Siteworks includes several enhancements when working with VCL corridor surfaces and corridor template surfaces. These improvements provide greater flexibility for visualisation, stakeout, volume calculations, and design creation workflows.

Corridor Template Surfaces in the 3D Viewer

Unlike PRO roadway designs, Siteworks can display Corridor Template Surfaces in the 3D Surface Viewer and generate design contour lines from the template surface.

Important Consideration

The 3D surface and contour display are created from a surface representation of the corridor template, which includes the design's tie slopes.

As a result:

• The design surface may appear larger than the original corridor template footprint.
• Design contours extend across the tie slope areas.
• The 3D surface includes tie slope geometry.

Measuring Over Tie Slopes

If your position is located on a design tie slope:

• The tie slope may be visible in the 3D View.
• The tie slope may be included within the design contour display.
• Siteworks does not display Design Elevation, Cut/Fill, or other surface measurement information for those tie slope areas.

This occurs because tie slopes are not considered part of the corridor template data used by the Measure feature.

Greater Flexibility for Alignment Stakeout

A significant enhancement with VCL data is the ability to stake alignments independently of the active surface.

What This Means

You can:

• Select any VCL alignment.
• Stake a station and offset location from that alignment.
• Use the currently active surface for elevation information.

The selected alignment does not need to be associated with the active surface.

This provides more flexibility when working with complex projects that contain multiple alignments and surfaces.

Easier Transition from PRO Workflows

To assist users transitioning from PRO roadway designs to VCL designs, Siteworks includes additional selection options within the Stakeout workflow.

Alignment Selection Behaviour

In the Stakeout Object screen, if you select the alignment associated with the active surface, Siteworks displays a pop-up menu allowing you to choose between:

• The alignment
• The active surface

Why This Matters

With PRO designs:

• Users typically selected the corridor alignment to access corridor stakeout functionality.

With VCL designs:

• Corridor template stakeout functions are accessed by selecting the Corridor Template Surface, not the alignment.

This prompt helps users choose the correct object for the intended workflow.

Volume Calculations Using Corridor Template Surfaces

In the Review & Edit Data COGO feature, Corridor Template Surfaces can be used in volume calculations.

You can calculate volumes between:

• The measured surface
• The active corridor template surface

Tie Slopes Included

When calculating volumes using a Corridor Template Surface:

• Design tie slopes are included in the volume computation.
• These tie slopes are generated in Trimble Business Center.
• The tie slopes may extend beyond the original design footprint.

As a result, volume calculations may include:

• Actual design surface data
• Calculated tie slope surfaces
• Extrapolated surface areas

This can influence total volume results, particularly around the edges of the design.

Viewing the Extents of the Template Surface

To see the full area used in the volume calculation:

1. Open Map Options.
2. Select the Design tab.
3. Enable Design Contours.

A red boundary line is displayed around the design surface.

This red boundary indicates:

• Where the template surface ends.
• The extent of any included tie slopes.
• The surface area used in volume calculations.

Merging Measured Data with a Corridor Template Surface

When saving measured data as a new design, Siteworks now supports merging measured data with a Corridor Template Surface.

What Is Included in the Merge?

The merged design includes:

• Measured surface data
• Corridor template surface data
• Design tie slopes associated with the corridor template

Because tie slopes are included, the merged surface may extend beyond the original corridor template boundaries.

Checking the Merge Extents

Before merging, you can review the full template surface extent by:

1. Opening Map Options.
2. Selecting the Design tab.
3. Enabling Design Contours.

The red outline surrounding the design surface indicates:

• The limits of the template surface.
• The tie slope boundary.
• The data that will be included in the surface merge.

Best Practices

✅ Review Design Contours before performing volume calculations with corridor template surfaces.
✅ Be aware that tie slopes are included in volume computations and surface merges.
✅ Verify whether tie slopes extend outside the intended design footprint.
✅ Select the Corridor Template Surface, not the alignment, when staking corridor template features.
✅ Use the alignment-independent stakeout capability when working with multiple alignments and surfaces in the same project.
✅ Check the red contour boundary to understand exactly what surface data is being used in calculations and merges.

Key Points

• Corridor Template Surfaces can now be displayed in the 3D Surface Viewer.
• Design contours can be generated for corridor template surfaces.
• Tie slopes are included in the generated surface representation.
• Any VCL alignment can be used for station and offset stakeout, regardless of the active surface.
• Corridor Template Surface stakeout is accessed by selecting the surface, not the alignment.
• Volume calculations include corridor template tie slopes.
• Surface merge operations also include corridor template tie slopes.
• The red design contour boundary shows the full extent of the surface used for calculations and merges.