Auto Balance dialog
Auto Balance allows you to adjust the vertical or horizontal alignment of existing cross sections to produce balanced, full bench cut (all cut) or all fill cross sections. The results of Auto Balance should be considered only as a starting point for a design; individual cross sections are modified without any consideration of the previous or next design point.
The following options are available:
Station Range
All selected sections (point types to modify) in this range will be adjusted. Use P-Line station values.
Alignment
Choose the direction you wish to move each point on the alignment.
If you choose vertical, all vertical curves in the adjustment range must be removed before adjustment; if you choose horizontal, horizontal curves must be removed.
Note that horizontal alignment is most likely to produce results that are not perfect. For example horizontal alignment:
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makes no difference to cut/fill areas if the section is flat.
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cannot increase cut if the section is perched on top of a hill.
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cannot increase fill if the section is in the bottom of a valley.
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may find a local solution that is not the best solution if the section has ups and downs.
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can perturb the previous cross section by changing its angle and hence projection (a second or third run through will often fix this problem).
Because of the last item in the above list the horizontal adjustment software runs through the chosen range of stations twice.
Adjustment
Select the desired outcome for each cross section.
Note that the finished product may not match the desired adjustment type for all cross sections. For example, the software will not allow a fill slope error (run away fill on a steep side hill) if it can be avoided by creating a full bench cut cross section.
Point types to modify
Choose the design points in the selected range that you want adjusted. Select Report if you are starting with a new design, as there will be Report points on all surveyed stations.
If you are aligning vertically then selected points will become Profile points (VPIs); if you are aligning horizontally then selected points will become Plan points (PIs).
If you do not select all points types then some cross sections may not be adjusted and your mass haul may not appear as expected.
You may want to Auto Generate or manually create design points before you run Auto Balance
Report Progress
If this item is checked you will be informed of most adjustment problems and the station where they occur. In any event you will get a summary of errors at the end of the station range.
If you are receiving too many error messages, escape or cancel the message box to prevent further progress messages.
