3D Network Window

The 3D Network Window lets you to view the ground surface of a network that has a Ground Model loaded on its GeoPlan Window. Each window is centred on a particular point. You can move your viewpoint around this centre point by:

The view displays what would be seen by a person at the viewpoint, looking towards the centre point.

The property sheet for an object can be opened by using the Properties tool or by double clicking on the object using the Select tool .

Each 3D Network Window is based on the current state of the GeoPlan Window. When you create a 3D Network Window, it is centred on the centre point of the GeoPlan, and its extents are the same as the extents of the GeoPlan. However, you can use the mouse scroll buttons or the 3D viewpoint tools (displayed on the toolbar) to move around the 3D Network Window and to zoom out to the extents of the network regardless of the extents of the network in the GeoPlan view.

What you see when you create the 3D Network Window will be very similar to what is shown on the GeoPlan as the starting viewpoint is always vertically above the centre point.

You can display GIS background layers such as a map or aerial photo and themes on the 3D Network Window. You must load layers and set up themes on the GeoPlan Window prior to creating the 3D Network Window. The 3D Network Window will then display all the layers and themes from the GeoPlan.

To create a 3D Network Window:

  1. Open a network in the GeoPlan Window and optionally load a ground model that covers the area of interest.
  2. Load GIS background layers and set up themes to be displayed in the 3D Network Window.
  3. If you want to view a particular part of the network or a 2D Zone, centre the GeoPlan over the point of interest or 2D Zone, zoom in or out, and if needed resize the view until you get exactly the area you want to display in the 3D Network Window.
  4. To display a 3D Network Window with the same size and extents as the GeoPlan, choose either the New 3D network window option from the Window menu or click on the (New 3D Network Window) button on the Windows toolbar.

    Alternatively, to display a 2D Zone in the 3D Window with the same size and extents as the GeoPlan, press the CTRL key and either select the New 3D network window option from the Window menu or click on the button on the Windows toolbar. The 2D Zone will be cropped to fit into the extents of the GeoPlan in the 3D Network Window.

    A new 3D Network Window is opened:

    • the centre point is defined as the centre of the view at ground height. Ground height is interpolated or extrapolated if needed.
    • The initial position of the viewpoint is directly above the centre point, and far enough away to show the full extents of the view.
    • The 3D Network Window assumes the position of the light source (sun) to be that defined in the hill shading properties of the GeoPlan Window. If the settings are not appropriate, you will need to adjust these for the GeoPlan and then create a new 3D view .

If the number of network objects in the current GeoPlan Window is greater than 1000, the option of whether or not to include network objects in the 3D Network Window is given. Including a large number of network objects may result in slow performance.

The following icons on the toolbar allow you to move the viewpoint around in the 3D Network Window:

Rotate the Network View about centre

Zoom in or out

(The mouse scroll wheel can also be used to zoom in or out)

Recentre on target

Zoom to target

Place observer at target

Pan

Reset to show full extent

You can change display properties of the view using the 3D Network View Properties dialog. Open this dialog by right clicking on the view and choosing Properties from the popup menu.

The properties you can change are:

  • Elevation-exaggeration factor- the factor by which actual ground elevations are exaggerated on the display
  • Show sky - check this option to include the display of blue sky with clouds in the background of the 3D Terrain Window. Default is on (checked).
  • Background colour - background colour of 3D Terrain Window
  • Terrain:
    • Do not show - Ground Model will not be displayed in 3D Terrain Window
    • Show (with map layers) - Ground Model and background layers only will be displayed
    • Show (with map layers and network) - Ground Model, background layers and position of network objects will be displayed
  • Flood depths (only enabled when results and a Ground Model are loaded into the GeoPlan)
    • Do not show - flood depths will not be displayed in 3D Terrain Window
    • Show (with map layers) - flood depths and background layers will be displayed
    • Show (with map layers and network) - flood depths, background layers and position of network objects will be displayed
  • Network (check boxes only enabled when the relevant object type is included within the view)
    • Show nodes and links - check this option to include display of node and link objects
    • Show storage area ground levels - check this option to include display of storage area levels
    • Show river reach ground levels - check this option to include display of river reach ground levels
    • Show 2D zone element ground levels - check this option to include display of mesh element ground levels
    • Quality - sets drawing resolution
  • 2D zone render (only enabled if a 2D Zone is included in the network loaded onto the GeoPlan):
    • Original - 2D Zones mesh triangles are displayed with their original, angular profile
    • Smoothed - 2D Zones mesh triangles are displayed with a smoothed profile across the mesh elements. Options available:
      • Translucent water - check this option to display water translucently in the 2D Zone
      • Graded water level transition - check this option to display water in the 2D Zone with a stepped transition between the different water levels
      • Render 2D zone wireframe overlay - check this option to display the 2D Zones bounding mesh triangle overlay
    • Do not show - 2D Zones are not displayed in the 3D Network Window

Loading a Ground Model on the GeoPlan

Hill Shading

GeoPlan Window

3D Terrain View Properties Dialog