Siteworks supports three different surface types within a VCL design file. Each surface type is designed for specific surveying, stakeout, and construction workflows.

When working with a VCL design, you can select an active surface and use it throughout the measurement, stakeout, and COGO features, depending on the surface type.

Accessing Surface Stakeout

From the map screen, tap and hold on the active surface to display additional options, including:

Stakeout Surface

Selecting this option opens the Surface Stakeout workflow, allowing you to stake the selected design surface in the field.

VCL Surface

A VCL Surface consists of one or more triangulated surfaces stored within the VCL file.

This surface type behaves in the same way as a traditional TTM surface and can be used across multiple Siteworks workflows.

Supported Functions

A VCL Surface can be used as:

• A grade check surface in the Measure feature
• A secondary surface in the Measure feature
• A surface for Surface Stakeout
• A design surface in COGO functions

Visualisation

VCL surfaces are displayed in the 3D Surface Viewer using the same appearance and functionality as TTM surfaces.

Volume Calculations

VCL surfaces can be included in volume calculations.

Corridor Surface

A Corridor Surface is a triangulated surface created from a corridor model in Trimble Business Center using corridor cross-sections.

Like a VCL Surface, a Corridor Surface is treated similarly to a TTM surface within Siteworks.

Supported Functions

A Corridor Surface can be used as:

• A grade check surface
• A secondary comparison surface
• A stakeout surface
• A design surface for COGO operations

Visualisation

Corridor surfaces are displayed in the 3D Surface Viewer.

Volume Calculations

Corridor surfaces can be used in volume calculations.

Reference Line Behaviour

When a corridor surface is selected as the active surface, Siteworks automatically selects the corridor alignment associated with that surface as the project's reference line.

To change or remove the reference line:

1. Tap and hold on the map screen and select the reference line options.

Or:

1. Select Home.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select Reference Line.

Corridor Template Surface

A Corridor Template Surface is created from the corridor templates defined in Trimble Business Center.

This surface type is similar to a traditional PRO road design and provides additional corridor-specific functionality.

Supported Functions

A Corridor Template Surface can be used as:

• A grade check surface
• A stakeout design surface
• A COGO design surface

Unlike other surface types, it cannot be used as a second surface in the Measure feature.

Advanced Stakeout Capabilities

When using a Corridor Template Surface in the Stakeout feature, you can:

• Stake the corridor template surface
• Stake individual corridor features
• Stake template nodes
• Stake catch points

This provides greater control when working with road and corridor designs.

Cross Section Display

When a Corridor Template Surface is active, Siteworks displays a cross-section view similar to the view used with PRO roadway files.

This provides a clearer representation of the corridor design during stakeout and inspection workflows.

Reference Line Behaviour

As with Corridor Surfaces, the corridor alignment associated with the template surface is automatically selected as the active reference line.

To modify the selected reference line:

1. Use the tap-and-hold menu on the map screen.

Or:

1. Select Home.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select Reference Line.

Corridor Template Surfaces and Volume Calculations

When used for:

• Volume calculations
• Design contour generation
• 3D Surface Viewer display

Siteworks automatically converts the Corridor Template Surface into a Corridor Surface internally.

During this conversion:

✅ Design tie slopes are included in the generated surface.

However, when using the Corridor Template Surface in:

• Measure
• Stakeout
• COGO

Only the template data is used.

❗ Design tie slopes are not included in these workflows.

Comparison of VCL Surface Types

* Corridor Template Surfaces are internally converted to Corridor Surfaces for volume calculations.

Best Practices

✅ Use VCL Surfaces for general site grading, surface comparison, and volume calculations.
✅ Use Corridor Surfaces when working with fully modelled corridor designs and alignment-based projects.
✅ Use Corridor Template Surfaces when corridor feature stakeout, node stakeout, or catch point stakeout is required.
✅ Verify the automatically selected reference line when opening corridor-based surfaces.
✅ Remember that corridor template tie slopes are only included when the surface is internally converted for visualisation, contours, or volume calculations.