3.1.1 - Calculate/Edit Superelevation
Step Description:
  • Select the alignment in the drawing
  • In the Alignment's contextual ribbon tab click on the Superelevation drop-down
  • Select the Calculate/Edit Superelevation command

Calculate/Edit Superelevation Image

  • If the alignment does not contain any superelevation data a task dialog will be displayed with the following options.

Task Dialog Image

  • Calculate superelevation now - choose this option to open the superelevation calculation wizard
  • Open the superelevation curve manager - choose this option to open the superelevation curve manager, where you can view curve data.
NOTE: After the initial superelevation calculation, the Calculate/Edit Superelevation command automatically displays the Superelevation Curve Manager.

In the superelevation calculation wizard you will have to specify the following:
1) Roadway type - Select one of the following:
  • Undivided Crowned: Pivot Method
  • Undivided Planar: Pivot Method and High Side Location
  • Divided Crowned with Median: Pivot Method and Median Treatment
  • Divided Planar with Median: Pivot Method and Median Treatment
Pivot Method Options vary by lane type. The various methods available for the Undivided Lanes are Center Baseline, Inside Of Curve, Outside Of Curve, Left Side and Right Side. Divided Lanes also include Centers and Median Edges.
Median Treatment for Divided Lanes are Maintain Median Slope and Distort Median.

  • Click the Next > button.

Roadway Type Dialog Image


2) Lanes - Specify the number of lanes. Clear the Symmetric Roadway check box if necessary and specify the number of lanes for the left and right sides.
NOTE: If you select '1' for the number of lanes, the lanes that are displayed in the Superelevation Tabular Editor (Panorama) are the outside lanes. Any labels, expressions, or other references for the inside lanes do not return a value in the tabular editor. To display values for the inside lanes in the tabular editor, select '2' for the number of lanes.
  • Enter the Normal Lane Width and Normal Lane Slope for each side of the road.
  • Click the Next > button.

Lanes Dialog Image


3) Shoulder Control - Specify the Shoulder Slope Treatment. Inside median shoulders are available for divided lanes. Control for Outside edge shoulders are available for all lane types. The Shoulder slope treatment options are Default Slopes and Match lane slopes for Low side and High side. Low side also has Breakover removal as an option. High side using Default slopes allows for Maximum shoulder rollover.
  • Enter the Normal shoulder width value.
  • Enter the Normal shoulder slope value.
  • Select the Low side Shoulder slope treatment.
  • Select the High side Shoulder slope treatment.
  • Click the Next > button.

Shoulder Control Dialog Image


4) Attainment - specify the following:
Design Criteria File - Use C:\FDOT2012.C3D\Data\Corridor Design Standarads\FDOTGreenBook_2007 for C3D2012.xml

Design Criteria File Location Image

  • Superelevation Rate Table
NOTE: In the list, choose Superelevation Rate by Formula in situations where you want to calculate the superelevation rate based on a formula rather than a pre-defined table. In the out-of-box criteria files that Civil 3D provides, there is a simple formula based on AASHTO standards that will calculate the superelevation for a given radius and design speed. You can edit this formula to meet the requirements of local agencies that may vary from AASHTO.
  • Transition Length Table
  • Attainment Method
  • Transition Formula for Superelevation Runoff
  • Curve Smoothing - To apply curve smoothing select the check box and enter the smoothing value.
  • Automatically Resolve Overlap. If you select this option all overlap conditions on the entire alignment are resolved.

Attainment Dialog Image

After sufficient data is applied the alignment superelevation data will be displayed in the Superelevation Tabular Editor.

Panorama Dialog Image


AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 User's Guide reference:
User's Guide - Superelevation

For more information watch the video below:
  • Superelevation (WMV)