Use the criteria-based design feature to apply agency-specific standards to a profile.
The criteria-based design feature provides the ability to verify that your profile design meets the minimum standards required by your local agency.
When you use the criteria-based design feature, you can select a design criteria file, from which you can specify the minimum K value table. If the parent alignment also uses design criteria, the design criteria file applied to the alignment is applied for the profile by default. You can specify a separate design criteria file for the profile either during creation or in the profile properties.
When you lay out the profile, the appropriate minimum values specified in the design criteria file are displayed on the command line. You can either accept the default minimum value for a given sub-element, or specify a new value.
Agency standards, which are typically based on superelevation and design speed requirements, are contained in the customizable design criteria file. When you create the profile, the minimum standards from the design criteria file ensure that the vertical curves comply with the minimum standards required by your local agency.
If the design parameters for a sub-element violate the minimum values established in the design criteria file, a warning symbol appears both on the sub-element in the drawing window and next to the violated value in the Profile Elements Vista and Profile Layout Parameters dialog box. When you hover the cursor over a warning symbol, a tooltip displays which standard has been violated and how to correct the violation. The display of the warning symbol is controlled by the profile style.
Some profile design criteria are not available in table form in the design criteria file. For these criteria, you can define design checks to validate design standards. A design check must be saved in a design check set to be applied to a profile.
You can generate a report that documents validations or violations in the profile design. The design criteria report identifies whether each sub-element within a given chainage range meets the appropriate design criteria and design checks.
Tutorial: Designing a Profile that Refers to Local Standards
Profile Standards in the Design Criteria File
The design criteria file contains the standards tables that specify design standards for alignments and profiles.
The design criteria file contains A.A.S.H.T.O. standards tables for minimum K values at specified design speeds. Minimum K values for Stopping Sight Distance, Overtaking Sight Distance, and Headlight Sight Distance are provided. If your local agency standards differ from the standards in the supplied design criteria file, you can use the Design Criteria Editor dialog box to customize the file to support your local standards.
By default, the profile uses the design criteria applied to the parent alignment. You can accept the default, or select a different design criteria file for the profile.
The design criteria file contains standards for both alignment and profile objects. The Design Criteria Editor dialog box is used to modify the standards for both objects.