Remember: the Site Profiling Tools are NOT different technology, different architecture, or different philosophy from "traditional' Corridor Vertical Geometry tools. They are additional tools that solve additional engineering constraints.
The core of the additional "Site" Grading Tools are these in the Geometry > Vertical Geometry ribbon group:
Profile From Surface is the primary way to get vertical geometry from or relative to a Terrain.
Quick Profile From Surface is a simplification of Profile from Surface. You get a Profile at the Surface, following it exactly (all triangles insert a vertex).
Profile by Constant Elevation creates a Profile Element at a single elevation.
Profile by Slope from Element creates a new Profile element in one horizontal element derived from a Profile Element in another horizontal element - by a Constant Slope.
- An Edge of Pavement can be defined as -2% from the active Profile of the Centerline
- A Building Apron exterior can be set to be -1% from the building edge.
Profile by Variable Slope from Element allows a varying slope in the new Profile element.
- Consider a superelevating edge of pavement. You can define the initial slope as -2% and the final slope as 4%
Profile By Vertical Offset From Element is similar to Profile by Slope from Element.
- Note that, while similar, they behave diffrently when the horizontal elements are moved.
- For example at 12' offset an edge of pavement can be defined as -0.24' or 2% below the centerline. They're equivalent. When the road gets widened to 18' or 24', do you want the slope to remain the same or the offset to remain the same?
Note: not all of these tools make the Profile it creates the Active Profile. It's recommended that you have the 3D Model View visible. It shows only horizontal elements and their active profile.