Today, I want to talk to you about models, not runway models (sorry to disappoint) but surface models. These surface models have become a big part of our civil engineering world. Every year, improvements are made in how to build these models. Point Files and Cogo Points, Contours, Grading Group, and even the Grading Optimizer Autodesk, which was introduced two years ago. But I want to tell you about the simplest building block of these surfaces: The Feature Line.

Whenever Denny Howell sees me, he says, “Schmidt, Feature Lines.” He understands they drive an accurate surface. I will provide a simple example. The photos below contain some driveway feature lines (with labels to show elevation) attached to some building and curb lines. Both the building and curb control the driveway slope. By editing just the building elevation from 309.87 to 310.50, the driveway feature lines are dynamically updated, which in turn updates the surface in real-time. This allows Howell Engineering to quickly modify models to meet changing client needs. Some of the services Howell Engineering provides with these models are accurate grading for stakeout, cut and fill calculations and padding or hold down plans.