Alignments and stationing

[Sean Joyce]

I typically create an alignment of a boundary for line marking and staking using stake line here.
The stationing follows the direction the alignment was created, However many times I jump around to different sections of the alignment and stake the line in the opposite direction.
The offset value is shown left or right according to the direction of the stationing so left becomes right and right becomes left if working the stationing backwards. (reminds me of using the inverted T2's). Is there currently a way (short of creating 2 alignments) to flip the direction of the offsets (by designating direction of stakeout) depending on where you are and what direction you are working in the alignment?
If not how about a direction of stakeout toggle?

 

[Matt Johnson]

Currently there is not a way to do this but I agree it could be useful. If you use Stake Line command, it has an opinion to reverse the direction.

 

[Sean Joyce]

Thanks Matt, So when you check reverse direction in the edit alignment settings
what exactly will happen? I am in my office and checked it expecting the stationing to reverse but it doesn't.

 

[Matt Johnson]

Thanks Matt, So when you check reverse direction in the edit alignment settings
what exactly will happen? I am in my office and checked it expecting the stationing to reverse but it doesn't.

This should reverse the order of the points in the Stake Traversal I think but it doesn't actually reverse the alignment.

 

[Mikhail Drakin]

So, what should be done? Command to reverse stationing (note that already staked point will retain old stations in their names, so it will be easy to have 2 different points with the same station in name and attributes); option to swap left/right (probably tied to existing option "reverse"); or both?

 

[Mikhail Drakin]

Another thought - I could dynamically determine left/right based on current compass reading, without any need to change stationing. Will it solve the problem?

 

[Matt Johnson]

Another thought - I could dynamically determine left/right based on current compass reading, without any need to change stationing. Will it solve the problem?

I think an option for this would be the best solution. Maybe in this mode Ahead/Back and Right/Left should be similar to the convention when staking out a point. For example, if the LS is oriented 10' off the line and facing it in a perpendicular direction it would read: Ahead 10', Left/Right 0'.

 

[Matt Johnson]

I also just remembered that we now have the "CTT Arrow" white box option which displays the direction to a point or line being staked. If users add it they can visually see the direction to line so maybe we don't need to do anything.

 

[Sean Joyce]

Thanks fellas. I like the idea of changing left and right based on the current compass heading,
Changing the stationing may cause other problems when the L.S. stationing doesn't jive with published stationing
on a project.

 

[Shawn Billings]

Thanks fellas. I like the idea of changing left and right based on the current compass heading,
Changing the stationing may cause other problems when the L.S. stationing doesn't jive with published stationing
on a project.

I'd be careful about this. Right and Left are specific in construction nomenclature. "Right" is always right when facing Ahead and "Left" is always left when facing a head. This means that in construction terms, "Right" is left when facing back and "Left" is right when facing back. Right and Left in construction are as specific as East and West.

 

[Matt Johnson]

I'd be careful about this. Right and Left are specific in construction nomenclature. "Right" is always right when facing Ahead and "Left" is always left when facing a head. This means that in construction terms, "Right" is left when facing back and "Left" is right when facing back. Right and Left in construction are as specific as East and West.

I agree, this is why I thought the CTT Arrow may be sufficient. The other option would be to use the Stake Line>Line Segment from Map option which allows the alignment to be created in either direction.

 

[Shawn Billings]

Right on Matt. That white box arrow is slick. You did good with that.

 

[Sean Joyce]

Keep in mind my original question. I was not staking stationing and offsets, I was inquiring about "stake here" on a property line.

 

[Adam]

I think it would be handy if the CTT arrow would turn green when it is within a user specified distance (0.10ft) of the line. This way when staking a property line or any other line the user wouldn't have to look at numbers at all. When the arrow turns green drive your stake and go on.

 

[Adam]

I agree left and right shouldn't be changed on an alignment.

 

[Mikhail Drakin]

Ok, so to avoid confusion we will only change indication in whiteboxes: DTT whitebox will turn green when within 0.1ft from target; CTT text whitebox will turn green when within 1 degree from target azimuth; CTT arrow whitebox - background will turn green when within 0.1ft from target and the arrow itself will turn green when within 1 degree from target azimuth.