Convergence Plots Dialog
The Convergence Plots dialog allows you to visualize the overall progress of in progress optimization. This is helpful to identify possible unsolvable issues before optimization is complete. Optimization can take some time, so detecting and correcting potential constraint problems allows for a more efficient workflow.
Click 
on either the Violation tab or Cut-fill tab of the Optimization Panel to open the Convergence Plots dialog.
Convergence Plots on the Optimization Toolbar to open the dialog.Feasibility Chart
The Feasibility chart displays the progress of optimization in relation to constraints placed on the grading objects. The progress line should trend downward and ultimately toward zero. How the line trends can hint at possible issues.
If the optimization is feasible within the assigned constraints, the line will move downward toward zero on the chart. This can be immediate or gradual.
It is normal for the line to fluctuate up and down early in the optimization as it tries to find a feasible solution. As the graph flattens out and moving vertically (even if above zero) then the optimization is making very little changes in each iteration.
The optimization status at the top of the chart indicates the probable solution status as a color-coded message above the chart.
- Green. Trending toward an optimal solution. This shows the optimization will likely be successful.
- Orange. More iterations need to determine a solution. This prompts that more time is needed to determine if hte solution is viable.
- Red. Review needed. This indicates there are too many conflicts for a reasonable optimization and requires that the global and object constraints need to be adjusted. The grading object locations may need to be modified as well depending on the project.
The line in the chart also displays these colors as it processes. The feasibility line should track downward.
Proximity Measure
The Proximity Measure represents progress toward a potential optimization solution. Some upward trends are normal, but zero is the goal.
Proximity Iteration
The number of iterative attempts allocated for optimization processing. These iterations are defined in the Optimization Options dialog opened from the Optimization Toolbar.
Volumes Chart
The volumes chart displays a visual reference for the earthwork required from the optimization and the progress of maintaining the assigned cut/fill weighted objectives.
Volume
Volume represents the volume of earth displaced. Measures above zero are represented with a red line. Measures below zero represent fill and are represented by a green line. The yellow line represents the net earthwork volume.
You can adjust the cut/fill (balance and minimum) objectives in the Optimization Options dialog opened from the Optimization Toolbar.
Volume Iteration
The number of iterative attempts allocated for optimization processing. These iterations are defined in the Optimization Options dialog opened from the Optimization Toolbar.
Terrain Smoothness Chart
Terrain smoothness shows the fluctuating progress of grade minimization during optimization.
Total Grade Change Measure
Total Grade Change is the measure of the relative grade changes between adjacent triangles. As the triangles are brought together and attempt to be planar, the smoothness of the surface improves.
You can adjust surface smoothing in the Optimization Options dialog opened from the Optimization Toolbar.
Grade Change Iteration
The number of iterative attempts allocated for optimization processing. These iterations are defined in the Optimization Options dialog opened from the Optimization Toolbar.