Cross-section Site Plan Reader

This code processes cross-section site plans that have been converted into txt files; extracts elevation, station number, and x-coord info.

This code is designed to facilitate the extraction of elevation, x-coordinate, and station number information for points on cross-section construction site plans for roads. This information is tabulated, and can then be used for 3D rendering of the road in other softwares. The code generates 4 columns: Column 1 is simply the row number (starts at 1 and continues to the end of the dataset). Column 2 is the station number with the '+' sign removed. Column 3 is the x-coordinate (lateral distance from the centerline of the road) of the cross-section point. Column 4 is the elevation of the cross-section point.

Included in this package is the .m file containing the cross-section reader code, and an example txt file that can be used to test the code.

Instructions for use:

1. Compile all cross-section site plans into one PDF document. Make sure that the pages are in order from first station number to last station number.
2. Convert the PDF file to a txt file.
3. Delete any instances of miscellaneous symbols, e.g. up arrows or other symbols.
4. Type the name of the txt file into the MATLAB code (see code comments for where to type this)
5. Run the MATLAB code
6. In workspace, click on the array called 'pts' to open the data tabulated by the code. Column descriptions are noted in the paragraph above.
7. Copy the data from the 'pts' array into an excel file and double check to make sure no data loss or data swaps have occurred (see below for details). Use however you would like.

**Disclaimers/bug notes:

• This code was designed for txt files extracted from Dewberry cross section site plans. Txt files extracted from site plans from other design companies may differ and be incompatible with this code, or may require adjustments to be made to this code for it to function.
• Occasionally in txt files extracted from site plans, miscellaneous symbols like up arrows, etc may show up. These must be removed from the txt file prior to running the file through this code. If these miscellaneous symbols remain in the txt file, data loss may occur.
• Occasionally when site plans are converted from PDF to txt, some sections of elevations and x-coordinates swap. This issue is easy to fix, and can be addressed after running the txt file through the code. After the txt file has been run through the MATLAB code and the data columns have been generated, simply search through for areas where the data in the elevation and x-coord columns have been switched, and swap them back into the columns they should be in.
• It is good habit to quality check the data that comes out of this code to make sure no data loss or swaps have occurred. Make sure that the first and last station numbers in the data match the site plans, and randomly spot check the data columns against the original site plans to ensure that everything is in order and no losses have occurred.