Reduce Element

The Reduce element is used to remove a fixed thickness of material from an area of the site. This element is most commonly used for stripping topsoil at the start of a project and for making subgrade adjustments.

The properties that are exposed for the Reduce element are summarised below.

	Boundary The Boundary button provides access to the editor where the definition points can be defined for the outline of the Reduce area. Depth This is the depth of material that you wish to remove from the Reduce area. Depths From This setting dictates from what surface the specified depths are relative to. ‘Ground’ can be selected, or you can select the ‘Previous Element’ if you want the depths to be relative to the surface when the previous element in the calculation order is built. You can also select a named element. When the ‘Auto’ option is active ‘Depths From’ is dynamically set to the first absolute element above it in the calculation order. If there aren’t any, it is set to ground. The behaviour when ‘Auto’ is active is desirable in most circumstances. Side Batter The Reduce boundary is joined to the ground by side slopes. The Side Batters (set as a ratio of vertical to horizontal) dictate the angle of these slopes. You can set the side batter to either External or Internal. Turning side batter off will result in the Reduce being joined to the ground with vertical sides. Between the Cut and Fill ratios is a double-arrow button which, when depressed, will synchronise Side Batters.

Boundary
The Boundary button provides access to the editor where the definition points can be defined for the outline of the Reduce area.
Depth
This is the depth of material that you wish to remove from the Reduce area.
Depths From
This setting dictates from what surface the specified depths are relative to. ‘Ground’ can be selected, or you can select the ‘Previous Element’ if you want the depths to be relative to the surface when the previous element in the calculation order is built. You can also select a named element. When the ‘Auto’ option is active ‘Depths From’ is dynamically set to the first absolute element above it in the calculation order. If there aren’t any, it is set to ground. The behaviour when ‘Auto’ is active is desirable in most circumstances.
Side Batter
The Reduce boundary is joined to the ground by side slopes. The Side Batters (set as a ratio of vertical to horizontal) dictate the angle of these slopes. You can set the side batter to either External or Internal. Turning side batter off will result in the Reduce being joined to the ground with vertical sides.

Between the Cut and Fill ratios is a double-arrow button which, when depressed, will synchronise Side Batters.

Topsoil Stripping demonstates using the Reduce element for topsoil stripping operations and explains the importance of defining strip depths in a separate phase to subsequent earthwork elevations.