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Fundamentals of Site Modeling & Takeoff

2024 Post-Seminars Day 1 Handbook Table of Contents (Final)

Cover
Note to Self-Paced Users of the Day 1 Seminar Handbooki
Title Page and Notices1
Author's Note2
Some Handbook Acronyms and Terminology3
Day 1 Quick Reference Index4
Day 1 Table of Contents6
Model Day 1 Seminar Class Outline21
Program Overview23
- Note to Earthwork Beginners23
- Software Installation and Setup Notes24
- A Toolbox for Creating Earthwork Models27
- AGTEK Site Modeling Products Compared28
- Should AGTEK 3D Users Upgrade to AGTEK 4D?30
- Data-Entry Options For Site Modeling and Takeoff32
- Requirements for Paper Plan Digitizing34
- Requirements for Working with PDF Plan Sheets35
- Raster PDF vs. Vector PDF36
- Tips for Working with Multiple PDF Plan Sheets37
  - Revised PDF Plan Sheets38
  - Image Selection Utility38
  - Alignment Strategies39
- Start-Up Options Menu40
  - Shader Support (AGTEK 4D)40
  - Plan View Shading Resolution40
  - Manage Image Cache (AGTEK 4D)41
- AGTEK Data File Maintenance42
- Screen Layout in AGTEK 3D and AGTEK 4D43
- Modes, Surfaces and Layers Overview44
- Entry Mode Screen Reference47
- Edit Mode Screen Reference48
- Utility Toolbar Reference49
- Data Entry Guides50
  - AGTEK 3D50
  - Earthwork 4D51
  - Gradework 4D52
- Typical Data Entry Sequence53
Earthwork Modeling Step-by-Step54
- Sample Site Grading Plan54
- Street Details, Site Location Map and Plan Abbreviations/Notes55
- New Job File Setup56
- Import First PDF Plan Sheet57
  - Multi-Page Preview Dialog58
  - Adjust Display and Note PDF Data Type59
  - Set Scale for First PDF Plan Sheet60
  - Verify and Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 4D61
  - Verify PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D62
  - Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D63
  - Translate Job File to Designer's Coordinates64
  - Determine Best Use of Raster PDF Plan Sheet65
  - Raster-to-Vector Conversion Option66
  - Unrecognized Vector PDF Plan Sheet Problem68
- Geo-Reference Job File with Google Earth69
- Enter Notes on Documentation Layer77
- Enter Existing Perimeter78
  - Two Problems with Existing Perimeter Inside Grading Limits79
  - Multiple Existing Perimeters and Perimeter Holes79
- Enter Existing Data Lines80
  - Existing Data Lines Overview80
  - Existing Contours80
    - Streaming Entry Option81
  - Existing Spot Elevations83
    - Critical Spot Elevations83
    - Entry Options83
    - Spot Elevation Topo (No Contours)85
- Open Job File (with Data Line Errors), Re-Load PDF Plan Sheet86
- Error-Check and Correct Existing Data Lines87
  - Error Check with Plan View88
    - Crossing Data Lines88
    - Display Elevation Values89
    - Horizontal Spike90
    - Point Reduction of Streamed Contours91
  - Error Check with 3D View92
    - Obvious Vertical Errors92
    - Non-Graphical Elevation Error Detection Tools93
      - Site Min/Max Elevations (File Information Report)93
      - Find Elevation Function93
    - Line Editor vs. Point Editor95
  - Error Check with Trimesh Utility96
    - The TIN Surface96
    - Disable Shader Support for Trimesh Evaluation (AGTEK 4D)97
    - Effect of Break Line on TIN97
  - Error Check with Water Flow Utility98
  - Error Check with Contour Surface Utility99
  - Trimesh, Water Flow and Contour Utilities Compared100
  - Enter Corrective Existing Break Lines101
    - Ridge and Saddle102
    - Swale Flow Line104
    - Connecting Widely-Separated Contours at Site Perimeter106
    - Spread Debris Pile107
    - Existing Street111
- Views of Completed Existing Surface113
- Match Point Selection for Aligning Next PDF Plan Sheet115
  - Direct Coordinates or Selected (Common) Points?115
- Import and Align Next PDF Plan Sheet (Direct Coordinates)116
- Selected (Common) Points Outtake119
- Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - AGTEK 3D120
- Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Earthwork 4D121
- Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Gradework 4D122
- Manual PDF Realignment (Align Matching Edges)123
- Enter Design Data Lines124
  - Design Data Lines Overview124
  - Building Data Lines (and Adjacent Landscape Grades)125
    - Fixed Elevation Building (Fixed Landscape Grade)125
    - Stepped Elevation Building (Sloped Landscape Grade)126
    - Building with Retaining Wall (Fixed and Sloped Landscape Grades)128
  - Pond Data Lines130
  - Street Data Lines131
  - Line Labels On Data Lines132
  - Offset Design Data Lines134
    - Pre-Offset Error Checking134
      - Horizontal Error134
      - "Guesstimate" Correction to Bad Plan Grade135
      - Note Bad Plan Grade on Documentation Layer136
    - Offset Line Utility Overview137
      - Offset Line Editor Options and Settings137
      - Distance/Elevation vs. Distance/Slope Offsets138
        
        Use Close-Interval Contours to Check Offset Result139
    - Offset Fixed Landscape Grade at Building140
    - Offset Specified Range of Points142
    - Offset Pond Data Lines144
    - Offset Street Data Lines146
      - Four Approaches to Offsetting Street Data Lines147
      - Swap Ends Utility148
      - Offset Lines for Walks, C & G, Crown149
      - Apply Template Option for Street Data Lines (AGTEK 4D)152
    - Enter Supplemental Design Data Lines157
      - Enter Elevations by Slope and Daylight157
      - Design Landscape Contours158
      - Design and Drafting Entry Options159
      - Plan-Profile Entry Options159
      - Contours or Break Lines to Model Fixed-Slope Areas160
    - Views of Design Surface (without Design Perimeter)161
    - Enter Design Perimeter162
      - Hole in Design Perimeter at Undisturbed Area163
      - Editing Design Perimeter Alignment163
      - Design Perimeter Alignment by Slope Intercept163
      - Shrink Wrap Design Perimeter Alignment (Gradework 4D)163
    - Error-Check and Correct Design Data Lines164
      - Check with Plan and 3D Views (Edit Mode)165
      - Check with Trimesh Utility166
      - Check with Water Flow Utility166
      - Check with Contour Surface Utility166
      - Check with Plan and 3D Views (3D View Mode)167
      - Enter Corrective Design Break Lines168
        
        Bad Street Surface Example168
        
        Flat TIN Triangles at Site Perimeter Corners169
    - Views of Completed Design Surface170
    - Existing and Design Surface Adjustments171
      - Enter Stripping Areas172
        
        Topsoil Stripping172
        
        Holes in Stripping Areas173
        
        Debris Removal (Over Topsoil)173
        
        Existing Sidewalk Removal174
        
        Stripping Beyond Design Perimeter175
        
        Stripping Fill or Cut Areas Only175
        
        Stripping Variable Depth Topsoil175
        
        Verify and Edit Stripping Areas176
        
        Verify Stripping Areas in 3D View Mode177
      - Report Regions and Sectional Areas Defined178
      - Enter Report Regions and Sectional Areas179
        
        Building Areas180
        
        Pond Top, Slope and Bottom Areas182
        
        Street Blacktop, C & G and Walk Areas186
        
        Landscape Areas193
        
        Verify and Edit Report Regions/Sectional Areas194
        
        Holes in Report Regions and Sectional Areas194
        
        Selection Methods and Cross-Hatching195
        
        Individual Region/Area Edits196
        
        Multiple-Selection Region/Area Edits197
        
        Wildcard Label Select197
        
        Sort Group Select (Gradework 4D)197
        
        Editing Region/Area Boundary198
        
        Verify Sectional Areas in 3D View Mode199
      - Subgrade Modeling Notes200
    - Entering, Viewing and Interpreting Profiles203
      - Surface Selection and Layers Display203
      - Two-Point (Straight-Line) Profile Example203
      - Multi-Point (Curving) Profile Example204
      - Evaluating Profiles205
        
        Profile Interpretation205
        
        Profile Point Scroll206
      - Set Profile Station Start Value (Edit Station Offsets Utility)207
      - Cross Sections on Profile (Station Generator Utility)208
    - Viewing and Interpreting Plan View Maps209
      - Cut-Fill Maps, Display Options and Settings209
        
        Effect of On-Grade Limit Value210
        
        Effect of Shade Increment Value212
      - Stripping Area and Sectional Area Depth Maps213
    - Slope Colors and Slope Areas in Gradework 4D214
      - Display Slope Colors214
        
        Define Slope Color Ranges214
        
        Display Options in Various Modes215
      - Slope Boundaries Utility219
      - Slope Area Report with Length/Area Utility220
      - Print Slope Area Report/Screen Views221
    - 3D Drive-Through Simulation222
    - Calculating, Reporting and Interpreting Cut/Fill Volumes223
      - Setting Up the Calculations223
      - Ref and Diff Surface Considerations (AGTEK 3D vs. AGTEK 4D)224
      - Volume Calculation Error and Warning Messages225
      - Calculation Screen, Control Keys and Results Dialog226
      - Volume Report Display Options227
      - Overview of Three-Part Volume Report228
        
        Cut/Fill Quantities (Part 1)228
        
        Stripping Quantities (Part 2)228
        
        Sectional Quantities (Part 3)228
        
        Detailed Breakdown of Cut/Fill Quantities (Part 1)229
        
        Effect of On-Grade Limit Value229
      - Answering Questions with the Volume Report230
      - Shrink/Swell Adjustments231
        
        Three Volume/Density States of Soil231
        
        Estimated Shrink/Swell231
        
        Soils Report Densities231
        
        Densities Not Provided232
        
        Mixed Onsite Fill Materials234
        
        Measured (Actual) Shrinkage235
        
        Shrinkage on Remove/Scarify/Re-Compact Volumes235
        
        Subsidence Loss Adjustment235
        
        Bump the Fill Factor236
        
        Rule of Thumb Adjustments236
        
        Compaction Depth Formula237
        
        Topo Method237
        
        Haul Swell Adjustment238
        
        References and Comments239
      - Export Volume Report to Text File for Excel241
      - Export Volume Report to XLSX File for Excel (AGTEK 4D)244
  - Other Applications245
    - Length/Area Utility245
  - Appendix A: How to Get Help, Training, Program Updates247
    - Getting Help247
    - Getting Trained249
    - Getting Program Updates250
  - Appendix B: Keyboard Shortcuts253
    - Import (CAD Transfer) Mode253
    - Edit Mode255
    - Entry Mode260
    - Profile View Mode264
    - Plan View (Cut-Fill Map) Mode266
    - 3D View Mode269
    - Volume Report Mode272
    - Haul Report Mode273
    - Print View Mode274
  - Appendix C: Download and Use Day 1 Seminar Data Files275
  - Appendix D: Catalog of Day 1 Handbook Web Resources279
  - Appendix E: Format and Print Documentation (Print View Mode)293
    - Print Device Setup293
    - Volume Report and Length/Area Report294
    - 3D Views296
    - Cut-Fill Map297
      - Cut-Fill Labels Overlap297
      - Cut-Fill Labels Won't Display297
    - Cut-Fill Map (Over Plan Sheet Image)298
    - Slope Colors Map299
    - Profile Views300
    - Spanning Multiple Printed Pages301
    - Combine Images from Different Job Files on Same Print Page302
    - Export Image Object from Print Page to EMF File302
    - Save Print Page Layout to AIP File302
    - Recover Print Page Layout from AIP File303
    - Save Print Page Layout to PDF File304
    - Save 3D Surface to VRML (WRL) File304
    - Legacy Image Presenter Compatibility304
    - Publish to Google Earth (AGTEK 3D Options)304
    - Publish to Google Earth (AGTEK 4D)305
  - Appendix F: Digitizing From Paper Site Grading Plans - AGTEK 3D309
    - New Job Setup for Paper Plan Digitizing309
    - Paper Plan Scaling Method 1 (Arbitrary Coordinates)310
    - Paper Plan Scaling Method 2 (Designer’s Coordinates)312
    - Rescaling Paper Plan Sheet314
    - Adjusting Data Digitized at Wrong Paper Plan Scale (Stretch)315
    - Calculating an Unknown Paper Plan Scale316
  - Appendix G: Digitizing From Multiple Paper Plan Sheets - AGTEK 3D317
  - Appendix H: Digitizing from Paper Profile Sheets - AGTEK 3D323
  - Appendix I: Merging AGTEK ESW Job Files343
  - Appendix J: Conceptual Modeling Exercise345
    - Boundary Map and Existing Topo346
    - Offsets from Property Lines347
    - Circle Utility349
    - Point Compression Utility350
    - Insert/Break Point Function (F5)350
    - Trim Lines Utility351
    - Join Lines Utility353
    - Lot Lines by Snap Entry355
    - Lot Lines by Station Generator Utility356
    - Lot Lines Clean Up358
    - Wildcard Label Selection358
    - Elevate Level Lot Areas with Auto Pad Utility359
      - Create Lot Grade Labels359
      - Run Auto Pad Utility360
      - Modify Auto Pad Results with Side-Setback Offsets361
    - Assign Tentative Street Centerline Grades by Daylight Function363
    - Enter Temporary Design and Existing Perimeters364
    - Apply Cut-to-Fill Shrink Factor to Default Job Site Report Region366
    - Calculate Volumes to Check Tentative Rough Balance366
    - Edit and Finalize Street Centerline Grades367
      - Edit Elevations by Point Scroll Range Interpolation367
      - Edit Elevations by +/- Function368
      - Edit Elevations by Slope Function368
    - Prep Street Centerline for Tie-In to Existing370
      - Assign Elevations by Conform Selected Utility370
    - Create/Prep Street Edge-of-Pavement Line371
      - Centerline Offset371
      - Insert/Break/Delete/Conform/Trim/Join372
      - Fillet Line Utility at Angular Join Points375
      - Check and Correct Fillet Elevation Errors377
    - Detail Curb & Gutter/Walk with Apply Template Utility (AGTEK 4D)380
    - Storm Basin Detail382
      - Determine Basin Location and Top/Bottom Grades382
      - Fillet Line Utility383
      - Apply Template Utility (AGTEK 4D)383
    - Edit Level Lot Area Footprint Example385
      - Offset Move-To Reference385
      - F7 Move Point Options386
    - Establish Limit of Grading by Slope-Intercept Offset387
    - Enter Final Design and Existing Perimeters389
    - Enter Final Stripping Area390
    - Enter Final Report Regions/Sectional Areas391
    - Final Volume Calculations and Site Balancing Grade Adjustments394
      - First Calculation and Volume Report Evaluation394
      - Use Cut-Fill Colors and Profiles to Choose Grade Raise Areas395
      - Partial Grade Raise Based on Volume Report Change Values397
      - Second Calculation and Volume Report Evaluation397
      - Determine Overshoot Percentage and Modify Change Values397
      - Remaining Grade Raise Based on Modified Change Values398
      - Third Calculation and Volume Report Evaluation (Balanced)400
    - Generate Contours for Conceptual Design Surface401
  - About the Author and Seminar Instructor403
  - Seminar Attendee Survey405
  - Tear-Out Plan Sheet for Step-by-Step Earthwork Modeling Exercise407
  - Tear-Out Plan Details for Step-by-Step Earthwork Modeling Exercise408

Latest News & Information

Fundamentals of Site Modeling & Takeoff

2024 Post-Seminars Day 1 Handbook Table of Contents (Final)

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(Click for Day 1 Seminar Outline)

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