C3d Profiles

Civil 3D Profiles and Profile Views

Use this skill when creating profiles from surfaces, building layout profiles with entities, creating profile views, or working with profile styles.

Profile Overview

Profiles are the vertical analogue to alignments. Together, an alignment and profile represent a 3D path.

Accessing Profiles

ObjectIdCollection profileIds = alignment.GetProfileIds();
foreach (ObjectId profileId in profileIds)
{
    Profile profile = ts.GetObject(profileId, OpenMode.ForRead) as Profile;
    ed.WriteMessage("Profile: {0}\n", profile.Name);
}

Profile Properties

Profile profile = ts.GetObject(profileId, OpenMode.ForRead) as Profile;

// Read-only properties
double startSta = profile.StartingStation;
double endSta = profile.EndingStation;
double len = profile.Length;
double minElev = profile.ElevationMin;
double maxElev = profile.ElevationMax;
ProfileType pType = profile.ProfileType;
ObjectId alignId = profile.AlignmentId;
string dataSource = profile.DataSourceName;
double offset = profile.Offset;

// Query elevation and grade at any station
double elev = profile.ElevationAt(1000.0);
double grade = profile.GradeAt(1000.0);

Creating a Profile from a Surface

Derives elevation data from a surface along an alignment path:

// ObjectId-based overload (preferred)
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateFromSurface(
    "My Profile", alignId, surfaceId, layerId, styleId, labelSetId);

// With offset and station range
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateFromSurface(
    "My Profile", alignId, surfaceId, layerId, styleId, labelSetId,
    offset: 10.0, sampleStart: 0.0, sampleEnd: 500.0);

// String name-based overload
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateFromSurface(
    "My Profile", doc, "Alignment Name", "Surface Name",
    "Layer Name", "Style Name", "Label Set Name");

Creating a Profile by Layout (Entity-Based)

Creates an empty profile, then defines shape with entities:

// ObjectId-based overload (preferred)
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateByLayout(
    "My Profile", alignId, layerId, styleId, labelSetId);

// String name-based overload
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateByLayout(
    "My Profile", doc, "Alignment Name", "Layer Name",
    "Style Name", "Label Set Name");

Profile oProfile = ts.GetObject(profileId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as Profile;

Creating a Profile from a Feature Line

Extracts profile data from a corridor feature line:

ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateFromFeatureLine(
    "My Profile", corridorFeatureLine, alignId, layerId, styleId, labelSetId);

Creating a Static Copy of a Profile

Creates a static (non-dynamic) finished ground profile from an existing profile:

// ObjectId-based
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateStaticFGFromProfile(
    "Static Copy", srcProfileId, layerId, styleId, labelSetId);

// String name-based
ObjectId profileId = Profile.CreateStaticFGFromProfile(
    "Static Copy", doc, "Source Profile", "Layer Name",
    "Style Name", "Label Set Name");

Creating an Offset Profile

Creates a profile on an offset alignment with a constant slope from the parent profile:

// ObjectId-based
ObjectId profileId = parentProfile.CreateOffsetProfileBySlope(
    "Offset Profile", offsetAlignmentId, profileStyleId, slope: 0.02);

// String name-based
ObjectId profileId = parentProfile.CreateOffsetProfileBySlope(
    "Offset Profile", "Offset Alignment Name", "Style Name", slope: 0.02);

Offset Profile Parameters

// Access the offset parameters for station-based slope control
Profile.OffsetProfileParameters offsetParams = profile.OffsetParameters;
ObjectId parentProfileId = offsetParams.ParentProfileId;
ObjectId parentAlignId = offsetParams.ParentAlignmentId;

// Define variable slopes at specific stations
offsetParams.Stations = new List<Profile.OffsetProfileParametersStation>
{
    new Profile.OffsetProfileParametersStation(0.0, 0.02, "Start"),
    new Profile.OffsetProfileParametersStation(500.0, 0.04, "Steeper section"),
};

Adding Profile Entities

Profile entities define the geometry of layout profiles. Coordinates use (station, elevation) as Point2d.

Fixed Tangents (Straight Lines)

// Fixed tangent between two points
Point2d startPoint = new Point2d(alignment.StartingStation, -40);
Point2d endPoint = new Point2d(758.2, -70);
ProfileTangent tangent1 = oProfile.Entities.AddFixedTangent(startPoint, endPoint);

// Fixed tangent specifying insertion after a previous entity
ProfileTangent tangent = oProfile.Entities.AddFixedTangentWithPreviousEntity(
    prevEntity.EntityId, startPoint, endPoint);

Floating and Free Tangents

// Floating tangent - attaches to an entity end and passes through a point
ProfileTangent floatTan = oProfile.Entities.AddFloatingTangent(
    entityId, passPoint, EntityAttachType.End);

// Free tangent - connects two existing entities
ProfileTangent freeTan = oProfile.Entities.AddFreeTangent(
    prevEntityId, nextEntityId);

Symmetric Parabolic Curves

// Free symmetric parabola by length (connects two entities)
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByLength(
    tangent1.EntityId, tangent2.EntityId,
    VerticalCurveType.Sag, 900.1, preferFlat: true);

// Free symmetric parabola by K value
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByK(
    prevEntityId, nextEntityId, VerticalCurveType.Crest, k: 50.0);

// Free symmetric parabola by radius
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByRadius(
    prevEntityId, nextEntityId, VerticalCurveType.Sag, radius: 1000.0);

// Free symmetric parabola at a PVI
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByPVIAndCurveLength(pvi, curveLength: 200.0);
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByPVIAndK(pvi, k: 50.0);
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeSymmetricParabolaByPVIAndThroughPoint(pvi, passPoint);

// Fixed symmetric parabola by three points
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByThreePoints(pt1, pt2, pt3);

// Fixed symmetric parabola by two points and constraint
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByTwoPointsAndK(pt1, pt2, VerticalCurveType.Sag, k);
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByTwoPointsAndRadius(pt1, pt2, VerticalCurveType.Sag, radius);
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByTwoPointsAndStartGrade(pt1, pt2, startGrade);
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByTwoPointsAndEndGrade(pt1, pt2, endGrade);
oProfile.Entities.AddFixedSymmetricParabolaByEntityEndAndThroughPoint(entityId, passPoint);

// Floating symmetric parabola (attaches to an existing entity)
oProfile.Entities.AddFloatingSymmetricParabolaByThroughPointAndK(entityId, passPoint, k, attachType);
oProfile.Entities.AddFloatingSymmetricParabolaByThroughPointAndRadius(entityId, passPoint, radius, attachType);
oProfile.Entities.AddFloatingSymmetricParabolaByThroughPointAndGrade(entityId, passPoint, grade, attachType);

Asymmetric Parabolic Curves

// Free asymmetric parabola at a PVI with two different lengths
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeAsymmetricParabolaByPVIAndLengths(pvi, length1, length2);

Circular Curves

// Free circular curve at a PVI
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeCircularCurveByPVIAndRadius(pvi, radius);
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeCircularCurveByPVIAndLength(pvi, length);
oProfile.Entities.AddFreeCircularCurveByPVIAndThroughPoint(pvi, passPoint);

Managing Entities

// Iterate entities
foreach (ProfileEntity entity in oProfile.Entities)
{
    ed.WriteMessage("Entity type: {0}\n", entity.EntityType);
}

// Access by index or ID
ProfileEntity ent = oProfile.Entities[0];
ProfileEntity entById = oProfile.Entities.EntityAtId(entityId);
uint first = oProfile.Entities.FirstEntity;
uint last = oProfile.Entities.LastEntity;

// Remove entities
oProfile.Entities.Remove(entity);
oProfile.Entities.RemoveAt(index);
oProfile.Entities.Clear();

Points of Vertical Intersection (PVIs)

The intersection point of two adjacent tangents:

// Find PVI closest to station 1000, elevation -70
ProfilePVI pvi = oProfile.PVIs.GetPVIAt(1000, -70);
ed.WriteMessage("PVI at station: {0}\n", pvi.RawStation);

// Add a plain PVI (sharp point, no vertical curve)
ProfilePVI newPvi = oProfile.PVIs.AddPVI(607.4, -64.3);
newPvi.Elevation -= 2.0; // Adjust elevation

// Add PVI with a vertical curve already attached
ProfilePVI arcPvi = oProfile.PVIs.AddPVIArc(station, elevation, radius);
ProfilePVI symPvi = oProfile.PVIs.AddPVISymParabola(station, elevation, curveLength);
ProfilePVI asymPvi = oProfile.PVIs.AddPVIAsymParabola(station, elevation, tangentLen1, tangentLen2);

// Remove PVI (multiple overloads)
oProfile.PVIs.RemoveAt(station, elevation);   // by closest station+elevation
oProfile.PVIs.RemoveAt(index);                // by index
oProfile.PVIs.Remove(pvi);                    // by object reference

PVI Properties

ProfilePVI pvi = oProfile.PVIs[0];
double station = pvi.RawStation;        // use RawStation (Station is deprecated since Civil 2024)
double elevation = pvi.Elevation;
double gradeIn = pvi.GradeIn;
double gradeOut = pvi.GradeOut;
ProfileEntityType pviType = pvi.PVIType;
uint entityBefore = pvi.EntityBefore;
uint entityAfter = pvi.EntityAfter;
ProfileEntity vertCurve = pvi.VerticalCurve;

// Sight distance properties
double stopping = pvi.StoppingSightDistance;
double passing = pvi.PassingSightDistance;
double headlight = pvi.HeadlightSightDistance;

Note: PVIs are identified by station+elevation (no name/ID). GetPVIAt and RemoveAt(station, elevation) find the CLOSEST match.

Profile Views

Creating a Single Profile View

Point3d insertionPoint = new Point3d(100, 100, 0);

// Minimal overload (uses default styles)
ObjectId profileViewId = ProfileView.Create(alignId, insertionPoint);

// With name, band set, and style
ObjectId profileViewId = ProfileView.Create(
    alignId, insertionPoint, "New Profile View",
    bandSetStyleId, profileViewStyleId);

// With split options
ObjectId profileViewId = ProfileView.Create(
    alignId, insertionPoint, "New Profile View",
    bandSetStyleId, profileViewStyleId, splitOptions);

Creating Stacked Profile Views

Returns multiple profile view IDs for stacked display:

// Stacked views
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.Create(
    alignId, insertionPoint, stackedOptions);

// Stacked with name and band set
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.Create(
    alignId, insertionPoint, "Profile View",
    bandSetStyleId, stackedOptions);

// Stacked with split options
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.Create(
    alignId, insertionPoint, "Profile View",
    bandSetStyleId, stackedOptions, splitOptions);

Creating Multiple Profile Views (Station-Range Segments)

Splits the alignment into multiple profile views by station range:

// Minimal
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.CreateMultiple(
    alignId, insertionPoint, multipleOptions);

// With name, band set, style, split, and datum
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.CreateMultiple(
    alignId, insertionPoint, "Profile View",
    bandSetStyleId, profileViewStyleId,
    multipleOptions, splitOptions, datumType);

// With stacked and multiple combined
ObjectIdCollection pvIds = ProfileView.CreateMultiple(
    alignId, insertionPoint, stackedOptions, multipleOptions);

Profile View Properties

ProfileView pv = ts.GetObject(pvId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as ProfileView;

// Alignment info
ObjectId alignId = pv.AlignmentId;
string alignName = pv.AlignmentName;

// Station range
StationRangeType staMode = pv.StationRangeMode;
double staStart = pv.StationStart;
double staEnd = pv.StationEnd;

// Elevation range
ElevationRangeType elevMode = pv.ElevationRangeMode;
double elevMin = pv.ElevationMin;
double elevMax = pv.ElevationMax;

// Split profile view
pv.SplitProfileView = true;
pv.SplitHeight = 5.0;
pv.SplitStationMode = SplitStationType.Manual;

Coordinate Conversion

Convert between drawing XY coordinates and station/elevation:

double station = 0, elevation = 0;
bool found = pv.FindStationAndElevationAtXY(x, y, ref station, ref elevation);

double x = 0, y = 0;
bool found = pv.FindXYAtStationAndElevation(station, elevation, ref x, ref y);

Getting Profiles and Labels in a Profile View

// Available label collections
ObjectIdCollection pvLabels = pv.GetProfileViewLabelIds();
ObjectIdCollection pipeLabels = pv.GetAvailablePipeProfileLabelIds();
ObjectIdCollection spanLabels = pv.GetAvailableSpanningPipeProfileLabelIds();
ObjectIdCollection structLabels = pv.GetAvailableStructureProfileLabelIds();
ObjectIdCollection pressureParts = pv.GetPressureNetworkPartsInGraph();

Profile View Band Sets

Bands display tabular data below or above the profile view (station, elevation, cut/fill, etc.):

ProfileView pv = ts.GetObject(pvId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as ProfileView;
ProfileViewBandSet bandSet = pv.Bands;

// Get current band items
ProfileViewBandItemCollection topBands = bandSet.GetTopBandItems();
ProfileViewBandItemCollection bottomBands = bandSet.GetBottomBandItems();

// Modify band items
foreach (ProfileViewBandItem band in bottomBands)
{
    band.Profile1Id = profileId;
    band.Profile2Id = existingGroundProfileId;
    band.AlignmentId;  // read-only, set at creation
}

// Apply modified band items back
bandSet.SetBottomBandItems(bottomBands);
bandSet.SetTopBandItems(topBands);

// Create a new band item collection
ProfileViewBandItemCollection newBands = new ProfileViewBandItemCollection(
    pvId, BandLocationType.Bottom);

Profile View Overrides

// Profile display overrides in this view
ProfileOverrideCollection overrides = pv.GraphOverrides;

// Pipe and structure overrides
PipeOverrideCollection pipeOverrides = pv.PipeOverrides;
StructureOverrideCollection structOverrides = pv.StructureOverrides;

// Hatch areas between profiles
ProfileHatchAreaCollection hatchAreas = pv.HatchAreas;

Profile View Styles

ObjectId pvStyleId = doc.Styles.ProfileViewStyles.Add("New Style");
ProfileViewStyle pvStyle = ts.GetObject(pvStyleId, OpenMode.ForWrite)
    as ProfileViewStyle;

Style components:

• Axes: BottomAxis, TopAxis, LeftAxis, RightAxis (all AxisStyle type)
• Graph: GraphStyle - overall graph appearance
• Grid lines: GetDisplayStylePlan(ProfileViewDisplayStyleType type) — e.g. GridAtHGP for horizontal geometry point grid lines, GridHorizontalMajor/GridHorizontalMinor/GridVerticalMajor/GridVerticalMinor for regular grid

Axis Style Properties

Each axis style controls:

• Axis line display style
• Tick marks and text along the axis
• Title annotation

AxisStyle bottomAxis = pvStyle.BottomAxis;

Profile Styles

ObjectId styleId = doc.Styles.ProfileStyles.Add("My Profile Style");
ProfileStyle style = ts.GetObject(styleId, OpenMode.ForWrite) as ProfileStyle;

// Display style types for profiles
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.Arrow).Visible = true;
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.Line).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 50); // yellow
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.Curve).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 80); // green
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.SymmetricalParabola).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 81);
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.AsymmetricalParabola).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 83);

// Extension styles (grey)
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.LineExtension).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 251);
style.GetDisplayStyleProfile(ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType.ParabolicCurveExtension).Color =
    Color.FromColorIndex(ColorMethod.ByAci, 251);

ProfileDisplayStyleProfileType Enum Values

• Arrow - direction arrows
• Line - straight segments
• LineExtension - line extensions beyond profile
• Curve - curved segments
• ParabolicCurveExtension - parabola extensions
• SymmetricalParabola - symmetric parabolic curves
• AsymmetricalParabola - asymmetric parabolic curves

Gotchas

• CreateByLayout creates a profile with NO elevation data - must add entities or PVIs
• Profile entity points use Point2d(station, elevation) coordinates (the Point3d overloads are deprecated since Civil 2011)
• PVIs have no unique ID - identified by closest station+elevation match
• Use RawStation on PVI objects (Station is deprecated since Civil 2024)
• Profile styles should set both Profile and Model (3D) display properties
• Named styles must exist in the document or calls will fail
• ProfileView.Create(CivilDocument, ...) overloads are deprecated since Civil 2013; use the Create(ObjectId alignmentId, ...) overloads instead

Related Skills

• c3d-alignments - Alignments that profiles are based on
• c3d-surfaces - Surface profiles (CreateFromSurface)
• c3d-corridors - Corridors use alignment+profile as baselines
• c3d-label-styles - Profile label styles