TerraExplorer Quick Guide

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The Contour Map tool creates a contour map on the terrain. You can apply various colorized terrain pallets and/or contour lines to a rectangular area, or the entire terrain. The tool analyzes the terrain’s altitude and dynamically applies the specified display style. In addition, after the contour map has been created, a contour map object is added to the information window.

Using the Contour Map Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Contour Map Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #6) to open the Contour Map Properties sheet, or use the Measurements Menu> Contour Map.
3. Set the contour map parameters.
4. If you set the Coverage Area field to “Entire Terrain”, skip to item 7.
5. If you set the Coverage Area field to “Rectangle”, place the cursor in the 3D Window, and click the mouse to add the first corner.
6. Click a second time to add the opposite corner and complete the rectangle.
7. You can continue to edit the contour map’s parameters, or you can close the properties sheet to finish the operation.

Note: After the contour map object has been created and set to display the contour lines, automatic tool tips are added to the contour lines. When the cursor is placed, in the 3D View, above a contour line, a tool tip appears displaying the height value of the specific line. In addition, the Tool Tip entered in the Contour Map Properties Sheet, is displayed when the cursor is placed over areas of colorized terrain.

Object’s Parameters

Appearance:

Name – Type the description or name of the contour map. This text appears in the Information Window as the name of the object.

Activation Action – Type the action to perform when selecting the object from the Information Window.

Line Opacity – Enter the opacity for the contour and outline lines. The opacity is defined as a percentage, where 100% is opaque and 0% is transparent.

Display Style – Sets the style to display the contour map: Select “Contour Lines” to display contour lines at set elevation values. Select “Colorized Terrain” to apply a colorized terrain palette based on the elevation values. Select “Contour lines and Colorized terrain” to display both contour lines and colorized terrain palette.

Coverage Area – Determines the coverage of the object. Select “Rectangle” to apply to a rectangular area, or “Entire Terrain” to apply to the entire terrain.

Colorized Terrain Palette – Sets the palette style of the contour map. Select one of the available palettes. This option is enabled only when “Display Style” is set to “Colorized Terrain”.

Fill Opacity – Enter the opacity for the contour map. The opacity is defined as a percentage, where 100% is opaque and 0% is transparent. This option is enabled only when “Display Style” is set to “Colorized Terrain”.

Outline Color – Select the outline color for the contour map rectangle. Select the Edit button to open the Color Palette Dialog Box, or type the color code in hexadecimal 0xBBGGRR format (B = Blue channel 00-ff, G = Green channel 00-ff, R = Red channel 00-ff). This option is enabled only when “Display Style” is set to “Contour Lines”.

Contour Lines Color – Select the color for the contour lines. Select the Edit button to open the Color Palette Dialog Box, or type the color code in hexadecimal 0xBBGGRR format (B = Blue channel 00-ff, G = Green channel 00-ff, R = Red channel 00-ff). This option is enabled only when “Display Style” is set to “Contour Lines”.

Contour Lines Interval – Determines the Elevation spacing between the contour lines. The base for the contour lines is at zero elevation above the terrain database vertical datum base ellipsoid.

Position:

X – Enter the X-coordinate for the rectangle’s pivot point. The pivot is located at the center of the rectangle. Change this value to move the entire polyline. This option is enabled only when “Coverage Area” is set to “Rectangle”.

Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the rectangle’s pivot point. The pivot is located at the center of the rectangle. Change this value to move the entire polyline. This option is enabled only when “Coverage Area” is set to “Rectangle”.

Yaw – Determines the angle of rotation of the contour map rectangle, about its pivot point. Change this value to rotate the entire rectangle by a specified angle. This option is enabled only when “Coverage Area” is set to “Rectangle”.

Geometry:

Length – Determines the length of the rectangle. This option is enabled only when “Coverage Area” is set to “Rectangle”.

Width – Determines the width of the rectangle. This option is enabled only when “Coverage Area” is set to “Rectangle”.

General:

Show In Basic – Determines if the contour map appears in the Information Window when the file is viewed with the TerraExplorer Basic viewer.

Message – Shows the number of the message associated with this object. To create a new message, or update an existing message, open the Create Message Dialog Box by clicking in this field and selecting Edit.

Tool Tip – Type a ToolTip text to appear when the mouse cursor is placed over the contour map colorized terrain area in the 3D View. An automatic tool tip displaying the contour line height is created for the contour lines.

Default Viewing Distance – Determines the viewing distance of the camera from the contour map. This distance is used as a stop mark for any “Fly-to” or “View Object” operation. It is also used when editing the object from the Information Window.

Max. Visibility Distance – Sets the distance from the camera at which the polygon disappears.

The terrain profile tool displays the terrain elevation profile along a path, and related information on this profile such as maximum and minimum elevation values and slopes.

Using the Terrain Profile Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Terrain Profile Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #7), or use the Measurements Menu>Terrain Profile, and start left-clicking points on the terrain to mark the path to be analyzed. To end the point series, right click to indicate the last point.
3. A Terrain Profile Dialog Box opens, displaying the terrain elevation profile between the selected points. In this graph, key points appear as white vertical lines and sample points appear as blue vertical lines.
There are five operation modes for the mouse within the profile graph:

Zoom in - zoom in on a specific part of the graph by left clicking on it.

Zoom out – zoom out of the graph by left clicking on it.

Pan Results – scroll the graph in the desired direction.

Jump to Sample Point – Click on the graph to jump the camera in the 3D window to view the selected sample.

Sample Point Information –Click on a specific sample in the graph to get more information about it. This information (displayed in light blue color) shows the sample elevation, coordinate and slope value.

In addition, there are three display options:
a. Show Key Point Information –Display elevation and coordinate information about key point. This information includes the X and Y coordinates and elevation value.
b. Show Min/Max elevation Points – Display samples that have either maximum elevation or minimum elevation in yellow.
c. Show Min/Max Slope Points –Display samples that have either maximum positive or maximum negative slope values in green.

It is also possible to force more accurate results by setting the sample size (although calculation time is longer). To set the sample size, select Advanced Setting from the terrain profile toolbar. Do not set a sample size smaller than the terrain elevation resolution, as determined by the MPT database, this causes the calculation time needed to build the elevation profile graph to increase with no increase in accuracy.
4. Click on Export Results to save the terrain profile to a file. The resulting file is a comma-delimited text file, with each line representing a sample point or a key point. The following values appear for each point:

X – The X-coordinate of the point.

Elevation – The elevation value of the point above the terrain database vertical datum base ellipsoid.

Y – The Y-coordinate of the point.

Key Frame – A value of 1 for a key point, or 0 for sample point.

Ground Object – A value of 1 for a ground object located at the sample point, or 0 for terrain point.

5. When you have finished analyzing the current elevation profile you can close the Terrain Profile Dialog Box.

The Best Path tool calculates the best path between two locations on the terrain without exceeding definable climb and descent slope limits. The tool creates a line object marked on the ground representing the calculated path. The calculation takes into account the elevation values of the terrain, and implements a heuristic algorithm. The parameters available for the search determine the time and probability of finding the best path.

Using the Best Path Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Best Path Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #8) to open the Best Path Properties sheet, or use the Measurements Menu>Best Path.
3. Set the required Best Path parameters.
4. With the cursor in the 3D Window, click the mouse to define the start point for the path.
5. Click the mouse again to define the end point of the path.
6. Once the Best Path has been calculated, you can edit its parameters and recalculate it, or close the properties sheet to finish the operation.

Object’s Parameters

Appearance:

Name – Type the description or name of the Best Path. This text appears in the Information Window as the name of the object.

Activation Action – Type the action to perform when the object is selected from the Information Window.

Path Color – Select the color for the best path. Select the Edit button to open the Color Palette Dialog Box, or type the color code in hexadecimal 0xBBGGRR format (B = Blue channel 00-ff, G = Green channel 00-ff, R = Red channel 00-ff).

Position:

Start Location X – Enter the X-coordinate for the start location.

Start Location Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the start location.

End Location X – Enter the X-coordinate for the end location.

End Location Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the end location.

Settings:

Sample Interval – Enter the desired value (in meters) for the resolution of the measurement. This value represents the distance between sample points along the path. The smaller the sample interval, the more accurate the calculation, but the longer it takes to calculate.

Search Area Factor – Enter the desired value for the area of the calculation. This value represents the factor multiplying the distance between each two points giving the length of the search area rectangle. The width is set to half of the length.

Climb Slope Limit – Enter the climb slope limit (in degrees) that no part in the path can exceed.

Descent Slope Limits – Enter the descent slope limit (in degrees) that no part in the path can exceed. No part of the path can have a steeper slope than the negative value of this parameter.

Recalculate Path – Click this button to perform the calculation again with the updated parameters.

General:

Show In Basic – Determines if the Best Path appears in the Information Window when the file is viewed with the TerraExplorer Basic viewer.

Tool Tip – Type a ToolTip text to appear when the mouse cursor is placed over the Best Path in the 3D View.

Max. Visibility Distance – Sets the distance from the camera at which the Best Path polygon disappears.
Once completed, a single line, marked on the terrain appear between the start and end locations. This line represents the best path between the two points under the constraints set by the slope parameters. At any time, you can change the start and end points, and the various parameters, and recalculate the path.

The Line of Sight Analysis tool provides a visual indication of whether specific locations in the 3D world can be seen from a selected position. The tool displays a visual marker for the existence of a line of sight from a single observer position to multiple positions in the world. This feature takes into account the observer’s viewpoint, direction of sight and distance of sight, to portray which locations can be viewed from the viewpoint, and which locations cannot be viewed. The observer and target positions can be set at any altitude above the terrain.

Using the Line of Sight Analysis Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Line of Sight Analysis Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #9) to open the Line of Sight Analysis Properties sheet, or use the Measurements Menu> Line of Sight .
3. In the Sampling Interval field, enter the desired value for the sample resolution of your measurement. This value represents the distance between terrain samples for the measurement along each line. A smaller sample size is more accurate but slower to calculate.
4. In the Observer Height field, enter the desired value for the altitude of the observer.
5. In the Target(s) Height field, enter the desired value for the altitude of the target point or points.
6. The observer position fields are read-only parameters. They are derived from the point you select in the 3D Window (see below), and cannot be manipulated by the user in the Properties Sheet.
7. Once you have set the necessary parameters, click the cursor to define your viewpoint for the observer.
8. Place the target points in the 3D View by clicking the left mouse button. You must place at least one point in the 3D View.
9. Click the right mouse button to finish the operation. At this point, TerraExplorer Pro begins to calculate the line of sight. This process can take a few seconds.
10. Once the Line of Sight Analysis has been completed, you can edit the parameters and recalculate, or close the properties sheet to finish the operation.

Once completed, a single line, or group of lines, marked on the terrain appear between the viewpoint and the end point. Target points that are visible from the observer viewpoint are colored green, while points that are not visible from the observer viewpoint are colored red.
Note: To perform another line of sight measurement, you must first close the Properties Sheet either by clicking on the Properties Sheet “Close” icon, or by clicking again on the Line of Sight Analysis tool icon in the Toolbox “Measurements” tab. Repeat Steps 2-9, above, to obtain another line of sight measurement.

Object’s Parameters

Appearance:

Name – Type the description or name of the Line of Sight. This text appears in the Information Window as the name of the object.

Activation Action – Type the action to perform when the object is selected from the Information Window.

Position:

X – Enter the X-coordinate for the observer position. Change this value to move the observer position.

Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the observer position. Change this value to move the observer position.

Settings:

Sampling Interval – Enter the desired value for the resolution of the measurement. This value represents the distance between sample points along each line. The smaller the sample interval, the more accurate the measurement, but the longer it takes to calculate.

Observer Height – Enter the desired value for the observer altitude.

Target(s) Height – Enter the desired value for the altitude of the target point (or points).

Recalculate – Click this button to perform the calculation again with the updated parameters.

General:

Show In Basic – Determines if the Line of Sight appears in the Information Window when the file is viewed with the TerraExplorer Basic viewer.

Message – Shows the number of the message associated with this object. To create a new message or update an existing message, open the Create Message Dialog Box by clicking in this field and selecting Edit.

Tool Tip – Type a ToolTip text to appear when the mouse cursor is placed over the Line of Sight in the 3D View.

Default Viewing Distance – Determines the viewing distance of the camera from the Line of Sight observer position. This distance is used as a stop mark for any “Fly-to” or “View Object” operation. It is also used when editing the object from the Information Window.

Max. Visibility Distance – Sets the distance from the camera at which the Line of Sight disappears.

The Viewshed Analysis tool provides you with a graphical representation of the view from any defined viewpoint, along a line or a sector, to an end point. The tool creates a Viewshed. This feature takes into account the viewpoint, direction of sight and distance of sight, to portray which areas of the terrain are visible from the viewpoint, and which areas cannot be viewed. The viewpoint can be set at any altitude above the terrain.

Using the Viewshed Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Viewshed Analysis Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #10) to open the Viewshed Analysis Properties sheet, or use the Measurements Menu>Viewshed Analysis.
3. In the Type field, select “Area” if you want to measure a sector shape area that shows visible and hidden parts of the terrain in relation to the viewpoint. Select “Line” if you only want to know which part of the terrain along a line is visible from the viewpoint.
4. In the Field Of View field, enter a value representing the field of view (the default is 53degrees). This field is unavailable for “Line” type of measurement.
5. When area type of measurement is selected, TerraExplorer samples several rays (lines of sight) in the sector. In the Ray Spacing field, type the space between each ray (in degrees). The smaller the ray spacing, the more accurate the measurement, but it takes longer to calculate. This field is unavailable for “Line” type of measurement.
6. In the Max. Sample Interval field, enter the desired value for the sample resolution of your measurement. This value represents the distance between terrain samples for the measurement along each ray. A smaller sample size is more accurate but slower to calculate.
7. In the Save Results field, selecting “Yes” creates a group in the information tree under which the measurement results are saved. The created group is locked, and appears as a Viewshed icon in the information window. Click on this icon to jump the camera to the position of the viewpoint.
8. In the Altitude field, enter your desired value for the altitude of your viewpoint.
9. The other four fields are read-only parameters. They are derived from the points you select in the 3D Window (see below), and cannot be manipulated by the user in the Properties Sheet.
10. Once you have set the necessary parameters, click the cursor to define your viewpoint for the measurement.
11. Click again to define your desired end point.
12. Once you establish the end point, all of the parameters become read-only. At this point, TerraExplorer Pro begins to formulate the line of sight measurement. This process can take a few seconds.

Once completed, a single line, or group of lines, marked on the terrain appear between the viewpoint and the end point. Within the sector, areas that are visible from the viewpoint are colored green, while areas that are not visible from the viewpoint are colored red.
Note:To perform another line of sight measurement when the Save Results field is set to No, either right click on the terrain, or close the Properties Sheet by either clicking on the Properties Sheet’s “Close” icon, or by clicking again on the Viewshed Analysis tool icon in the Toolbox “Measurements” tab. Now, repeat the above steps (Steps 2 - 12) to obtain another Viewshed Analysis measurement.

The Threat Done tool analyzes and displays the volume that is visible from a given point in the 3D View. You can set various parameters, like the Scan field and elevation angle, and analyze different areas for visibility. The tool creates a 3D shape, that resembling the top half of a sphere, that accurately describes the areas viewable from the defined point, In addition, the Threat Dome object is added to the information window. Any point inside the Threat Dome can be viewed from the dome’s pivot point.

Using the Threat Dome Tool

1. Open the TerraExplorer Toolbox. Choose View menu>Toolbox, or use the shortcut key Ctrl-Shift-T.
2. Click on the Threat Dome Tool icon in the “Measurements” tab (icon #11) to open the Threat Dome Properties sheet, or use the Measurements Menu> Threat Dome.
3. Set the required threat dome parameters.
4. With the cursor in the 3D Window, click the mouse to define the pivot point for the threat dome.
5. Once the threat dome has been created, you can edit the its parameters, or close the properties sheet to finish the operation.

Object’s Parameters

Appearance:

Name – Type the description or name of the threat dome. This text appears in the Information Window as the name of the object.

Activation Action – Type the action to perform when selecting the object from the Information Window.

Color – Select the color for the threat dome. Select the Edit button to open the Color Palette Dialog Box, or type the color code in hexadecimal 0xBBGGRR format (B = Blue channel 00-ff, G = Green channel 00-ff, R = Red channel 00-ff).

Settings:

Range – Determine the range from the center point of the threat dome.

Ray Spacing – Type the space between each sampling ray. The smaller the ray spacing, the more accurate the measurement, but the longer it takes to calculate.

Sample Interval – Enter the desired value for the resolution of the measurement. This value represents the distance between sample points along each ray. The smaller the sample interval, the more accurate the measurement, but the longer it takes to calculate.

Direction – Enter a value representing the center direction of the scan.

Scan Field – Enter a value in degrees, representing the scan field.

Elevation Angle – Enter the angle, from the ground, below which the pivot point can not see. For example, an elevation angle of zero creates a complete half sphere, while an angle of 30 degrees creates an inverted cone, topped by a section of a sphere.

Position:

Altitude – Enter the altitude above ground for the threat dome’s pivot point.

X – Enter the X-coordinate for the threat dome’s pivot point. Change this value to move the entire threat dome.

Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the threat dome’s pivot point. Change this value to move the entire threat dome.

General:

Show In Basic – Determines if the contour map appears in the Information Window when the file is viewed with the TerraExplorer Basic viewer.

Tool Tip – Type a ToolTip text to appear when the mouse cursor is placed over the contour map in the 3D View.

Max. Visibility Distance – Sets the distance from the camera at which the polygon disappears.