We have created an RXL (road alignment)file in Trimble Business Center. It has multiple equation station in it. When we load the file up in Trimble Access and attempt to stake of the alignment the equation stations are not in effect.
As a work around the field guys tell me that if the load the point file as well as the alignment the equations work. Is that a requirement that both be there? The CSV file was created in Carlson and was never associated with the RXL file, but the field guys claim the points have to be loaded before the equations will work.
This could potentially cause some staking errors and I'm looking for a setting or something that I have missed.
Any ideas?
Tom
Are you staking through the Roads module, or the stakeout alignments in general survey?
Yes, just alignment staking, don't have Road module
In 2002 I worked as a sub consultant on the Salt Lake City I-15 rebuild before the Olympics. I was basically working TerraModel for a field office doing 1/3 of the job. They had a main office doing most of the calc for the whole project. I got hired to check because there was some problems and the survey manager for my area new me from another project and asked me to work there part time. I interviewed at the main office but they wouldn't pay me what I asked for (the manager said I was asking for more than he made, end of interview).
We couldn't get the software to work through station equations. TerrraModel claimed it worked and the main office assumed it worked but we couldn't get it to work. So we were careful to keep our surveyors aware about the issue (near the equation make sure which side and alignment file you use). To make a long story short the main office sent out some stakeout by hard coordinates calc'd from the wrong side of the equation when I wasn't there and nobody caught it. A whole bridge piling system was laid out and pounded. When they went to stake the pile caps using the correct coordinates from the correct side of the station equation it missed by 6 feet.
I'm not sure of the final details, but TerraModel sent out some of their folks from Atlanta. The damages were about $200,000 and by that time I had left the project but was invited to the meeting. I don't know how they fixed it (moved the bridge, drove another row of pilings or what or who paid for the mistake). I think about it many times when I drive over the bridge.
I haven't tried it in Access, but in the past I have just cut the job up into sections so the equations don't come into play.
It may also have something to do with the fact that our Drafting department has set up the equation stations incorrectly, ie. 21+50 back and 21+25 ahead. This scenario would give you 2 location where you have station 21+40.
Perhaps the software can't resolve the location of 21+40 (two valid answers) until it has coordinates.
From a field test yesterday, staking from RXL file alone produces incorrect stations. When the point file is loaded in the job as well as the RXL file, all works as planned.
Tom
