When using 12d Model data provided in a 12da file it is often common to have a SuperTin™ as part of the design data which were created in 12d Model.
The SuperTin™ option is designed to create a super triangulation from other triangulations. With Super Tins, existing triangulations can be combined to form the equivalent of a merged object without having to completely re-build a merged model and retriangulating it. This means there are less steps in creating a Super Tin than a proper merged triangulation so a lot less time is required and there is less opportunity for errors. Also, if any of the component tins of the Super Tin are modified, then the Super Tin is also instantly modified. However a Super tin is not a triangulation as there can be vertical walls.
In the past these surfaces have been difficult to use outside of 12d Model software however with recent updates, Trimble Business Center (TBC) now supports importing these SuperTin™ surfaces directly as Composite Surfaces.
Below is an example SuperTin™ in 12d Model.
The same SuperTin™ brought into TBC via a 12da file is turned into a Composite surface.
In TBC a Composite Surface behaves like a standard surface but offers additional flexibility and compatibility across Trimble field and office software. It combines multiple surface definitions—such as design, existing, and calculated surfaces—into a single, unified model. This allows you to manage complex site data more efficiently while maintaining accuracy and consistency across all workflows.
Once created, a Composite Surface can be exported to any Trimble field software or file format that supports surface models (for example, Trimble SiteWorks, Trimble Access, or Trimble Earthworks). This makes it especially useful for transferring detailed surface information from the office to the field, ensuring that machine control systems, survey crews, and project managers are all working from the same up-to-date data.
Composite surfaces are often used for:
Field stakeout and grade checking
Machine control and guidance
Cut/fill volume analysis
Quality assurance and as-built verification
Some things you need to know about Composite surface creation:
- A composite surface is a true single surface that can be used directly in equipment and machine control workflows. This makes them more complicated around joints unlike 12d which keeps surfaces separate and does not need to manage connections, but also cannot export them to other software.
- Source surfaces should be clean, with no duplicate triangles or micro-triangles before creating the composite.
- At surface joins, edges are slightly offset to allow the composite surface to be built. If multiple surfaces converge and vertices are misaligned, or if micro-gaps exist, this can introduce local triangulation problems.
- Boundaries may need to be applied to the composite surface after creation to control or contain unwanted triangulation.
- We recommend limiting the number of surfaces included in the composite wherever possible. The more surfaces that are combined, the greater the likelihood of introducing triangulation issues and surface conflicts.
For more detailed instructions on creating and managing Composite Surfaces, refer to the Help section in Trimble Business Center or contact your local Trimble dealer for technical support and training.