How are the volumes calculated and displayed?

The volumes are calculated at the Calculations Tab. Based on what has been digitized, the volumes are determined by the Resolution setting. The higher the resolution, the more accurate but the longer it takes to calculate. The resolution setting does affect the calculated results. As a result, initially calculate with a low resolution, view the results at the 3D tab and if the results appear reasonable, recalculate at a higher resolution.

When calculating, SiteWorx/OS looks for digitized points with elevations. The existing elevations are treated separately from the proposed elevations. For example, if only one 100 point elevation was entered on the existing site, the entire existing site would be shown with a flat elevation of 100. If two points are entered with different elevations, an imaginary line with a constant grade is drawn between the two points. The elevations along that line will vary depending on where you're located on that sloped line. Contour lines are a series of points with the same elevations. Points within contour lines will search for the closest point not along the contour line (i.e. another point elevation or different contour line) and if the elevation is different from the contour line, a line with a constant slope (and varying elevations) is drawn between the two points. The proposed point, closest to the project boundary will be used to set the elevations at the project boundary. Existing points and contour lines may extend outside the project boundary resulting in varying elevations for the existing contours outside the project boundary. Once all the points are connected with constant slopes between the points, the area elevations are placed on top of the existing or proposed sites as a flat plane. The calculations, based on the resolution setting are then calculated where the cut and fill is the change between the exiting and proposed corners of the resolution grid.

The calculated results are then applied to the various grids defined. The grid size is defined at the Calculations Tab. The grid size has no effect on the total calculated volumes. Grid spacing only effects how the calculated results are presented. The grid size also affects the 3D view of the site. A smaller grid size setting results in a more detailed and sharper 3D view. Again grid size does not affect calculated results. The resolution setting at the Calculations Tab does affect the reported results however.

It is important to know the order in which the elevations are processed:

• Contour lines, in order of entry
• Point Elevations, in order of entry
• Design Lines, in order of entry
• Surface and basement area perimeters, in order of entry
• The surface is then generated
• Area elevations, and point elevations inside the area, are applied to the surface

Notes:

• Each project must have a boundary
• Each project must have at least one existing and one proposed contour line or point elevation.