RE: offset surface

I would like to revisit this topic to offset a surface.

Microstation (SS3): 08:11.09.752
Inroads (SS2): V08.11.07.615

The issue is with creating a true offset to a surface. Another way to say it is that the triangles would offset normal to their location. Also, the surface would grow or shrink depending on which way it is offset.

I think the functionality to do this may be in microstation.

From Inroads I display the triangles. Then make a complete selection set of them and then use the mesh modeling tools to (stitch to mesh). Then once it is an entire mesh I use the (thicken mesh to volume) tool to get the thickness(or offset i need). Once you do this you have the thickness you need and the triangles that you would need to make a DTM out of to make a true offset.

But here is the kicker. This is the point at which I get hung up. It seems as if I am so close. I just need to be able to select the triangles I need an import them as a breakline to a surface through inroads. However, there is no quick way to select only the desired triangles. I tried by changing the levels, splitting the mesh, dropping the elements, etc. In other words it is an entire volume and there is no way to separate the original triangles with the new ones. Can anyone help here?

Is there anyway we can get a (mesh offset tool) similar to surface offset tool. On top of that be able to change the offset to new active attributes.

I tried the surface modeling tools to offset triangles. The thing here is that you can't select the entire set of triangles and stitch them to a surface at once. You have to select each individual triangle and stitch it together individually and then maybe offset surface.

I realize it would require advanced programming and mathematics to solve this problem for an infinite amount of cases for varying triangle positions. But this functionality would be very powerful. The entire civil community has to do things such as topsoil, earthwork and channel lining volumes, and many other cases not mentioned. Offsetting complex surfaces that have many triangle faces would be lets say BRILLIANT!

Other methods I used to try to accomplish this:

1. I have tried overlay/stripping or milling component in roadway designer to offset the surface, however it still doesn't have a true perpendicular in sloped areas.

2. I have tried to create a template that will project to surface then use a vector offset set. I am still tweeking this template to see if this is an efficient method.

3. Created tedious tight cross-sections and then (copy parallel command) then cross section to surface. (sometimes this works sometimes still not true offset.)

4. Transform surface command-stated previously only moves surface up and down, so surface doesn't have ability to grow or shrink creating triangles normal to there original location.

I would appreciate any feedback and as always Go Bentley! Go Microstation & Inroads!