Vertical curve system for surface grading

• US 8,073,791 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan Williams, Mark Williams
• Original Assignee: Alan Williams, Mark Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Mark, Williams, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzales, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US12/148,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 706/13, 706/62, 434150-152, 702/2
• US Class Current: 706/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/12 using genetic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/126 Evolutionary algorithms, e.g. genetic algorithms or genetic programming

Abstract

A method is disclosed that generates design profiles and a surface therefrom that promote water drainage from soil in an area of interest. Topographical data describing an initial surface of the area of interest are used to form initial profiles. The method generates the design profiles using the initial profiles and desired design parameters such as minimum slope, maximum slope, optimal slope, maximum depth, optimal depth, starting elevation, ending elevation, rules of curvature, and rules of earth balancing. The method generates design surface profiles so that the cut volumes and fill volumes of the soil are at or near balance as much as possible from the available soil in the area of interest.

Claims

1. A method of generating a design surface that promotes water drainage from soil in an area of interest, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring topographic data for an initial surface in an area of interest;

(b) providing the topographic data and a set of initial profile design parameters to a means for defining initial profiles;

(c) calculating a plurality of initial profiles adhering to the initial profile design parameters;

(d) providing the plurality of initial profiles and a set of balancing design parameters to a means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance;

(e) generating a plurality of design profiles with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance which is a microprocessor executing a genetic algorithm, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance; and

,

(f) generating a design surface from the plurality of design profiles.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising representing the initial surface and the design surface with a triangulated network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(g) directing one or more earth-moving machines to create the design surface in the area of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for defining initial profiles comprises a microprocessor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise one or more of a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile slope, an optimal profile slope, a maximum profile depth, an optimal profile depth, a starting profile elevation, an ending profile elevation, a profile curvature limit, and an earth balancing limit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile depth, and an optimal profile depth.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise an earth balancing limit of about 0.1 or less, as applied to each design profile.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the design profiles are curved vertically.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising performing at least one of steps (a)-(f) in the area of interest.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before step (c), a step of providing a previously existing design to the means for defining initial profiles.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the previously existing design comprises tiling data or ditching data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of initial profiles comprises a plurality of first initial profiles and a plurality of second initial profiles, the second initial profiles being generally oriented in a direction different from that of the first initial profiles and intersecting the first initial profiles; and

,

step (e) further comprises;

(e-1) generating a plurality of intermediate profiles with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the first initial profiles, wherein the plurality of intermediate profiles is substantially at balance;

(e-2) generating an intermediate surface from the plurality of intermediate profiles; and

,

(e-3) generating the plurality of design profiles relative to the intermediate surface with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the second initial profiles, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first initial profiles and the second initial profiles are substantially perpendicular at their intersection.

14. A method of generating a design surface that promotes water drainage from soil in an area of interest, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring topographic data for an initial surface in an area of interest;

(b) calculating a plurality of initial profiles based on the topographic data and a set of initial profile design parameters;

(c) generating a plurality of design profiles from the plurality of initial profiles and a set of balancing design parameters by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance which is a microprocessor executing a genetic algorithm, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance;

(d) generating a design surface from the plurality of design profiles; and

,

(e) directing one or more earth-moving machines to create the design surface in the area of interest.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise one or more of a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile slope, an optimal profile slope, a maximum profile depth, an optimal profile depth, a starting profile elevation, an ending profile elevation, a profile curvature limit, and an earth balancing limit.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise an earth balancing limit of about 0.1 or less, as applied to each design profile.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the design profiles are curved vertically.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising performing at least one of steps (a)-(d) in the area of interest.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of initial profiles comprises a plurality of first initial profiles and a plurality of second initial profiles, the second initial profiles being generally oriented in a direction different from that of the first initial profiles and intersecting the first initial profiles; and

,

step (c) further comprises;

(c-1) generating a plurality of intermediate profiles by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the first initial profiles, wherein the plurality of intermediate profiles is substantially at balance;

(c-2) generating an intermediate surface from the plurality of intermediate profiles; and

,

(c-3) generating the plurality of design profiles relative to the intermediate surface by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the second initial profiles, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance.