Welcome

In July we changed our phone system over to BC Tel. Our old system was sending 1 out of 5 calls off to "never-never land". If you called us and got that treatment we apologize. The new system is working fine. Please note the new number is 604-519-6222 (our USA number is still the same 206-628-6454).

The internet is now playing a significant role in our product support. Software and documentation revisions are available from our web site at no charge. If you haven't already taken advantage of this service, we strongly recommend you visit our site.

This fall we will release a shareware version of the Terrain module. This 'trimmed down' version will allow you to easily create operational maps and engineering drawings but does not include survey notes, digitizing, terrain modelling or profiles. Please sign up for our email newsletter (at www.softree.com), so we can keep you informed about this and other developments.

Training

Jack Rimac enjoying a good laugh in Nanaimo.

Fall / Winter Training Schedule

Revised Software Support Policy

Click here to view revised software support policy.

Softree Goes to Edinburgh

There were six conference sessions: GIS, Forestry Engineering, Timber, Roads, Machinery and Harvesting. I was most interested in GIS and Roads and managed to catch a few of the presentations when not busy at the computer. It was interesting to note that engineering problems and solutions are applicable to a whole range of settings - from urban forests to wilderness.

Most delegates were from Europe but there were enough from the rest of the world to give an international flavor.

The delegates were friendly and interesting and made extra curricular activities a pleasure.

I’m still kicking myself for being too cheap to go to the scotch tasting evening. It’s ironic but it could be my Scottish blood that makes me so cheap (or is it Craig’s Scottish blood?).

Edinburgh is a lovely and old city. However, it did seem strange to have a Forestry conference in a City made entirely of stone. Mimi and I thoroughly enjoyed the sights such as the Castle and the Royal mile and got very sore feet walking all over Edinburgh.

Softree/98 - Beta Version 3.1

• Join features function added to Terrain
• Export Terrain features in ASCII format to a file or to the
• Windows™ clipboard.
• Grid display in rotated views for all modules.
• Support for large coordinates in Terrain.
• Facility to allow Terrain files to be merged.
• Slope stake, seeding area and culvert information in the Location Data window.
• Auto-generate function to label traverse stations at equal intervals.
• Speed improvements in the Terrain display.
• Select features by boundary
• Calculation and export of subsurface information in the Terrain module.
• Right mouse click to activate menus.
• Volume calculations between triangulated surfaces.
• Design and drafting in the Terrain Profile window.

If you have been regularly downloading the free maintenance versions from our web site (www.softree.com) you may already be familiar with many of these new features. However, many items are brand new (only available in beta test form); I will describe the last two items below.

Volume Calculations

Volume calculations are now available in the Terrain module. Cut and fill quantities are computed between any two triangulated surfaces (polygonal boundary can also be included to restrict the calculation to a specific area). Applications of this new facility are numerous and include, site design, stockpile or as-built quantities. To illustrate the concept consider the following example which calculates the volume of material excavated from a rock quarry.

Example: Rock Quarry Volumes

A survey of a rock quarry is done using a total station. The x,y,z, coordinate points are imported and a triangulated surface and corresponding contours are generated and saved in a Terrain file.

Sometime later, after rock has been removed from the quarry another survey is done and again imported, triangulated and saved in a second Terrain file.

Figure: Origional Surface

Figure: Surface After Excavation

These two surfaces are now used to determine the cut/fill quantities. This is done using the Edit - Calculate Volumes function. The user specifies two surfaces, A and B (surface A is the original ground and surface B is the excavated surface). The volume above surface A (fill) and below A (cut) is calculated and reported in cubic meters or cubic yards.

Terrain Profile Window Design

It is now possible to create and modify features in the Terrain Profile window. This powerful function allows you to create any type of surface or sub-surface alignment, geological zone or excavation. Profile design is useful for a variety of applications. The following example illustrates its use in calculating the volume of fill material required to restore a built road to the original ground (road deactivation).

Example: Road Deactivation

A topographic survey of the existing road is done and the coordinate points are imported into the Terrain module. A triangulated surface and corresponding contours are created. Using the mouse on the screen cross sections are drawn in plan window.

In the Profile Window each cross section is viewed. The intersection of the slope stakes (toe of roadway fill, top of cutl) is displayed in the cross section. Using the side slopes outside the road prism as a guide, the original ground line is drawn.

Figure: Plan View of existing road with cross sections

Figure: Profile Window showing original ground surface and designed fill surface

This process is done for each of the cross sections. When complete, the designed features are saved in a new terrain file. A TIN model and contours of the designed fill surface is generated. The original surveyed file is then displayed in the background for comparison and cut/fill volumes are generated.

Tips and Techniques

UP (8 key)- Enter a point at the mouse location and increment the elevation by one interval.
SAME (5 key)- Enter a point and keep the elevation the same.

DOWN (2 key)- Enter a point and decrement the elevation by one
interval.
ENTER (0 key)- Pops up the Edit - Modify Point Dialog allowing you the enter the elevation of a point.

Using these keys it is possible to create a profile from a scanned contour map without creating a TIN model. To do this, simply move the mouse to intersection points of a contour (from the scanned image) and the profile line, then press the appropriate key (UP, DOWN etc.). Of course the scanned map must be scaled and georeferenced.

Even if you are not creating a profile, the SAME key is useful for adding points at the end of a feature while in Enter mode (pencil cursor). Watch what happens when you hold down the number "5" key and move the pencil cursor around the plan window.