End Area Volumes

(This functionality is available with the Profiles and Design module)

End areas are computed based upon the end areas derived from the cross section intersection rules. When computing the volumes, the weighted mean of the cut and fill regions is determined for each section. The volume is then computed based upon these areas and the distances between the sections. Prismoidal correction is optional. Centroid corrections are always automatically applied.

The user should ensure that consecutive cross sections never cross each other, as erroneous volumes will result between such cross sections.

The user should ensure that cross sections are placed at all arc ends to ensure that the centroid correction is never ambiguous. Each consecutve pair of cross sections must be on the same straight of curve, otherwise the centroid correction and hence the volume between those cross sections may be erroneous.

If any internal end areas cannot be computed there is an option for these sections to be skipped. In that case the volume however will be computed using the next valid end area using the through distance. This prevents holes from being left out of the volume computation. If end areas cannot be computed this is reported as part of the volume computation. Obviously this cannot apply if either the start or end sections cannot generate end areas.

The bulking and compaction factors are just multiplication factors to be applied to the cuts and fills respectively.