Put simply, I wish you could use multiple bits of linework/other alignments/profiles to create dynamic alignments. Sort of like an offset alignment than co reference more than one object.

Similar to the way kerb returns work already, but in a much more customizable and intuitive way. (this is done incredibly well in 12D using computators!)

Horizontal Geometry Example

Let’s consider horizontal alignment design of two roads (blue and red) using the below example.

There are offset requirements for the existing property boundary, the new road (blue) and the highway. Typically to create an alignment we would offset all of this basic linework and then convert to an alignment and add curves etc.. But this is not very dynamic at all!! What happens if the offset requirements requirement’s change? or If the new road is adjusted?

What would be useful is if we could produce alignments based on these very requirements parametrically. Using a partial reference element-based approach that maintains the links to the original linework or other design elements.

So instead of creating all this alignment geometry manually we can create “dynamic rules” for the alignment to create itself. Most importantly the alignment can be created using multiple partial parts of other objects or alignments.

Vertical Geometry

Using this same example it would be also useful to create dynamic element based vertical geometry as well. Grades can be projected dynamically to create element based tangents or PVI’s.

Some light “freely” available reading can be found here. 12D computators

http://www.exds.com.au/html_content/12d_Model_Super_Alignment_3_Computators/Super_Alignment_Design_using_Computators.html?Reference2.html

Or watch a video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ETpftB7WA