Question
How do I display customized vector data?
Answer
It is possible to plot data from dfs1 files in the "Result Viewer".
Due to the large flexibility of plotting options this functionality can also be used for e.g. plotting vectors representing measured ADCP data.
Consider a dfs1 file with measurement data in items as follows:
1. Offset in time
2. Easting
3. Northing
4. U-velocity
5. V-velocity
6. Averaged Speed
7. Averaged Direction
NOTE: Items 6 and 7 are derived from items 4 and 5.
The measured velocity vectors can be shown in "Result Viewer" by first specifying the location of the spatial line (and hence the point positions) by the Geographical position given by the Easting and Northing coordinates - see Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 - Specifying items defining geographical position, and line style
To draw a vector arrow, select the point symbol type as Enhanced metafile and select a customized point symbol (arrow symbols can be derived from here) - see Fig. 2. You can size and rotate the symbol in various ways. In this example point size vary with the Current speed item and the point orientation vary by the Current direction item. It is possible to scale the size of the symbol by a fixed point scale factor and furthermore to add a fixed rotation of the symbol (e.g. to account for ‘coming from’ or ‘going towards’ directions or alternative north).
Fig. 2 - Specifying how to display the point values
Fig. 3 shows the overall current data derived from a measuring campaign, where the velocities were measured at two different depths (visualized by the black and red arrows, respectively). The stippled line indicates the sailing path of the vessel performing the measurements.
Fig. 3 - Measured current data in upper and lower layer, respectively, from a measuring campaign.
It is also possible to illustrate the values from a time-varying file. E.g. a point with wave data can be illustrated by adding the values to a dfs1 file with only values in the first grid point - see example in video below.
FURTHER INFORMATION & USEFUL LINKS
Guide
Result Viewer
Video tutorial
Simulation of Littoral Drift for Waves Varying in Time