What happens to linear objects projected to a profile view when they are not parallel to the alignment associated with the profile view?

What happens to linear objects projected to a profile view when they are not parallel to the alignment associated with the profile view?

• A. Some or all of the geometry is distorted
• B. They remain unchanged
• C. They are clipped to the profile
• D. They become parallel to the alignment

Answer: (A)

When you project a linear object onto a profile view, Civil 3D uses the alignment as the reference direction for placing that geometry in the profile plane. If the object is not parallel to the alignment, its projection onto the profile plane isn’t aligned with the same direction, so its length and angles don’t map true to the profile. This foreshortening and skewing causes the geometry to look distorted in the profile view. If the line happened to be parallel to the alignment, its projection would preserve its length and orientation along the profile, but that parallel condition isn’t met here, hence distortion.

When you project a linear object onto a profile view, Civil 3D uses the alignment as the reference direction for placing that geometry in the profile plane. If the object is not parallel to the alignment, its projection onto the profile plane isn’t aligned with the same direction, so its length and angles don’t map true to the profile. This foreshortening and skewing causes the geometry to look distorted in the profile view. If the line happened to be parallel to the alignment, its projection would preserve its length and orientation along the profile, but that parallel condition isn’t met here, hence distortion.