Welcome

Version 3.1 will include a freeware version of Terrain Tools (yes, totally free !). See Free Version of Terrain Tools Version section for more information.

Softree recently signed an agreement with Forsite Consultants Inc. of Salmon Arm B.C. to market their FORCOST and FORTRAK products. We will be working closely with Forsite to integrate these products with RoadEng™ to provide a complete road design, construction and maintenance solution. See Road Management Software section further in this newsletter.

This fall is shaping up to be a very busy period for us. We have already begun development of Version 4. This will be a 32 bit application and will be a major release. Please sign up for our email newsletter (at www.softree.com), so we can keep you informed about this and other developments. Please note our phone number is now 604-519-6222 (206-628-6454 USA).

Softree Beta Version 3.1

• Speed improvements.
• Export Terrain features in ASCII format
• Background display of TIFF (including georeferenced GeoTIFF).
• Grid display in rotated views for all modules.
• Improvements to Location Autobalance function.
• Support for UTM coordinates in Terrain.
• Facility to allow Terrain files to be merged.
• Slope stake, seeding area and culvert information in the Location.
• Auto-generate function to label traverse stations at equal intervals.
• Calculation and export of subsurface information in Terrain.
• Right mouse click to activate menus.
• Buffering and clipping functions.
• Volume calculations between triangulated surfaces.
• Control of triangle formation using a boundary polygon.
• Design and drafting in the Terrain Profile window.
• Output of Location design coordinates to an ASCII file.

Site Plan done using Beta Version 3.1:
courtesy of Robin Modesto, Interfor Campbell River BC

It sounds like a memory problem, I suggest you replace your mother board, reinstall all the software…. Not at all. Glad to help.

In the "bad old days" before the Internet, a customer would phone in and complain "I have entered an azimuth of 30 degrees but my map shows something more like 50 degrees." After considerable questioning and head scratching over the phone we could possibly determine that

backshot was incorrectly entered as 230 degrees. Now, when customer calls, they email the file and very quickly we can determine the source of the problem.

Using the web, email and ftp we can provide better support service. The number email inquires per day has risen significantly over the last few years. We now routinely post software and documentation revisions on our web site where they can be downloaded for little or no charge. If you haven't already taken advantage of this service, we strongly recommend you visit our site. We are planning to continue to make full use of this technology.

Over the past year we have had many requests from our RoadEng™ customers for road costing and maintenance functions. Before choosing FORCOST and FORTRAK, we talked to many users about their requirements and investigated commercial products. We concluded that FORCOST and FORTRAK are the best products for road management on the market. We were also impressed with Forsite’s commitment to ongoing product support and enhancement. In the coming months we will be working closely with Forsite to integrate these products with RoadEng™.

FORCOST and FORTRAK will be available "bundled with" or as "upgrades to" RoadEng™. The following facilities are provided.

FORCOST

Is a software package for cost estimating, budgeting and appraisal submissions. It compiles data from RoadEng™ or GPS traverses to provide quick and consistent estimates for engineered road sections.

FORCOST divides roads into sections with similar sub-grade construction variables to standardize, simplify and expedite cost submissions. It calculates and reports engineered costs based on the concept outlined in the MOF Engineering Manual Estimating Guide. Links to GIS are also provided allowing for quick and efficient visual representation.

FORTRAK

This package manages the construction, maintenance, deactivation, watershed restoration and other development activities of roads, bridges and cut blocks. FORTRAK consists of 3 modules; Construction, Obligations and Project Plan.

The Construction module allows costs to be entered through hourly timesheets or contractor invoices. Production can be tracked on any user defined timeline.

With the Obligations module, cut blocks and associated roads are created and tracked by operation, cutting permit and tenure. Obligations are then selected from a default list, which can be modified as required for individual cut blocks. Notifications are sent to those responsible for each obligation as deadlines approach.

The Project Plan module tracks complex contracts or agreements to create a project budget. This model allows for the creation of contracts and sub-contracts, assigns project supervisors and tracks management approvals. This can be used to pay contractors and monitor expenditures.

Typical FORTRAK Screen

1) Quicker Taper Templates Assignment

2) Auto Balance Does More than Just Balance Volumes