Back in SS2 - Data Acquisition you could "Create Graphics" from surface elements. We utilized this frequently to change auto generated boundary in the "All Field Books" surface to a graphic, insert verticies then import at as a new linear feature represeting our final boundary for the surface.
Is this possible in SS3 with Terrain elements?
I should add that I am running PowerGEOPAK SS3 v.08.11.09.493
In SS3 the workflow has changed a bit. It is recommended that you use the Edit Terrrain Model tools to modify terrain features like the boundary. There are Insert, Delete, and Move vertex tools available.
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I understand how the terrain editing tools work and that you would like to see terrrain editing workflow happen exclusivley with them, but the question remains un-answered. Restated - Can you generate graphics from the terrain elements in SS3?
More into why I am asking - In SS3 the terrain surface reverts to it's original state if you make any edits to survey data. There are two suggestions I have heard to mitigate this - 1.) Use a clip boundary and 2.) Save terrain edits until late in the process.
The generation of a clip boundary is a function completed by creating a new linear feature in Survey - and I am proposing that an efficient way to do this is to start from the auto generated "all field books" boundary, export it to graphics, insert verticies as needed, then bring it into survey as a new linear feature with a DTM attribute = boundary.
If you can't output graphics from terrain features I suggest it as an enhancement. (Also I am not interested in a solution that requires output to .tin then generation of graphics....too many steps). The ideal solution would look like the SS2 Data Acquisition capabilities.
While the exact same functionality is not available, a graphic boundary for the terrain could be added by drawing an element arounf the perimeter desired adding to the fieldbook terrain as a "Drape Boundary"
In a similar note a terrain could be droped (be sure to make a copy ) by "application elements" to expose the desired graphics ... these graphics could then be manipulated if needed though they would NOT have any link back to the original Terrain Model
HTH
Michael Barkasi
Application Engineer
Reality Modeling
Answer Verified By: John Lobbestael MDOT
Thanks. This solution is workable.