point files. Feature lines will
be created by the software based on the designators used in describing the points in the point file.
Drape - Is the action of creating a VPI in a feature line wherever it crosses a reference surface's change in
grade. Can also be described as projecting a CAD element to the surface, and creating a feature line that takes
on the elevations of the surface wherever the CAD element crosses the surface in plan view.
Drop Curb - A section of curb that slopes to a lower level to provide easier access to sidewalks, drive ways, etc.
Elevation - The current elevation value (i.e. the height as measured from a known datum, typically sea level).
End Area Report - The cut and fill areas resulting from subtracting the Comparison Surface from the Base
Surface in the Analyze Cross Section tool. The cut and fill areas are filled in the cross section placed in the
drawing.
131
Feature Line - A SITE CEM created element used to affect the grading of surfaces created with SITE CEM. A
feature line is also used to anchor curbs, sidewalks, and retaining walls.
Feature Line, Interior - A feature line associated with a design pad that affects the interior grading.
Feature Line, Perimeter - A feature line associated with a design pad that surrounds the extents of the interior
grading or building footprint.
Gutter - A trough or dip used for drainage purposes that runs along the edge of the roadway and curb.
Grade - The rate of slope expressed as a percent between two adjacent Vertical Points of Intersection (VPI).
The numerical value for the grade is the vertical rise or fall in feet for each foot of horizontal distance. The
numerical value is multiplied by 100 and is expressed as a percent. Upgrades in the direction of stationing are
identified as positive (+) values. Downgrades are identified as negative (-) values.
Grading - A segmented surface plane that is created at a specified distance along a selected element at a
specified grade or slope. There are five types of gradings: To Surface, To Offset, To Feature, Linear Transition,
and Radial Transition.
Grading, To Surface - A segmented surface plane that is graded between a selected element and a selected
surface where the cut and fill slopes can be specified separately.
Grading, To Offset - A segmented surface plane that is graded from a selected element to an offset distance
where the slope can be specified.
Grading, To Feature - A segmented surface plane that is graded from a selected element to another selected
element where the grading can be specified to be between the elements, with a slope, to the surface, or to an
elevation, all as projected from the second element.
132
Grading, Linear Transition - A segmented surface grading that transitions the slope between two gradings of
different slopes.
Grading, Radial Transition - A segmented surface grading that automatically transitions the slope between two
touching gradings that form an angle between them (i.e. grades around the corner between two non-tangent
gradings).
LandXML File - A file format that stores survey and civil data such as points, surfaces, breaklines, etc. so that it
can be shared among and read by many competing software products.
PC - The Point of Curvature is the beginning of a horizontal curve in a feature line.
PI - The Point of Intersection is a change in horizontal direction on a feature line or where two feature lines
meet
PT - The Point of Tangency is the end of a horizontal curve in a feature line.
Point File - An ASCII text file containing topographic survey data points describing the horizontal and vertical
information of the land surveyed in the field.
Profile Report - The profile of a selected feature line in an annotated section detail.
Vertical Curve Interval - The number of points in a feature line's vertical curve when drawn in a section detail.
VPC - The Vertical Point of Curvature, (also called BVC, or beginning of vertical curve) is the point at which the
vertical curve begins on a feature line.
VPI - The Vertical Point of Intersection is used to define a change in grade in a feature line or between two
tangent feature lines and also marks the middle of a vertical curve.
133
VPT - The Vertical Point of Tangency (also called EVC, or end of vertical curve) is the point at which the vertical
curve ends on a feature line.
Retaining Wall - A structure designed to resist the lateral pressure of the soil when there is a desired change in
ground elevation.
Segment Interval, Linear - The distance along linear portions of feature lines, curbs, sidewalks, retaining walls,
and gradings that the element is broken into segments.
Segment Interval, Radial - The distance along curvilinear portions of feature lines, curbs, sidewalks, retaining
walls, and gradings that the element is broken into segments.
Sidewalk - A paved or concrete path for pedestrians often placed along the sides of roads or streets or through
sites for access.
Slope, Cut - The slope of the cut portions of a grading.
Slope, Fill - The slope of the fill portions of the grading.
Void - An area of a surface that contains no surface data.
X Coordinate - The current x coordinate value. This is the x portion of the x,y coordinates of the VPI measured
from the drawing's origin (i.e. 0,0).
Y Coordinate - The current y coordinate value. This is the y portion of the x,y coordinates of the VPI measured
from the drawing's origin (i.e. 0,0).
134

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SITE CEM V1.

• Fully familiar with the software and its benefits

How the Software Works

If you are using Autocad Release 2010 - 2016

1. Open Autocad 2010 - 2016.

C:\Program Files\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1

4. Open BricsCAD V15 or later.

C:\Program Files\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1

Toolbar and Ribbon Overview

Objectives, Overview and Getting Started

2. Click the Program Settings button on the ribbon or toolbar.

Exhibit 1 – Program Settings

The path defined for the

Exhibit 2 – Program Settings – General

4. Name the project Warehouse Retail Grading Site

C:\Users\Public\Transoft Solutions\SITE CEM 1\SITE CEM Evaluation\Warehouse Retail Grading Site

Exhibit 3 – Program Settings – Units

8. Select the Surface Settings tab

1. Click the Properties button on the ribbon or toolbar.

Exhibit 2 – Default Properties – Existing Ground Surfaces

Exhibit 1 – Project Explorer

1. Click the Surface button from the ribbon or tool bar.

Exhibit 1 – Create Surface

Exhibit 2 – Create Surface

Providing a meaningful name for created

Classifying the surface as either Existing

Note that you can preview the first line of the

Alternately, the context sensitive

Exhibit 6 – Project Explorer – Surfaces - Edit

Exhibit 7 – Edit Surface – Properties – Surface Properties

Exhibit 8 – Edit Surface – Swap Triangles

Exhibit 11 – Create Surface

Beyond unique surface naming and type

This is most useful when cutting Cross

Exhibit 13 – Create Surface from Point File

Exhibit 14 – Open - .NEZ file for Sub-Grade Surface Creation

Exhibit 16 – Select Color (for Current Surface Triangles)

Exhibit 18 – Surface Created with Default Sub-Grade Surface Display Properties

28. Repeat steps 10 thru 21 to create a second sub-grade surface

Exhibit 19 – Project Explorer Right-Click Menu to Access Object Properties

36. Select the Browse button

Exhibit 22 – Import Survey Points

Import Survey Points will draw

Feature Lines will be visible in

SITE CEM Evaluation_FT_<Your Initials>.dwg

SITE CEM Evaluation_M_<Your Initals>.dwg

Exhibit 1 – 2D Lines Bisecting the Site for Cross Sections

Exhibit 3 – Setting the Cross Section Viewing Direction

Exhibit 5 –Cross Section Controls – Drawn Section at 10:1 Vertical Scale

Exhibit 6 – Analyze Cross Section - Properties

Exhibit 7 – Cross Section Report Properties

Exhibit 10 – Create Feature Line from Surface – Select Objects

NOTE: A named Feature Line is

Exhibit 12 – Edit Feature Line – Project Explorer

Exhibit 13 – Create Area

NOTE: Since the geometry selection is

NOTE: Since the geometry

Exhibit 17 – Cross Section – Select Section Line

Exhibit 19 – Analyze Cross Section

Exhibit 20 – Feature Line Properties

Property Line Reference

Existing Gas Line

Existing Storm Sewer

Exhibit 21 – Report - Recalculate