News Volume 1

Softree News - Summer/Fall 1996

Free Version 2.1 Upgrade
A free upgrade is now available for all customers presently using Version 2. This "maintenance" release contains many enhancements to make the program more usable.
The following is a summary of new features included in Version 2.1.

SURVEY/MAP Module · Several changes to make display of station index labels easier have been included. Index labels can now be displayed opposite the station and a start index and a prefix can be entered. An option has also been added to display index station labels in the Map display. IFS shots are displayed as 4-1, 4-2 (indicating IFS 1 and 2 at station 4). · Control of north arrow and coordinates has been added in the Map Display. · Several improvements in typing azimuth entries. For example NW55 can now be entered for N55W. · Side shot entry is now more flexible. Check boxes have been added to the extended side shot entry dialog allowing you to set any shot to be a turning point. · An alternate key to the TAB key in is now available in the side shot entry. Allowing side shots entry with one hand on the numeric keypad. · Direct DXF output has been added for both Map and Traverse documents. This DXF output is 3 dimensional and preserves coordinates. This is useful for updating GIS systems.

TERRAIN Module · The procedure for orienting a mapsheet on the tablet has been simplified. A new option (non coordinate digitizing mode) has been added to the to allow the digitizer to be used for simple digitizing of areas and lengths (without regard for preserving the map coordinates). In non coordinate digitizing mode the user only has to enter the mapsheet scale before digitizing. · Several new Status Window fields have been added including Area Subtot. - total area in the current feature set. Length - length of the current feature. Sq.Units - area of features in project units.

LOCATION Module · An option has been added to automatically generate reporting points at survey stations when a new design is created. · Full 3D-DXF output of terrain features and triangle model.
A north arrow can now be included in the PLAN window. · New Data Window items have been added including. HD - Displays the L-Line horizontal distance. V. Off - Displays the vertical distance from L-line to P-Line. · Full 3D-DXF output of Location features including L-line, road edges, slope stakes, clearing limits, and designed cross sections.

Since few changes have been made in the basic operation of the program, a new manual has not been printed. However, a README.TXT is available describing all the changes.

Files formats have not changed. Files created in Version 2.1 are 100% compatible with version 2.0.

Windows 95^TM and NT^TM

Judging from the questions we receive, it would seem that many of our customers have upgraded to Windows 95.

ROADENG, TERRAIN TOOLS and D-LINES Version 2.0 will operate in Windows 95. There is however one small "hitch". Survey files created in the previous version (Version 1.6) are incompatible with Windows 95. If you are changing over to Windows 95TM it is recommended that you first convert Version 1.6 files to Version 2 format. To do this, simply read the file into the Survey/Map module. You will be prompted "Do you wish to convert from Version 1 format?". Version 1.6 traverses have a ".rd" extension.

Softree programs are also compatible with Windows NTTM. To run on a Windows NT computer you will need a special driver for the hardware lock. Contact Softree Technical Support for more information.

Training

Training in the use of Softree products for applications in forest engineering and resource road design is available either directly from Softree or through schools and qualified consultants.

Dave Mills of Softree has put a few more miles on his truck this winter training clients in Campbell River, Olympia, Gold River, Tafino, Vernon, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Ketchican, Petersburg, MacKenzie, Salem and Port Hardy.

The following organizations offer training services or courses in surveying, road design and forest engineering using ROADENG.

B.C. Institute of Technology
Burnaby B.C.
The BCIT Forest Engineering Technology program is highly regarded in the BC forest industry and has been teaching courses in ROADENG since 1993. RRET 3277 Computer Applications in Forest Road Design is a five-day workshop teaching ROADENG. For more information contact Jim Rudolf 604-432-8941.

Malaspina University
College Nanaimo, BC.
Malaspina uses ROADENG in four courses: Logging, Roads and Transportation, Harvesting Development and Economics, and Special Session. It is used to produce plans, profiles and cross sections, plot deflection lines and payload analysis, and general mapping. For more information contact Barry Ostrand 604-753-3245.

REA Consulting Civil Engineers
Bozeman, Montana
REA Consulting Civil Engineers have considerable experience teaching surveying and road design in the natural resource industries. Courses include surveying, basic and intermediate road design (low volume and recreational roads) and emphasize practical problems. REA has recently acquired ROADENG and will provide training services at their site or at yours. For more information contact Rich Hovey at 406-587-2225 or send email: rhovey@reaengrs.com. You might also check out their web site at http://www.reaengrs.com.

Selkirk College
Castelgar, BC
Selkirk College offers various courses in forestry and forest engineering. Courses include computer applications in surveying, mapping, GIS and road design. For more information contact Ted Pollard 604-365-7292.

University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
UNB is renowned for its forest engineering program. UNB uses ROADENG in its undergraduate courses and can provide training upon request through its continuing education program. For more information contact UNB Continuing Education 506-453-4626.

Tips and Techniques

Tip 1: Quick Deflection Line Analysis
Often, complete payload analysis of a cable yarding setup is not necessary; all you really need is a deflection plot to prove that yarding is feasible. This tip describes how to do deflection analysis with the Cable Analysis module and the differences from the most common historical paper method. For background on this module refer to the Cable Analysis section of your manual. I will assume that you have successfully created a terrain feature that represents the ground under your cables and have selected this as the current Terrain feature (this is usually done by importing a traverse). The simplest way to begin analysis is to retrieve a screen layout containing the appropriate options. The CABLES.ILT file that comes with the software is a good starting point. If this file does not appear in your selection list (combo box in your tool bar) you can copy it from disk 1 of the release into your ROADENG directory. After choosing CABLES.ILT, you need to select a setup (Cable Analysis-Assign Setup...). For deflection analysis, the setup (yarder and cable configuration) is not critical although you will probably feel more comfortable if you create and assign a setup that is realistic. (If you need to create a new setup, don’t forget to check the “Save as default” item in the Setup... dialogue box!) The tower and tail positions and height are critical and must be set at this point. The calculation performed is determined by the Cable Analysis-Calculation Parameters... dialogue box:

The “Deflection for fixed skyline given load” option is used for deflection analysis. The red curve displayed on your profile is the path the top of the carriage will take for the given load so that the deflection at mid span is as given. The following definitions apply:
1. fixed skyline: means constant supporting cable length (interlocked mainline and haulback if there is no skyline)
2. top of carriage: is the point where the cable supports the load (even if it is butt rigging)
3. deflection: is the vertical distance of the top of carriage from the tight line chord divided by the horizontal distance between tower and tail To get the plot that is most useful you will want to modify some display options.

The following profile has been setup to have a fixed scale (the CABLES.ILT layout uses auto scale) and to display only the profile and information subwindows.

Tip 2: Modeling Road Intersections with ROADENG
With Version 2.1 it is now possible to design road intersections. The following example illustrates the procedure for connecting a spur to a main road.

1. Survey the center line and side shots for the two intersecting p-lines ("main" and "spur").
2. Enter the data into traverse documents and join them together at the junction.
3. Use the Location module to design the road that will be built first (in this case main).
4. Export the built road from Location to DXF using the File-Save As menu item (select Autocad Format (*.DXF) from the "Save File as Type:" list). Be sure to include only designed layers:LLINE, REDGE, SLPSTAKE, SECTION0 and STRIP. Also use a reasonable "Section Extension".
5. Import the DXF file into the Terrain module (make sure the import options include "3D" points).
6. Import the spur traverse into the same terrain. Include side slopes with a reasonable "Final Slope Horizontal Distance".
7. Delete, from the terrain, any spur data points that conflict with the main built road data.
8. Re-import the spur traverse but this time omit the side slopes (you must also use a new name, spur2, as "spur" is already used).
9. Use menu item Edit-Modify Current Feature-Properties/Append to turn off Elevations in spur2.
10. Use Edit-Calculate Terrain Model.. to generate a model. This model will represent the terrain after main is built but before spur is built.
11. File-Export... the spur2 feature to traverse format (make sure the side slopes are included with a reasonable extension). This feature has the same planometric shape as spur but the elevations and side shots are extracted from the model. (It is a "draped" feature = no Elevations, because of step 9).
12. In the Location module, create a new design based on the exported spur2 traverse. The junction area will show the existing main built road in the cross sections, and volumes will be calculated accordingly.

Tip 3: Modeling Sidecast with ROADENG
Although several design iterations may be required, ROADENG provides a straight forward and flexible tool for modeling side cast.

Using Version 2.1 of ROADENG, you can create one or more side cast templates. The left or right road width on the down hill side can be varied until the section of road has a balanced mass haul.

The extended road edge will also adjust the slope stake and clearing width positions.

The above method has two limitations. The first limitation is that side cast is treated as regular compacted fill. This results in a relatively small volume estimation error (typically less than 10%).

The second limitation is that surfacing volumes are increased due to the wider road. To avoid this, road surfacing volumes can easily be calculated in a spread sheet using cross sectional area and length of road. Future version of ROADENG will allow the user to control the width of road surfacing.

Surfing the Net

Come and visit our web site at http://www.softree.com/eng. Download the latest version of ROADENG directly from the internet.

In the coming months we will be are enhancing our web site to include content of interest to our customers. We welcome any information relevant to the forestry and engineering community such as.

· Links to your home page or other web sites which may be of interest. · Software or hardware (free or commercial) which compliments our products. · Forest engineering products or services. · Technical information. · Tips or techniques you have found using our software · Job opportunities · Interesting projects or applications of Softree products. · Conferences · Forest practices We'll do our best to include all your comments or suggestions. Please send them to us electronically, either by E-mail or in ASCII format on floppy disk.

Product Development News
The next major release of ROADENG, Version 3, has been under development for almost a year now and is starting to take shape. Version 3 will significantly add functionality, while retaining the existing file formats and user interface. This will make upgrading from Version 2 to Version 3 relatively "painless" for our customers.

Although it is against our company policy to make specific promises about software releases, the following features are being considered or have already been added.

· Interactive label editing using the mouse. · Increase the maximum number of features and points in the TERRAIN module. · Automatic generation of tables such as curves, reference points and culverts. · Template and Ground Type Libraries. · "Birds Eye" view window in the LOCATION module. · Chainage equations · Culvert length and skew calculations · Rotate plan view window. · Display of contours, streams, property boundaries, symbols etc. in the LOCATION plan window. · Multiplot window in TERRAIN · Editing the alignment in LOCATION section window. · Improved mapping features eg. symbols and line types.

Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the release date.

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