cross section
The cross section module creates a fence diagram along a user defined (x, y) path. The fence cross-section has no thickness (because it is composed of areal elements such as triangles and quadrilaterals), but can be created in either true 3D model space or projected to 2D space.
It receives a 3D field (with volumetric elements) into its left input port and it receives lines or polylines (from draw lines, polyline processing, import cad, isolines, import vector gis, or other sources) into its right input port. Its function is similar to buffer distance, however it actually creates a new grid and does not rely on any other modules (e.g. plume or plume shell) to do the “cutting”. Only the x and y coordinates of the input (poly)lines are used because cross section cuts a projected slice that is z invariant. The module recalculates when either input field is changed (and Run Automatically is on) or when the “Run Once” button is pressed.
If you select the option to “Straighten to 2D”, cross section creates a straightened fence that is projected to a new 2D coordinate system of your choice. The choices are XZ or XY. For output to ESRI’s ArcMAP, XY is required.
NOTE: The beginning of straightened (2D) fences is defined by the order of the points in the incoming line/polyline. This is done to provide the user with complete control over how the cross-section is created. However, if you are provided a CAD file and you do not know the order of the line points, you can export the CAD file using the write lines module which provides a simple text file that will make it easy to see the order of the points.
Ports
| Direction | Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Input Field | Field | The main field for input. |
| Input | Input Line | Field | The main line for creating fence. |
| Output | Output Field | Field | The fence field. |
| Output | Output Object | Renderable | A renderable object displaying the subset fence. |
Properties
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Allow Run | Boolean | The Allow Run toggle will prevent the module from running when unselected. |
| Execute | Button | This button will force the module to run even if the Allow Run toggle has been turned off. This allows the user to make a number of changes before updating. |
| Clean Fence Boundaries | Boolean | The Clean Fence Boundaries toggle attempts to merge all cells between each fence segment (created by each line segment of your 2D input). Occasionally the output will look better with it off, but usually it is better left on. |
| Straighten To 2D | Boolean | The Straighten to 2D toggle is used to project your 3D fence to a 2D representation. Where each sample’s x value becomes the distance to the line passed into the Input Line port. |
| Straightened Plane | Choice: Export in XZ, Export in XY | The Straightened Plane allows the user to set the plane the straightened samples are in. This requires samples that have been Straightened to 2D. |
| Nodal Data Components | Multi-select | The Node Data Components toggles allow you to select which nodal data to include in the fence. |
| Cell Data Components | Multi-select | The Cell Data Components toggles allow you to select which cell data to include in the fence. |