Steps/Stairs set into a slope of DTM?

[Ben Middlemiss]

What is the quickest method of inserting some solid steps/stairs in the slope of a DTM model.

Is it a case of creating them from extrudes etc and then using site modifiers to cut away at the bank and placing the extrude? Or is there another way less time consuming?

Also, is there a way of producing the steps as a hybrid symbol so that they display with their fill color in a 2D plan?

[Robert Anderson]

1. You could create the steps as a series of stepped "pad" modifiers.

2. If the steps were a straight stairway (as opposed to an ampitheatre type configuration) you could simply draw a stair then trace a 3D polygon around the bottom surface of the stair, then you could assign this poly to the "Site-DTM-Modifier" class (it will then act like a pad).

In either case, you will want to surround the "pad" element(s) with a "fence" to determine the limits of your grade change.

[Ben Middlemiss]

For the stairs to show on a 2D plan with fill and non-red pen color, would I have to draw separate 2D objects as well as the pads?

[Robert Anderson]

Or you could just draw them as 3D polygons and assign them to the class named above. Then they will act like pads and you can give them whatever pen color you want.