About Creating Offset Profiles

You can create dynamic offset profiles using the same command you use to create offset alignments, Create Offset Alignment.

Offset profile geometry

The profile geometry is offset using a default cross slope that you specify. The geometry of the parent profile is replicated in cases where there is a consistent cross slope from the parent profile. You can modify the default cross slope and add slope transition regions using the Offset Parameters tab of the offset profile properties.

Where there is a transition region specified between one cross slope to another cross slope, the offset profile geometry is created as shown in the following example.

Note: This example is shown with vertical exaggeration and illustrates the resulting offset profile geometry if the centerline and offset alignment entities are tangents of the same lengths. If the centerline and offset alignment entities are different lengths or are curves, the resulting offset geometry will be different.

• The elevation difference values that are shown are between the parent profile and the offset profile, and they are determined by the cross slope and the lane width.
• The geometry point is located 1/3 of the way into the transition region, so the cross slope at the geometry point is 1/3 of the total slope transition.
• The offset profile entity will be a tangent if the parent profile entity is a tangent.
• The offset profile entity will be a parabola if the parent profile entity is a parabola. The offset parabola will use the specified K value for the offset profile (calculated prior to the slope transition being applied).
• The offset profile entity will be a circular curve if the parent profile entity is a circular curve. The offset circular curve will use the specified R value for the offset profile (calculated prior to the slope transition being applied).
• Parabolas and circular curves in the slope transition area will use the K or R of the offset profile curves that was calculated prior to the slope transition being applied.

The following examples show a centerline profile (top) and an offset profile with slope transition regions (bottom).

Note: Vertical curves in offset profile geometry are tessellated as multiple straight segments as shown below when the profile is superimposed onto another profile view. For reviewing and editing the offset profile geometry, insert the offset profile into its own profile view by using the Create Profile View command and selecting the offset alignment.

Update mode for offset profiles

Offset profiles are created in a dynamic state by default. A dynamic offset profile automatically updates to reflect changes in the elevation or geometry of the parent profile and parent alignment. When an offset profile is dynamic, you can add cross slope regions on the Offset Parameters tab, but the profile geometry cannot be edited.

You can change the update mode for an offset profile on the Profile Data tab of the Profile Properties dialog box.