How to model site fill material (upside down mesh?)

[Anonymous]

I have a site that requires that we bring in an extensive amount of fill. I am trying to model this. The top of the fill would be flat, and the bottom of the fill would match the contours of the existing grade. Then of course I would love to get a calculation of the amount of fill needed for cost estimating purposes...

Anyone know how I can do this?

Thanks.

[Aussie John]

Make a mesh of the existing. Place a slab representing the fill and subtract the mesh from the slab with SEO

[James Murray]

You could use a second mesh for the fill too, of course.

Get the volume by using the Element Information palette.

HTH,

[Anonymous]

Aussie John -

Thank you, Thank you!!!!

This worked! It did exactly what I was looking for including providing me with a volume calculation. Not only did it work, it was FAST - about 15min. I would guess after I figured out how to do it. Next time around will be very easy.

The only hitch I ran into was the first couple of times through the SEO operation, the largest portion of the site was not cutting as it should - I then split my mesh into smaller pieces and it worked fine.

Thanks again!!!

krause