Functional Part: Delineator

Name

Delineator

Identifier

fp_delineator

Overview

This functional part defines the requirements for modeling and exchanging delineator information in a highway BIM environment. Delineators are retroreflective devices mounted along roadway edges to enhance visibility and guide drivers, particularly during nighttime or adverse weather conditions. These critical safety devices help define the roadway edge, curves, and potential hazards.

Results

Purpose

The purpose of this functional part is to standardize the exchange of delineator information between BIM authoring tools and asset management systems, enabling accurate placement according to MUTCD standards, integration with roadway geometry for curve delineation, quantity extraction for procurement and installation, and asset tracking for maintenance and replacement cycles.

Concepts

Information Needed Entity/Pset/Functional Part MAN REC OPT NOT
Delineator type designation Pset_DelineatorFeatures.DelineatorType IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Reflector color specification Pset_DelineatorFeatures.ReflectorColor IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Mounting height above ground Pset_DelineatorLayout.MountingHeight IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcPositiveLengthMeasure   X    
Spacing interval Pset_DelineatorLayout.SpacingInterval IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcPositiveLengthMeasure   X    
Unique identifier for delineator element IfcCivilElement.GlobalId IfcGloballyUniqueId X      
Object identification code Pset_Identification.ObjectID IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Feature designation code Pset_Identification.FeatureID IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel   X    
Feature description text Pset_Identification.FeatureDescription IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcText   X    
Survey feature code Pset_Identification.SurveyFeatureCode IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel   X    
Referenced alignment identifier Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.AlignmentIDReference IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Referenced corridor identifier Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.CorridorIDReference IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Begin station value Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.StationBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure X      
Begin station offset Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.StationOffsetBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure X      
End station value Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.StationEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure X      
End station offset Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.StationOffsetEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure X      
Reference point location Pset_AlignmentDataLinear.ReferencePointLocation IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
State plane northing coordinate at begin Pset_StatePlaneCoordinatesLinear.NorthingBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure   X    
State plane easting coordinate at begin Pset_StatePlaneCoordinatesLinear.EastingBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure   X    
State plane northing coordinate at end Pset_StatePlaneCoordinatesLinear.NorthingEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure   X    
State plane easting coordinate at end Pset_StatePlaneCoordinatesLinear.EastingEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure   X    
LRS postmile begin value Pset_LRSDataLinear.PostmileBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure     X  
LRS postmile end value Pset_LRSDataLinear.PostmileEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLengthMeasure     X  
LRS route identifier Pset_LRSDataLinear.LRSRouteID IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel     X  
GPS latitude at begin Pset_GPSCoordinatesLinear.LatitudeBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcReal     X  
GPS longitude at begin Pset_GPSCoordinatesLinear.LongitudeBegin IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcReal     X  
GPS latitude at end Pset_GPSCoordinatesLinear.LatitudeEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcReal     X  
GPS longitude at end Pset_GPSCoordinatesLinear.LongitudeEnd IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcReal     X  
GPS control point reference Pset_GPSCoordinatesLinear.GPSControlPoints IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcText     X  

Examples

Example 1: Curve Delineation System

Use Case: Place delineators along horizontal curve to enhance nighttime visibility and guide driver path.

Scenario: A sharp horizontal curve (radius 800 feet) on a rural highway requires enhanced delineation per MUTCD standards for driver guidance and safety.

Data Flow:

  1. Designer identifies curve location from horizontal alignment geometry
  2. Delineators placed at 40-foot spacing along curve (MUTCD recommendation for sharp curves)
  3. Delineator data exported to IFC with type, color, and station locations
  4. Maintenance agency imports asset data for installation and future replacement tracking

Key Information Exchanged:

  • Delineator type: “Type II flexible post delineator”
  • Reflector color: White (right side of road)
  • Spacing: 40 feet (sharp curve per MUTCD)
  • Station range: 45+20 to 52+80
  • Quantity: 19 delineators