Refining Surface Contour Lines for Better Visualization

Now that we've successfully created our surface, we need to address a critical issue: the contour lines that extend beyond our intended boundaries. These errant lines can compromise the accuracy of our design and create confusion in the final output. To resolve this, we'll implement targeted surface edits that ensure clean, professional results. Let's begin by expanding the Surfaces section in our project browser.

Navigate to the Dev Branch Grad surface, right-click to access the context menu, and select Surface Properties. Within the Surface Styles tab, we'll create a specialized editing environment by establishing a new surface style. Name this style "Edit" to clearly distinguish it from your standard display options. Navigate to the Display tab and activate both Triangles and Points—these visual elements are essential for identifying problematic TIN lines that require attention.

After configuring these settings, apply the changes by clicking Apply, then OK. Ensure the Edit style remains selected in the dropdown menu, then confirm your selection with Apply and OK. This workflow establishes the visual framework necessary for precision editing.

With our editing environment active, you'll notice numerous TIN lines incorrectly spanning between retaining walls—a common issue that can significantly impact surface accuracy. Additionally, several TIN lines are inappropriately crossing through our corridor and cul-de-sac areas. These geometric inconsistencies must be systematically eliminated to maintain design integrity.

Begin the correction process by selecting the surface, which activates the contextual Edit Surface ribbon. Access the Delete Line tool and employ strategic window crossing selections to remove the problematic TIN lines. Use the crossing window technique across multiple sections, pressing ENTER after each selection to confirm the deletion. This methodical approach ensures thorough cleanup while maintaining control over the editing process.

Continue refining the surface geometry by systematically addressing each problematic area. Focus particularly on the retaining wall sections, where spanning lines often create unrealistic grade transitions. Pan and zoom as needed to maintain precision—detailed work at this stage prevents costly revisions later in the design process.

Pay special attention to achieving an accurate approximation of curves, particularly around retaining wall transitions. The goal is eliminating all spanning lines that cross through these critical areas while preserving the natural flow of the terrain. This level of detail distinguishes professional-grade surface modeling from amateur work.

Shift focus to the cul-de-sac area, which typically requires extensive cleanup due to the complex geometry involved. Employ the same window crossing technique, working systematically through each section. Continue this refined approach, zooming in progressively to capture even the smallest problematic elements. This attention to detail ensures the final surface accurately represents your design intent.

Maintain the systematic approach throughout the cleanup process, using window crossing selections to address remaining issues. The iterative nature of this work—crossing, confirming with ENTER, and moving to the next area—ensures comprehensive coverage while preventing accidental deletions of critical surface data.

Complete the editing process by addressing any remaining inconsistencies. Once satisfied with the surface geometry, press Escape to exit the Delete Line tool, then Escape again to deactivate the editing mode. This two-step exit process ensures all pending operations are properly concluded.

Now transition back to your presentation-ready surface display by accessing the surface properties once more. Right-click on Dev Branch Grad and select Surface Properties. Change the style dropdown from "Edit" back to "Design Topo," then apply and confirm the changes. This returns your surface to its clean, professional display state.

The transformation should be immediately apparent—those problematic wispy contour lines that previously extended into undefined areas should now be eliminated. To verify your work, select the surface and launch the Object Viewer. Position and expand the viewer window, then rotate the 3D view to examine your corridor edges and cul-de-sac definition. You should observe clean, well-defined boundaries that accurately represent your design intent.

Note that some minor artifacts may remain visible, particularly small discontinuities related to TIN line closures around retaining wall areas. These minor imperfections are acceptable at this stage, as the subsequent workflow involves pasting this surface into a master surface file, which will resolve these remaining inconsistencies through the surface combination process.

With the surface editing complete and quality verified, exit the Object Viewer by pressing Escape and zoom out to review the entire drawing extent. This final review ensures all modifications align with your overall project requirements. Save the drawing to preserve your work, establishing a solid foundation for the next phase of the surface development process covered in the following video.