Hybrid Merging

Merge within and around groups

This Section Merge method combines the other two:

• Group pass - Sections with a Group ID are merged using the Group rules.

• Non-Group pass - Sections with no Group ID, or those unmatched in the Group pass, are merged using the Non-Group rules.

Use this method when automatic merging works for most Sections but you need manual control over some.

For example, you could supply a grouping file for Sections at forks, where automatic matching may produce unwanted merges. Let the Non-Group pass handle everything else.

Set up a Hybrid Merge

1. Import your grouping file to generate a grouping Layer.

2. In the Management toolbar, select Section Merge and then Add Section Merge Rules.

3. Configure these general settings:

   • Rule Name - enter a descriptive name for the new Super-Section Layer.

   • Build Super-sections for network - choose the Network Layer you want to merge.

   • Join sections - within and around groups.

4. Configure this shared setting:

   • Max. gap between sections - maximum endpoint distance for two Sections to be considered for merging. Set between 1 and 500 metres. Keep this small to avoid unintended merges.

5. Configure these Group settings:

   • Specify groups using layer - select the Layer generated by your grouping file import in step 1.

   • Group by field - select the field containing the Group ID.

   • Max. angle between grouped sections - applies to Sections with the same Group ID. Maximum alignment angle at the join. Set to 180 degrees to disable. Angle of deviation is used as the tie-breaker when multiple candidates exist.

   • Allow joins between grouped sections with mismatched directions - applies to Sections with the same Group ID. If enabled, merge Sections regardless of direction (end-to-end / start-to-start joins). If disabled, only merge Sections with the same direction (start-to-end / end-to-start joins).

6. Configure these Non-Group settings:

   • Max. angle between sections - applies to Sections with different Group IDs or none. Set to 180 degrees to disable this rule. Angle of deviation is used as the tie-breaker when multiple candidates exist.

   • Allow joins between sections with mismatched directions - applies to Sections with different Group IDs or none. If enabled, merge Sections regardless of direction (end-to-end / start-to-start joins). If disabled, only merge Sections with the same direction (start-to-end / end-to-start joins).

7. Select Create. When the merge has completed, the new Super-Section Layer can be used in Explorer and Analysis.