How Do I...

Read below to learn how to do common tasks.

Importing and exporting data

Upload a surface? Use the Import tool. See Importing Data for detailed instructions.

Automatically parse dates and times encoded in surface file names?

Use a file name parser. When importing surfaces, select the appropriate parser from the list under File Name Parser. To configure a new parser, click the button next to the Format field.

You can also manage file name parsers in the site settings page. See Site Settings > File Name Parsers for detailed information.

Add attributes to a source surface?

You can add attributes to a source surface when importing the surface via the  Attributes tab that appears when one or more surfaces is selected in the file list.

For surfaces that have already been imported, you can add or remove attributes by clicking the (View details) button on the surface in the Surface Items list, then switching to the Attributes tab.

See Importing Data > Attributes for more information on attributes.

Define the coordinate system for one or more surfaces?

You can configure coordinate systems in the Coordinate Systems section of the site settings page. See Site Settings > Coordinate Systems for details.

Coordinate systems are applied to surfaces on import. You can also configure coordinate systems during the import process. See Importing Data > Coordinate System for details.

Delete a source surface?

Click the (Delete surface) button on the surface in the Surface Items list.

Note:  Deleted surfaces are removed from the as-built model, but the details of each deleted surface are retained in the Surface Items list. You can show deleted surfaces in the list using the filter tool.

See Managing Surface Items for more information on managing surfaces.
Download a source surface? Click the (Download surface) button on the surface in the Surface Items list. See Managing Surface Items for more information on managing surfaces.

Export the as-built model?

Use the Export Surface tool, located in the left pane of the Home tab. This tool exports part or all of the as-built surface at the current selected time as a single surface. See Export Surface for full instructions.

Displaying data

Zoom the view in or out?

Mouse: Right click + drag, or scroll the mouse wheel
Touch: Two finger pinch

The view will keep the point under the mouse cursor in the same location while you zoom.

Tip:  Click the (Help) button located in the top-right corner of the viewer to see help on viewer manipulation.
Pan the view?

Mouse: Left click + drag
Touch: One finger drag

Tip:  Click the (Help) button located in the top-right corner of the viewer to see help on viewer manipulation.
Rotate the view?

Mouse: Middle click + drag, or  Ctrl + left/right click + drag
Touch: Two finger pinch

The view will rotate around the point under the mouse cursor.

Tip:  Click the (Help) button located in the top-right corner of the viewer to see help on viewer manipulation.
Maximise my view of the data?

You can collapse the tool panes to the left and right of the viewer by double-clicking on or dragging the dividers, as demonstrated in the animation below.

You can also toggle fullscreen mode in your browser, typically by pressing F11.

See the as-built model at a point in time in the past?

Click on the timeline located at the bottom of the viewer. Each triangle in the timeline represents a single source surface. The surface closest to the point you click will be selected, and the view will update to show the as-built model for that time.

  • Hover over the timeline and use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom the timeline in or out. Alternatively, right click on the timeline and drag the mouse left or right.

Re-home the view of the surface to a top-down, plan view?

Click the (Refocus Camera) button located in the top-right corner of the viewer.

See the location of a source surface in the as-built model?

 Hover over the surface in the Surface Items list. This works in most situations, except when in polygon definition mode.

See the change in elevation of the as-built model over time?

There are two ways to do this, as follows:

  • Apply the Elevation change colouring option, specifying the time period of interest with the Start time and End time fields. See Colouring > Elevation change for detailed information.

  • Generate a cross-section, specifying the time period of interest with the Start time and End time fields. The cross-section view shows two surfaces coloured differently, one showing the as-built model at the start time and the other at the end time. See Surface Comparison for detailed instructions on using the cross-section tool.

Apply contour lines to the as-built model?

 In the Colouring tool in the left pane of the Home page, make sure the Contours checkbox is selected, then enter the interval to space the contours at.

Working with models

Create a polygon?

To create a new polygon, switch to the (Polygons) tab. Expand the Polygons tab and click the (Draw polygon) button. Instructions appear on the screen.

Tip:  Be sure to click the (Save polygon) button in the Polygons list to save the completed polygon.

See Polygons for detailed instructions and other ways of defining polygons.

Generate a polygon from a source surface boundary?

 Click the (Generate polygon) button on the surface in the Surface Items list. See Polygons > Generating a polygon from a surface boundary for detailed instructions.

Group polygons into a polygon set?

Switch to the (Polygons) tab and make sure the Sets section is expanded.

  • To define a new set, click the (Create a new set) button.

  • To modify an existing set, hover over the set and click the (Set settings) button that appears.

In the dialog that appears, select the polygons that you want to be part of the set, then click Save.

You can also nominate which sets a polygon belongs to clicking on the polygon’s (Polygon settings) button that appears when you hover over it in the Polygons section.

Query the location of a point on the surface?

Use the (Query Point) tool, located in the top-right corner of the viewer. Select the coordinate system in the panel and pick a point on the surface. The point’s coordinates will be displayed.
Query a surface cross-section? Use the (Cross Section) tool, located in the top-right corner of the viewer. Draw a line across the feature of interest. the surface cross-section will be displayed as a chart in the viewer.

Query the distance or displacement between two points on the surface?

Use the (Distance Query) tool, located in the top-right corner of the viewer. Draw a line across the surface. The distance is displayed along with horizontal and vertical displacements.
Compare the as-built model to a design surface? Click the Surface Comparison tool and set the timeline to show the relevant state of the as-built surface. Select the design surfaces for comparison from the drop-down list. Manipulate the view as required. See Surface Comparison for more detailed instructions.

Support

Send a bug report to Maptek?

Click the (Contact Maptek) button located in the top-right corner of GeoSpatial Manager and fill out the request form that appears.
Send a support or feature request to Maptek?

Click the (Contact Maptek) button located in the top-right corner of GeoSpatial Manager and fill out the request form that appears.
Opt in or out of sending usage data to Maptek? By default, usage data is sent to Maptek. To configure telemetry preferences on a per-user basis, go to >  User Preferences in the top-right corner of GeoSpatial Manager.