Object-oriented three-dimensional polygons for the surface modeling of civil engineering objects

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#FIG. 1 shows finished ground surface and engineering characteristics of a segment of roadway.

#FIG. 2 illustrates how the geometry of the roadway surface is defined by horizontal alignment in conventional template-based procedure.

#FIG. 3 illustrates how the geometry of the roadway surface is defined by vertical alignment in conventional template-based procedure.

#FIG. 1 shows perspective view of a segment of roadway pavement and embankment comprising of horizontal curve (circular curve) and tangents, vertical curve (parabolic curve) and tangents, cross-section slope and embankment slope, super-elevation and transitions, and catch lines (daylight lines where embankments intersect with existing ground).

#FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 illustrate how the geometry of the roadway surface shown in FIG. 1 is defined with conventional template-based procedure. FIG. 2 shows plan layout (plane projection) of the roadway surface containing edge of pavement, catch line, and horizontal alignment (at left-edge of the pavement) with alignment name, stationing and curve information. FIG. 3 shows the profile section along the horizontal alignment defined in FIG. 2, containing existing ground profile, finished ground profile (vertical curve and tangents), and super-elevation diagram. FIG. 4 shows cross-section templates that are used to define roadway width, cross-slope and super-elevation, together with the horizontal alignment and profile grades defined in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In conventional template-based procedure, the plan, profile and cross sections are jointly used to define and represent the geometry of civil engineering objects, and most computer software for civil engineering design also use the similar approach.

#Beyond the conventional template-based procedure, the present invention provides an additional method to define, represent, store and manage the geometry of three-dimensional surfaces of civil engineering objects. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the geometry of three-dimensional surfaces of civil engineering objects are defined and represented by intersecting three-dimensional polygons, and the way in which the surfaces are formed within each polygon would depend on the type of engineering objects and follow certain engineering principles. In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional polygons are defined and represented by object-oriented three-dimensional polygons, and the said object-oriented three-dimensional polygons are defined and represented by two-dimensional polygons plane projection of the three-dimensional polygons) that define horizontal alignment and layout of the three-dimensional polygons, and object-oriented dots (DOTs) that are placed along the two-dimensional polygons to define the vertical alignment of the three-dimensional polygons.