XS2D Image
XS2D Image
This tutorial will demonstrate how to add images to cross sections. Adding cross sections
from reports may be useful for a number of purposes:
Subsurface Analyst includes tools for creating 2D cross sections by adding data to a new
XS2D data frame and “sketching” cross sections based on borehole stratigraphy, outcrops,
faults, etc. In addition Subsurface Analyst supports the creation of 3D cross sections and
volumes from a set of surfaces. The 3D features can be viewed in ArcScene or can be
transformed to 2D so they can be displayed in ArcMap. The workflow and tools for
creating 2D cross sections and 3D features are described in separate tutorial.
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Arc Hydro GW Tutorials Adding Images to Cross Sections
1.1 Background
Data used in this tutorial are part of a USGS report describing the hydrogeologic units of
the Coastal Plain in Virginia (http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2006/1731/). The cross sections
shown in Figure 1 were digitized from the report.
Figure 1 Location of the cross sections covering the Coastal Plain in Virginia.
The cross section lines shown in the map are related with a vertical cross section
describing hydrogeologic units in the Coastal Plain Aquifer system. The vertical cross
sections are detailed in a set of PDF files. Figure 2 shows an example of such a cross
section. The solid colors represent aquifers and the white colors in between represent
confining units.
Figure 2 Example cross section showing hydrogeologic units along a cross section.
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1.2 Outline
The objective of this tutorial is to introduce the basic workflow and tools for adding
existing 2D cross sections (in the form of images) to a XS2D data frame in ArcMap. The
tutorial includes the following steps:
1. Running the Import XS2D Image Wizard to create a new XS2D data frame and
corresponding feature classes and georeference the cross section image in the
XS2D data frame.
3D Analyst
The AHGW Tools require that you have a compatible ArcGIS service pack installed. If
needed, check the AHGW Tools documentation to find the appropriate service pack for the
version of the tools. 3D Analyst is required for the last section of the tutorial for
visualizing 3D features. If 3D Analyst is not available, skip these parts of the tutorial. The
tutorial files should be downloaded to the computer.
Getting Started
Before opening the tutorial map, ensure that the AHGW Tools are correctly configured.
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The Arc Hydro Groundwater Toolbar will be used. The toolbar contains additional user
interface components not available in the toolbox. If the toolbar is not visible, do the
following:
9. Right-click on any visible toolbar and select the Arc Hydro Groundwater
Toolbar item.
When using geoprocessing tools you can set the tools to overwrite outputs by default, and
automatically add results to the map/scene. To set these options:
12. In the Display / Temporary Data section, turn on Add results of geoprocessing
operations to the display”.
3. Select “xs2d_image.mxd” and click Open to exit the Open dialog and import the
model file.
Once the file has loaded, there should appear a map of Virginia with digitized cross section
lines covering the Coastal Plain region (Figure 3). In a separate “images” folder there is a
PDF document taken from the USGS report. There also are two JPG images representing
cross sections AD-AD’ and BD-BD’ that were cropped from the PDF document. View
these files to get familiar with the cross section images. Locate these cross sections on the
map.
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The following section describes the concepts and datasets used to build a XS2D data
frame. The same concepts are presented in other XS2D tutorials; if familiar with this
material skip section 3.
SectionLine is the central feature class used to manage cross sections. Each SectionLine
represents a cross section in map view. SectionLine features are indexed with a HydroID,
which uniquely identifies them within the geodatabase. To create a vertical (profile) view
of the cross section along the SectionLine, each SectionLine feature is associated with
multiple feature classes representing the two-dimensional cross section, and these are given
the “XS2D” prefix.
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Additional feature classes can be added to represent items such as land surface elevation,
water table, faults, etc.
Each of the 2D cross sections is generated in a separate data frame in ArcMap. The XS2D
feature classes are created in an {S, Z} coordinate system that is unique for each cross
section. The S coordinate represents the length along the SectionLine (equivalent to the x-
direction in the XS2D data frame) and the Z coordinate represents the vertical dimension
(the y-direction in the XS2D data frame). In addition, XS2D features can be scaled
(exaggerated) in the Z dimension for better visualization. Subsurface Analyst includes a
number of tools for transforming features between a “real” coordinate system (X, Y, and
Z) and a 2D coordinate system (S, Z), and for scaling features.
The XS2D_Catalog table is used for managing XS2D feature classes. The Catalog lists
the XS2D feature classes related with each SectionLine feature. The SectionID field in the
XS2D_Catalog references a HydroID of a SectionLine feature, thus creating a relationship
between SectionLines (defined in real world coordinates) and XS2D feature classes. An
example of a typical XS2D_Catalog table is shown in Figure 5.
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Figure 5 Example XS2D_Catalog used for managing XS2D feature classes and
establishing a relationship between the XS2D features and a SectionLine
feature.
The wizard is based on a selected section line (run the wizard one cross section at a time).
In this tutorial, a SectionLine feature class is already provided. To start the Import XS2D
image Wizard:
1. In the Arc Hydro Groundwater Toolbar, select Import XS2D Image Wizard
tool.
2. With the tool activated, click on BD-BD’ SectionLine feature (topmost horizontal
section line that crosses the bay) to open the Import XS2D Image Wizard.
3. For the XS2D Catalog Table option, make sure “XS2D_Catrelog” is selected.
5. In the Image File section, select the browse button to open the Open XS2D Image
File dialog.
6. Locate and select the fiel “BD-BD’.jpg” in the Images folder for this tutorial.
At this point the inputs should be similar to the ones shown in Figure 6.
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Step 2 in the wizard is used to reference the imported image. If needed, resize the window
to make it easier to view the cross section.
9. Use the sliders on the top, bottom, left, and right to move the referencing lines (in
green and red) to the referencing locations on the image:
XLeft and XRight referencing lines should be located on the edge of the
cross section features.
ZTop and ZBottom lines can be referenced to the vertical scale and tick
marks on the left and right sides of the cross section.
Specify the ZTop as “300” and ZBottom as “-1300” in the boxes at the
bottom of the form.
At this point the inputs should be similar to the ones shown in Figure 7.
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Step 3 in the wizard is used to create panels and panel dividers. The minimum and
maximum elevations for drawing panel dividers can be modified manually.
11. Make sure the target location for the Cross Section Panels and Panel Dividers are
correct.
12. Specify the maximum and minimum elevations to draw panel dividers:
Maximum elevation to draw the panel divider set to “600”.
Minimum elevation to draw the panel divider set to “-2000”.
At this point the inputs should be similar to the ones shown in Figure 8.
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Step 4 in the wizard is used to setup the construction of the grid lines. The grid extent and
spacing can be automatically specified based on the length of the selected SectionLine and
elevations specified in step 3, or they can be set manually. Default values are set for the
left, right, minimum and maximum elevations, and spacing of the grid features.
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A new Data Frame (BD-BD’) should be added to the map (make sure to be in layout view
to be able to view data frames). The grid lines, the panel dividers, and the referenced cross
section image should all be visible.
Next to resize the BD-BD’ data frame and move it within the map layout such that both
data frames are visible. To better view the XS2D features created:
17. Using the Select Elements tool, move the BD-BD’ data frame within the map
layout and resize it.
18. Use the zoom tools ( ) to focus on the data within the
cross section.
19. Control the grid properties (text size, color, etc.) by right-clicking on the data
frame and selecting Properties to open the Data Frame Properties dialog. In the
dialog, select the Grids tab, and specify which grid lines you want to display and
modify the labels, ticks, color, etc.
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At the end of this process there should be a cross section data frame that is similar to the
one shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10 Initial XS2D data frame with the referenced cross section image.
This is a good starting point for digitizing cross section panels by tracing over the image.
Additional data such as faults, borehole stratigraphy, outcrops, land surface, and water
levels could also be added using the XS2D tools (the process of adding data to a XS2D
data frame is explained in separate tutorials). The following legend in Figure 11 shows the
major units described in the cross section.
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Figure 11 Aquifer units and confining layers in the Coastal Plain Aquifer system.
Confining units are symbolized in cross sections as white panels and their
boundary is defined by a dashed line.
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4. Select the Import option on the top right to open the Import Symbology
dialog.
5. Click the browser button to open the Import Symbology from Layer
dialog.
6. Browse to the Symbology folder for this tutorial and select the
“XS2D_Panel.lyr” file.
8. In the What do you want to import? section select the Complete symbology
definition option.
9. Select OK to close the Import Symbology dialog and open the Import
Symbology Matching Dialog.
10. Specify the “HGUID” field in the first Value Field section.
The XS2D Panel should have 11 classes based on the HGUID field.
13. If the Editor Toolbar is not already visible, click the Editor Toolbar icon.
14. Select Start Editing in the Editor menu of the Editor Toolbar.
Notice that the Create Features editing window opens. The Create Features window
should include a template for the XS2D_Panel_2 feature class, as shown in Figure 12. If
the template does not exist proceed with step 15. If the template does exist then skip to
Section 5.2 below.
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Figure 12 The Create Feature window with a template for XS2D Panel features.
16. Select the Organize Templates button located at the top of the Create
Features window to open the Organize Templates dialog.
17. Select the “XS2D_Panel_2” layer. Notice that no template is associated with
this layer.
18. Select the New Template button to open the Create New Template Wizard.
19. Make sure the “XS2D_Panel_2” layer is the only one selected.
20. Select Next to view the symbology of the features in the template.
21. Select Finish to close the Create New Template Wizard and to create the
template.
The Create Features window should now include a template for the XS2D_Panel_2
feature class, as shown in Figure 12.
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For this tutorial, activate the classic snapping option. To enable this option:
1. Move the layers by selecting them and moving them up or down so that they are in
the following order:
XS2D_Panel_2
XS2D_PanelDivider_2
XS2D_MajorGrid_2
XS2D_MinorGrid_2
The order of the layers within the snapping environment interface determines the snapping
priority.
While editing, having Snap Tips enabled will show the features to which the new features
are being snapped. If necessary, add the Snapping toolbar to the display:
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Notice that in the Construction Tools window, a list of the available tools appears for use
in creating new panels (Figure 13).
Tip: while digitizing, use the zoom and pan tools to focus on certain elements of
the cross section. Use the mouse wheel scrolling to zoom (or the Z and X keys) or
hold down the mouse wheel (or C key) for panning.
5. Using the Straight Segment tool, start tracing the panel of HGUID = 1.
Make sure to snap to the panel dividers on the right and left sides of the cross
section.
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After digitizing panels, edit attributes. The HGUID values should be automatically
assigned from the feature template created earlier. The HGUID values are based on a
HydrogeologicUnit table. Figure 15 shows an example table with units of the Coastal Plain
aquifer system.
7. Using the Edit tool in the Editor toolbar, select the feature which was just
created.
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Make sure a value of “1” is in the HGUID field. This value should be
created automatically as you are using a template for editing.
10. When done editing the attributes, close the Attributes window.
Next, digitize the panel for the Yorktown confining unit (HGUID = 2):
13. In the Create Features window, under “XS2D_Panel_2” template, select the
feature symbology for HGUID = 2
15. In the Construction Tools window select the Auto Complete Polygon tool, as
shown in Figure 16.
Figure 16 Selecting the Auto Complete Polygon Task in the Construction Tools
window.
Now to begin sketching the Yorktown confining unit (symbolized as the white area
between the yellow and pink units in the cross section image) by sketching from the bottom
right corner of the surficial aquifer panel.
16. Using the Straight Segment tool, sketch the panel of HGUID = 2. Start at
the bottom right corner of the surficial aquifer panel and make sure the sketch
snapped to the panel corner. Sketch along the upper boundary of the
Yorktown aquifer unit (symbolized in pink in the cross section image) until the
point where the confining unit interests the surficial aquifer panel, as shown in
Figure 17. Make sure to snap to the surficial aquifer panel edge.
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A new polygon representing HGUID = 2 should be created. The polygon’s upper boundary
should match the boundary of the polygon representing HGUID = 1.
Figure 18 Cross section panel of the Yorktown confining unit (HGUID = 2) created
using the Auto Complete Polygon task.
18. Using the Edit tool in the Editor toolbar, select the feature which was just
created.
Make sure a value of “2” is in the HGUID field. This value should be
created automatically as you are using a template for editing.
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At the end of this process, the cross section should have panel representations for units 1
and 2 as shown in Figure 19.
If desired, repeat this process to digitize the rest of the hydrogeologic units, or, to save
time, use a set of pre-defined panels.
2. Follow the steps in Section 5.1 to adjust the symbology of the layer.
At the end of this process you will have a set of panels representing the units from the
referenced image, as shown in Figure 20.
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3. In the Output GeoSection Features field, click the Browse button to open the
Output GeoSection Features dialog.
6. Select OK to exit the Create GeoSection Feature Class dialog and run the
tool.
11. Select OK to exit the Transform XS2D Panel to GeoSection dialog and run
the tool.
15. Select “xs2d_image.sxd” and click Open to exit the Open dialog and import
the model file.
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17. Browse to and open the “xs2d_image.mdb” geodatabase and open the “Data”
directory.
18. Select the “GeoSection” file and click Add to import the table and close the
Add Data dialog.
19. If desired, symbolize the GeoSection layer using the HGU Color Manager.
Figure 21 Scene including the GeoSection features transformed from the 2D cross
section.
If desired, the complete set of GeoSection features that were created for the BD-BD’ cross
section can be added. The features are in the “GeoSection_Solution” feature class located
in the xs2d_image.mdb\Data feature dataset.
7 Conclusion
This concludes the tutorial. Here are some of the key concepts in this tutorial:
The Arc Hydro Groundwater data model includes XS2D feature classes that
provide the framework for working with 2D cross sections in ArcMap.
The Import XS2D Image Wizard is used to reference an existing cross section
image, set up a new data frame, and create the basic XS2D feature classes.
ArcGIS editing tools are used to help digitize cross sections based on the
referenced image.
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