I’d like to explain the merits and simplicity of editing an existing flawed (or legacy) surface with another updated region. Sometimes careful data sifting is required, and in those cases this method will not do. However, those situations are few, and the Paste method is a great option. This discussion will follow the notion that the original data needs to be replaced.
The two Key features of Paste Surface are Unbelievably simple to use, and completely overwriting the original data. The entire region being pasted in will occlude the existing data in that region.
Here, let me show you. I created a surface to be used as the incoming data. Since there was additional locations beyond the target surface I applied a polyline ‘outer’ boundary, and performed some routine surface edits to make sure everything was up to par.
I’d like to stress 2 things at this point: Surface Boundary and Edits.
You want to fix the incoming surface now while it is simple, not after you dump it into a complex model. You may not have heard it yet, but Civil can choke down some memory and slow down slightly during complex edits (that was supposed to be funny).
Below you can see the Magenta surface boundary of the region being edited overlayed onto the existing flawed surface. The Red Circles are the surface points that need to be replaced. Everything in the existing surface, lying inside the Magenta boundary needs to be killed.
In the Prospector, I have expanded the definitions collection, right click on edit, and select ‘Paste Surface…’. The list of other surfaces will appear, and after selecting the new surface region, the existing surface updates to reflect the replaced data.
After the Paste, this is what we get.
Notice the contours update, and the red circles are now located at the new locations.
Save your data, and if you like, do an XML swap to get rid of the old definitions. That’s it.
