CVEN 250 Exam 1

Standard

A formal document that institutes a uniform method to perform an action or defines a criterion for a product. Standards are defined by organizations such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute), which regulate many engineering standards used in the U.S.

Convention

Methods and criteria used so extensively that they become dominant and generally accepted by the public. They are also known as "industry standards" or "de facto standards." Unlike formal standards, there are no organizations that define conventions, and they can vary across industries or firms.

Artistic Drawings

Concerned with colors, forms, compositions, and other elements that affect the sense of beauty.

Technical Drawings

Communicate technical information, capturing details necessary for production or modification.

Visualization

Allows us to take a complex idea or concept and translate it into something simpler that others can understand.

Titleblocks

Helps to identify important information about the drawing, such as Who drew it? What company produced it? Date? Project name? Markings that may assist in discussion.

A-size

8.5 x 11 inches

B-size

11 x 17 inches

C-size

17 x 22 inches

D-size

22 x 34 inches

E-size

34 x 44 inches

Model Space

Used to create geometry representing your design. Your computer screen acts as a window into this design world.

Paper Space (Layout)

Used to annotate, document, and print your design.

Annotative Scale

Annotative objects in AutoCAD resize automatically based on the viewport scale. They maintain a consistent text height regardless of the drawing scale. To avoid inconsistencies, set your model scale to match your viewport scale.

Polyline (PLINE)

A connected sequence of line segments created as a single object. Can include straight, curved, wide, and tapered segments. Provides editing capabilities unavailable with the LINE command. Can be edited using PEDIT or exploded into separate line segments.

PEDIT Command

Used to convert a series of lines into a polyline. Type PEDIT in the command line. Select the PLINE to activate editing options. You can straighten segments, set uniform widths, or apply other modifications.

Surveying

The art and science of measuring distances, angles, and positions on or near the surface of the Earth.

Metes and Bounds

The boundaries or limits of a tract of land, described by reference to lines and distances between points.

Traverse

A series of interconnected lines between a series of points. Connecting lines are called courses, and points are called traverse stations. Used to find distances between traverse stations and angles of the courses. Can be open or closed.

Plats (Plan or Cadastral Map)

A map drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land defined in metes and bounds.

Quadrant 1

NE

Quadrant 2

SE

Quadrant 3

SW

Quadrant 4

NW

Universal Transverse Mercator Grid System (UTM)

A cylindrical and conformal system broken up into 60 zones for location determination.

State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS)

A coordinate system with 120 sections for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

North American Datum (NAD)

NAD 27, NAD 83

High Accuracy Reference Network (HARN) / High Precision Geodetic Network (HPGN)

Raises NAD 83 to higher accuracy.

Bryan/College Station State Plane Zone

NAD 83 Central Zone

Dallas State Plane Zone

NAD 83 North Zone

Houston State Plane Zone

NAD 83 South Zone

Azimuth

The horizontal angle between a given line and the datum line, measured clockwise from north (0° to 360°).

Bearing

The angle between a given line and the datum line, measured clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW), with values between 0° and 90°. Uses four quadrants

Hill

High area extending above surrounding terrain.

Depression

Hole or excavation without drainage outlets.

Saddle

Low area between two areas of high elevation.

Ridge

Sloping line of high elevation.

Valley

Low elevation area between hills/mountains, often containing a stream.

Watershed

Area of land that contributes surface water runoff to a point.

Drainage Basin

Area where water (surface and subsurface) drains into a river.

Open Channel Flow

Surface water flow with a free surface (not pressure flow).

Main Channel

Normal capacity of a river channel.

Bankfull

Maximum capacity of a channel without overflowing.

Flooding

Water level exceeds channel capacity.

100-Year Flood

A flood event with a 1% probability of occurring annually.

Hydrograph

A graph showing discharge vs. time.

Standard Breakline

Defined by selecting 3D lines, grading feature lines, polylines, or splines.

Proximity Breakline

Defined by drawing/selecting grading feature lines within surface boundaries.

Wall Breakline

Defines a grading feature as a vertical or sloped wall.

Non-Destructive Breakline

Maintains the integrity of the original surface.

GIS in Civil Engineering

GIS helps Civil Engineers use location-based data in designs.

ArcGIS Connector

Finds GIS data from ArcGIS servers and applies it to a geolocated Civil 3D file.

Map Workspace

Downloads custom datasets for a geolocated Civil 3D file.