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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor –

Part 2 of 2
In Part 1, we copied and modified an existing Design Criteria file to reflect standard
design values for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) in regards to
the Units/Imperial, the Alignments/Minimum Radius Tables, and the
Alignments/Superelevation Attainment Methods/Crowned Roadway tables. In Part 2,
we will continue modifying the values in this Design Criteria file by continuing in the
Alignments category with the Superelevation Tables.

Alignments/Superelevation Tables/MnDOT eMax 6%

Now, we will move into the Superelevation Tables. Make note that all unnecessary tables have been
removed. There are two branches under the Superelevation Tables sub‐branch. The first allows us to
enter in the Superelevation Rate for a particular Radius at a particular Speed, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13

Currently this set of Design Criteria has only one table for the superelevation rates, even though, Mn/DOT
has one table for slow‐speed rates and one for high‐speed. Within the Design Criteria Editor, only the
name of the superelevation table can be edited as shown (MnDOT eMax 6%), the Design speed entry
allows for only a numeric value. Entering anything other than one of the predefined speed values will
display the violation window as shown in Figure 14 below.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 14

Therefore, if your governing agency has a low‐speed and a high‐speed table and they have a transitioning
design speed between the two, it will be necessary to create two tables, one for the high‐speed and one
for the low‐speed superelevation rate values.

Ok, so let’s create a new table, but first rename the existing table by double clicking on the table name
and modifying it accordingly. Since we have fewer speeds to work with in the slow‐speed table, the
current table will become our high‐speed table as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15

Next, a new table will be created by right clicking on the Superelevation Tables node and selecting New
Superelevation Table as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16

Doing this will create a new table entry at the bottom of the list that can be easily renamed (Figure 17).
When finished, simply drag‐and‐drop the table to the preferred location within the list of tables in
hierarchy panel (Figure 18).

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 17

Figure 18

Once the new table has been created, a simple right click on the new table name (Figure 19) and select
New Superelevation Design Speed...

Figure 19

A new speed entry will be created which will be highlighted automatically and very easily edited for the
speed value as shown in Figure 20.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 20

At this point, do not create all the required design speed entries. It will be easier and quicker to create
and edit the slowest design speed first, and then use that as a base for the next. So, from here edit the
Radius and Superelevation Rate values for Design speed 20 using the information from your area (Figure
21).

Figure 21
For the Radius value, either double click in an empty cell or click the Add button (then double click
the new cell) and enter the radius value.

Notes:
1. I had better results if I pressed <enter> after each value vs. picking the next cell.
2. When enough values have been added in the Attribute panel to display scroll bars, entering will
add the value... then “pop” you up into upper area of the panel. An inconvenience, but a minor
one.

Working from the top of the table to the bottom, continue until all radius values have been entered
(Figure 22), then SAVE your work.

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Figure 22

Now that we have all of the radii entered, the Superelevation Rates can be entered. Again, referring to
your areas superelevation tables (Figure 23), enter the value for the superelevation rate by selecting the
cell with a single left click and entering the value.

Figure 23

Continue down the table until all values have been entered. The end result should resemble Figure 24
below.

Figure 24

Pick the Save button to save your work.

To create the next Design speed entry, simply right click on the existing design speed entry and select
Create a copy (Figure 25), then enter the new speed value.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 25

Now all that is necessary is to refer to your areas super‐E tables to determine which radii need to be
removed by left clicking on the upper most value and then shift‐left click on the lowest value to select the

entire range (Figure 26), then pick the Delete button. Once all of the erroneous radii have been
removed, simply enter in the correct superelevation rate values for the remaining radii.

Figure 26

Repeat the previous steps starting with the copy process to create the remaining Design speed entries as
shown in Figure 27.

Figure 27

When finished, the next table to modify or create is the Transition Length Table. So, please continue.
Remember to Save often.

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Alignments / Superelevation Tables / MnDot eMax 6%

(Slow‐Speed) / Transition Length Table
Under the Superelevation Tables there are actually two tables. The first was the Superelevation Rate
table that was previously created and modified. The second is the Transition Length Table, which
corresponds to the radii and superelevation rates of the preceding table as shown in Figure 28 below.

Figure 28

Since the high‐speed transition length table was created earlier, all we have to do is create one for low‐
speeds. Start by right clicking on the superelevation rate table created previously and pick New Transition
Length Tables. Refer to Figure 29 below.

Figure 29

This will create a new branch at the bottom of the super‐E rate table (Figure 30). Next, right click on the
new Transition Length Tables node, and pick New Transition Length Table. A new table will be created
which should be named accordingly.

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Figure 30

To this new table add a new design speed, by right clicking on the table name and picking New Transition
Length Design Speed (Figure 31) to create the new design speed entry. For Mn/DOT, that speed is 20 mph
or just 20. Again, do not create all of the required design speeds at this time. It is much easier to create
the first, then copy and edit the next... and then the next, and so forth until all speeds have been entered.

Figure 31

The resulting table with all design speed and their corresponding transition lengths should resemble that
shown in Figure 32 below.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 32

Notice that the information entered is for a 2‐lane design. If you need a table for a 4‐lane design, simply
repeat the steps above.

That concludes the Alignments category. Please continue for editing the Profiles category design values.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Profiles/ Minimum K Tables

The final category involves profile minimum K value tables for specific sight distances, as shown in Figure
33 below.

Figure 33

These criteria tables accommodate stopping and passing sight distances on crest vertical curves and
headlight sight distances on sag vertical curves. It is very easy to modify an existing table or to create a
new one.

To create new tables, simply right click on the Minimum K Tables node and select New Minimum K Table.
Refer to Figure 34 below.

Figure 34

Once the new Minimum K Table has been created, simply add any or all of the available criteria tables
(New Stopping Sight Distance, New Passing Sight Distance and/or New Headlight Sight Distance) as
shown in Figure 35.

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Figure 35

Note: The new Minimum K Table can contain any of the three vertical curve criteria tables, and while the
Minimum K Table can be renamed, the individual criteria tables cannot.

In this example, an existing table was modified to reflect the correct values for this area (Figure 36). For
conditions where the sight distance is greater than the min. length of vertical curve, the user is directed to
the appropriate graphs in Mn/DOT’s design manual for the correct value.

Figure 36

The steps and processes for editing or adding to a table are identical to those previously discussed for
other criteria tables. When all values have been entered the resulting table should resemble that shown
in Figure 37 below.

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Civil 3D 2009 and the Design Criteria Editor – Part 2 of 2

Figure 37

Creating and modifying all the tables does take a little time, but is a fairly straightforward process.
Locating and reviewing the data to enter may take as much time, if not more, as it does to enter it into
Civil 3D. However, a little time spent upfront will save an enormous amount of time later.

That concludes the Profile category, and the Design Criteria Editor.

About the Author: Douglas Benoit, P.E.

Doug Benoit is a Professional Engineer, licensed in the State of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He understands
the needs of today's engineering and civil/surveying firms as a result of his extensive experience with
Autodesk's civil/survey applications. Doug is an Autodesk Implementation Certified Expert for AutoCAD®
Civil 3D®, and Autodesk certified for AutoCAD® and AutoCAD® Land Desktop. He's been an excellent
resource for consulting, implementation, software training and technical support assistance.

All brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
IMAGINiT Technologies is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2008 IMAGINiT Technologies

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