Operational Hints and Tips

We will endeavour over time to create lists of operational hints and tips to help you become even more productive. If you are having difficulties operating your system check here regularly to see if we have recommended a solution.

• 3DD Mapping Software
• Ortho System

3DD 3.1a

Plotting
To plot sheet files under a Windows environment, 3DDView, a new Windows based program, can be accessed under USER OPERATIONS/PLOTTING/VIEW SHEET IN 3DDVIEW. 3DDView offers Windows fonts support to improve the presentation of plotted sheet files.

MAP file names
Wildcards can be used when specifying MAP file names in the initial digitising/editing start-up window. Press F1 to bring up a selectable list of all available MAP files.

Zooming
Alt+w will revert to the previous view in the digitising/editing view after a zoom in, zoom out window or home operation has been performed.

Duplicate Feature removal
The MARKDUP program is useful for marking and deleting duplicate features in MAP files.

Fixed RL
Ctrl+h can be used to digitise and specify the height to be used for the whole Fixed RL feature. This is especially useful for GIS packages eg. tallest height used for tree canopies, roof tops etc.

Aerosys
For Aerosys users, try using the Manual Aerosys Bundle Adjustment method found under USER OPERATIONS/ORIENTATION DATA TRANSFERS/AEROSYS/MAN-AEROSYS BUNDLE ADJUSTMENT to allow better control over the adjustment.

Digitising Resolutions
For resolution settings of 0.01m, the maximum distance of any point digitised should be less than 10kms away from the false origin set for any 3DD job. For a resolution of 0.1m, this changes to a maximum distance of 100kms. If this range is exceeded, digitised points might not be within resolution of their correct value.

Reinstalling 3DD
If you are re-installing 3DD, be sure to make a backup copy of your MM_CNTXT.DAT file (found in the 3DD software directory) to prevent it from being overwritten with the default version. This file contains all your palette and co-ordinate system customisations, among other things.

3DD 3.0c

3DD and NT4 switching
If you wish to switch between 3DD to NT4, it is best not to switch whilst you are on the 3DD digitising or editing graphics screen. NT4 has difficulties handling this particular screen, the best way is to press F3 whilst in the graphics screen to go back into the 3DD menus and then switch applications. That way you will always be able to switch back to 3DD afterwards.

Ortho System 2.1a

Image Quality
For quality image results, try setting the camera pixel size to half of the output pixel size defined in Orthogen.

Auto Colour correction
Orthogen can apply colour corrections during scanning. You can either store the current adjustments in Ortho View using the VIEW/COLOUR CORRECTION/STORE ADJUSTMENTS which will apply them for any future scans or you can type them in manually using the new Settings program.

Breaklines
Any digitised line feature digitised in 3DD and exported to MAF will be treated as a breakline. These are lines that triangles are not permitted to cross. They simplify the processing of bridges, dam walls etc. with a radical change in height. Simply digitise a line at the top and at the bottom of the area that you wish to isolate and Ortho will take care of the rest.

Orthophoto generation
Always define the orthophoto parameters to be INSIDE the captured DTM data in Orthogen. This will eliminate the perimeter patches which might be suspect due to the joining of the irregular triangular network outside the DTM area. It will also result in straight edges for the orthophoto.