Kubla Cubed provides multiple options to define earthwork levels. Some thought has to be
given to the best earthworks elements to use in any given scenario. When required, a number of
elements can be used together to create the proposed earthworks. Earthworks elements can be
divided into two groups in regard to how their elevations are defined :
-
Absolute Elements: These elements are defined by explicit levels. The Platform,
Slope, Path, Feature Surface and Triangle Surface all fall under this category. If they
intersect with another element and are lower in the calculation order they will effectively
overwrite the element below.
Note: Backward compatibility: Paths
defined in Kubla Cubed 2019 and older, could be defined by heights and as such were a
hybrid of absolute and relative. When opened in Kubla Cubed 2021 and later, Paths defined
by heights are automatically converted into relative elements: Trenches or Berms,
depending on whether they were mainly cut or fill, respectively.
-
Relative Elements: The next type are Relative Elements. The Reduce, Raise, Trench and
Berm elements come under this category. For these elements you do not input a level but
instead a depth or height by which to adjust the existing ground or the level already
defined by elements lower in the calculation order. If these elements intersect with other
elements lower in the calculation order, they do not overwrite them, instead they will
adjust their level up or down.
Whenever designing a proposed surface by combining multiple earthworks elements it is
important to ensure that you are confident that you have defined the level you intended. To
check hover the mouse cursor over various points on your designed surface to ensure the
proposed Z value is what you expected. Please see the section on cursor label for more information.