Connecticut State Department of Transportation

CTDOT CONNECT DDE GUIDE VOLUME 3 - OPENROADS DESIGNER ROADWAY MODELING


Module 1 - Creating Base Model Files


Create Alignment Base Model
Create Master Model

 

Create Alignment Base Model

Description

This module instructs users how to create an alignment base model design file for a project. The alignment base model file will reside within the project folder structure the ...\Highways\Base_Models folder. The depending on the complexity of the project one or more alignment files can be created.  Horizontal alignments and vertical alignments (profiles) are stored in the alignment DGN file(s). References files such as survey and terrain files are attached without nesting.

Before attempting to open or create DGN files users should make sure the following is in place:

  • CTDOT users should have the CTDOT CONNECT DDE synced through SharePoint with the COMPASS Project Synced along with the CAD Configuration follow Module 3 - CTDOT Employee DDE Sync.
  • Consultants should have one of the following set up: Module 1 - Consultant DDE Install or Module 2 - Consultant DDE Sync.
  • Make note of the Coordinate System you will be working in. If you have existing survey data, you will need to find out what system is being used (NAD 83/NAVD 88 or NAD 27/NAVD 29). 

1. Log on to the CONNECTION Client. Bentley CONNECT licensing requires users to log into their Bentley account to secure a software license. CTDOT users should log in using your CTDOT email address and Bentley password. If you do not see the dialog box, select the ˄ icon on the bottom Windows Screen. Click on the Connection Client Icon and select Open.

2. Access OpenRoads through Accounting or the Customized Icon following Volume 1 - M.6.1 Accessing the Application.

3. Using the small drop-down arrows select the Workspace CT Civil English Workspace and the correct WorkSet.

 

Create Alignment Base Model

1. Create a DGN file from the civil 2D seed and save it to the Base_Models folder. Use the file-naming conventions as described in the CTDOT-CONNECT-DDE Volume-016 Appendix/Section File-Naming (example: HW_CB_1234_1234_Alignments01.dgn)

Use this seed file:

…CT_Configuration\Organization\Seed\Road\Seed2D - CT RoadDesign.dgn

The Base Model folder holds all design files for the project:

  • alignments
  • corridors (roadway models)
  • drainage

2. Reference in the survey and terrain file(s) using no nesting. Turn off levels as needed. 

  TIP: ‘Save Settings’ when all levels are turned off as needed.

3. Activate the terrain by clicking on the terrain boundary, hover over the boundary and from the pop-up menu select/click the Set Terrain Active tool. 

4. Click again on the terrain boundary and set the override symbology to Yes. Then to help with the horizontal alignment creation, you can turn on the contours.  Save Settings.

Screen04-activate-terrain

5. Review the file and Save Settings.

The file is now ready for creating alignments, see Volume 3 – Module 2 – Creating Alignments.

 

Create Master Model

Description

This module instructs users how to create a Master Model for a project. The Master Model will reside within the ...\Highways\Base_Models folder, with all design and survey dgn-files referenced in with no nesting. This file is required for the submission of Electronic Engineering Data (EED), for more details see the Digital Project Development Manual (DPD) – Section 12 – Electronic Engineering Data – Phase 3.   

Best practice when establishing project files should be used, separate files for alignments, corridors and drainage is strongly suggested. A master model file with all survey and design files referenced without nesting helps with contract plan set creation.

Create Master Model

After establishing alignments: horizontal (Plan view) and vertical (Profile view) and a corridor is created and before creating plan and profile sheets a Master Model is created. 

screen01_ ref-master-01

1. Create a DGN file from the civil 2D seed and save it to the Base_Models folder. Use the file-naming conventions as described in the CTDOT-CONNECT-DDE Volume-016 Appendix/Section File-Naming (example: HW_CB_5678_5678_Master.dgn).

Use this seed file:

…CT_Configuration\Organization\Seed\Road\Seed2D - CT RoadDesign.dgn

The Base Model folder holds all design model files:

  • alignments
  • corridors (roadway models)
  • drainage 
  • existing survey
  • terrain

2. Reference in the survey, terrain, alignment(s), and corridor files using no nesting. Any design files that must be shown in the plan sheets should be referenced in. Turn off levels as needed. 

TIP:  use the logical name of SWW for the survey file, with this the survey will be screened with the linework and text with the present line-weight when printing.

3. Activate the terrain by clicking on the terrain boundary and clicking on the Set Terrain Active tool. Now the Default 3D view is available. You can also open view(s) for the profile(s) of the horizontal alignment(s). Save settings when the displays are completed as needed.

screen03_ ref-master-03