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The Fall 2022 - Summer 2023 Seminar Schedule is out!
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Our seminars apply to AGTEK's site earthwork modeling and takeoff software.
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Fundamentals of Site Modeling & Takeoff

2022 - 2023 Day 1 Seminar Handbook Table of Contents (Final)

  • Cover
  • Note to Self-Paced Users of the Day 1 Seminar Handbooki
  • Notices1
  • Day 1 Quick Reference2
  • Day 1 Table of Contents3
  • Day 1 Seminar Class Outline16
  • Program Overview19
  • Earthwork Modeling Step-by-Step50
    • Sample Site Grading Plan50
    • Street Details, Site Location Map and Plan Abbreviations/Notes51
    • New Job File Setup52
    • Import First PDF Plan Sheet53
      • Multi-Page Preview Dialog54
      • Adjust Display and Note PDF Data Type55
      • Set Scale for First PDF Plan Sheet56
      • Verify and Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 4D57
      • Verify PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D58
      • Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D59
      • Translate Job File to Designer's Coordinates60
      • Determine Best Use of Raster PDF Plan Sheet61
      • Raster-to-Vector Conversion Option62
      • Unrecognized Vector PDF Plan Sheet Problem63-A
    • Geo-Reference Job File with Google Earth64
    • Enter Notes on Documentation Layer72
    • Enter Existing Perimeter73
      • Two Problems with Existing Perimeter Inside Grading Limits74
      • Multiple Existing Perimeters and Perimeter Holes74
    • Enter Existing Data Lines75
      • Existing Data Lines Overview75
      • Existing Contours75
        • Streaming Entry Option76
      • Spot Elevations78
        • Critical Spot Elevations78
        • Entry Options78
        • Spot Elevation Topo (No Contours)80
    • Open Job File (with Data Line Errors), Re-Load PDF Plan Sheet81
    • Error-Check and Correct Existing Data Lines82
      • Error Check with Plan View83
        • Crossing Data Lines83
        • Display Elevation Labels84
        • Horizontal Spike85
        • Point Reduction of Streamed Contours86
      • Error Check with 3D View87
        • Obvious Vertical Errors87
        • Non-Graphical Elevation Error Detection Tools88
          • Site Min/Max Elevations88
          • Find Elevation Function88
        • Line Editor vs. Point Editor90
      • Error Check with Trimesh Utility91
        • The TIN Surface91
        • Disable Shader Support for Trimesh Evaluation (AGTEK 4D)92
        • Effect of Break Line on TIN92
      • Error Check with Water Flow Utility93
      • Error Check with Contour Surface Utility94
      • Trimesh, Water Flow, and Contour Utilities Compared95
      • Enter Corrective Existing Break Lines96
        • Ridge and Saddle97
        • Swale Flow Line99
        • Connecting Widely-Separated Contours at Site Perimeter101
        • Spread Debris Pile102
        • Existing Street106
    • Views of Completed Existing Surface108
    • Match Point Selection for Aligning Next PDF Plan Sheet110
    • Direct Coordinates or Selected (Common) Points?110
    • Import and Align Next PDF Plan Sheet (Direct Coordinates)111
    • Selected (Common) Points Outtake114
    • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - AGTEK 3D115
    • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Earthwork 4D116
    • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Gradework 4D117
    • Manual PDF Realignment (Align Matching Edges)118
    • Enter Design Data Lines119
      • Design Data Lines Overview117
      • Building Data Lines (and Adjacent Landscape Grades)120
        • Fixed Elevation Building (Fixed Landscape Grade)120
        • Stepped Elevation Building (Sloped Landscape Grade)121
        • Building with Retaining Wall (Fixed and Sloped Landscape Grades)123
      • Pond Data Lines125
      • Street Data Lines126
      • Line Labels On Data Lines127
      • Offset Design Data Lines129
        • Pre-Offset Error Checking129
          • Horizontal Error129
          • "Guesstimate" Correction to Bad Plan Grade130
          • Note Bad Plan Grade on Documentation Layer131
        • Offset Line Utility Options and Settings132
        • Fixed Landscape Grade at Building134
        • Offset Specified Range of Points136
        • Pond Data Lines137
        • Street Data Lines140
          • Four Approaches to Offsetting Street Data Lines141
          • Swap Ends Utility142
          • Offset Lines for Walks, C & G, Crown143
          • Apply Template Option for Street Data Lines (AGTEK 4D)146
        • Enter Supplemental Design Data Lines151
          • Enter Elevations by Slope and Daylight151
          • Design Landscape Contours152
          • Design and Drafting Entry Options153
          • Plan-Profile Entry Options153
          • Contours or Break Lines to Model Fixed-Slope Areas154
        • Views of Design Surface (without Design Perimeter)155
        • Enter Design Perimeter156
          • Hole in Design Perimeter at Undisturbed Area157
          • Editing Design Perimeter Alignment157
          • Design Perimeter Alignment by Slope Intercept157
        • Error-Check and Correct Design Data Lines158
          • Check with Plan and 3D Views (Edit Mode)159
          • Check with Trimesh Utility160
          • Check with Water Flow Utility160
          • Check with Contour Surface Utility160
          • Check with Plan and 3D Views (3D View Mode)161
          • Enter Corrective Design Break Lines162
            • Bad Street Surface Example162
            • Flat TIN Triangles at Site Perimeter Corners163
        • Views of Completed Design Surface164
        • Existing and Design Surface Adjustments165
          • Enter Stripping Areas166
            • Topsoil Stripping166
            • Holes in Stripping Areas167
            • Debris Removal (Over Topsoil)167
            • Existing Sidewalk Removal168
            • Stripping Beyond Design Perimeter169
            • Stripping Fill or Cut Areas Only169
            • Stripping Variable Depth Topsoil169
            • Verify and Edit Stripping Areas170
          • Report Regions and Sectional Areas Defined172
          • Enter Report Regions and Sectional Areas173
            • Building Areas174
            • Pond Top, Slope and Bottom Areas176
            • Street Blacktop, C & G and Walk Areas180
            • Landscape Areas187
            • Verify Report Regions and Sectional Areas188
              • Holes in Report Regions and Sectional Areas188
              • Selection Methods and Cross-Hatching189
              • Individual Region/Area Edits190
              • Multiple Region/Area Edits191
              • Editing Region/Area Boundary191
          • Subgrade Modeling Notes193
        • Entering, Viewing and Interpreting Profiles196
          • Surface Selection and Layers Display196
          • Two-Point (Straight-Line) Profile Example196
          • Multi-Point (Curving) Profile Example197
          • Evaluating Profiles198
            • Profile Interpretation198
            • Profile Point Scroll199
          • Set Profile Station Start Value (Edit Station Offsets Utility)200
          • Cross Sections on Profile (Station Generator Utility)201
        • Viewing and Interpreting Plan View Maps202
          • Cut-Fill Maps, Display Options, and Settings202
          • Stripping Area and Sectional Area Depth Maps206
        • 3D Drive-Through Simulation207
        • Calculating, Reporting and Interpreting Cut/Fill Volumes208
          • Setting Up the Calculations208
          • Ref and Diff Surface Considerations (AGTEK 3D vs. AGTEK 4D)209
          • Volume Calculation Error and Warning Messages210
          • Calculation Screen, Control Keys and Results Dialog211
          • Overview of Three-Part Volume Report212
            • Cut/Fill Quantities (Part 1)212
            • Stripping Quantities (Part 2)212
            • Sectional Quantities (Part 3)212
            • Detailed Breakdown of Cut/Fill Quantities (Part 1)213
          • Answering Questions with the Volume Report214
          • Shrink/Swell Adjustments215
            • Three Volume/Density States of Soil215
            • Estimated Shrink/Swell215
              • Soils Report Densities215
              • Densities Not Provided216
              • Mixed Onsite Fill Materials218
            • Measured (Actual) Shrinkage219
            • Shrinkage on Remove/Scarify/Re-Compact Volumes219
            • Subsidence Loss Adjustment219
              • Bump the Fill Factor220
              • Rule of Thumb Adjustments220
              • Compaction Depth Formula221
              • Topo Method221
            • Haul Swell Adjustment222
            • References and Comments223
          • Export Volume Report to Text File for Excel225
          • Export Volume Report to XLSX File for Excel (AGTEK 4D)228
      • Other Applications229
        • Length/Area Utility229
      • Appendix A: How to Get Help, Training, Program Updates231
      • Appendix B: Keyboard Shortcuts237
        • Import (CAD Transfer) Mode237
        • Edit Mode239
        • Entry Mode244
        • Profile View Mode248
        • Planview (Cut-Fill Map) Mode250
        • 3D View Mode253
        • Volume Report Mode256
        • Haul Report Mode257
        • Print Preview Mode258
      • Appendix C: Download and Use Day 1 Seminar Data Files259
      • Appendix D: Catalog of Day 1 Handbook Web Resources263
      • Appendix E: Format and Print Documentation273
        • Print Device Setup273
        • Volume Report274
        • 3D Views276
        • Cut-Fill Map277
        • Cut-Fill Map (Over Plan Sheet Image)278
        • Profile Views279
        • Spanning Multiple Printed Pages280
        • Combine Images from Different Job Files on Same Print Page281
        • Export Image Object from Print Page to EMF File281
        • Save Print Page Layout to AIP File281
        • Recover Print Page Layout from AIP File282
        • Save Print Page Layout to PDF File283
        • Save 3D Surface to VRML (WRL) File283
        • Legacy Image Presenter Compatibility283
        • Publish to Google Earth (AGTEK 3D Options)283
        • Publish to Google Earth (AGTEK 4D)284
      • Appendix F: Digitizing From Paper Site Grading Plans - AGTEK 3D287
        • New Job Setup for Paper Plan Digitizing287
        • Paper Plan Scaling Method 1 (Arbitrary Coordinates)288
        • Paper Plan Scaling Method 2 (Designer’s Coordinates)290
        • Rescaling Paper Plan Sheet292
        • Adjusting Data Digitized at Wrong Paper Plan Scale (Stretch)293
        • Calculating an Unknown Paper Plan Scale294
      • Appendix G: Digitizing From Multiple Paper Plan Sheets - AGTEK 3D295
      • Appendix H: Digitizing from Paper Profile Sheets - AGTEK 3D301
      • Appendix I: Merging AGTEK ESW Job Files321
      • Appendix J: Design and Drafting Tools323
        • Example Base Map with Existing Contours324
        • Circle Utility327
        • Point Compression Utility328
        • Trim Lines Utility329
        • Station Generator Utility333
        • Copy vs. Cut for Pasting Surface Layer Data (AGTEK 4D)334
        • Auto Pad Utility337
        • Wildcard Label Selection338
        • Assign Elevations by Daylight Function340
        • Assign Elevations by +/- Edit Function342
        • Assign Elevations by Slope Edit Function343
        • Assign Elevations by Conform Utility344
        • Fillet Line Utility346
        • Establish Limit of Grading by Slope Intercept349
        • Contour Surface Utility351
      • About the Author and Seminar Instructor353
      • Seminar Attendee Survey355
      • Tear-Out Grading Plan Sheet for Step-by-Step Earthwork Modeling Exercise357
      • Tear-Out Street Details for Step-by-Step Earthwork Modeling Exercise358
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(Click for Day 1 Seminar Outline)
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