Functional Overview
Updated October 17, 2017
This article applies to:
- Terrain Forestry
- RoadEng Forestry
Softree software solutions are sold as modular products. Depending on the product you have purchased, it could include up to three modules:
Survey/Map
Terrain
-
Location
Figure 1: Relationship Between the Modules
Each of the modules can be started from the Windows Start menu, a desktop shortcut or from the Setup tab within either of the other modules.
Module Descriptions
Survey/Map Module
The Survey/Map module was developed for survey applications in the forest industry. It can be used with a variety of survey equipment and accuracy requirements, including clinometer/compass, theodolite, level, and EDM. GPS coordinates can also be included to geo-reference traverses and for coordinate adjustments.
This module is used primarily to type paper survey notes into the computer. Azimuths, distances and slopes are entered and reduced to coordinates. Facilities exist to add perpendicular side shots to a traverse so that a group of terrain, suitable for a road design, can be easily captured with basic survey instruments.
Survey/Map also contains tools for adjusting traverses with respect to each other or to known coordinates.
Terrain Module
The Terrain Module provides basic CAD facilities for assembling and manipulating 2D and 3D points and features. Information can be imported from external sources like survey files, CAD files and image files. Three dimensional coordinates can be incorporated into a digital terrain model (DTM).
DTMs can be used for:
Contour generation
Section and profile display
Volume calculations
Pad, pit and site design (grading)
3D viewing
Original ground for road design (Location module)
The Terrain module is also a capable mapping tool with control of line types, colors, symbols, hatching and labelling styles.
Location Module
This is the module used to design road alignments. Location requires an original ground terrain (provided by the Survey/Map and/or Terrain modules). The designer controls cross section templates, alignment location and curves. Location provides real time feedback of volumes, mass haul, road footprint, cross sections, grades, etc.
Location can also export designed surfaces back to the terrain module where they can be merged into a composite surface. This is the most common way to prepare the original ground for an intersection design.