The latest RPS Work Process command - RPS Slope Designer has been a marathon to create but we hope it was worth the wait. It just released (October 15 2021)
The command is at home on highways, roads, sites, buildings, foundations, walls, dams, berms, mines, quarries and more - and I feel that it is an outstanding addition to our command library!
RPS Slope Designer provides a style driven approach to creating Offset Lines using
- Offset and Slope
- Offset and Elevation
- Offset and Delta Elevation
- Slope to Elevation
- Slope to Delta Elevation
- Slope to Surface
The command leverages the RPS Linestring Optimizer technology to eliminate VPIs along lines that are created using Slope Designer, and to convert chorded lines back into curvilinear geometry in both the horizontal and vertical profile. This allows you to rapidly create offset lines from previously offset lines with the minimum number of nodes to create better and more accurate surface models.
The command also leverages the RPS Point Creator technology to compute where the offset lines should be computed. You can set up Point Creator Styles to support Slope Designer, to generate exactly what you need where you need it - again with a high focus on building great models quickly that are optimized for size and accuracy as well as overall performance in TBC and downstream in Trimble and third party Field Equipment.
Through incorporation of Point Creator and the Offset line capabilities, you now also have a smart fast tool for the computation of 3D stakeout information for Walls, Buildings, Utilities, Structures and highways.
The command provides the following methods of computation
- All - the full length of the open or closed source line
- Range Serial - A series of selected station ranges along the source line - automation of start and end stations and start and end offsets, slopes and elevations is incorporated
- Range - Parallel - A series of offset lines over the same station range with different offsets, elevations or slopes
- Single - Create individual points or lines from selected locations along the source line - automated node cornering (external and internal corners) and the ability to add extra nodes into sideslopes to compensate for variable target surface terrain (Swales etc.)
The command allows you to vary offsets, elevations and slopes along the source lines, it also allows you to define transitions between stations - ideal for the computation of variable cross slopes or elevations along the source e.g. for Walls, Trenches and road surfaces.
The command provides smart and easy ways to create sideslopes and offset lines and eliminates the traditional “errors” encountered at inside corners and external corners along the source lines (shoelace and crossovers etc.)
The now traditional Styles and Centralized Settings approach that we are using in all of our commands allows you to create sets of settings for common tasks, that allow you to simply select the style, select the source line, select the computation mode and apply. Extremely complex surfaces can be created in seconds, and you can see the model evolve in front of your eyes as you work - this creates a more rewarding experience for the user as well as building great models for the field and increased accuracy quantities and estimates.
The video below is a marketing video that highlights some of the cool features of this command
The link below is the full command documentation and training video - you may need a couple of buckets of Popcorn for this video though - the command does a lot!
Kudos to Peter and Wyn - the incorporation of Point Creator, Linestring Optimizer and now Slope Designer Technologies has really opened up a whole new world of tools that we can create to further automate model building processes.
