Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modeling a variety of three dimensional structures that may be represented as a longitudinal series of repeating cross-sections. In one embodiment, users construct each cross section from a collection of subassembly components selected from a catalog of subassemblies. Each subassembly is represented as a data component that stores modifiable parameters, and a logic component that generates a parameter-specific geometry of the subassembly for use in a cross-section of the model. A graphical user interface allows a user to select a subassembly, to modify the parameters for the subassembly, and to integrate the subassembly element into the computer model.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to update a drawing surface in a CAD/GIS computer application. First, a drawing surface is displayed in a CAD/GIS application. A surface edit operation is then performed on the drawing surface. The CAD/GIS application then determines if an automatic rebuild option is active. If the rebuild option is active, the drawing surface is dynamically and automatically rebuilt to reflect the surface edit operation. Alternatively, if the automatic rebuild option is inactive (e.g., toggled off), the drawing surface is flagged as out-of-date.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modeling a variety of three dimensional structures that may be represented as a longitudinal series of repeating cross-sections. In one embodiment, users construct each cross section from a collection of subassembly components selected from a catalog of subassemblies. Each subassembly is represented as a data component that stores modifiable parameters, and a logic component that generates a parameter-specific geometry of the subassembly for use in a cross-section of the model. A graphical user interface allows a user to select a subassembly, to modify the parameters for the subassembly, and to integrate the subassembly element into the computer model.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for creating a complete 3D model of complex infrastructure configurations, such as divided highways, roadway intersections, etc. Current CAD applications have been limited to creating 3D models based on the geometry of a single alignment. In one embodiment, each baseline for a 3D model using four data inputs: a topographical terrain model, an alignment specifying the longitudinal 2D geometry for the structure being modeled, a profile specifying the elevations of the baseline along the horizontal alignment, and the geometry for cross-sectional assemblies along the horizontal and vertical alignments.