Features

Lima VVA Features

Lima VVA is based on the cross-section method. The earthwork to be calculated is divided into cross-sections perpendicular to a centreline (horizontal alignment) going through the terrain from a start point to an end point. Each cross-section describes the profile of the existing ground surface and optionally the profiles of the subsurface ground layers — topsoil, subsoil and rock — as well as the profile of the altered ground surface (the constructed road foundation) and the profiles of the layers in the road superstructure — wearing course, base course and sub-base. The differences between the existing ground and the altered ground surfaces form cut and fill areas in the cross-section, which are then used to estimate volume based on the distance between cross-sections. Likewise, volumes for the road superstructure layers are estimated.

• Lima VVA Features
  • Terrain data
  • Horizontal alignment
  • Vertical alignment
  • Road template
  • Earthwork quantities
  • Drawings and reports
  • Data export

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Terrain data

The program supports import of data from maps and terrain models in the form of DXF and SOSI, for example data generated by GIS and CAD programs such as Autodesk AutoCAD and Norkart GISLINE. Using the imported terrain data and a given horizontal alignment, the program generates cross-sections with user-specified distance and width.

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Horizontal alignment

The horizontal alignment of the road can be registered by either manually entering element data or by importing data in the form of DXF, SOSI or 10-table. You can also construct simple centrelines graphically by laying out the tangent intersection points on the horizontal plan; arcs can then be calculated in each bend. More powerful functions for interactive graphical design of the horizontal alignment are planned.

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Vertical alignment

The vertical alignment can be registered by entering points of vertical intersection (PVIs) and the radii of transition curves, by import (NYLP or VIPS format), or by interactive graphical design. Vertical curvature is automatically calculated and consists of continuous gradients, parabolic transition curves and the transition points between them (points of vertical curvature and tangency). Positions of PVIs, PVCs and PVTs, gradient slopes and radii of transition curves can be changed interactively, either graphically or numerically, with automatic recalculation of the alignment and the road construction.

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Road template

The program supports a road template with up to 4 driving lanes, shoulders and optionally a median (central reservation), pavements (sidewalks), kerbs, verges (traffic dividers, planting strips) and barriers. Deep or shallow ditches can be defined along the sides of the road. All widths and cross slopes can be specified and varied along the alignment; intermediate values are automatically interpolated linearly between given stations. Full 3-dimensional geometry for the road is calculated and updated interactively. A report with all calculated feature points in the road construction can be generated, and the full geometry can be exported as DXF, LandXML or KOF data files.

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Earthwork quantities

The earthwork calculation produces cut and fill volumes, topsoil replacement volumes, shallow and deep rock blasting volumes and areas, as well as volumes and areas of the road superstructure layers. Horizontal curvature is compensated for in the volume calculations using Pappus’s theorem. Mass balance with correction factors for fill, soil and rock is automatically generated during work. A report for all calculated earthwork quantities can be produced.

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Drawings and reports

Results are presented as configurable, high-quality drawings and reports. Horizontal plan, longitudinal section and cross-section drawings can be generated. A flexible preview allows preparation of each drawing before printing. Content, line styles, scales, title blocks and similar elements can be configured freely. Reports can be generated in HTML, RTF (rich text format) or plain text for registered and calculated data, and you can choose the application used for viewing and editing. PDF files for drawings and reports can be created with a general PDF printer driver such as Microsoft Print to PDF.

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Data export

Cross-sections, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, road template and reports can be exported to file. In addition, full 3-dimensional geometry for the road construction can be exported to DXF and LandXML files for further processing or conversion to other formats for preparing field data. For example, exported construction data in LandXML can be used for machine control systems such as Leica VisualMachine. All drawings can be copied to the clipboard for pasting and further processing in other drawing software.