Terrain Profile tool

The Terrain Profile tool displays the terrain elevation profile along a defined path, and related information on this profile such as maximum and minimum elevation values and slope. The terrain profile can also compare between the base terrain and an elevation layer.

To use the Terrain Profile tool:

1.     Enter the following parameters:

Mode

Select the profile mode.

Normal – Display a profile only for the selected polyline(s).

Compare – Compare the selected polyline's profile to that of a specified elevation layer.

Quality

Determines the distance between sample points along the polyline for which the terrain profile is being calculated. High Quality will yield a more accurate result, but take longer to calculate.

Elevation Layer

Select the elevation layer to which to compare the defined polyline. This parameter is only available if Compare is selected in the Mode field.

2.     Select one of the following methods of designating the polyline(s) for which the terrain profile should be calculated:

  • Follow Line - A terrain profile is created along the drawn line. In the 3D Window, click the left mouse button to place the line waypoints, and right-click to complete the line.
  • Selected Group - A terrain profile is created for each of the polylines in the selected group. Select the required layer from the Project Tree, and then click Selected Group.
  • From Clipboard - A terrain profile is created for each of the polylines in the clipboard.

3.     A terrain profile graph opens, displaying the terrain elevation profile.

Note: When you click any point on the graph, the corresponding point on the polyline in the 3D Window is displayed in the center of the screen.

4.     If you want to export the terrain profile to a shapefile layer, click Export to Layer.

Note: When a terrain profile created for multiple lines (in a group or from clipboard), is exported to a layer, the line color on the graph corresponds to the color of the points that make up the line in the layer.

Flot graph: copyright (c) 2007-2014 IOLA and Ole Laursen