PlotGradient

This subassembly is used to grade plots from a highway boundary line.

The following illustration shows an example of this subassembly being used when the target profile level at the back of the plot is higher than the attachment point.

The following illustration shows an example of this subassembly being used when the attachment point is higher than the target profile level at the back of the plot.

Attachment

The attachment point is at the inside edge of the lane on the finished surface.

Input Parameters

Note: All dimensions are in meters or feet unless otherwise noted. All slopes are in run-over-rise form (for example, 4 : 1) unless indicated as a percent slope with a “%” sign.

Parameter	Description	Type	Default
Side	Indicates which side the subassembly is inserted towards.	Left \ Right	Right
Inside Width	The inside width of the plot.	Numeric, positive	3.6 m 12.0 ft
Outside Width	The outside width of the plot.	Numeric, positive	3.6 m 12.0 ft
Min Slope	The minimum slope for the outside width of the plot.	Numeric, positive	1 %

Target Parameters

This section lists the parameters in this subassembly that can be mapped to one or more target objects, such as a surface, alignment, or profile object in a drawing. For more information, see To Specify Corridor Targets.

Parameter	Description	Status
Middle Offset	May be used to override the fixed Inside Width by tying the mid plot line to an offset alignment. The following object types can be used as targets for specifying this offset: alignments, polylines, feature lines, or survey figures.	Optional
Edge Offset	May be used to override the fixed Outside Width by tying end plot line to an offset alignment. The following object types can be used as targets for specifying this offset: alignments, polylines, feature lines, or survey figures.	Optional
Edge Level	May be used to override the fixed Level by tying end plot line to a level. The following object types can be used as targets for specifying this level: profiles, 3D polylines, feature lines, or survey figures.	Required

Output Parameters

None.

Behavior

The plot gradient assembly tool needs to start at the highway boundary and, much like the BasicLaneTransition subassembly, it will hold gradient and change offset to the middle of the plot at a default slope of 1%. The value of the slope can be input by the user. At the middle of the plot will be an alignment with no profile. So the assembly will be a link from highway boundary to that mid plot alignment at 1% slope. Then the mid plot alignment will link to the back of plot, which is a fixed level; for example, 74.00 feet. We need to maintain a minimum slope of 1% on the back half of the plot as well. Therefore there needs to be a rule in place if the front of the plot gradient at 1% slope does not allow for a minimum slope of 1% for the back half of the plot, then the back half of the plot gradient needs to change to 1% and the front half plot gradient needs to go steeper.

Layout Mode Operation

In layout mode, this subassembly draws the lane using the input parameter values. It will use 1% as the steeper slope value.

Point, Link, and Shape Codes

The following table lists the point, link, and shape codes for this subassembly that have codes assigned to them. Point, link, or shape codes for this subassembly that do not have codes assigned are not included in this table.

Point, Link, or Shape	Code	Description
P1	Crown	Crown of road on finished surface.
P2	Hinge	Plot hinge point.
L1, L2	Top	Finish surface.