Ground Types Editor dialog
Provides a means for editing, deleting or adding ground type information. The ground table is used by both the Survey/Map module and the Location module.
This option is accessed from the Edit - Edit Ground Types menu in both Survay/Map and Location modules. In the Location module only, it can also be accessed from the Alignment Panel using the Options button in the Optimized Alignments area.
To edit an existing ground type:
1) select it from the list box,
2) make changes inside the Description, Slopes or Expansion Factors edit boxes and select OK.
To delete an existing ground type:
1) Highlight the ground type in the Ground Types Editor
2) Select the Delete button.
To enter a new ground type:
1) Select New in the Ground Types Editor
2) Enter a two letter ID and a ground description in the New Ground Type popup box.
3) Check Composite material if you want to create a composite material. A composite material is a material composed of preexisting materials. The composition can be defined in the Design tab through the Composition list box by pressing the button Add and selecting a material as well as its percentage in the resulting composite material. Composite materials only have specific excavation costs as for embankment, the individual embankment costs for each material in the composition are used. Similarly, they only have Slopes and Expansion Factors for Cut.
Design
Design parameters are used in template processing and calculation of volumes.
Cut Slope %
The slope angle here is used to determine the cut slope angle when the template angle is set to AUTO (see Templates for more information)
Fill Slope %
The slope angle here is used to determine the fill slope angle when the template angle is set to AUTO (see Templates and Assign Fill Types for more information)
Cut Expansion Factor
Cut volumes are determined from the area of cut shown on the cross section. This volume is multiplied by the Cut Expansion Factor (for the appropriate ground types) before it is reported.
If you work in banked units, this value is always 1.0.
Fill Expansion Factor
Fill volumes are directly determined from the area shown on the cross section. This volume is multiplied by the Fill Expansion Factor (for the appropriate fill type) before it is reported.
If you work in banked units, this value varies by material.
Solid rock, which swells after it has been blasted, will have a Fill Expansion Factor which is less than 1.0; in other words it takes less than one cubic unit of banked rock (in situ) to provide one cubic unit of shot rock fill.
Some materials shrink to be smaller that their in situ volume when compacted as fill; this kind of material will have a Fill Expansion Factor which is greater than 1.0; in other words it takes more than one cubic unit of banked material (in situ) to provide one cubic unit of compacted fill.
Costs
Costs factors are used in cost calculation and alignment optimization.
Handling Costs
Excavation
Cost to cut material in $ per volume (cubic meters or cubic yards).
Embankment
Cost to fill material in $ per volume (cubic meters or cubic yards).
Quality
Quality is used to control fill operations. When fill material of a given quality is required, any material with the same or higher quality can be used as fill.
Movement Costs
Movement costs are divided into 3 categories (Freehaul, Overhaul, and Endhaul). The distance for each type of haul depends on the Hauling and Loading costs. Press the Haul costs button to change these costs and udpate the Freehaul and Overhaul threshold distances.
Note: The movement costs are common to all material types.
Hauling
Cost to move material. Units of $ per (Cu. m. x km) or $ per (Cu. Yd. x mile).
Loading
Cost to load material prior to moving. Units of $ per Cu. m. or $ per Cu. Yd.
Allow the user to change the loading and hauling costs.
Simplified Cost (Check Box)
Allow the user to consider a different cost structure. This new cost structure allows to have a constant cost within the Freehaul treshold distance and a linear cost beyond.
File
It is possible to have several different sets of ground types (codes, factors etc.). These tables are saved in files with extension GDX (older versions are GND). When a document is created the default ground type table Normal.GDX (replaces older ROADENG.GND) is loaded and "attached" to it.
If you open an older format GND file (which does not contain costs), the software will read the Normal.GDX file and fill in the missing costs for any matching ground types; non-matching ground types in the GND file get the same costs as the default material, OB, in Normal.GDX.
Open Button
It is possible to load other tables using the Open button.
Save Button
It is possible to modify and save new ground type tables. You can name these tables as you wish. To change the default ground type table, save your changes in file Normal.gdx.If Normal.gdx does not exist in the settings and layouts folder, the old RoadEng.gnd file will be used as the default (no costs defined).
NOTE: The default Ground Types that came with the installation are not definitive and may not apply to ground conditions at your site. Use the editing features of this function to create Ground Types which will be meaningful at your location
