File Name: dde01.cri, dde02.cri ...

Required Definition Files: dde_defs

Reference Standard No. : 868.01

The drainage ditch criteria files are designed to allow the designer to add lateral drainage ditches to the cross sections after the proposed templates have already been run.

By default, this criteria finds the slope stake tie point of the cross section file to locate the origin of the drainage ditch. It does so by tracing the finished grade elements of the cross section template to the ground. The level symbology of the finished grade elements must be defined for the criteria using the DEFINE_DGN variable "DD PROPOSED EARTHWORK ELEMENTS" as detailed below.
The designer has the option of defining elements in external plan view files for the location of the lateral ditch. The drainage ditch earthwork lines are drawn, by default, on the level defined by "DDE LEVEL" (drainage ditch excavation level). However, if necessary, the designer has the option of over-riding this default level on a 'ditch by ditch' manner. For example, in a single run in which three different ditch configurations are being used, two may be drawn on the default level while one is drawn on the unclassified excavation level. See the Summary of Defined Variables.

Features of this criteria include the designer's ability to control the following:

• The origin of the ditch, as mentioned above.
• The width and slope of the berm, or no berm.
• The ditch front slope can be defined or default to 2:1. The front slope can also be set to match the previously drawn fill slope.
• The depth of the ditch must be controlled by the ditch grade profile, supposedly supplied by the Hydraulics Unit.
• The ditch back slope can be defined or default to 2:1.
• The base width can be defined as 0 for a 'V' type ditch.
• Excavation level, as mentioned above.

This criteria facilitates automated transfer of ditch boundaries to a plan view file as slope stake lines, by drawing special elements on the cross section. These special elements are tied to the existing ground element at the horizontal location of the outer ditch points, and at the edges of the ditch base. The plot parameters of these elements are default defined in the dde_defs definition file.
By performing a slope stake run on these cross section levels, the designer can effectively draw the drainage ditch boundaries into a plan view graphics file as slope stake lines.

New Feature: As of March 2003, the DDE criteria has been upgraded to draw ditch boundaries into a plan view file at the same time it is drawing the cross section ditches. This eliminates the need for the procedure (struck out, above) of using a slope stake run to transfer ditch boundaries.
New variables are available to allow user control of this functionality. (see below).

Special Note: When the ditch profile is not based off the cross section base line, you will need to specify the base chain of the profile using the "DD01 PROFILE CHAIN" variable as detailed below.

User Defined Variables

"DD01 BERM WIDTH"
Define the desired width of the ditch berm. Default definition = 0.

"DD01 BERM SLOPE"
Define the desired slope of the ditch berm. Default definition = 0.02.

"DD01 BASE WIDTH"
Defined as the desired bed width of the base ditch. For a 'V' ditch, define as 0.
Default definition = 0.

"DD01 FRONT SLOPE"
Define the desired slope value for the ditch front slope. When matching the fill slope, define as 0.
Default definition = 2.

"DD01 BACK SLOPE"
Define the desired slope value for the ditch back slope. Default definition = 2.

"DD01 DITCH GRADE"
Defined as the name of the GEOPAK profile to be used in locating the ditch bed elevation

"DD01 PROFILE CHAIN"
Defines the chain on which the ditch grade is stationed. Required only when the ditch profile chain is something other than the cross section base line. Pay carefull attention when defining this variable. The value must include the word "chain". For example, to specify the chain RAMPB for the ditch profile, the variable definition should be :DEFINE "DD01 PROFILE CHAIN" CHAIN RAMPB

"DD01 MIN DITCH DEPTH"
Define the desired minimum depth of the ditch. The only manner this variable is used by the criteria is to check the resulting depth using the ditch grade profile. If that resulting depth is not greater than or equal to the defined minimum depth, the criteria will abort drawing on that station.
Default definition = 0.31

"DD01 DRAW IN PLANVIEW"
This variable is used to control whether or not the criteria automatically draws ditch boundaries into a plan view file. When used, the criteria will prompt for plan view file name and baseline chain name.
Define as 0 to turn off the feature. Define as 1 to turn it on. Default definition is -1, which causes the criteria to ask whether or not to draw in plan view.
Default definition = -1.

"DD PROPOSED EARTHWORK ELEMENTS"
Defined via DEFINE_DGN with the symbology of the proposed finish grade elements of the typical cross section. The standard symbology is as follows:

This information is employed by the criteria to find the slope stake point which is usually the origin of the ditch. It is also used when the ditch front slope is to match the fill slope value.

"DD01 ALTERNATE ORIGIN"
Defined via DEFINE_DGN with the symbology of any other element in a plan view graphics file by which the origin of the ditch is to be located.

"DD ORIGIN AT SLOPESTAKE"
Define as zero when using DD01 ALTERNATE ORIGIN to locate the origin of the ditch.
Default definition = 1.

"DD01 MARK DITCH ELEVATION ONLY"
This feature is provided for use by the Hydraulics Unit as an aid in designing the ditch profiles. When defined as non-zero, the criteria does not draw any of the ditch components. Rather, it simply marks the elevation of the ditch profile.

"DD01 PROCESS DITCH THRU CUTS"
The DDE criteria is designed to determine if the typical cross section is in cut or fill. By default, if it determines the section is in cut, it will not process nor draw any ditch components. This allows the designer to include one DDE criteria for longer ranges of stations, in disregard of possible transitions between cuts and fills. However, there may be occasions in which processing of the ditch components may be necessary in cut sections; for example when the MARK DITCH ELEVATION ONLY option is being used. In this situation, this variable: PROCESS DITCH THRU CUTS may be defined as non-zero to force drawing or processing of ditch components through cut sections.