Terrain Modeling Practice Workbook
Terrain Modeling Practice Workbook
This workbook is designed for use in Live instructor-led training and for OnDemand selfstudy.
The explanations and demonstrations are provided by the instructor in the classroom, or in the OnDemand
eLectures of this course available on the Bentley LEARN Server (learn.bentley.com).
This practice workbook is formatted for on-screen viewing using a PDF reader.
It is also available as a PDF document in the dataset for this course.
Terrain Modeling
This workbook contains exercises to practice displaying, creating, and editing terrain models.
TRNC01368-1/0002
Bentley MXROAD
Dataset Units
Both Imperial and Metric versions of the dataset are available. Throughout this practice workbook Imperial values are
specified first and the metric values second. The metric values are enclosed in square brackets. For example: 12’ [3.4m]
http://webedocprdsa01.blob.core.windows.net/datasets/civil_training_workspace.zip
Please download the training workspace (approx. 70 MB) from the link above BEFORE your training class.
We recommend you save the “Civil Training Workspace” to C:\Bentley Training\. However, if this isn’t possible, you can
save it to another location.
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Setting Up the Training Workspace (MXROAD users skip to the next section)
In this section, you will start the software and create a new user to utilize the training workspace. Selecting the proper
workspace is very important within OpenRoads. This workspace contains the civil standards you need to complete the
training exercises.
1. If the Civil Training Workspace is already installed, open the software as the Civil_Training and skip to Exercise 1, otherwise continue
and follow the steps below.
2. Download and install the workspace as directed in the READ ME.pdf file included with the dataset.
3. Start the GEOPAK, InRoads, Power GEOPAK, Power InRoads, or PowerCivil software.
4. Create a new User Configuration File
a. On the File Open window, click the drop-down menu for the User.
b. If Civil_Training already exists: Select the Civil_Training_User and skip to Exercise 1.
c. If Civil_Training does NOT exist: Select New.
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d. Key in Civil_Training within
the Name field and click OK.
Another dialog box opens.
f. Browse to C:\Bentley
Training\Civil Training
Workspace\ or to the location
where you saved the training
workspace.
Interface: Bentley-Civil
6. Skip to Exercise 1.
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Start the MXROAD Software with a Workspace (For MXROAD users ONLY, others skip to the next
section)
In this section, you will start the software and create a new user to utilize the training workspace. Selecting the proper
workspace is very important within OpenRoads. This workspace contains the civil standards you need to complete the
training exercises.
1. Unzip from the Training data set the Civil Training Workspace to C:\Bentley Training\...
2. Browse to the Civil Training Workspace User Configuration folder C:\Bentley Training\Civil Training Workspace\User-Configuration
3. Open the Civil_Training_Imperial.ucf [Civil_Training_Metric.ucf] file and ensure that the ’_USTN_PROJECT ‘ variable is set to the location
where you installed the Civil_Training_Workspace. In this example, C:\Bentley Training\Civil Training Workspace.
4. Copy the Civil_Training_Imperial.ucf [Civil_Training_Metric.ucf] User Configuration file to the default Bentley MXROAD installation
location depending upon the computer operating system…
For Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\MX V8i (SELECT Series 3)\Workspace\Users...
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a. Click New Project and in the MX Project Start Up window define the MicroStation Settings as shown.
Interface: Bentley-Civil
b. Click Browse and select the folder where the training dataset is located.
c. Key in Training in the Project Name field.
d. Click Make New Folder and name the new folder MX Project.
e. Click OK to accept the ...\MX Project\ folder.
f. Set the Default MX Project Settings to UK_imperial [UK_metric].
g. Click OK.
The MX project files are created and the software opens into a blank file named draw.dgn.
8. Skip to Exercise 1.
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Exercise 1: Display Terrain Model
Description
In this exercise you use Element Templates to control the display of a terrain model to view different source and computed features including
boundary's, triangles, contours, and thematic height illustrations. You will also learn how to override the contour interval defined in an Element
Template.
Skills Taught
Use Element Templates with a Terrain Model
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Display Terrain Model
The terrain model we will use is in a different file named Existing Ground Terrain.dgn. The terrain model will be attached
as a reference to the active DGN model. Terrain models can be displayed in many different ways. In this exercise you
will practice displaying the terrain model as triangles and a shaded thematic map.
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4. Enable Override Symbology on the Terrain Model
a. Select the Element Information tool.
b. Select the Terrain Model.
The Element Information window displays information about the selected terrain model.
5. Observe that the Template parameter in the General section is grayed out and unavailable.
6. In the Reference section, set Override Symbology to Yes.
7. Click in a blank area of the drawing view to clear the selection of the terrain model.
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8. Select the terrain model again.
The Element Information window will again display information about the terrain model and the Template parameter will now be active.
Although terrain is a required part of the design process we often do not want the terrain displayed where triangles or contours may interfere
with the design process. It is common that just the boundary of the terrain is displayed during the design process.
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Display Contours
The Template parameter is currently set to None so the Feature Definition is used to determine which Element Template to use to display
the contours. The Feature Definition is set to Existing_Triangles which in turn is linked to an Element Template by the same name. The
Existing_Ground Element Template does not define how contours should appear resulting in this generic presentation.
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In addition to defining the symbology of the contours, the Element Template also defines the contour interval. Your standards should
include an Element Template for each commonly used contour interval. These standards are great but sometimes you need to adjust your
contour interval for a project specific need. Everything defined in an Element Template can be overridden in the Element Information
window for the non-standard situations.
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Exercise 2: Create from Elements
Description
This exercise provides practice for importing graphic elements into a terrain model using the Create from Elements tool.
Skills Taught
Create terrain model from graphic elements
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Create from Elements
1. Open the Create from Elements.dgn [Create from Elements - Metric.dgn] file.
2. If prompted that Obsolete Civil Data is Found, click Yes to upgrade the data in the file.
3. Use the Element Selection tool to select all 1226 elements in the file.
Hint: Click Select All icon in the tool settings window.
4. Create the Terrain Model.
a. Select the Create From Elements tool from the Terrain Model task menu.
b. Follow the heads up prompting.
Click to accept loading the 1226 elements.
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The new terrain model is created and appears displaying triangles. While this is a valid terrain model it might not be everything we desire.
One possible issue is that the terrain model is triangulating through the buildings which should more accurately be represented as void areas.
In this workflow all of the graphic elements were loaded at once and defined as break lines. An alternative workflow would be to bring in the
break lines and the building voids in separate steps. That workflow would be something like this.
Create a selection set with all of the elements except the buildings and create a terrain model from those elements defining them as
break lines.
Create a selection set with just the buildings and create a second terrain model from those elements defining them as voids.
Use the Complex Terrain Model tool (we will learn about that later) to combine the two terrain models.
While this process works, it is a bit tedious. If you do this regularly, or have more than two types of data to load, this method would be very
inefficient. When there are multiple feature types to load the Graphic Filters tools are a preferred method.
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Exercise 3: Create from Graphics with Filter
Description
This exercise provides practice for importing graphic elements into a terrain model using the Create Terrain Model by Graphical Filter tool.
Skills Taught
Create terrain model from graphics using a filter
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Create using Graphic Filter
There are two parts to the Terrain Filter Manager, Filters and Filter Groups.
Filters define the feature type (break line, spot, void, etc) and the filter selection criteria. Elements that meet all of the
filter selection criteria pass the filter and are created in the terrain model with the designated feature type. The filter
selection criteria includes color, level, element type, line style, line weights, cell names, feature name, transparency,
element template, and elevations. A minimum of one selection criteria must be defined.
Filter Groups are a combination of individual Filters that will be processed in a single Create Terrain operation. For
example, a Filter Group might contain three filters. One for break lines, one for spot points, and one for void areas.
Complex filter groups could contain dozens of filters.
1. Open the Create from Graphical Filter.dgn [Create from Graphical Filter- Metric.dgn] file.
2. If prompted that Obsolete Civil Data is Found, click Yes to upgrade the data in the file.
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3. Select the Graphical Filter Manager tool from the Terrain Model task menu.
Note: In a production environment it is best to create filters and filter groups in DGN Libraries that are shared throughout your
organization as standards. In this training exercise we create the filters and filter groups in the local file which is functional but inefficient in
a production environment because the filters and filter groups cannot be easily reused in other files and projects.
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g. Click Edit Filter.
The Edit Filter window appears.
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6. Create Filter Group that includes the Building and the Break Line filters.
a. Right-click on Filter Groups and select Create Filter Group.
b. Set Name to Training
c. Set Description to Break lines and voids
d. Select the Break Lines and Buildings filters from the Select Filters option.
7. Click Finish to close the Terrain Filter Manager.
8. Create Terrain Model using the graphical filter.
a. Select the Create Terrain Model by Graphical Filter tool.
b. In the Create Terrain by Graphical Filter window, select the ellipsis in the Graphical Filter Group option.
c. Select the Training Graphical Filter Group from the Active DGN. You might have to select the Graphical Filter Groups folder before
selecting Training.
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e. Set Edge Method to Remove Slivers.
f. Set Feature Definition to Existing_Triangles.
g. Set Name to Survey.
h. Click in graphic view to accept solution and create the terrain model.
Notice that the building are voids in the terrain model. All of the graphic elements were loaded into the terrain model but the buildings
were loaded as voids and the other elements as break lines.
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i. Right-click to exit the Create Terrain Model from Graphic Feature tool.
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Editing Linked Source Data
1. Zoom into the to center of the terrain model so your view is similar to the following illustration.
2. Use the Move tool to move one of the buildings to a new location.
Notice that the terrain model does not change.
When the filters were created the Link to Terrain Features option was enabled which established a link between the graphics and the
terrain model. However, this option works in conjunction with the Ignore Feature Linking option on the Create Terrain by Graphic Filter
tool. When this setting is enabled, the link defined in the filter is active but the terrain model is NOT automatically updated. In this mode
the terrain model is updated using the Update from Source tool.
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Hint: Working with the Ignore Feature Linking enabled is recommended when numerous edits to the graphics are being made and when
working with large terrain models. The Ignore Feature Linking option can be disabled when working with a smaller terrain model to see
immediate updates to the terrain model.
The terrain model updates with the new location of the building graphics.
6. Select Undo to return all of the buildings that were moved to their original positions.
7. Delete the Terrain Model.
Hint: The Terrain Model can also be deleted using the Undo tool.
8. Create the Terrain Model again using the graphical filter but with the Ignore Feature Linking option enabled.
a. Select the Create Terrain Model by Graphical Filter tool.
Graphic Filter Group: Training
Name: Survey
9. Use the Move tool to move one of the buildings to a new location.
The terrain model updates automatically because it is linked to the source graphics.
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Exercise 4: Updating, Editing, and Analyzing
Description
The following exercises provide practice for identifying and fixing various types of terrain model problems.
Skills Taught
Reviewing terrain model warnings in the Civil Message Center
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Civil Message Center Warnings
1. Remain in the Create from Graphical Filter.dgn [Create from Graphical Filter - Metric.dgn] file.
2. Open the Civil Message Center.
The Civil Message Center is typically minimized and pinned in the lower left corner of the view. If the Civil Message Center cannot be
found, select the icon on the General Geometry task menu to open the Civil Message Center.
There are three Warnings about crossing features in the terrain model. A warning graphic is also displayed in the drawing view at each
location.
3. Right click on the first warning in the Civil Message Center and select Zoom To.
The view updates to the location of the first warning. However at this scale it is difficult to see what is causing the warning.
4. Zoom in very close to the point until you can see that the two dashed lines overlap one another.
The problem here is that the beginning and ending points of a closed shape do not connect and even worse they overlap. The solution is
to move one end point to be coincident with the other end point.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for the other two warnings. They are similar problems.
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Adding and Modifying Features
Why were these buildings not brought into he terrain model with the other graphics? These two buildings are on a level named
E_Site_Building. This level was not included in either of the two filters created in the previous exercise so the graphics on this level were
never loaded.
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b. Follow the heads up prompts...
Locate the Terrain Model to add Elements
Right-click (reset)
The terrain model updates to include the two buildings as void features.
4. Zoom to the other problem building on the southern portion of the terrain model.
Looking closely it appears this building is in the terrain model because the triangle vertices exist at the building vertices. The problem is
that the feature was incorrectly created as a break line when it should have been a void. This was caused by the feature being on the
wrong level.
Right-click (reset)
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Correcting Crossing Break Lines
The report shows three crossing feature issue. A warning graphic is also displayed in the graphics view for each similar to the warnings
from the Civil Message Center.
Notice in the Terrain Crossing Features Report window that the red feature is ‘Feature 1’ and the blue feature is ‘Feature 2’.
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Improving Triangulation around Edge of Terrain Model
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Exercise 5: Complex Terrain Models
Description
This exercises provide practice for combining multiple terrain models together.
Skills Taught
Combine two terrain models
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Combine Two Terrain Models
When multiple terrain models need to be combined a good workflow is to reference the terrain models into a blank file
and create the new complex terrain model there. That way the complex and the source terrain models are organized in
separate files can make it easier to manage your data.
1. Open the Complex Terrain Model.dgn [Complex Terrain Model - Metric.dgn] file.
This is a blank file provided with the dataset for ease of use.
2. Attach the Create from Graphical Filter.dgn [Create from Graphical Filter - Metric.dgn] file as a reference using a Coincident - World
orientation.
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11. Set the Feature Definition to Existing Triangles.
12. Set the Name to Existing Ground Survey.
13. Click Finish.
A new terrain model named Existing Ground Survey is created that is the combination of the original Survey and East Survey terrain
models.
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