Section 1 - Levels and Element Templates
Standard levels have been created in the CTDOT CONNECT DDE. To create a consistent and professional set of dgn files it is imperative that users create all dgn elements on their proper level. If a level or Element Template is needed that is not currently available, please contact the AEC Applications CAD Support Staff with your recommendation to have it added.
Over the years level naming has changed as the software has advanced. In older versions, levels were Numbers and users were limited to 63. With the release of V8 users were given the opportunity to have as many levels as we wanted and could name them at our own discretion. In the V8 DDE CTDOT came up with a naming convention using Discipline Designators, many proposed levels such as Pipes, Pavement Striping, Sidewalks, Right of way line etc… were found in multiple disciplines. With the CONNECT release we have decided to simplify the level structure and make them more user friendly. For example, the discipline designators are gone, and the level is either Existing or Proposed. The level Name is short but descriptive enough to know what it is while the level Description is longer and gives the full name. The Description is what CTDOT has set to come through to the PDFs.
Old V8 Pavement Striping Levels:
|
|
Level “NAME” |
Level “DESCRIPTION” |
|
Existing Levels |
Survey SV_TRAF_PVMTL |
Traffic: pavement line work (solid lines and broken lines, xwalk, stop bar) |
|
Proposed Levels |
Traffic TR_PVMT_MKGS_WEIGHT_0 TR_PVMT_MKGS_WEIGHT_2 TR_PVMT_MKGS_WEIGHT_4 TR_PVMT_MKGS_WEIGHT_5 Highway Traffic HT-TRAF-PAVT 1 HT-TRAF-PAVT 2 HT-TRAF-PAVT 3 |
Pavement Marking: Weight 0 Pavement Marking: Weight 2 - shoulder lines, skips Pavement Marking: Weight 4 Doublel wide Pavement Marking: Weight 5 - Stop bars
Traffic: pavement markings 1 Traffic: pavement markings 2 Traffic: pavement markings 3 |
OpenRoads Designer CONNECT Edition Pavement Striping Levels:
|
|
Level “NAME” |
Level “DESCRIPTION” |
|
Existing Level |
E_PAVM_Striping |
Existing Pavement Marking: Line Striping |
|
Proposed Level |
PAVM_Striping |
Pavement Marking: Line striping |
It is important to know that not all elements get placed using “by level” attributes as Colors, Lines Styles and Weights can also be set in the Element Template. The Pavement Striping Level has all striping on one level regardless of the required attributes. The Element Template determines the weight, color and line style that will be used. Other examples of Element Templates setting the attributes include but are not limited to Right of Way lines, Cut and Fill Lines, and Fencing.
Referencing other discipline dgn files is a standard practice, and many times referenced elements need to be turned on or off, and its level symbology attributes need to be changed. However, if the elements are not placed on the correct levels, using the standard element template attributes, these simple operations may become extremely difficult and time consuming.