Developing Software Which Automatically Plot Various Types of Profiles Using Road Survey Data

Abstract

There is a lack of locally oriented software that generates profiles in a specific format which local organisations required, so professionals like Engineers, Surveyors face various kind of troubles. As a solution this research study was conducted for designing sub software (ProfileCAD), which will automatically plot several types of profiles using specific formatted Road Survey Data. This study was mainly focused on generating three types of profiles, such as Cross Sections, Longitudinal Section and a profile which is combination of both also this profile could be used as a plan so it is named as “ProfilePlan”. ProfileCAD software contains set of programs which will allow user to input specific format data, after it will perform a data analysis then finally it will output a script file automatically. Then user has to run this script file in AutoCAD 2D/3D Environment. Cross Sections are usually plot using following data format “Chainage Offset Reduce-Level Remark”, this data can be collected using Auto level, but it is also possible to plot them using Cartesian coordinate data format “Point-No X Y Z Code”, this data can be collected by using Total Station. When designing program to plot Cross Sections using first data format is simple, but for second data format it is much complicated. Anyway lots of functions have to be used for second data format. Another important fact about this ProfileCAD software is, ability to convert from first data format to the other and vice versa, even internationally there are only very few number of software which has this ability. Longitudinal Sections are usually plot using following data format “Chainage Northing Easting Reduce-Level Remark”. International software to plot this ProfilePlan is also rare. When inputting data first Road Centre Line Coordinates have to be input in this format “Change X Y Z Code”, then the other coordinates have to be entered in this format as “Chainage Offset Reduce-Level Remark”. Then the program will convert “Chainage Offset Reduce-Level Remark” data into Cartesian coordinate format, later program will automatically prepare a script file which containing instructions to plot ProfilePlan in AutoCAD environment. Finally using this Software product, the professionalism of people who are involved in the fields of Engineering and surveying can be improved.