Foresite Group
Oct 23, 2022
INTRODUCTION TO CORRIDOR MODELING
USING AUTOCAD CIVIL3D
Roads are an integral part of our everyday life. According to a survey from the AAA Foundation for
Traf c Safety, American drivers spend an average of more than 48 minutes behind the wheel per
day. However, the average American doesn’t have any idea how much time is spent designing the
roadways on their commute. Before the invention of software tools such as AutoCAD or Microstation,
civil engineers had to design roadways by hand. Thankfully, the design (and re-design) time has
been reduced signi cantly by using a tool in AutoCAD Civil 3D called “corridors.” In this blog, we will
discuss the basic components needed to design a roadway using the corridor tools and how it serves
as the foundation for your overall design of a subdivision project.
In the case of subdivisions, how the roadway is designed using the corridor tools will determine
where you will set your house pad elevations, where you will place the detention pond, and how the
overall storm and sanitary sewer systems will be designed. Additionally, any unforeseen changes that
need to be made to the corridor later in the design process are quick and easy because each
component is dynamically linked. So, spending time on the front end of the design to ensure the
corridor is properly built could save hours or days at the end of a design.
There are three basic design components needed to design a roadway using the corridor tools:
horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, and cross section. While we won’t get into the nuts and
bolts of setting up a corridor in Civil 3D, below is breakdown of how each component functions
within your design.
1. Horizontal Alignment. Horizontal alignment is the centerline of the roadway as shown in plan
view, and it consists of two basic components: tangents and circular curves. The alignment is
typically roughly placed using just tangents and then curves are placed to connect each tangent to
the next. When designing the horizontal alignment, a few things should be considered. First, the
engineer should double check the jurisdictional requirements and make sure the alignment is
compliant. Typically, each roadway should meet the requirements of the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Of cials (AASHTO), the state department of transportation (DOT),
and the city or county. These design requirements usually place restrictions on minimum tangent
lengths between curves, minimum curve radii, and minimum super-elevation rates. They set the
requirements based on sight distance as well as the roadway’s intended classi cation and design
speed. Second, the alignment should follow existing terrain as closely as possible and avoid existing
slopes that are so steep that they might create dif culty in construction. Lastly, in the case of a
subdivision, the alignment should allow for the desired amount and con guration of lots to be met.
Once you have a horizontal alignment, a corresponding vertical alignment can be designed.
2. Vertical Alignment. The vertical alignment, called a pro le in Civil3D, is the centerline of the
roadway viewed from a pro le (or side) view and consists of tangents (grades) and curves. The curves
in a vertical alignment differ from the horizontal alignment curves in that they are parabolic curves
instead of circular curves. The curves are categorized as sag (an increase in grade) or crest (a
decrease in grade). Like the horizontal alignment, it is important to try to match the existing terrain
as closely as possible with the vertical alignment to minimize the amount of earthwork that will be
required. Additionally, there are requirements for maximum grade and curve lengths speci ed by
jurisdictions. These are selected using the roadway’s design speed and are set to ensure a driver’s
comfort and to meet sight distance. The last thing to consider when designing a vertical alignment
is the minimum slope of the roadway. Typically, slopes greater than 1.0% are not used because slopes
too low will not provide adequate drainage and could cause ponding in the roadway. As always,
check with the proper jurisdiction to see if they have their own requirement.
Pro le View
3. Cross Section. Called an assembly in Civil3D, this consists of various “subassemblies”
connected to create the full cross section. Types of subassemblies used can be road lanes, curb and
gutter, shoulders, sidewalks, tie in grades, and many others. Usually, the jurisdiction (state or local)
will have their own cross-sectional requirements that will need to be followed. These requirements
will tell you widths and slopes of lanes, shoulders, sidewalks, and/or roadside ditches, as well as
required tie in slopes. Most roadways will not have the exact same cross section throughout, so
several different assemblies may need to be created. The corridor tools in Civil3D allow you to specify
different assemblies for different sections of the roadway. Once the assemblies are created, the
corridor can be built.
Cross Section
The corridor modeling tools in Civil3D are very helpful for anytime you need to design a roadway or a
subdivision, particularly with their ability to dynamically update as any of these components are
changed. I’ve found that in the case of subdivisions, it’s especially worth the effort to properly set up
a corridor at the start of the design process in order to smooth the way for other design elements.
About Foresite Group
Foresite Group is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and consulting rm providing services to
public and private sector clients nationwide. Our team’s collaborative process results in creative
products and services that help our clients achieve their goals. Our team takes pride in enhancing
and developing the cities and communities where we live, work, and raise our families.
