Updating a Data Model

Follow the procedures below, as appropriate, to update a data model without the need to rescan an entire area.

Combination surface (simple)

Follow this procedure to update an area that is fully enclosed by the existing data.

  1. Create a topographic surface of the original data and a separate surface of the new data. See Modelling a Stockpile.

  2. Crop the model of the new data leaving a small overlap between the original and the updated data. Use Home > Data > Polygon Crop for best results. See Crop > Polygon Crop.

  3. Create a combination surface from the original and new surfaces with Create > Surface > Combination Surface. See Surface > Combination Surface.

Combination surface (advanced)

Follow this procedure to update an area that is not fully enclosed by the existing data.

  1. Create a topographic surface of the original data and a separate surface of the new data. See Modelling a Stockpile.

  2. Crop the model of the new data leaving a significant overlap of areas that have not changed between the original and the updated data. Use Home > Data > Polygon Crop for best results. See Crop > Polygon Crop.

  3. Crop the model of the existing data to remove the areas that are to be updated.

If the surface being modelled does not have 3D shapes such as overhangs, continue with Model a topographic surface. Otherwise go to Model an overhanging surface.

Model a topographic surface

Follow this procedure to create a surface from a top-down view.

  1. Select the surfaces to be updated in the project explorer.

  2. Click (Select edges).

  3. Pick all edges in the surface to be updated.

  4. Press Ctrl+C, then Ctrl+V to copy the edges into a new edge network in the scrapbook container.

  5. Select Create > Surface > Topographic Surface.

  6. Select Trim large triangles, then Boundary edges only and enter a suitable Maximum edge length.

  7. Under Output triangulation, select Single surface.

  8. Make sure the new edge network, created at step 4, is selected in the project explorer.

  9. Click OK.

    The surface will be saved in the surfaces container by default. You can change this in the Destination field.

  10. Select the overlap area of the new surface and despike with Edit > Fix > Despike.

  11. Check the overlap area’s validity with Query > Surface > Surface Validity and repair as needed. See Surface > Surface Validity.

Model an overhanging surface

Follow this procedure where the scene has overhanging features such that it cannot be viewed unobstructed from above.

  1. Select the surfaces to be fused in the project explorer.

  2. Create a fusion surface with Create > Surface > Fusion Surface. See Surface > Fusion Surface.

  3. Check the surface validity with Query > Surface > Surface Validity and repair as needed. See Surface > Surface Validity.