Plan View
The Plan View window graphically displays data. The Plan view is always open in the Scenario view. In the Plan View you can:
Select data. Click on the select icon and then click the object.
Graphically edit data. See Manage Data.
Display background graphics. Background graphics can be terrain models or geospatial imagery.
Display contour lines
Display grids
Zoom and pan
View Alignments
Terrain models
In the Plan view, the terrain model is the base layer on which all other images are overlaid. Quantm presents the terrain model as an image that is color‑coded with respect to altitude and shaded to provide increased detail on local variations.
You can reduce or exaggerate the shading. For example, in mountainous terrain, the shading can overwhelm other features of the display, while in very flat terrain, exaggerated shading can highlight shallow watercourses.
Adjust shading
In the Explorer tab, right-click DTM to access the shortcut menu.
Select Shading.
Drag the slider control to the left for less detail or to the right for more detail.
Click off the slider to close the slider.
Contour lines
Contour lines can be derived from the DTM and displayed in the Plan View window for additional height information.
Display contours
Right‑click the DTM layer in the Explorer.
Select Contours. The Generate Contours dialog appears.
The default interval for minor contours is set at 20m or 50ft and the default interval for major contours is set at five times (“×5”) this value.
3. Edit the intervals and the range over which they are displayed.
4. Enter the level of detail in the contours from the Detail drop-down box. Select from four options; Fine, Standard, Coarse or Rough.
5. Select the color and thickness of the lines.
6. Click OK.
Contours are stored in a contour layer under the terrain model. This layer is temporary and must be recreated every time you open the scenario. The contour lines cannot be saved as linear features
Geospatial imagery
The term geospatial imagery describes ortho-rectified and geocoded images produced from remote-sensing satellite systems or aerial photography. The image provides an extremely useful supplement to GIS databases because it shows what was on the ground when the image was taken. Imagery captured specifically for a project can be much more recent than data from other sources.
In Quantm, geospatial imagery files (ECW format files) are stored as a set of geocoded tiles that can be automatically placed and shown in the Plan view window.
Display geospatial imagery in the Plan view
Create a new image layer.
Right-click in the Explorer and then select New Image Layer or
From the Insert menu select Image Layer.
Tip: The new layer appears at the bottom of the layer list. To ensure that the available geospatial imagery is drawn before any alignments, store the imagery as the second layer in the Explorer window below the DTM layer.
Insert images on the new image layer. Right-click the new image layer in the Explorer.
Select Insert Image.
3. Select the required ECW file(s).
Tip: You can load more than one image file to an image layer if required.
The size, position, and resolution of the ECW image will be obtained from the header information inside the ECW file. This information can be seen in the Feature Properties window.
Grid Lines
Display Gridlines
In the menu, select View > Grid.
Grid lines appear in the Plan view. The size of the grids decreases as you zoom in.
Zooming and panning
Control zooming and panning using the buttons on the Zoom toolbar or the wheel on your mouse.
Next topic: Scenario Notes