SMS:Functional Surfaces

Wave functional surface

At a glance

• Surface with elevation based upon scalar dataset values
• Very useful for wave models and models with large change in water surface elevation
• Elevations can be exaggerated to better visualize dataset variations
• Surfaces can have a solid color or use color filled contours
• Transparency can be used to allow see through surfaces

A functional surface is exactly that. It is a surface representing one of the functional datasets associated with a mesh, grid or TIN. The most intuitive example of a functional surface is the display of the water surface over a model's bathymetry. In this case, the surface represents an actual physical surface, but the functional surface could just as easily represent the velocity magnitude, or concentration, or any other scalar quantity.

Functional Surfaces Options dialog

To create/display functional surfaces, enable them in the display options of the appropriate module, and specify their attributes which include:

• Dataset – Selects which dataset is to be used to form the functional surface.

• Use active dataset – The currently selected dataset will be used for the functional surface.
• User defined dataset – Allows selecting a specific dataset in the project to use for the functional surface. The Select button for this option will bring a Select Dataset dialog.

• Z Offset – SMS displays functional surfaces at a simulated z-value. This may be the actual surface value (such as is the case with water surfaces elevations), but more often the value will not have a physical meaning, and may intersect the bathymetry or not even be in the same area. For this reason, SMS offers options for placing the functional surface at one of the following locations:
  • "Display surface at location" – The functional surface will be displayed at the location of the dataset on the geometry.
  • "Display surface above geometry" – The functional surface will be displayed slightly above the geometry based on the z-magnification.
  • "Display surface with user defined offset" – The functional surface will be display based on a value entered by the user.
    • Offset value – Enter an offset Z value for the user defined offset.
• Z Magnification – Functional data may not vary significantly when compared to the horizontal extents of the model. For this reason, the interface allows magnification (scaling) of the functional surface. By default, the surface is scaled based on the global z-magnification specified in the general display options. This may be overridden.

• Override global value – Turn on to override the global Z magnification value.
  • Magnification value – Enter a z magnification value to override the global value.

• Display Attributes – Controls the color of the functional surface. It may be a constant color or colored based on the contour colors specified. The colors may be associated with the value of the functional surface, or another dataset. The surface may also be partially transparent.

• Use solid color – Will change the functional surface to be a single color.
  • Color – Select a color to use as the solid color for the functional surface.
• Transparency – Set a transparency level for the functional surface. The transparency by entering a value or using the slider.
• Contour surface – Sets specific contour options for the functional surface.
  • Options – Will open the Dataset Contour Options dialog.
  • Specify separate dataset for contours – Allows a different dataset to be used for the contour options.
    • Select – Brings up a Select Dataset dialog.

Related Topics

• Cartesian Grid Display Options
• Mesh Display Options