SMS:Use of Digital Elevation Maps in the Scatter Module

The Scatter Point Module is used to visualize and apply various types of data. This data typically comes from surveys, digital maps, previous numerical analysis or digitization on screen. The data is stored as sets or groups of 2D scattered data points with associated values. The most common value is bathymetry and is used to create the geometric representation of the area being modeled.

SMS connects the scattered data points into triangles forming a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN). TINs can be contoured, displayed in oblique view with mapped images and hidden surfaces removed, and several other display options that can be set to visualize and understand the terrain surface better. TINs are used for a source of bathymetric or other data in a numerical model. TINs can also be used to compute areas, volume, distances, gradients and several other geometric parameters.

SMS applies data from scattered data sets to finite element networks or grids via interpolation. This allows poorly distributed elevation data to be assigned to a well-structured set of elements to create the bathymetry of the entire mesh. A variety of interpolation schemes are supported. Internally, the scattered data sets are triangulated to create surfaces for continuous interpolation. Since the connectivity of the triangulation affects the interpolation, SMS provides tools to allow for the manipulation of this triangulation. The triangulation also allows contouring of the scattered data set to visualize the data.

Multiple scatter point sets can exist at one time in memory. One of the scatter sets is always designated as the "active" scatter point set. The active scatter set can be changed by changing the Scatter Set combo box in the top Edit Window. Whenever a new scatter set is created, it becomes the active set.

Related Topics:

• Data Acquisition
• TINs