Generating Cross Sections & Profiles Natively in ArcGIS ESRI Survey ...
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Generating Cross Sections & Profiles Natively in ArcGIS ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit August 3, 2008 (Presentation SUR2169)
Cross Sectioning & GIS – The Problem
• Cross sectioning & profile development have never had a robust and easily discernible workflow within the ArcInfo & ArcGIS environment. • Methods have included using: • INFO tables and ArcPlot AMLs • Tabular files containing surface and subsurface data of queried points along a line in conjunction with CAD functionality • ArcScene profile graph generation followed by export and additional work 2
Cross Sectioning & GIS – The Problem
• Using one of the many available geologic modeling applications has always been an option, too – although often expensive… • Invariably, however, these processes and options prove to be one or all of the following: • • • •
Tedious (& with a painful learning curve) Time-consuming Labor-Intensive Costly
3
Cross Sectioning & GIS – Our Need
• Frustrated with the time and expense of existing GIS methods (and the cost of learning and using non-GIS applications and workflows) to develop profile diagrams for our engineering, geology, and hydrogeology clients, we recognized our own need to develop an ArcGIS-based solution to generate cross section diagrams directly within the ArcGIS environment.
4
Cross Sectioning & GIS – Our Solution
• We began to develop an ArcObjects-based solution designed to leverage, enhance, and extend the functionality of ArcGIS – without creating an entirely new program that would take users precious time to learn. • We wanted an ArcMap tool that would: • Use ESRI datasets in an MXD as input • Create a cross section diagram in a new data frame within that source MXD • Allow us to use the ArcMap toolset to symbolize and label the diagram’s features 5
Cross Sections & GIS: CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
• Cross section diagrams can now be made within the ArcGIS Desktop environment using an intuitive, wizard-based plug-in with a minimum of effort – saving time and money. • This productivity tool, called “CrossView,” allows users to create cross section and profile diagrams within ArcMap, incorporating data from tables and geospatial layers along the way. 6
CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
7
CrossView Retains Source Attribute Descriptions
• Unlike external applications, the cross section diagram features created by CrossView retain the descriptive attributes from their source geodatabase, shapefile, coverage, and XY Event Theme tables. • This “pass through” of source feature attributes allows for full control over symbolization, labeling, and annotation in the output diagram (data frame). 8
ESRI 3D Visualization in ArcScene & CrossView’s 2D Visualization in ArcMap
ArcScene View
Cross Section Diagram Data Frame in ArcMap Created by CrossView
9
A CrossView Walk-Through
• CrossView creates cross section diagrams using data from ArcMap’s active data frame.
• In the source data frame, a line defining the course of the cross section is first selected. (The line can be from a geodatabase, shapefile, coverage, or be a graphic drawing element, and it can have multiple vertices, and include arcs and curves.)
• With the source line selected, the CrossView wizard can be started. 10
With a line selected in the source data frame, the CrossView menu in ArcMap can be selected.
11
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Surface datasets (GRIDs, single-band rasters, and TINs) in the source data frame can be added and configured for inclusion in the output diagram.
• Surfaces can be depicted as solid-fill polygons or horizontally oriented lines. (Optionally, surface lines can be split with an overlaying polygon layer from the source data frame – each segment of the resulting split surface line will have the attributes of the appropriate overlying polygon.) 12
On the Surfaces tab, surface datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output cross section diagram.
13
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• The cross section diagram’s base elevation can be specified, as well as its vertical exaggeration.
• A preview graphic depicts elements as they are added to the diagram.
14
In the Options section, a base elevation and vertical exaggeration can be set. The Preview graphic depicts elements as they are added to the diagram.
15
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict vertically oriented lines (e.g., well features) in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer chosen, the user selects the attribute table fields containing elevations or depths for both the top and bottom of each feature.
16
On the Points to Lines tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as vertically oriented lines.
17
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Similarly, information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict vertically oriented polygons (e.g., soil bore segments) in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer chosen, the user selects the attribute table fields containing elevations or depths for both the top and bottom of each feature. 18
On the Points to Polygons tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as vertically oriented polygons.
19
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Similarly again, information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict point features “at depth” in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer selected from the source data frame, a user-specified search distance instructs CrossView how far to “search out” from the cross section line to find features in that layer, and these are properly located along the length of the output cross section. 20
On the Points to Points tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as “points at depth.”
21
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• A reference grid can be configured for the output cross section diagram, along with associated grid line (axis) labels.
22
In the Preview section, a reference grid can be configured for the output cross section diagram, along with associated grid line (axis) labels.
23
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Graphic components for the output cross section diagram, each matching a userspecified input layer, are placed in either ESRI shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes.
24
Graphic components for the output cross section diagram, each matching a user-specified input layer, are placed in either ESRI shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes.
25
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Output layers are placed within a newlycreated “Cross Section” data frame in the source ArcMap document.
26
Output layers are placed in a newly-created “Cross Section” data frame on the source ArcMap document’s layout page.
27
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Output features retain the attributes of their source layer features, and these attributes can be used to control differential symbolization, labeling, and annotation.
28
Output features retain the attributes of their source layer features, and these attributes can be used to control differential symbolization, labeling, and annotation.
29
Example of Symbolized & Annotated Output
30
Example of Symbolized & Annotated Output
31
CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
• It is our hope that CrossView provides ESRI GIS users with an easy-to-use tool that increases productivity by simplifying cross section and profile diagram development within the ArcGIS Desktop environment.
• For more information: www.aprimesoftware.com or contact us at: [email protected] 32
Generating Cross Sections & Profiles Natively in ArcGIS ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit August 3, 2008 (Presentation SUR2169)
Cross Sectioning & GIS – The Problem
• Cross sectioning & profile development have never had a robust and easily discernible workflow within the ArcInfo & ArcGIS environment. • Methods have included using: • INFO tables and ArcPlot AMLs • Tabular files containing surface and subsurface data of queried points along a line in conjunction with CAD functionality • ArcScene profile graph generation followed by export and additional work 2
Cross Sectioning & GIS – The Problem
• Using one of the many available geologic modeling applications has always been an option, too – although often expensive… • Invariably, however, these processes and options prove to be one or all of the following: • • • •
Tedious (& with a painful learning curve) Time-consuming Labor-Intensive Costly
3
Cross Sectioning & GIS – Our Need
• Frustrated with the time and expense of existing GIS methods (and the cost of learning and using non-GIS applications and workflows) to develop profile diagrams for our engineering, geology, and hydrogeology clients, we recognized our own need to develop an ArcGIS-based solution to generate cross section diagrams directly within the ArcGIS environment.
4
Cross Sectioning & GIS – Our Solution
• We began to develop an ArcObjects-based solution designed to leverage, enhance, and extend the functionality of ArcGIS – without creating an entirely new program that would take users precious time to learn. • We wanted an ArcMap tool that would: • Use ESRI datasets in an MXD as input • Create a cross section diagram in a new data frame within that source MXD • Allow us to use the ArcMap toolset to symbolize and label the diagram’s features 5
Cross Sections & GIS: CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
• Cross section diagrams can now be made within the ArcGIS Desktop environment using an intuitive, wizard-based plug-in with a minimum of effort – saving time and money. • This productivity tool, called “CrossView,” allows users to create cross section and profile diagrams within ArcMap, incorporating data from tables and geospatial layers along the way. 6
CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
7
CrossView Retains Source Attribute Descriptions
• Unlike external applications, the cross section diagram features created by CrossView retain the descriptive attributes from their source geodatabase, shapefile, coverage, and XY Event Theme tables. • This “pass through” of source feature attributes allows for full control over symbolization, labeling, and annotation in the output diagram (data frame). 8
ESRI 3D Visualization in ArcScene & CrossView’s 2D Visualization in ArcMap
ArcScene View
Cross Section Diagram Data Frame in ArcMap Created by CrossView
9
A CrossView Walk-Through
• CrossView creates cross section diagrams using data from ArcMap’s active data frame.
• In the source data frame, a line defining the course of the cross section is first selected. (The line can be from a geodatabase, shapefile, coverage, or be a graphic drawing element, and it can have multiple vertices, and include arcs and curves.)
• With the source line selected, the CrossView wizard can be started. 10
With a line selected in the source data frame, the CrossView menu in ArcMap can be selected.
11
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Surface datasets (GRIDs, single-band rasters, and TINs) in the source data frame can be added and configured for inclusion in the output diagram.
• Surfaces can be depicted as solid-fill polygons or horizontally oriented lines. (Optionally, surface lines can be split with an overlaying polygon layer from the source data frame – each segment of the resulting split surface line will have the attributes of the appropriate overlying polygon.) 12
On the Surfaces tab, surface datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output cross section diagram.
13
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• The cross section diagram’s base elevation can be specified, as well as its vertical exaggeration.
• A preview graphic depicts elements as they are added to the diagram.
14
In the Options section, a base elevation and vertical exaggeration can be set. The Preview graphic depicts elements as they are added to the diagram.
15
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict vertically oriented lines (e.g., well features) in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer chosen, the user selects the attribute table fields containing elevations or depths for both the top and bottom of each feature.
16
On the Points to Lines tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as vertically oriented lines.
17
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Similarly, information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict vertically oriented polygons (e.g., soil bore segments) in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer chosen, the user selects the attribute table fields containing elevations or depths for both the top and bottom of each feature. 18
On the Points to Polygons tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as vertically oriented polygons.
19
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Similarly again, information from point layers in the source data frame can be configured to depict point features “at depth” in the output cross section diagram.
• For each point layer selected from the source data frame, a user-specified search distance instructs CrossView how far to “search out” from the cross section line to find features in that layer, and these are properly located along the length of the output cross section. 20
On the Points to Points tab, input point datasets can be selected and configured for depiction in the output diagram as “points at depth.”
21
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• A reference grid can be configured for the output cross section diagram, along with associated grid line (axis) labels.
22
In the Preview section, a reference grid can be configured for the output cross section diagram, along with associated grid line (axis) labels.
23
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Graphic components for the output cross section diagram, each matching a userspecified input layer, are placed in either ESRI shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes.
24
Graphic components for the output cross section diagram, each matching a user-specified input layer, are placed in either ESRI shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes.
25
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Output layers are placed within a newlycreated “Cross Section” data frame in the source ArcMap document.
26
Output layers are placed in a newly-created “Cross Section” data frame on the source ArcMap document’s layout page.
27
A CrossView Walk-Through … continued
• Output features retain the attributes of their source layer features, and these attributes can be used to control differential symbolization, labeling, and annotation.
28
Output features retain the attributes of their source layer features, and these attributes can be used to control differential symbolization, labeling, and annotation.
29
Example of Symbolized & Annotated Output
30
Example of Symbolized & Annotated Output
31
CrossView Earth Surfaces for ArcGIS Desktop
• It is our hope that CrossView provides ESRI GIS users with an easy-to-use tool that increases productivity by simplifying cross section and profile diagram development within the ArcGIS Desktop environment.
• For more information: www.aprimesoftware.com or contact us at: [email protected] 32
