EW3D

Operational Manual
Version 2.6

SALES & SUPPORT OFFICE

13A, JALAN KENARI 2, BANDAR PUCHONG JAYA,
47100 PUCHONG, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
E-16-2, JALAN MULTIMEDIA 7/AG, CITY PARK,
I-CITY, 40000 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR MALAYSIA

http://www.mes100.com
Phone +603-5885 1250
Fax +603-5885 1251

Copyright 2009-2013 MES Innovation Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved

Disclaimer
Before using EW3D, kindly carefully read the License Agreement. The user or
licensee is required to check all calculations and drawings produced by EW3D for
accuracy and suitability for purpose.
Both this physical document and the right to use it are owned exclusively by MES
Innovation Sdn Bhd. This document may not be reproduced in any form either in part
or in whole without the express written consent of MES Innovation Sdn Bhd. Use of
this document by others is licensed by MES Innovation Sdn Bhd under the terms of
the EW3D Software License Agreement.

Contents
Welcome
PART 1:

OPERATIONAL

Chapter 1
Survey CAD Drawing Import
1.1
Types of Surveyor CAD Drawing
1.2
CAD Drawing Import
1.3
Prior Requirements for Import
Chapter 2
Tracing
2.1
Object Snapping
Chapter 3
Digital Terrain Modeling
3.1
Boundary
3.2
Platform Input
3.3
Platform Break
3.4
Platform Move Corner
Chapter 4
Cut Section
4.1
Input & Modification
4.2
Cut Section Labels
Chapter 5 Grid Method
5.1
Create Grid System
5.2
Create Area Element
5.3
Reorder Area Element
Chapter 6
Auto Slopes
6.1
Parameters
6.2
Slope Patterns & Colors
Chapter 7
Parameters
7.1
Pixel Size
7.2
Grid Cluster
7.3
Offset Distance
7.4
Earthworks Volumes Computation
Chapter 8
Spread Input
8.1
Functionality
Chapter 9

Backup Project

PART 2:

RESULTS

Chapter 10

3D View

Chapter 11

3D PL View

Chapter 12

Cut/Fill Contour

Chapter 13

Cut Section

Chapter 14 Earthworks Volume

14.1 Swell Factor & Shrink Factor
14.2 Formulas
14.3 Glossary
14.4 Why Actual Earthworks Differ from Estimation
Chapter 15

DWG/DXF and Report Export

Welcome

EW3D (Earthworks) software enables you to interactively create Digital Terrain

Model and calculate earthworks volume for development projects of all types.
The software can be used for simple housing project to complex commercialresidential township developments. Its powerful capabilities are well suited for
complex jobs with large data sets. EW3D is easy to use because input is simple and
based on common sense method. The software also comes with drawing
import/export capability (DWG and DXF).
This user manual outlines the main features of EW3D that users would generally use.
Users will learn how to create a digital terrain model for a development project in
order to calculate the earthworks volume involve.
If you are holding a printed copy now, do check for a softcopy supplied with the
software CD which may have updates subsequent to the printing of this manual.

PART 1: OPERATIONAL

Chapter 1

Survey CAD Drawing Import

1.1
Types of Surveyor CAD Drawing
EW3D can directly generate an existing ground digital terrain model from import of
a CAD Drawing. Survey data in a CAD drawing can either be contours, text spot levels,
points or both contours and texts.
A) Contour lines

B) Text Spot Levels:

i.

Spot Level with Single Text

ii.

Spot Level with Two Separated Texts

A Spot Level with Two Separated Texts

A spot level with two separated texts which fulfil the following criteria will be
accepted during survey point import:
Criteria 1:
The two separated texts of a spot level have the same Y coordinate.

Criteria 2:
Distance between two separated texts of a spot level is less than or equal to the value
specify in setting.

724 and 52 has the same Y coordinate. The distance between two separated texts is
6563 mm which is less than 10,000 mm, therefore the application will regard 724 &
52 as a single spot level.

Touch Up Before Separated Sport Level Import:

1. Open the drawing in CAD application, delete overlapping texts. If AutoCAD is
use, command OVERKILL can be used to automatically delete overlapping
objects.

2. Make sure the user coordinate system (UCS) is as below; not rotated:

3. Text alignment is horizontal.

Contour lines and Texts:

1.2
CAD Drawing Import
Click the Import button from file menu.

Select and open the CAD drawing file.

Type a name at Point Group Name, then tick the layers which are relevant to survey
data import, press button Save. Saved point group can be deleted by pressing button
Delete, and the last step is press button OK.

Prior Requirements for Import

1.2.1 Drawing in Full Scale
The CAD drawing must be in full scale (1 CAD unit: 1mm) in order to generate a
Digital Terrain Model with a set of true topography data. The import of scaled
drawing will lead to generation of mini Digital Terrain Model.
1.2.2 Layers for Import
Users must have prior knowledge of which layers in the drawing are needed for the
import.
Type a name at Point Group name, the name serves as a database to keep the survey
data that are going to be imported. If the import involves text, a proper Text Unit has
to be selected. If the import involves a survey point with two separated texts, tick
checkbox Import survey point with two separated texts & specfity the proper
maximum distance. Then selectively choose the layers which are needed for the
surveyor drawing import & press Save. The saved point group from just now can be
deleted by pressing Delete. Lastly press OK to finish the import.

Choose the respective layers for platforms import & click OK.

1.2.3 Texts Unit

If the import involves text, check the text and make sure the value in the Contents is
an acceptable numeric or alphanumeric text (Refer below).

The command FIND in CAD program can be used to replace all the alphabet or
symbol to an acceptable format.

Correct unit need to be assigned to the texts for text import. There are five unit
conversions, which are millimetre, meter, kilometre, inch and feet. The current
accepted alphanumeric texts are IL, INV and SIL, the rest will be discarded.

Accepted alphanumeric texts:

Chapter 2

Tracing

Development drawing can be superimposed on EW3D by using the Tracing feature. A

Tracing is automatically loaded in EW3D after import and layers in tracing can
selectively be turned on or off. Object snapping feature can be used to ease platforms
input.
2.1
Object Snapping
Object snapping can be called out by clicking on Snap button. Then click once on
Input screen to activate snapping:

Before Tracing, the screen shows all the surveyor points generated from import:

After Tracing, surveyor drawing is superimposed on the surveyor points:

Chapter 3

Digital Terrain Modeling

With the help of Tracing, Boundary, Platforms and Roads can be easily inputted into
the existing Digital Terrain Model in order to calculate earthworks volume.

3.1
Boundary
Based on earthworks activity, define a boundary for the development project.
Earthworks volume calculation will only based on the areas within the Boundary.

3.2
Platform Input
Select an icon named Platform to start platform or road input. For platform with
three sides, its level definition is based on point, for platform with four sides or more,
its level definition is based on edge.

Click once on EW3D input screen to activate snapping, trace the shape to input
platform. All platforms or roads input have to be a closed polygon; hence the ending
point is same as the starting point. Right-mouse click to cancel previous step, Shift +
right-mouse click to cancel all.

After the platform is inputted, select it to give information such as Mark,

Pavement/Concrete Thk (millimetre), and Z (height in millimetre). Each platform or
road edge will have its own numbering, parallel edges are represented by same set of
colour (e.g.: edge 4 and 5; pink).
For other edges which dont have opposite edge which is parallel, their Height is
being highlighted in grey colour & is not editable. To make the edge height editable,
either make opposite edge parallel or break the platform into triangles.

3.3
Platform Break
There are two ways of breaking a platform or road, either by points or edge break.
To break a platform by point, just simply select two points (circle represented) form
the platform to break.

To break a platform by edge, just simply select a reference edge. The reference edge
will move along with the mouse, left-mouse click to break.

3.4
Platform Move Corner
To use this function, click both buttons Platform & Move Corner. Select the
platform, click on a corner of a platform then click again where the corner is wished
to be moved.

Chapter 4

Cut Section

Cut section can be drawn at any angle and length by using the icon below. Section
view can be exported out as DWG and DXF format.
4.1

Input & Modification

After a cut line has been drawn, right-click on it to choose add or extend cut line.

If choose to add more cut lines, user will be prompt for cut lines interval.

After cut lines interval is specified, the program will auto generate the cut lines.

Another function in cut section is user can choose to extend or shorten the cut line.

Below is the figure after the cut line 10 being shorten.

Double click on the cut line on Input screen to change viewing direction of a cut
section.
4.2

Cut Section Labels

Cut section Label setting is located at Options > Parameters > Detailing > Label.

Functionality
Labels displayed in a cut section are controlled by this Label setting. By clicking on
the ellipsis button at Label setting, cut section label dialog will appear.

From the cut section label dialog, user can preset:

a) which label to be used
b) arrangement order of labels

How to Use
Use button Add & Remove to choose which label to be used. Labels in Current
Label will be used in cut section generation. To arrange the order of labels, use
button Move Up & Move Down.

The label setting above will produce a cut section as below:

Chapter 5

Grid Method

There a two methods to calculate earthworks volume, Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
and/or Grid Method. If Grid Method is preferred, user needs to create Grid System
and select the grid squares which are to be included in Grid Method calculation.
5.1
Create Grid System
Firstly, click on Grid button, users will be prompted for grid system angle &
interval. After click on New button, a Grid System will be created.

5.2
Create Area Element
Then, click the Area Element icon to select which grid square to be included in Grid
Method calculation. The selected grid square will be assigned numbering & in purple
color.

5.3
Reorder Area Element
If smaller grid square is needed, double click the selected grid square to have equaled
square split.

User can click on the Reorder icon to rearrange the number area element (a.k.a. grid
square).

Chapter 6

Auto Slopes

6.1
Parameters
To enable auto slopes on plan, go to Option ParameterAnalysisAuto Slope,
change False to True.

Double click on a platform where auto slope is desired, Platform Level dialog box
will appear. At column field named Auto Slope, set it to Yes for the platforms
edge which auto slope is needed.

6.2

Slope Patterns & Colors

Slope Pattern is located at Options > Parameters > Detailing > Slope Pattern.

Cut Slope Colour is located at Options > Parameters > Detailing > Cut Slope Colour.
Fill Slope Colour is located at Options > Parameters > Detailing > Fill Slope Colour.

Functionality
Slopes generated from autoslope are displayed on plan in viewtab Output. There are
3 types of slope patterns:
a) Arc
b) Tacpole
c) Standard Line
Slope pattern arc:

Slope pattern tadpole:

Slope pattern standard line:

The colour of cut or fill slope can be preset by clicking on the ellipsis button at slope
colour setting:

Chapter 7

Parameters

7.1
Pixel Size
Pixel Size is located at Options > Parameters > Analysis > Pixel Size.

Functionality
If the corner points of platforms or the intersecting points of platforms are less than
specified Pixel Size, those points will be reduced to become a common point
between platforms. Snapshots below show the functionality.

View before enlarged:

7.3

How to Use

View after enlarged:

After Pixel Size took effect:

The corner points of platforms are very close to each other and is less than the value
of specified Pixel Size. Therefore after analysis, these corner points will be reduced
to become a common corner point between platforms.

How to Use
If a platform is very small, till all of its corner points distance is less than the specified
value of Pixel Size. This will cause the platform to become a dot, which is having
only one corner point. This scenario will cause the below dialog box to appear after
click button Analysis.

To solve this matter, user has to gradually reduce Pixel Size either by 50 or 25.

7.2
Grid Cluster
Grid Cluster is located at Options > Parameters > Analysis > Grid Cluster.

Functionality
If imported survey points have similar elevation and are too close to each other, a
cluster point will be created to represent these points. The clustering method being
used is grid. The example below shows a grid with purple dot as the cluster point.

How to Use
If Grid Cluster = 2000, this indicate the area that covers all survey points will be
mapped to 2000 square grids. Each grid will go through clustering algorithm. Higher
the value of Grid Cluster will produce better terrain triangulation provided imported
survey points are in good quality (approximately equal spacing) and in the same time
will require more memory from the computer.

7.3
Offset Distance
Offset Distance is located at Options > Parameters > Detailing > Offset Distance.

Functionality
Distance in cut section can be preset by user in setting named Offset Distance.
Snapshot below shows offset distance of 10 meters in cut section.

7.4

Earthworks Volumes Computation

Earthworks volumes computation is between two surfaces, the two surfaces can either be:
a) Survey point surface to platform surface
b) Survey point A surface to survey point B surface
The surface selection can be done through analysis dialog as shown below:

Functionality
The analysis dialog enable user to perform earthworks volumes computation between
survey point surface to platform surface or to another survey point surface.
How to Use
If earthworks volumes is to be computed between survey point A surface to survey
point B surface:
1) Firstly, import survey points A from CAD drawing into EW3D.
2) After survey point A is successfully imported, import survey point B.
3) When both survey point surfaces are imported, click button Analyse.
4) In analysis dialog, Base Surface shall be the existing surface and Comparison
Surface shall be the disturbed surface.

Imported survey point A surface be named as ORI_TOPO:

Imported survey point B surface be named as AS BUILT_TOPO:

Click button Analyse & complete the surface selection setting:

After analysis is completed, coverage area of Cut/Fill Contour is the area where base &
comparison surfaces overlapped, earthworks volumes computation is based on the coverage area
of cut/fill contour:

Base Surface will be used as 3D View & Comparison Surface will be used as 3D PL View:

Chapter 8

Spread Input

8.1
Functionality
The functionality of spread input is to list out all properties related to survey point,
boundary, and platform or cut section in a table form.

8.1.1 Cut Section

User can choose to show full line or not as shown in figure below.

8.1.2 Platform
Under platform properties, user can change the setting of type, fix height and
subgrade or concrete thickness.

8.1.3 Boundary
Desired Cut/Fill represents the earthworks balance desired for a defined Boundary.

8.1.4 Survey Point

A project can have several survey point groups, this enable earthworks volumes
computation between survey point A surface to survey point B surface. To view
survey points from different point groups, make the Point Group selection in
property grid as shown below. The survey points in spread input is dependent on
selection made in Point Group at property grid.
Survey points shown below are from point group named ORI_TOPO:

Survey points shown below are from point group named AS BUILT_TOPO:

Survey points shown in spread input are dependent on selection made in Point Group at
property grid. From snapshot below, all survey points in spread input belong to point group
named AS BUILT_TOPO.

Chapter 9

Backup Project

Backup is to make a copy in zip format from a currently opened project. The backup
has to be attached in inquiry email for technical support.
To back up a project, go to file menu and click button Backup. User will be
prompted to select the desired location to save the backup file.
Kindly sent the inquiry email with attached backup to support@mes100.com
Inquiry email without sender and company name will not be processed.

PART 2: RESULTS

Chapter 10

3D View

3D View can be view before or after analysis. To turn off or on contours, right-mouse
clicks and select on Toggle Contour.

In 3D view, user can perform the actions of Zoom Window, Zoom Realtime, Pan,
Rotate, Zoom Extents, increase or decrease amplitude. The snapshot below shows 3D
View with amplified height.

Chapter 11

3D PL View

3D PL View shows the terrain with proposed platforms and is available for view after
analysis. Similar to 3D view, user can perform the actions of Zoom Window, Zoom
Realtime, Pan, Rotate, Zoom Extents, increase or decrease amplitude.
Right-mouse clicks to turn on / off contour.

Chapter 12

Cut/Fill Contour

Cut/Fill contour show the areas where cut and fill take place.

Chapter 13

Cut Section

Cut sections can be viewed before or after analysis. Cut section can be viewed one by
one or all at the same time.

Chapter 14

Earthworks Volume

To get the earthworks volume, click button named Analyse to generated calculation
report. Detail & summary reports of earthworks are in tab named Excel Report.

Summary of calculation report:

14.1 Swell Factor & Shrink Factor

Swell Factor and Shrink Factor are used in EW3D to account for changes in densities
of excavated and compacted earthworks. Both factors value can be based on ASCE
recommendation. Due to there will be different natural methods of soil formation,
deposition, and composition from place to place, the Swell and Shrink Factors shown
below represent only the average conditions.
In general, the factors below are within the level of accuracy typically expected for
engineer's cost estimate. Specific field and laboratory tests are needed to better
characterize the changes in densities of the various earthwork materials.
Click Options > Parameters:

14.2 Formulas
Expanded Cut = Bank Cut * Soil Swell Factor
Volume Needed Before Compacted Fill = Bank Fill * [1+ (1-Soil Shrink Factor)]
Export/ Import = Expanded Cut - Volume Needed Before Compacted Fill

14.3

Glossary

Bank Cut or Bank Fill is volume of earthworks in its natural state that will be cut or
filled before disturbance
Expanded Cut is increased volume of earthworks after excavated from its natural
source
Volume Needed before Compacted Fill is volume of loose earthworks that is needed
for the fill before compacted by mechanical equipment
Export is nett Expanded Cut that will be exported out from site
Import is nett volume of loose earthworks needed before the compacted fill that will
be imported into the site

14.4

Why Actual Earthworks Differ from Estimation

There are many reasons that actual earthwork quantities of a particular job differ from
the estimated quantities, such as:
Field Conditions Differ from Design Assumptions
Each site has different existing topography and different subsurface conditions that
require different depth of excavation.

Errors in Modelling
Errors can be committed by users during data input. Although earthwork calculations
generated by computer added design software yields better accuracy, but the results
are only as good as the input data.

Chapter 15

DWG/DXF and Report Export

All outputs can be exported using Export button. It is used to export the result
currently being seen on screen.

The button Batch Export is to export all outputs in a single batch.