Functional Part: Median

Name

Median

Identifier

fp_median

Overview

This functional part defines the requirements for modeling and exchanging median information in a highway BIM environment. Medians provide physical or visual separation between opposing traffic flows, serving safety, operational, and aesthetic functions. Four primary types include depressed medians (below pavement), raised medians (above pavement), closed medians (barrier-separated), and painted medians (marked only).

Results

Purpose

The purpose of this functional part is to standardize the exchange of median information between design tools and analysis systems, enabling median type classification for design intent communication, width verification against design standards and barrier warrants, integration with drainage design (depressed medians convey runoff), landscape coordination for raised median plantings, and cross-section generation showing median configuration.

Concepts

Information Needed Entity/Pset/Functional Part MAN REC OPT NOT
Median type classification Pset_MedianGeneral.MedianType IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel X      
Median width dimension Pset_MedianGeometry.MedianWidth IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcPositiveLengthMeasure X      
Surface treatment specification Pset_MedianGeneral.SurfaceTreatment IfcPropertySingleValue::IfcLabel   X    
Unique identifier for median 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: Raised Median Landscaping Coordination

Use Case: Coordinate raised median geometry with landscape architect for planting design.

Scenario: An urban arterial project includes 16-foot raised median with landscape plantings for aesthetic enhancement and visual separation of opposing traffic.

Data Flow:

  1. Roadway designer establishes raised median geometry and width
  2. Median data exported with type, width, and surface treatment
  3. Landscape architect imports median boundaries and develops planting plan
  4. Irrigation design coordinated within median limits

Key Information Exchanged:

  • Median type: “Raised median with curbing”
  • Width: 16 feet
  • Surface treatment: “Landscaped with ornamental grasses and shrubs”
  • Curb height: 6 inches
  • Station limits: 10+00 to 48+50