Entering Horizontal Curves

Displaying Curve Data

To display curve data in the Traverse View, include the letters R (radius), C (arc length), Q (delta or central angle), c (PC->PR bearing), r (PR->PT bearing) and t (tangent) in the display sequence. Include the letters H (horizontal distance = chord dist) and A or B (chord azimuth or bearing) if they are not already included.

Note: For a curve or spiral segment, the dist and bearing or azimuth displayed in the Traverse View are the dist and bearing or azimuth of the long chord.

Curve Data is Stored with the PT

All curve data is stored with the PT of the curve. To edit a curve, highlight it’s PT and choose COGO | Horizontal Curve or just edit any of the curve data in the same row as the PT.

Enter Curve Data for Existing Lines

Sometimes you want to specify curve information for an existing line (chord). This is typical of deed descriptions that call the bearing and distance of the chord, plus the radius and direction (clockwise or counter clockwise) of the curve.

Choose View | Format and include the curve information you want (R=Radius, C=Arc Length, etc.).
Enter the chord bearing and distance.
Highlight the point that will be the PT (Point of Tangency) of the curve.
Enter the radius, arc length, tangent or delta. A negative radius or arc length indicates a counter clockwise curve.

The Traverse View will display PC and PT in the Type column indicating the Point of Curvature and Point of Tangency.

If you include other curve columns in the display sequence, TPC will compute the other curve parameters and display them for you.

Creating Curves as You Go

You can also enter curves as you go, creating the PT position and curves together.

Use the arrow keys to append a new point to the traverse.
Enter two pieces of curve data (i.e. Radius and Delta, or Arc Length and Delta, etc.).
The Traverse View will display PC and PT in the Type column, indicating the Point of Curvature and Point of

Tangency.

If you include other curve columns in the display sequence, TPC will compute the other curve parameters and

will display them for you.

Curve Data Combinations

There are many combinations of curve data that you can enter right in the Traverse View to compute a curve. Although the radius and arc length are common, you can lots of combinations. Here are a few.

Radius and Central Angle.
Radius, PC->PR and PR->PT. TPC computes the central angle, then computes the curve.
Radius, Chord Bearing and Chord Distance.

Recalling the Outgoing Tangent

Create a new traverse point immediately after the curve.

Move the cursor to the Bearing, North Az or South Az column.
Press [Space], then [Enter].

You will see the outgoing tangent direction displayed.

Specifying a Point of Intersection Point Type

Highlight the point label field of the point that you want to be a PI.

Choose Type | PI=Point of Intersection.

When you highlight a point that has been designated as a PI and select the horizontal curve dialog box, TPC looks for a PC and PT on either side of the PI. If it does not find a PC and PT, it inserts them automatically when curve data is entered. The inserted points will have the same point label as the PI, but with the extensions PC and PT.

In all other respects, PI's are treated like occupied points. This is a great way to float in PC’s and PT’s.

Entering a Curve at a PI

Choose View | Format and include the curve information you want (R=Radius, C=Arc Length, etc.).
Highlight a point of intersection (the Type column displays PI).
Enter the known radius, tangent or arc length (the delta is determined by the PI and cannot be entered).

TPC will insert a PC point before the PI and a PT point after the PI if they do not already exist. Both the inserted PC and PT points will be positioned on the tangents, equal distance from the PI. The Traverse View now displays the inverse between the PC and PT (as if the PI was a side shot from the PC). The PC and PT are treated like occupied points from then on.

Using the Horizontal Curves Dialog

From the Traverse View, highlight any existing curve or any point for which you would like to enter curve data, and choose COGO | Horizontal Curve to display the Horizontal Curve dialog.
Enter the data you are given, and the dialog box computes the others.
When you have the curve data you want, choose OK to update the highlighted point in the Traverse View.

As you enter data in the Horizontal Curve dialog, you will notice that the field names change state to indicate which data you have entered. These states indicate which data is given and which data is computed. When you enter a number, the field name becomes depressed to show that data is being held. If a value is computed, its field name is released. To change the state, just click on the field name.

From this dialog, you can create dozens of curves by combining the data you are given. Once you understand the basic operation of the Horizontal Curves dialog box, you can make it work with almost any combination of data you run across.

Saving the Computed PI and PR

Highlight any curve point in the Traverse View and choose COGO | Horizontal Curve.
Enter point labels for the PI or PR and choose Save PI or Save PR.

TPC will check for existing point labels, ask you to change the labels if necessary and save the points.

When the PI and PR are saved, they become part of the survey even though they may not be used in any traverse. To include them in any of the traverses, recall them by their point labels.

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