Properties
In addition to the categories of information that you would see for any selected Civil element, the properties of a Subsurface element will also include a category called Utility. This contains some basic information on the selected element, such as elevations, and also lets you open the Utility Properties, to see more information.
If you have selected a node, then the Utility category includes three
other fields, as follows:
- Use Slope of Surface - whether the top 3D cell should slope at the same slope as the surface or element that was used to define its top elevation. Normally set to True for catch basins and manholes, and false for headwalls.
- Elevation Reference - shows the selected element (e.g. a terrain model) from which ground elevations are measured. Clear this field if you want to type in a ground elevation.
- Station/Offset Reference - lets you select a linear element (e.g. a road centreline) to calculate the station and offset of the node relative to this element. Note that the resulting information is displayed in the Utility Properties, in a category called References, so that it can be included in FlexTables if required. This might be done if a FlexTable is being used to create Setting Out data for example.
If you have selected a conduit, then the Utility category includes one
other field, as follows:
- Single Gradient - this is always set to true for storm and sanitary conduits. For other types of conduit, it is set in the Feature Definition. If true, then the conduit will have a single gradient from the start node to the stop node. If false, then the conduit will follow a reference surface (e.g. a terrain model) at a depth below it which is defined in the Conduit Table in the Feature Definition. You will be prompted to select the surface when you place the conduit, after you have selected the start and stop nodes. This depth can then be amended if needed, after the conduit has been placed
Note that if you want to model a change of gradient in a storm or sanitary conduits, such as to model a syphon for example, then you should use the Insert Node tool to insert Transition nodes in the conduit, and choose to splay the conduit in to two when you are prompted.