🗺️ DataNET · Quick Tutorial 6 of 8

VTK3D Visualization Walkthrough

Full walkthrough of DataNET VTK3D: stack up to 10 data layers in 3D, change display properties, load/remove elevation data, control enclosure, plot point data, and save/publish/load VTK3D models.

DataNET Tutorial 6 Prereq: MAGNET4WATER account 7 topics

This tutorial covers

  1. Change layer display
  2. Change global display properties
  3. Load/remove elevation data
  4. Enclosure control
  5. Plotting point data
  6. Saving, publishing, and loading VTK3D models

1Overview

DataNET VTK3D Model

DataNET VTK3D allows users to visualize multiple (up to 10) layers of data in a 3D view. Multiple data layers are added from the DataNET platform by selecting different layer names (see Render VTK3D Data help page).
3D view

2Change layer display

To change the display image/properties of a layer, select a layer from the dropdown list next to 'Layer'. Current image/properties of the layer are displayed.
To hide/show current layer from 3D view, select hide/show from the dropdown list next to the layer name.
To show/hide 3D solid beneath the layer, select show/hide from the dropdown list next to 'Base'.
To change the overlay image of the current layer, select an image from the dropdown list next to 'Overlay'. To load a local image, select 'Local' in the dropdown list. If an image has already been loaded, you will be prompted to select whether to use the loaded image or use a new image. Click 'Cancel' to use previously loaded image or 'OK' to load a new image.
You will be again prompted to choose between background image (map displayed on DataNET) and local image (load from user computer). To use background image, click 'OK'. If 'Image not captured' alert is displayed, select any base map other than OSM, and uncheck any WMS/WFS/WCS layer, if checked. Select any other overlay image, and select 'Local' again and repeat the process.
To change the image opacity, select desired opacity from the dropdown list next to 'Opacity'. To change the offset value of the image, enter a new offset value, and click 'Update'.
To change the solid color or base color, choose 'Solid color' as the overlay and select a new color next to 'Color'. To use the same color as background color, click 'Background color'. To revert to or set to default color list, click 'Default color'.

3Change global display properties

To change the overall vertical exaggeration, enter a new value next to 'Vertical exaggeration' and click anywhere outside the text box.
To change the 3D background color, select a new color from the color selector next to 'Background'.
To show/hide model axes click the 'Show Axes'/'Hide Axes' button.

Animate DEM view

To animate DEM view (rotate), click the 'Animate' button. To stop the animation, click 'Stop Animate'.

Reset the zoom level

To reset the zoom level and fit the view to the model area click 'Reset camera'.

Save current 3D view as image

To save current 3D view image, click 'Save current view'. The image is saved as 'mgnVTKImage.png' file.

4Load/remove elevation data

To load elevation data to the current layer from local computer, click 'Load elevation' button on the right. Browse to the elevation file, and load.
To remove local elevation data, click 'Remove elevation' on the right.
To create elevation data from the MAGNET4WATER server, click 'Server elevation' on the right.

5Enclosure control

Enclosure control allows users to create an enclosure "skirt" between two layers. DataNET allows up to 9 enclosures at a time. To create an enclosure, click the 'Enclosure control' button, enclosure selection options are displayed. Select Top and Bottom layers from the dropdown lists. Select color, offset and opacity values. If a mask layer is desired, select a mask layer (optional). A mask layer is a raster image that fills the gap where the current layer does not have any values. Any existing layer can be used as a mask layer or a new one can be created using existing layers.To create a new mask layer, click 'Create mask layer', select layers, and click 'Create mask layer'. A new layer is added as 'Mask' to the Mask layer list. Click 'Show enclosure'. If the enclosure between selected layers exists, a prompt is displayed asking whether to use the existing enclosure or create a new one. Click 'OK' to use the existing one or 'Cancel' to create a new one.

6Plotting point data

After loading points into the DataNET VTK3D Model, additional steps can be used to plot as spheres or well columns.
1) Click 'Edit point data' to open the point data filter and value editor.
2) Use the internal filters interface to select which points will be used (to select all points, choose any 'filter' field and check 'Select All')
3a) For wells, assign columns to well properties (most significantly, WellID, Zf [z-from: top of screen], and Zt [z-to: bottom of screen]).
3b) (Optional) For wells or point data, assign CalcV to a column of interest (e.g., water level, water quality, etc).
3c) To convert units for Zf, Zt, or CalcV, (e.g., if values are in different units than the DEM) assign a 'Multiplier'. This value will typically be 1 (meter to meter; foot to foot;), 0.3048 (foot to meter), or 3.2808 (meter to foot).
3d) To convert Zf, Zt, and/or CalcV from depth to elevation, check 'from DEM' to subtract values from DEM.
Note, for data from default models, SCREEN values will already be DEM consistent elevations, so set Multiplier as '1' and leave 'from DEM' unchecked.
3e) If 'from DEM' has been checked, either a) assign a data column as DEM with an appropriate multiplier, or b) select 'From server'.
4) Click 'Apply' to format the data and populate the 'Edit 3D point data' interface.
5) Make any changes to 3D point data, choose the point data type (3D points or 3D wells), and select the top Elevation layer (for depth reference).
6) Finally, make any changes to the applicable 'Point data options' or 'Well data options' (or use default), and click 'Show in 3D'.

7Saving, publishing, and loading VTK3D models

To save or share your work, 3D VTK models can be saved or published. To save the current VTK model to the local computer, click 'Save to local', and provide a name to save as (note, alternatively when closing this DataNET VTK3D Model window, the current model can be saved to your user folder on the server).
To load a previously saved 3D VTK model, models saved to your local computer can loaded from the 'Load Model' button in the Render VTK3D Data interface. Models saved to the server can be loaded from the 'Last Model' button in the Render VTK3D Data interface.
To publish the current VTK model and share it with other users, click 'Publish model', then provide a model name, description, and click 'OK'.
To inspect your published models, go to the main menu and click on '3D Visualization' > 'Cartesian View...' > 'My Published Models'. This will pop up a window with a list of your published models where you can view or delete them. If you want to edit a published model, save the model to your local computer and then 'Load Model' in the Render VTK3D Data interface.
To see all published models (including those from other users), first turn on the published model layer ('3D Visualization' > 'Cartesian View...' > 'Explore Published Models' > 'Show/Hide Models Layer'), then draw an analysis area around the models of interest and extract them ('3D Visualization' > 'Cartesian View...' > 'Explore Published Models' > 'View Analysis Area Model Results').