# 7. Design

# Design

<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk-" style="margin-left: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/G6bosjnxzxb-psykblvch8jdihzlods17rtca-png.png)</span>  
</span></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--1" style="margin-left: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">  
</span></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk-measure-twice%2C-cut-o" style="margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">**Measure twice, cut once.** </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">  
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">It’s an old maxim but a good one. You can do as many designs as you want in T3RRA software before you ever put your tractor into gear. Use our 3D visualization and rainfall simulation tools to carefully examine the effect of any design. Evaluate the volumes of dirt being predicted and ensure that they are within expectations. Catching a design error in the software is much less painful than having to redo many hours of dirt moving.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Remember that computers are fallible. Never blindly follow a design you are given. Critically assess whether the computer output matches what is happening in the real world. It is not a given that it will!</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Try to start small with simple designs and little fields. Mistakes, and the lessons learned from them, build your experience and capability - but it is far better to do your learning on small jobs!</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">If you are in doubt, please seek the advice of a professional irrigation designer or engineer. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The design step is not compulsory and can be skipped if desired. HOWEVER this is not recommended unless you have a specific task where only a copy of the surveyed data is required.</span></span>

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## <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Design capabilities present in different T3RRA software packages**</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Create design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ page is presented to you when you advance to the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ wizard step. The tools you will see differ based on the specific T3RRA software you are using. This is because each package is aimed at a certain user type and market segment.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">A surfaced elevation map is the starting point for creating a new field design. Determining an optimal terrain design is very specific to the conditions that exist on an individual farm. Cropping practices, existing topography, soil types, costs, available machinery, and many other factors apply. Even if you are not intending to do full field land forming (such as is the case when only creating ditches) we still see great value in fully surveying a field. All of our packages allow you the capability of doing this. All of our design tools show you the surface in 3D and can run a rainfall simulation on it. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">In general, the design aims of each package are explained over the next few pages:</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">T3RRA Cutta provides tools for GPS based land-forming, ditching, and levee creation.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/dDcymw4cbdfelwsrmbkw7cwtwtkb5lhox4nua-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">In order to provide solutions that are as broadly applicable as possible T3RRA Cutta includes a variety of design methods:</span></span>

<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk-single-or-dual-best-" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table style="border: none; border-collapse: collapse;"><colgroup><col width="291"></col><col width="291"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 85pt;"><td style="padding: 7pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; width: 47%; border: 1pt solid rgb(255, 255, 255);">- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Single or dual best-fit planes</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Multi-fit optimization</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Smoothing</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Offsetting</span></span>

</td><td style="padding: 7pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; width: 52.6667%; vertical-align: top; border: 1pt solid rgb(255, 255, 255);">- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Drain profile and cross section design</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Automated drain path creation</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Pattern drain design</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: A powerful capability of T3RRA Cutta is the ability to “chain” designs together. As well as performing designs on the original field surface, you can also perform designs on an existing design. For instance, after performing a multi-fit design, you can then go and use the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smoothing**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' tool to smooth the multi-fit design. Use this capability methodically and with care - it is easy to get confused!</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">T3RRA Ditch provides tools for ditching and levee work</span></span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/x3kyguowmqxhqaiijcqihs-cqnwpvdh9cwvra-png.png)

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Drain profile and cross section design</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Automated drain path creation</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Pattern drain design</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees (including regions)</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Manual drain design</span></span>

<span dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">T3RRA Plane provides tools for laser based </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">levelling</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and ditches</span></span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/NAKw28pslgx8ivd0kpdggen1rghvls5mpc1bq-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">T3RRA Plane can’t do non-linear surface designs. But we wanted to make sure that it can do anything you can do with a laser level. </span></span>

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<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk-single-or-dual-best--1" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table style="border: none; border-collapse: collapse;"><colgroup><col width="291"></col><col width="291"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 85pt;"><td style="padding: 7pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; border: 1pt solid rgb(255, 255, 255);">- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Single or dual best-fit planes</span></span>

</td><td style="padding: 7pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; border: 1pt solid rgb(255, 255, 255);">- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Linear Drain profile and cross section design</span></span>

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</div><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">**Design icons.**</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">T3RRA software attempts to divide design functionality into discrete tools. </span></span>

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- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select Best-fit, Multi-fit, Smooth &amp; Offset to design a field surface area. </span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select Auto-Drains or Pattern Drains to place drain paths on the surface. </span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select Drain design to design the profile and cross section of drains.</span></span>  
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- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select Levees to add levees to the surface. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: If you have a drain/field combination to design, always design the field first and the drain second.</span></span>

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# Rainfall Simulator

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/uAqyujssdqk52rll8z2zeqyylut6-u3-kyjhw-png.png)<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">One of the many unique features of the T3RRA product suite is our inclusion of a rainfall simulation tool. This allows a very visual and easily relatable analysis of how a field surface affects water runoff and ponding.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">It should first be used after a survey and prior to any design being placed on the field. The intent of this is twofold:</span></span>

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1. <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">*To verify that the created surface does in fact truly represent the field*. By looking at the water flow, a person familiar with the field will usually be able to say “Yes, that is the normal pattern of water runoff I would see”. In this case the operator can be confident that the survey has created an accurate model of the field. On the other hand, if the simulation produces results that are not expected it may be wise to critically revisit the survey and perhaps collect more data.</span></span>
2. <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">*To compare the design with the original surface*. It is expected that the design will result in a pattern of drainage different to the original. Analyzing the design will quickly tell you if the new surface is going to have the effect on drainage that you expect.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The rainfall simulator </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**cannot** </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">tell you *how long* a field will take to drain. There are simply too many variables, such as the soil type, the soil moisture level and the soil depth before reaching hardpan. Such a calculation is beyond the scope of this software. It can however provide you with an indication of how much faster one design will be over another. You can do this by comparing the iteration counter value of two different designs at a given drainage % value. Even so, be aware that the timing information of the simulation is qualitative in nature, not quantitative.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJ5Vw9Q7tqA?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--5" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/VTKtk84f-s7rpqnrms-01elrcx6iulh-3aisw-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Alternate between design surface and original surface to view changes in water flow.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Counter is used for comparing drainage time differences between design and original surfaces.</span></span>

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<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">View simulation in 2D or 3D.</span>

# Regions

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/9xx8kms2p0bkynvj5d4gdropbc009sydzh8qq-png.png)To create regions, press the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Regions**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">’ button </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-weight: 300;">(regions are not available in drain related functions).</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/aaC1loavxh00h2cn4rsvflukuic5w5u0-jc8q-png.png)</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Regions**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">’ </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">tool is used to split a field into multiple workable areas. Different design options can be applied to multiple different regions. For example,</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> you can apply different primary and secondary slopes, or different levee designs in each region.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: It ispossible to create different design types in different regions. You can have a best-fit plane in one region, and a multi-fit surface in another, for instance.</span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NQn9PJkU6Y4?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Regions are created by moving a splitting line across two edges of an existing region, or whole field if no regions exist. The split line is set by moving </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Point A**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Point B**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> into position. The line can be positioned by pressing the </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**up**, **down**, **left**,</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> or </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**right**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">arrow buttons or moving the points directly using the touchscreen.</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> The split lines straight, but by using the white nodes on the line or merging regions it is possible to achieve region boundaries that are not straight.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Split**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button confirms the “split” on the selected area.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Merge**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button will merge regions selected in the list into one region.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Hide**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button will delete whatever design exists with the selected region(s). At this point the region will not exist as a separate area that can accept designs. It can still have full-field designs applied to it.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Restore**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button will restore all deleted regions.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">To create non-linear split lines first create multiple splits that intersect, and then merge the regions that are not wanted. See below for an example.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/m1uuzvyssbx3jjkqcebk0qrzdgbueznh5petq-png.png)</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/5Vgx3kynlmltuqkmxq8teofcsyx4qfw6i63fa-png.png)Press the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Back to Design**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button when you have finished adding your regions. </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">In certain design functions (multi-fit, best-fit, smoothing, and levees) different regions can be selected from a drop down menu allowing you to make design changes to only the selected region.</span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/lhNgz7my2k-gn8jkofgfaza3hyqassnb-8loq-png.png)

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Choose to apply your design to the original elevation surface or to the design surface.</span>

# Earthworks information

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/PDG1howy8qmihjph78rvpzvggi8d0g42l3v0g-png.png)Press the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">i</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button to view earthwork details.</span></span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/xfTbpoebefvz0hjlyrmfrtqgz7zhsalbwtejw-png.png)<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Note: pressing within the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Info**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ text box will expand the view to full screen.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Each region will have its own set of earthworks details and cut/fill summary.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Records**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button (shown as a printer) to save design details (in PDF format) to a folder for record keeping and documentation purposes.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Activity Log**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button (shown as a clipboard) to view the activity that a file has undergone. This includes things like file save times and when/what design functions have been applied to a file.</span></span>

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<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--15" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--16" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">  
</div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--5" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--6" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--17" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--18" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0RB2av-vow?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--20" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">  
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##### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">Notes on printing records</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Records**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ feature in T3RRA software creates a PDF document and saves it to the hard drive. This document is meant to give an overview of the operation being performed by the software. It is suitable for record keeping purposes, or for supplying to field managers or clients.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">It includes the following:</span></span>

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Map of the original surface</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Map of the design surface</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Map of Cut and Fill areas</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Statistics relating to the earthworks</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The maps created in the report will include a grid overlay showing data values.</span></span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/ZEuzui0ohxlrydgnksetkmqu14r-ebpbznza-png.png)

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 20pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">Notes on the Activity Log</span></span>

##### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/SyJlbuqdidmurx8xr7hot9xxumqfldajz71ta-png.png)The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Activity Log**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ is designed to provide a history of the user actions that were performed in a project. It keeps a sequential history of the design actions that have </span></span>

##### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">been performed. This is helpful in understanding what methods were used in order to go from the original design surface to the final design surface. Where possible a record of slopes, directions, and design tools utilized are kept. As we allow designs to be performed on existing designs and differently in different regions, the steps and actions taken to go from the original surface to the final design surface can be quite complicated. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Activity Log**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ also keeps a record of the results of a design action (in the form of the resulting dirt balance statistics).</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">If the user is in doubt about steps taken or parameters used, they can refer back to this log. The log entries include a date and time in order to remove confusion about when the actions were performed.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The log can also be used to compare two or more design options. Because the results of each design operation are kept in the log it can be easier to simply compare them there rather than trying to remember them, or write down the results.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/7dUvmfxxuiu5e41vckyum9crj6z1y9kqajfsw-png.png)If you want to save or email the log you can copy it into the clipboard using the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Copy**</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button. Then paste it into any other application.</span>

# Calculator

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/dwy5pmkhxfo2nqlgtyt1pzwan9jsdze1novww-png.png)In some tools that require a value to be input a calculator will be available.</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The purpose of the calculator is to take some of the stress away from creating field and drain designs.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">In addition to being able to calculate, the calculator comes with a function to add quick values.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">These are helpful if you are not wanting to find the exact value and just want to get moving as quickly as possible.</span></span>

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![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/lohk-bp6vjb-1pqpwiavbhbsulvf6dn2l4grw-png.png)

# Best-fit Design

<span data-identifyelement="480" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/NEEctzdzq4ssemarlmk-ud9l3-f5-mm0dhl7w-png.png) </span><span data-identifyelement="482" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-identifyelement="483" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select the '</span><span data-identifyelement="484" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">Best-fit</span><span data-identifyelement="485" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' button to create a plane of best fit for a field.</span></span>

<span data-identifyelement="499" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" data-identifyelement="500"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" data-identifyelement="501" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmSVJCpsIns?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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<span data-identifyelement="506" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/BCKlhugpvnhrl9reo5aqk-rd9ggkhx4odpfa-png.png)</span>

- <span data-identifyelement="514" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">A Best-fit design provides a single plane that most accurately fits the existing topography. Using a Best-fit plane ensures that you move the least amount of dirt possible to create a single plane for a field. Note that this can still result in large amounts of dirt being moved.</span>

- <span data-identifyelement="520" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Tip: Dividing the field into regions, then fitting single planes to each region can help to decrease dirt volumes.</span>

<span data-identifyelement="524" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Enter design details to create a plane, or instruct the T3RRA software to auto-calculate your design details.</span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/5LUfhv-bsjuuqdav6xdgmpxlgjwretu3vyprg-png.png)

<span data-identifyelement="530" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Setting slope parameters**</span>

<span data-identifyelement="533" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The software will try to find the most appropriate line of best fit, however the primary and secondary slopes can also be manually set.</span>

<span data-identifyelement="535" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">(It is recommended that only users with a good understanding of Laser Plane systems use manual settings) </span>

<span data-identifyelement="537" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">To manually set the primary slope direction check the box labeled '</span><span data-identifyelement="538" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Manually set primary slope direction**</span><span data-identifyelement="540" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'.   
</span><span data-identifyelement="542" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">When in doubt, consult an irrigation engineer. </span>

<span data-identifyelement="550" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Cut/fill ratio, Max cut depth, &amp; Import can be set in 2 locations. The defaults that will be applied to new projects can be set in the Project tab of settings (see section B) or in the lower left corner of the Best-Fit (and Multi-Fit) page.</span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/eJ5icmcifp2s0nntolkxv-yehwacwh7loxtpg-png.png)

<span data-identifyelement="556" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span data-identifyelement="557" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Cut/fill ratio**</span><span data-identifyelement="559" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' is determined by the type of material being moved and how much of it will “settle” or “shrink” once compacted. This value depends on soil characteristics.</span>

<span data-identifyelement="563" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Enter a '</span><span data-identifyelement="564" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Max cut**</span><span data-identifyelement="566" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' for the maximum allowed cut depth. The following warning will appear to notify you if any points on the map exceed the max cut depth. adjustments may be required.</span>

<span data-identifyelement="568" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/zQUtzayjsvxitcrbkiajbk0tkr-cwvmerthyg-png.png) </span>

<span data-identifyelement="571" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span data-identifyelement="572" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Import**</span><span data-identifyelement="574" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' section is used when you need to bring in dirt from a stockpile or export dirt from the field to another area. Change the amount to a negative value for exporting.</span>

<span data-identifyelement="578" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the design follow the steps in the '</span>[<span data-identifyelement="580" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 300; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">completing your design</span>](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000330106-completing-your-design)<span data-identifyelement="581" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' </span><span data-identifyelement="582" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">section</span><span data-identifyelement="583" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">.</span>

# Multi-fit Design

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/oqKde8aqnntmftj-0e-ff-vbo8ok4tqm7vu5w-png.png)'</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Multi-fit**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' creates an optimized non-linear surface with slopes between the entered minimum and maximum. Multi-fit balances the dirt down the field in the direction you specify. The balancing occurs within strips, and is great for working within rows and moving minimal dirt.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SYG32-HJQEY?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">  
![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/8nTgx2f-b5wyis2uaj-zu0wkh0-abpcrnzrbw-png.png) </span></span>

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">A Multi-Fit design allows the slopes to vary within set tolerances and can greatly reduce the amount of dirt moved.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Dividing the field into regions can further decrease the dirt movement required. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Enter details in the below panel and into all fields to generate a Multi-fit plane. </span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/bwLscybr8h56ibyvgk2qswv4h2ymp2he5okua-png.png)</span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Set slope range**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">You can use the iGrade™ Plane Calculator to find out the average slope percentage. Alternatively you can find this in T3RRA Cutta by doing a plane of best fit in a direction and then looking at the primary and cross slopes in the plane statistics window. If in doubt, consult an irrigation engineer.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(226, 80, 65); font-weight: 300;">*If ‘min%’ or ‘max%’ are left blank the design results will not be desirable.*</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Perform cross-strip optimization**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">This will attempt to tilt the strip sections to match the actual side slope present. Use in fields that have high side slopes (&gt;2% slope). It is unlikely to provide any benefit in relatively flat fields. </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(226, 80, 65); font-weight: 300;">*This is enabled by default.*</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Perform preliminary side slope adjustment**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">This will cause an initial side slope adjustment to occur. It will attempt to ensure that the side slope is no greater than the minimum row slope. </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(235, 107, 86); font-weight: 300;">*Use if water might have a tendency to run across rows rather than down the rows.*</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Cut/fill ratio**</span>**<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, Max cut depth, &amp; </span>**<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Import**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">can be set in 2 locations. The defaults that will be applied to new projects can be set in the</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(44, 130, 201); font-weight: 300;"> [Settings menu&gt;Project tab](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000328670-project-tab)</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> or in the lower left corner of the Multi-Fit (and Best-Fit) page.</span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/RCVnetbgojqge-vxd12jzda8b9wjz5acrgj8g-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Cut/fill ratio**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - Determined by the type of material being moved and what percentage of it will “settle” or “shrink” once compacted. </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(226, 80, 65); font-weight: 300;">*T3RRA software does not calculate this value.*</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/uJCtjdvaar2cdh4ldr1pgaqtvjxuuvpfwx5eg-png.png)'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Max cut depth**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - The maximum allowed cut depth. The warning (shown right) will appear to notify you if any points on the map exceed the Max Cut depth.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Import**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - Used when you need to bring in dirt from a stockpile or export dirt from the field to another area. Change the amount to a negative value for exporting.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the design follow the steps in the '</span>[<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 300; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">completing your design</span>](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000330106-completing-your-design)<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' section.</span></span>

# Smooth Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/huGz5bp6jbg899mspzlrcupqrzbpgffk8b6jq-png.png) <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Select the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smooth**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button to create a more regular surface with fewer and more gradual hummocks and dips. The smoothing strength can be adjusted to produce a stronger or lesser effect as needed.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kwWrap5bqNY?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Regular Smoothing**</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/s0lz9zj9j9jcuhz-vuugdbpt1tu7k-yidtkwq-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Regular smoothing applies an averaging filter to the surface of the field to remove bumps and dips. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smoothing strength**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ slide bar controls how smooth it is by increasing the radius that is used in calculations. The smaller the slider value, the less of an effect the smoothing will have. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Smoothing can be applied to the whole field, or to individual regions. It can be applied to the original surface, or to an existing design.</span></span>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Directional Smoothing**</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/SIEkdgl-ghd5qzde43sdtmriwg1tnxbkpurfg-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Directional smooth**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' is a check box just below regular smoothing. </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Directional smoothing causes the smoothing effect to be stronger in a particular direction and weaker in the perpendicular direction.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Enter the primary smoothing direction in the provided text box.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smoothing strength in the primary direction**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to set the influence radius in that direction.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">  
'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smoothing strength in the secondary direction**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' controls the influence radius at a 90 degree angle to the primary direction.</span></span>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Region Blending**</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/ODy9wi1gffqgfnzlzprfzkeqselbqghpp6brq-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Region blending allows you to “feather” the edges of regions to allow for smooth transitions between regions.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">'**Max Allowable slope**'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> lets you set the maximum steepness that can be used to achieve a region blend.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">'**Distance from Region line**' </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">limits how far into each region the blend can go, in order to help make sure that other design elements are not affected.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: changes made with region blending may not be obvious in 2D view but can be much more prominent in 3D view, or in the cut/fill map.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' after parameters are entered in order to see effects.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the design follow the steps in the '</span>[<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 300; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">completing your design</span>](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000330106-completing-your-design)<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' section.</span></span>

  
<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ww5kLBfN2U?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span>

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# Offset Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/CqZihfiipgsx5v-7kz1hx4kotyadxn104znga-png.png) Select the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Offset**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button to raise or lower the surface height of a field or region. This can help with:</span></span>

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- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Importing and exporting dirt</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Addition or removal of topsoil</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Raising pads</span></span>

 ![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/l5K0njagkquqirfkxnnlpsuikv-mapeidqdua-png.png)

<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RD0RZxdaVwA?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--3" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/fXxfe0gtw1m8-6cpqepudt9alguazpfj9pheg-png.png)You can either:</span>

- <span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Manually enter the desired offset amount (This can also be adjusted in set increments using the arrow buttons). </span>
- <span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Use the calculator to adjust the offset amount. The calculator is useful if you want to offset the surface by a certain volume of imported or exported dirt. </span>
    
    
    - <span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Formular (Click '?' button to see)  
        </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Left over volume = (Cut/Fill ratio \* Volumn of cut) + Volume of fill.  
        Result = (Import + Left over volume) / Selected area</span>

![OffsetCalculator.png](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/pzpUXbpmE5UzGxOo-offsetcalculator.png)

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Negative import values are considered exports.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (shown as the offset design icon) after parameters are entered.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the design follow the steps in the '</span>[<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 300; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">completing your design</span>](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000330106-completing-your-design)<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">section</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">.</span>

# Drain Design Tools

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/MSfdgr24th2-ey1iufens-k49ys-gps5suqya-png.png)When designing drains, there are several aspects that you will find that are across all the different Drain Design tools. </span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The most important feature of the drain design tools that you will find will be the cross section found at the bottom of the screen. The cross section displays all the ups and downs along the drain surface.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The cross section is made up of three different lines. The </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Red** </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">line is the proposed design that you are currently working on. The </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 400;">**Blue** </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">line is the existing surface that has been surveyed. The </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 217, 102); font-weight: 400;">**Yellow**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(106, 168, 79); font-weight: 400;"> </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">dotted line is the current design surface, when starting a new design this will be overlapped with the Blue line and when a design is applied it will overlap with the Red line UNLESS a second design is being made on top of that. The </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 168, 133); font-weight: 300;">Green</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> dotted line shows any markers along the drain path.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/ehZweuwbj8ydqclec8ssxmwsndzrwq0aacnda-png.png)</span>

# Auto-Drains Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/Y7k0knle-88wlcon-vf58simnmsxhf2zptefa-png.png)You can use Auto-Drains to </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">automatically generate drain paths for wet areas in your field. It will calculate optimal ditch lines to drain depressions. There are two tabs in Auto-Drains:</span></span>

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1. <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Create**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ controls the parameters that must be met before drains are applied to the surface.</span></span>
2. <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Edit Drains**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ allows for editing of the drain paths.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/qEWohzffnqgysvwngv-cmtny8ardcmcnif-ew-png.png)</span>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Create Drains**</span></span>

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<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j-e5TWS83ds?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/71Or1jktou9glbskezj5kxwo4mzkl-32x0qza-png.png)<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">‘**Line smoothing strength**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ - Adjusts how many sharp turns and how smoothly the drain lines flow. The further to the right the slider is the more rounded the lines will be (with decreased sharp turns).</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">‘**Surface smooth strength**’ - A</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">djusts the surface by applying an averaging filter to the surface of the field to remove bumps and dips without creating a full field earthwork design.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. drain length**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - Sets the minimum length a drain must be to be displayed on the surface.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. depression area**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - Sets the minimum surface area a depression must cover before T3RRA software will consider draining it.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. depression volume**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - Sets a minimum volume for a depression before a drain will be implemented.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(226, 80, 65); font-weight: 300;">(<span style="font-weight: 400;">A depression will only be drained if it meets all </span><span dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400;">of the minimum length, area, and volume criteria.)</span></span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**View Depressions**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ - All depressions will be made visible (including those that did not meet above requirements).</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Add Stop Line**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ - Creates a line on the screen with red anchors at each end. Drain lines will not cross this line. ![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/4cJbac36mc6e8ggyu169ddszkon6sv0pygt3a-png.png)To confirm the placement, press the ‘</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Lock Stop Lines**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. Pressing the white anchor in the </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">centre</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> of the lines will create another red anchor so that lines can be adjusted. Additional stop lines can be added by pressing the ‘</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Add Stop Line**</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button again.</span>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Edit Drains**</span></span>

#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/Dqutc4brxwailf-aiqtwate8xidgka0-tll4q-png.png)</span></span>

#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Existing Drains**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ list will show all drains in the current project.</span></span>

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Tapping on any of the drains in the list will select or unselect it. Multiple drains can be selected at once.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Delete**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ will delete all of the selected drains.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Delete All**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ deletes all drains in the list (even if they have not been selected).</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Move Lines**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ will allow all the drain lines on the surface to be edited(shown in bottom image).</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Drain lines will have blue dots along them to indicate they can be moved to adjust the drain path.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Always start at the origin point (which can also be moved) and move downhill w<span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">hen moving drain lines</span>. </span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The drain lines will automatically adjust their paths according to your changes to ensure they flow off the edge of the surface.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Save Changes**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' to keep changes or ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Discard Changes**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ to revert to the original paths.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/v7vrepegjk15-nrpj2c6jodrd3gcquxpwiag-png.png)NOTE: If you make an adjustment on a drain line and make a second adjustment closer to the origin point the first adjustment will revert to the line's original state. Auto-drains ALWAYS flow downhill from the point of the last change.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the drains go back to the wizard page and use the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ function to set their profiles and cross sections.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2bidhKMix7s?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span></span></span>

# Pattern Drain Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/QQmlcocgcbddfzggn1ricd2rxstypqhc3zuba-png.png)<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">This design tool allows for simple design of many parallel drains at once.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/50O7xLIOeSI?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/FFqpueqxm57j-yfvsnhbw0w0yljnmr00er0tq-png.png)

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/xBEgaeb9xn2jzcpckefgsnbamwvxeyjzcrcyw-png.png)The pattern drain window allows you to select specific drains to delete.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Delete**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' and '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Clear All**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' buttons allow you to either delete selected drains or all pattern drains.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain length**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' can either be set here or by moving the red circle on the design map.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Heading**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' is the direction that the drains run (represented as degrees).</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Padlock**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button changes the behaviour of the copied drains in relation to the original.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">locked - This locks ‘Drain Heading’ to ‘Offset Direction’ so if either are adjusted the other will change to match.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Unlocked - ‘Drain Heading’ and ‘Offset Direction’ can be set independently of each other.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Offset Direction**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' sets the direction in which copy drains will be created from the original.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Count**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' is the number of drain copies you want to add (not including the original drain).</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Offset (Parallel)**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' is the distance between each line of the copies. (if the padlock is unlocked this will not show in the example until it is manually updated.)</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Offset (Origin)**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ is the set distance between the origin point of each copy.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (shown as the pattern drain icon) after parameters are entered.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Once you are happy with the drain paths use the ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Design**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">’ function to design the profile and cross section of the drains.</span>

# Drain Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/1Df71bxau4tlmtvxrburuv8uvs1dpxek6gbrg-png.png)Drain *paths* can be created by:</span></span>

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Surveying them in the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Collection**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' wizard step</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Importing them</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Using the Auto drains tool</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Using thePattern drains tool</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;"> allows slope profile and cross section design choices before “burning” (embedding) drains into the map for implementation.</span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/KqCrrez2qimnpzfe4lywctjgjn-mkqu82ajnq-png.png)</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: If a surface &amp; drain exist, the surface should be designed first &amp; the drain second. If you need to edit drain elevation data you can return to the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Collect**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' wizard step to edit the drain line. However you will lose current project designs.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Select a drain and the depth/elevation profile of the drain will show in the plot at bottom right (this chart may need to be dragged up into view). Use the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**AB Reverse**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button to make sure your drain is falling from left to right in the profile chart, this will make sure that slope values are all positive and make adjustments a lot easier.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Drain paths can be changed into roads by selecting the checkbox. By selecting ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Road**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ the drain design will be inverted.</span></span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/fyUjm7ks09aizojwjs5plosuq1ay0ktu-ch0w-png.png)NOTE: The positioning/layout of drain paths is not considered part of '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'. They can be adjusted in the surfacing step for driven drains or in auto drains/pattern drains.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">When applying drain designs there are 3 different modes that adjust the path of the drain which are Linear fit, Best fit and Multi fit.</span>

<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tea6Xk7NmyQ?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

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#### <span style="font-size: 21pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Linear fit**</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/j7Unhvcxvcftfmm1sdineic4mfp8xe8bfzgxw-png.png)Creates a single straight plane along the drain path. </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Slope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'- is the gradient at which the drain is installed to ensure that water flows in the direction you want.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Offset**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'- allows for vertical offsetting of the drain. Setting a positive value will lift the offset creating a fill effect along the entire drain, while a negative value in the offset will lower the design height creating a deeper cut drain.</span>

#### <span style="font-size: 21pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Best fit**</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/HoX8ngsqw3zubchd5ggriw2j5pnfu-8v5hzra-png.png)Adjusts the slope to try and follow the natural curve of the field. Similar to multi-fit field design. </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: Best-fit in drains is equivalent to Multi-fit in full field design. This incongruity comes from a desire to try and match the naming conventions of the John Deere SWP+ product (which is superseded by T3RRA Cutta and T3RRA Ditch).</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. Slope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The lowest gradient of slope you will accept in the drain. </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Max. Slope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The highest gradient slope you will accept in the drain</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. Cut**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- ensures the design will consistently cut at least this amount.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Max. Cut**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ sets the maximum depth that the design will cut to and ensures that it never exceeds this point.</span>

#### <span style="font-size: 21pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Multi fit**</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/7Cvtzuqqjrn0yvqmxqomyshqheviojx-lbwmq-png.png)Applies both cut and fill, and can be used to remove points of erosion and build up that would cause issues. Best used when maintaining existing drains.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Min. Slope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The minimum allowable gradient of the slope.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Max. Slope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The maximum allowable gradient of the slope.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Start Elevation**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The desired elevation point at which the design will begin (at point A). Set to be greater than, equal to, or less than the set value adjusting the start elevation value of the design to be no higher or lower than the set value </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**End Elevation**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’- The desired elevation of the final point on the design also referred to as (point B). Set to be greater than, equal to, or less than the set value to ensure that the final elevation of the design is not higher or lower than the set value.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: Multi fit tries to balance the cuts and fills using the start and end elevations. If the design parameters won’t work you will see the message: “Model is too constrained” .</span>

<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W3L1hksgH14?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span>

<div align="left" dir="ltr" id="bkmrk--55" style="margin-left: 0pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div>#### <span style="font-size: 21pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**General settings**</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/rYCneiu3j-be4-q-fm1ghtpssxgpautt37ua-png.png)These settings are present in all drain design modes.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Cut/Fill ratio**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ - please refer to definitions in appendix. The following settings and buttons are all constant between all three modes in Drain Design.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Copy Settings To All**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' - copy the settings of the currently selected drain to all other drains present in the project. If all drains are likely to require similar parameters this can be a big time saver.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Backslope**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (batter) is the gradient of the drain walls. A higher backslope value means a sharper drop into the drain. (If no backslope is desired enter 0 as the value.) If you wish to make a road switch the selected Road/Drain option (below Drain Bottom Width). </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Lock Backslope**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ is mainly intended to be used when working with drain lines - not full surfaces. Will cause the surface to be ignored and the backslopes will be created to their maximum extent. Note: that the drain bottom will always be burnt in, regardless of the surface elevation. I.e., if you offset a drain up 5m, you would always have a drain bottom burnt in, regardless of if lock backslope is on or off</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Drain Bottom Width**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to control how wide the bottom of the drain is. The drain bottom is always horizontal. If you want a drain bottom with a defined non-zero cross slope you should manually set the cross slope control on your implement in the ‘Implementation’ stage of operation.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Cut/fill ratio**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to compensate for soil compaction characteristics.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply All**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to apply all the drains in the field, not just the drain that is currently selected.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**AB**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button reverses the drain direction. It effectively reverses the direction calculations are performed on the drain.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Choosing to apply ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**on elevation**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ or ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**on design**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ chooses the elevation profile that is used to calculate the designed surface. For example, one drain requires a different design than the others present, you will apply the design ‘on elevation’ to All then select the drain from the drop down and apply a different design ‘on design’ to that drain alone.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: choosing to design on a design will continue to lower the surface of the drain.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">The swap ‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**A-B**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ button reverses the profile as it is displayed in the profile view. This also affects how the software designs the profile as the software will always try to slope the design from left to right.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply All**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (the image of 3 cogs) to apply all drains at once</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (the image of 1 cog) to apply only the currently selected drain.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">After editing your drains in the surveying step, return to create a new drain design in the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">Design</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' wizard step. If a surface and drain exist, the surface should be designed first and the drain second.</span>

<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5FbgzyWI7PQ?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span>

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">After designing the drain and applying it, it is “burned” (embedded) into the field surface model. At this point you can begin implementing in the same way you would a normal field design. If you are using a constant depth drain cutting implement you may not be interested in the depth profile. You may want to only rely on the paths for guidance and not elevation control. In this case there is no need to create the drain profile (unless you want to look at the effects of the drains in the rainfall simulation).</span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/7Weki2occddgq1hwl34rqtlibiefkllx4i4xg-png.png)

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Option: Use the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Export**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' button on the wizard screen to export the drain paths to an RCD folder structure (JD Guidance lines). You can export ditch track guidance lines that will steer your tractor on exactly the right path to accurately and efficiently remove your wet areas (John Deere AutoTrac<span style="font-size: 0.6em;">™</span> required).   
  
Once you are happy with the design follow the steps in the '</span>[<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 300; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">completing your design</span>](https://t3rra-help.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/51000330106-completing-your-design)<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' section.</span>

# Levee Design

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/jkiw9o3os1p6bz9r-rlbzm3r5w8dfemro6rfw-jpg.jpeg)'**Levees**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to create repeating or singular levees at set elevations.</span></span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/oOmjl4zuzuvnqlv3y105rb4kaqr-d1zgnxyaw-png.png)

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be added at set intervals.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be smoothed.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be selectively deleted.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be applied selectively to field regions.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be exported as guidance curves for use with John Deere AutoTrac<span style="font-size: 0.6em;">™</span>.</span></span>

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#### <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 21pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Levee Creation Parameters**</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/ZOEj-f7gmpg13cuohsnpqg946aqxxqd3fleog-png.png)'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Start Elevation**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(60, 64, 67); font-weight: 300;">will be populated automatically. You can also choose the ‘Start Elevation’ by manually pressing on the ‘Start Elevation’ button and then touching the design map at the location you would like to start the levees from. Press Finish selecting to apply.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Vertical interval**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' tells T3RRA Cutta and T3RRA Ditch how much elevation change from the previous levee is needed before adding another levee.</span></span>

<span dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 400;">**Min. size**</span><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">' determines the minimum length a levee must be before it is included as a drivable path. Levees that are shorter than this will appear </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">greyed</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> out and not be available as paths.</span></span></span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Reverse numbering**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' – By default levees are numbered from highest elevation to lowest, reverse numbering switches it to count up from the lowest elevation.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">‘**Line smooth levees**’</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> adjusts how many sharp turns and how smoothly the levee lines will be created. The further to the right the slider is the more round the lines will be (with decreased sharp turns).</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Surface smooth strength**</span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ adjusts the surface by applying an averaging filter to the surface of the field to remove bumps and dips without creating a full field earthwork design.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Delete a levee**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' will bring up a window allowing you to enter the number associated with the levees you want to remove.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Like other design tools, Levees allows you to use either the original elevation surface, or a design surface as the basis for the calculations. It may be beneficial to perform a landforming operation on this field prior to putting in levees and then base the levees off the design surface. </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">  
Even if you are not performing a landforming operation it can sometimes be useful to perform a smoothing design on the surface first before attempting to lay out levees (ie, to work around poor data). </span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' (shown as the levees icon) after parameters are entered.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Levees can be applied separately to individual regions. It may be advantageous to do this if you have differently spaced levees in different sections of a field. </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">NOTE: Levees can be added to each region individually.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/oNB0yoi-rgopb9us2vghhqlrzeherszsgmpjw-png.png)</span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you have finished designing your levees and are happy with them there are two options available:</span></span>

- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">export levee paths as guidance lines.</span></span>
- <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">begin implementation.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Exporting will allow the lines to be saved as guidance curves that can be loaded to John Deere’s guidance system.</span></span>

![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/wH75xuazthpsu5xj4jhicqtia0ucygpvf-wvg-png.png)

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">Select the Export button on the main design page to save as guidance curves (John Deere AutoTrac<span style="font-size: 0.6em;">™</span> required).</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">If you want to continue and manually implement the levee paths or just display current position on the map while pulling levees, you can follow the instructions to begin implementation on the following page.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="fr-draggable align-center" frameborder="0" height="360" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8NLmRCQEx0?&wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>

</span></span>

# Exporting Guidance lines from T3RRA and importing into AutoTrac.

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Remember that guidance lines are only available for Drains and Levees.**</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Should you wish to export guidance lines from T3RRA software for use with AutoTrac<span style="font-size: 0.6em;">™</span> be sure to follow the following steps to be sure that the process is successful.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Exporting begins by pressing the export button next to the information that you want to export that appears once that data is present at the bottom on the ‘Design” home screen.</span></span>

<table class="fr-no-borders" id="bkmrk--1" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 50.0000%;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/BDWvdqz4vy9ffggarqfxx995eacp4wrwl2upw-png.png)</td><td dir="ltr" style="width: 50.0000%;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/rXc4zhs4wwn2vi2dyq11fbbxk8ty2wkfxzrsg-png.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**How to export guidance lines from T3RRA**</span></span>

1. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">A window should appear similar to the image to the right when you select ‘Export’.</span></span>**
2. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Select curve type.</span></span>**
3. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Set the display to the model number of the John Deere display you will be using.</span></span>**
4. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Input project information into client, farm, field and profile.</span></span>**
5. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press “Save” and a file with your guidance lines will be saved in the set location.</span></span>**
6. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Press “Upload” and a file will be uploaded to JDOC where it can be assigned to equipment.</span></span>**

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**How to transfer guidance lines to a John Deere display**</span></span>

**<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">(Instructions given are for the GS3 2630 Display, steps for other displays may vary: refer to the appropriate display manual)</span></span>**

1. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Insert USB with guidance lines saved on it into John Deere Greenstar display. (The display will automatically detect the USB and display the available options.)</span></span>**
2. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Select “Import Guidance Lines” which should be the bottom option.</span></span>**  
    ![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/oDQtnkkp-ga1mtcyxmfeosuxm-elno8gkdheq-png.png)
3. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Select the desired profile and press “Begin Transfer”.</span></span>**  
    **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;"> ![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/zfDjxts7kxabthkay28edxvij9lcpjxbxqm6g-png.png)</span></span>**
4. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">On this screen select which client, farm, field and tracking option of the file you want to import and press “Accept”. (The tracking option should be set to adaptive curves.</span></span><span dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">  
    ![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/TQVix-qpclc2nvpcwjcoi5ftwtraunl00vga-png.png)</span>**

5. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Make sure the correct line/s you want to import are ticked and press “Accept”.</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/hHfco9ytpsvsok9sinv0mpshepihygllg1lva-png.png)</span></span>**
6. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">A loading bar should appear, if everything has been successful the Data Transfer Complete screen should appear and you will be able to press “Accept”.</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/xves12tvkxceldl-wuyl7em3pojeue-jzk7rw-png.png)</span></span>**
7. **<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Your guidance lines have been imported to your John Deere Greenstar display and are now ready to be used with Autotrac<span style="font-size: 0.6em;">™</span></span></span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">.</span>**

# Completing your design

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once satisfied with your design surface and/or drain.</span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/qxaujckldohoudjzxoze-8zpjybpfadxs8dxw-png.png) 1. Select the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Return**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' button</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">. (Top right corner)</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/Ceqsgulysqvfn3nh5yfe1wp8kq-25khyqco4w-png.png) 2. Select '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Yes**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' to keep the design surface.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/zBKsek5xguqbrclkpq41y8n3mxyo0jzkqhukw-png.png) 3. Select the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Save proj.**</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' button to save the T3RRA project.</span></span>

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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you have finished making all your design changes, move onto step 4.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/RBkexgndlds3ebw-xxjvy74elwb4tcln3g4kw-png.png) 4. Select the '</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 400;">**Apply**</span></span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); font-weight: 300;">' button and follow on screen steps to begin implementing your design.</span>

# Terrace Design

<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 700;">Terraces</span><span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">' allows you to create Guidance curves to mark terraces for erosion control.</span></span></span>

<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">![](https://docs.t3rra.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/I5qw0iuwxbi5ge0sltnulwmwerob-jciznspw-png.png)</span></span></span>

<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">When you first enter the terraces tool, a start line is displayed on the map. This is where your terraces will start from. There are a few parameters for terraces:</span></span></span>

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- <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Bank grade**</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ allows you to control the slope of the terraces. This will affect how quickly water flows down each terrace.</span></span></span>
- <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Direction**</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ controls how terraces flow from the start line. To the left, right or to the left and right (both) of the start line. If you want the terraces to flow towards the start line, make the bank grade negative (e.g. 0.2% to -0.2%).</span></span></span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400;">**Spacing**</span><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18px;">’ controls whether the starting positions of the terraces are controlled by Vertical distance (elevation drop) or Horizontal distance (distance travelled along the start line). Each time a terrace is added (with the \[Add Terrace\] button in the lower right of the design pane), it updates the ‘Next’ distance on the right.</span></font>
- <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Each terrace added is listed in the center. In the list, you can change each terrace’s start distance, or delete it. It also shows you how far the terrace extends.</span></span></span>
- <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Smoothness**</span><span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ controls how much the surface irregularities are smoothed out. If your terrace lines are too jagged, you may increase this slider. Note, however, that high smoothing will lead the terraces to not follow the ‘Bank grade’ as closely. This may lead to wet spots and/or require earth moving to ensure drainage.</span></span></span>
- <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Add Stop Line**</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ adds a new black line to the map with large red circles at each end. Position one or more stop lines using the red circles to terminate terrace lines at the right location (e.g. a waterway).</span></span></span>

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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you’ve created terraces with one start line (also called a ‘set’), you may use the smaller Plus button at the top to add a new start line. You can add as many start lines as desired. To switch between start lines, use the ‘</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">**Set**</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">’ drop down, or simply tap on one of its purple circles on the map. If you want to remove a start line (including the full terrace set), select it and click the delete button at the top.</span></span></span>

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<span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 300;">Once you’re done creating and laying out the terraces, you may export them as guidance lines, etc.</span>