track layout software

[icepuck]

 Has anyone here used or know of layout software that can take elavation data,GPS,USGS,or whatever to calaculate grade%? From my crude measurements I figure there's about 13-14ft differance in elavation from one end of my property to the other. I've looked through some of the forum posts here that mention layout software and none of them outright say anything about elavation input. CADrail looks like it has possiblities .

-dan 

[CCRM]

Hello,

XtrkCAD (Xtrkcad.org) is a powerful and FREE*** layout cad software and it has a great elevation function. I haven't used the elevation function personally yet, But I plan on doing it in the next couple of days.

[gbbari]

I use RR-Track(TM). I don't know if it can take GPS or tpographical input directly but it has a nice grade calculator that is based on you setting the elevation of two different points along the track and then highlighting the track in between those points. It creates the grade and auto-calculates the grade %.  Then, when you hover your pointer over any piece of track, a small popup label appears temporarily and provides info including the height of that piece of track as measured at its center.

RR-Track is not the fanciest prgm out there but it sure is easy to learn how to use.

It also has a 3D module also which is terrific for seeing your design in a far more realistic view.

Al 

[CCRM]

That is very similar to how XtrkCAD does elavations, only there is no 3D view.