Stamp Geometry Command

The Stamp Geometry command is used to draw a polyline and have the software automatically sample the cross sectional geometry at the ends of the polyline, and then linearly interpolate the cross section shape along the drawn polyline, revising the terrain model. This can be used to quickly “burn-in” a channel where one is missing, or “fill-in” a levee or dam structure where one is proposed. For example, when performing a laser scan, the bridge deck will cause a false dam to be inserted into the terrain and will have to be removed. Users can use the Stamp Geometry command in such a case.

 An example of the Stamp Geometry command before and after applying a terrain cut

Follow these steps to use the Stamp Geometry command:

1. From the Map Edit ribbon menu, select the Stamp Geometry command.
   
2. The Stamp Geometry dialog box will be displayed.
   

The following sections describe the Stamp Geometry command and how to interact with the above dialog box.

Stamping Parameters

This section is used to define general parameters used for stamping terrain geometry. This includes type of stamping operation to be processed, source terrain surface to be updated, and daylighting method for terrain stamping.

From the Terrain stamping operation dropdown combo box, select the type of stamping operation. The following options are available:

• Terrain Cut: This option cuts the terrain geometry to burn-in a channel where one is missing, or to remove a false dam, etc.
• Terrain Fill: This option fills in a levee or dam structure, where one is proposed, by stamping it on the terrain geometry.
  

From the Terrain surface dropdown combo box, select the source terrain file. The dropdown combo box will list all the elevation layers that are currently added to the project. The elevation layer which is used in extracting cross sections and 2D model elevation data is selected by default.

Also, the Fill void space below terrain cut and the Leave existing ground above terrain checkbox options are checked by default. They facilitate creating a more accurate representation of the stamped terrain geometry by daylighting the stamping operation into the source terrain geometry.

Define Interpolation Path

This section defines the path to which the terrain surface stamping is to be applied. There are two radio button options for defining the path:

• Assign polyline: This option allows the user to select a polyline from the Map View and use it to define the terrain interpolation path.
• Draw polyline: This option allows the user to interactively draw a polyline on the Map View and use it as the terrain interpolation path.

If there is an existing polyline on the Map View that can be used for the stamping operation, click the [Pick] button adjacent to the Assign polyline radio button.

The Stamp Geometry dialog box will temporarily disappear, and a prompt will be displayed on the status line describing what to do next. Select a polyline from the Map View, and the Stamp Geometry dialog box will redisplay.

Alternatively, click the [Draw] button adjacent to the Draw polyline radio button.

Draw a polyline on the Map View, and then right-click and choose Done from the displayed context menu. The Stamp Geometry dialog box will redisplay.

The Create curvilinear polygon checkbox option can be used to create a smooth terrain interpolation path while drawing the polyline.

Define Elevations

This section defines how the interpolated terrain elevations will be assigned along the polyline path. There are two radio button options for defining how the elevations are assigned:

• Interpolate using end point elevations: This radio button option uses the elevations at the ends of the assigned (or drawn) polyline and then cuts or fills-in the terrain geometry while automatically interpolating the elevation along the polyline path.
• Use constant elevation: This radio button option defines a specific elevation which will be applied across the terrain interpolation path.
  

Define Interpolation Path Shape

This section defines how the interpolated terrain region will be shaped along the polyline path. There are two radio button options for defining the interpolation path shape:

• Use end point terrain geometry: This radio button option uses the terrain geometry at the two ends of the assigned (or drawn) polyline. The software will then interpolate the shape of the cut (or fill) along the polyline path.
  By default, the Cross section sample width (entire width) is set to 50 ft (15 m). However, the user can define a new value or click the [Pick] button and then measure a width from the Map View.
  
• Use trapezoid geometry: This radio button option uses the user-defined values to create a trapezoidal shape along the polygon path.
  By default, the Terrain path width (flat section) is set to 50 ft (15 m). However, the user can define a new value or click the [Pick] button, and then measure a width from the Map View.
  
• The Side slope (V:H) ratio value is set to 1:1 by default, which corresponds to 1 ft (m) rise to a 1 ft (m) run. A ratio of 1:0 represents a vertical wall. However, many times a flatter slope is required, such as 1:2 or 1:3. The user can define the ratio to represent the slope.
  

Create New Terrain Surface

This section is used to define the specifications of the revised terrain grid.

Click the […] browse button for the Terrain file entry to specify the file name and directory location to save the revised terrain grid file.

By default, the Load terrain as map layer checkbox option is checked to load the revised terrain grid as a layer in the Map Data Layers panel. Click the pencil icon to rename the layer.

The user can select the CRS to be used for the revised terrain grid. By default, the software uses the project CRS.

The Overwrite existing terrain layer checkbox option is checked by default to automatically overwrite an existing terrain layer (if one exists) with the revised terrain layer.

After the options for stamping the terrain geometry have been defined, click the [Apply] button and the software will generate the revised terrain grid and, as an additional option, load the DEM file as a layer in the Map Data Layers panel.