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View, Edit, and Query a Classified 3DML in TerraExplorer

Yaniv Navon
  • Updated

In this article:

  • Creating a New TerraExplorer Project
  • Loading a 3DML Into TerraExplorer Pro
  • Classifying the 3DML
  • Viewing, Editing, and Querying a Classified 3DML

Creating a New TerraExplorer Project

  1. Click Start > Skyline TerraExplorer > TerraExplorer Pro.
  2. From the File  menu, click New. The Open Terrain Database (MPT) dialog is displayed.
  3. Type skylineglobe.tbp@www.skylineglobe.com$/sg and click OK. The Project Settings dialog is displayed.
  4. Click OK.  Note: If there is no network access, a Terrain Load Error message is displayed asking if you want to replace the terrain database. In this case, type %localterrain% and click Open.   

Loading a 3DML Into TerraExplorer Pro

  1. On the Layers tab, in the 3D Mesh group, click Load 3D Mesh and then select 3D Mesh Layer from File. The Load 3D Mesh Layer (3DML) dialog is displayed.
  2. Browse to .\7.6.0 - Quick Start Tutorial\Project\MyFirstPhotoMeshProject\Build_2_Entire Area\outputBuild_1, select myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area.3DML and then click Open. The 3DML is loaded into the project and added to the Project Tree.
  3. From the File  menu , select Save (CTRL+S) to save the project. 

Classifying the 3DML

In this section, we add rooftop polygon classification layers that classify the mesh layer from PhotoMesh by associating different areas of the mesh model with the respective polygon features. This enables the model to “inherit” the polygon features’ attributes and spatial properties. Note that the feature layers are displayed above the model, but this is simply for viewing purposes and won’t affect the final results.

  1. On the Layers tab, in the Feature group, click Load Layer. The Browse for Feature Layer dialog is displayed.
  2. Browse to .\PhotoMesh7.6.0 – Quick Start Tutorial\ClassifiedProject\ClassificationLayers\Buildings.shp, and click Open. The Select Layer dialog is displayed.
  3. Click Next. The General Settings dialog is displayed.
  4. Click Next. The Layer Settings dialog is displayed.
  5. Click Select All to select all the attributes in the feature layer and click Load. The layer is added to the project.

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Classification Layers

  1. In the Project Tree, select myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area.3DML. The 3DML Edit tab is displayed.
  2. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Mesh Layer group, click Classify Mesh Layer. The Classify 3DML dialog is displayed.
  3. In the Output Folder field, click Browse… The Browse for Folder dialog is displayed.
  4. Browse to .\PhotoMesh7.6.0 - Quick Start Tutorial\ClassifiedProject\Classified3DML and click OK.
  5. Select the Replace 3DML in project check box.
  6. Select the check boxes of all the features layers in the list:
    • ParkingLots
    • Parks
    • Buildings

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Classify 3DML

  1. Click Create.
  2. A dialog is displayed when the classification is finished. Click OK. The classified 3DML (myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area Classified) is added to the 3D Window and the Project Tree, replacing the old unclassified 3DML.
  3. In the Project Tree, toggle off all classification layers from the Classification Layers group.

Viewing, Editing, and Querying a Classified 3DML

The resulting classified 3DML enables spatial and attribute queries, as well as the editing of feature attributes and display properties.

  1. In the Project Tree, click the Expand/Collapse icon  next to myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area Classified.3DML, and then select the ParkingLots feature layer.
  2. In the Project Tree, clear the ParkingLots check box, and note how the features classified by this feature layer are hidden as a result. Select the check box again to redisplay the features.
  3. Right-click the ParkingLots feature layer, and then click Properties. The layer’s properties sheet is displayed.
  4. Change the following properties and take note of the effect in the 3D Window:
    • Tint Color = (Click the small edit button  to select a color)
    • Tint Opacity = 50%.
    • Tooltip = “Parking Lot”
  5. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Selection group, set the following parameters:
    • Buffer = 300
    • Units = Meters
    • Type = Intersect
  6. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Selection group, click the arrow next to Spatial Query and select Point.
  7. In the 3D Window, click on the 3DML to start the query. The features from the ParkingLots layer that are spatially related to the marked point (according to the selection parameters) are selected. The selection area including the buffer is framed with a red border
  8. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Attributes group, click Attribute Table. The Attribute Table is displayed and the selected features from the previous step are selected. Click Close to close the Attribute Table.
  9. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Selection group, click Select Feature.
  10. In the 3D Window, select any feature from the query’s results. The feature’s properties sheet is displayed. Change the NUM_LOTS attribute to “50”.
  11. Close the properties sheet, and then reopen to check that the changes were saved.

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Feature Properties Sheet

  1. Set the tint opacity back to 0% from the ParkingLots feature layer properties.
  2. In the Project Tree, select the myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area Classified.3DML
  3. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the General group, click the arrow next to Display Tools, and select Display by Attribute. The Display by Attribute dialog box is displayed. This tool enables you to display only selected areas of the mesh model that match a specific attribute value.
  4. Select the following:
    • Layer: ParkingLots
    • Attribute: NUM_LOTS
  5. Select the checkboxes of the following values to display:
    • 357
    • 40
  6. Click Save and then, in the TerraExplorer popup click Close.

mceclip7.png

  1. Display the areas of the mesh model that were previously hidden by selecting the check boxes of all values to display in the Display by Attribute
  2. In the Project Tree, select the myfirstphotomeshproject_Build_2_Entire Area Classified.3DML
  3. On the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the General group, click the arrow next to Display Tools, and select Colorize by Attribute. The Colorize by Attribute dialog box is displayed. This tool enables you to colorize the mesh model based on attribute value, with a different color assigned to each attribute value
  4. In the Colorize by Attribute dialog, select the following:
    • Layer: Parks
    • Attribute: ADDRESS

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