Connecticut State Department of Transportation

CTDOT CONNECT DDE GUIDE VOLUME 3 - OPENROADS DESIGNER ROADWAY MODELING


   4.3 Template Drops


CREATE TEMPLATE DROP
EDIT THE TEMPLATE RANGE
TEMPLATE DROP CONTEXT SENSITIVE MENU 
CREATE TEMPLATE DROP

The Create Template Drop tool is used to define what the cross sections of the roadway look like for that portion of the road based on user-defined station range.

You can access this tool from the following: Ribbon: Corridors > Create > New Template Drop

New Template Drop Tool - Corridor Tab

The Create Template Drop tool defines what the cross sections of the roadway look like for that portion of the road based on user-defined station range. A project may comprise a single template drop or multiple template drops. Often, transitions are used between two template drops, rather than an abrupt change from one template to another.

Before selecting the New Template Drop tool make sure the desired Template Library is connected, browse to select the needed library if it is not opened and close the Create Template Dialog box.

After selecting the New Template Tool, follow the prompts to select the wanted Corridor. The Select Template pop-up will appear, follow the prompts to select the needed roadway template.

Add Template Drop - Pop-up Menu

Pick Template - Pop-up Menu

 

Careful consideration should be given for the Drop Interval used for a corridor, although it can be changed at any time. It specifies the distance between each processing of the template (in master units). Generally, this value is equal to or less than (but still a multiple) of the desired interval for the final cross sections, since cross section stations should be coincident with processing stations. It is not necessary to set the interval so small that it encompasses all desired cross section stations, as stations with particular project interest can be added to the model with the use of the Key Station tool. If the model is to be used in construction, the smaller the interval, the more detailed the model, but will require more processing time.

Minimum Transition Before Drop and Minimum Transition After Drop are inputs in the Create Template Drop tool. If they are non-zero, then a transition drop is created at the beginning/end of the template drop with a length greater than or equal to the value entered. The actual length is determined by how far it is between the new drop and the drop before/after the new drop. If there isn't enough space to meet the minimum, then the previous/next drop is shortened to accommodate the transition. If there is no previous/next drop, then no transition drop is created.

After completing the prompts, the corridor is automatically processed and can be viewed in both 2D and 3D views. The corridor can be rendered, if desired.

 

EDIT THE TEMPLATE RANGE

When the template range graphic is selected, the range can be edited by accessing rule that defines the template drop location.

 Edit Template Drop Range Pop up - Screen Shot      Edit Template Drop Range Moving - Screen Shot

The template range can be edited by selecting the station and editing the value of by selecting the arrow icon to dynamically mode the start (or end) of the template range.

 

TEMPLATE DROP CONTEXT SENSITIVE MENU 

Select the template range graphic and let the cursor rest on the element to access the pop-up menu shown below.

  Template Pop-up Menu

The following commands are available:

  • Properties
  • Edit Template Drop
  • Copy Template Drop
  • Synchronize with Library
  • Delete

 

» Properties

Pop-up display includes access to modify the Interval, Template Name, Description and Station range.

  Template Properties - Dialog Box

 

» Edit Template Drop

When a template is applied to generate the corridor, the template definition is copied into the design file. The template definition can be edited in the design file, independent of the definition that is stored in the template library .itl file. Use this command to edit the template definition as applied to the corridor, not the template as defined in the library.

Note: When the command is selected, the Editing Roadway Designer Template Drop dialog is opened. This tool is useful when you wish to make local changes to the corridor without editing the template library definition. For consistency, CTDOT recommends making all changes to the template library and then using the Synchronize with Library command to apply the changes made in the library to the corridor model.

 

» Copy Template Drop

This tool is used to copy a template drop to a new station range along the alignment by defining the beginning and ending station for the new template drop range.

 

» Synchronize with Library

Select this tool to synchronize the local copy of the template that has been applied to the corridor with any changes that have been made to the template in the library .itl file.

Note: Synchronizing the template with the library will override and changes that may have been made to the corridor’s template definition by using the Edit Template Drop command. For consistency, CTDOT recommends making changes to the template library and using the Synchronize with Library command to apply template changes to the corridor.

 

» Delete

Deletes the template drop.