Generate Terrain Tiles (TIN) From Raster Dataset

Instructions

Through the right-click menu of a raster dataset, selecting Generate 3D Tiles... allows you to generate TIN terrain tiles from the raster dataset, improving the display and browsing efficiency of the data in the scene.

Function Entry

  • Workspace Manager->Raster Dataset right-click menu->Generate 3D Tiles... button
  • Toolbox->3D Data->Generate Terrain Tiles->Generate Terrain Tiles (TIN) from Raster Dataset

Steps

  1. In the right-click menu of a raster dataset, select Generate 3D Tiles.... The "Generate 3D Tiles" dialog box appears, used to add data and set parameters.
  2. The default selected dataset is already added to the list. If you need to add other raster datasets, click the Add Dataset button. The "Select" dialog box appears, listing all data sources in the current workspace on the left and all datasets in that data source on the right. Users can use the toolbar at the top of the dialog to filter and search for the required datasets. After selection, click the "OK" button to return to the "Generate Scene Tiles" dialog box.
  3. In the "Generate 3D Tiles" dialog, you can see the selected datasets displayed in the list.
  4. Toolbar:
    • Select All: Selects all datasets in the data list, allowing batch operations such as deletion and batch setting of tile parameters.
    • Invert Selection: Selects the datasets that are not selected in the data list.
    • Delete: Removes the dataset from the current data list.
    • Set Password: Only available when the storage format is Compact and the storage type is Block Storage. This parameter sets a password for the result. After setting a password, the generated 3D tile data requires the password to open. Click the "Set Password" button, enter the same value in the "Password" and "Confirm Password" fields, then click "Confirm" to complete the password setting.
      Notes:
      • When batch setting tile parameters, after typing a specific parameter value, you must press the Enter key for it to take effect. Otherwise, batch assignment of the same parameter value may not work.
  5. Data List Area:
    • Dataset: Displays the name of the dataset used to generate TIN terrain tiles.
    • Data Source: Displays the name of the data source where the dataset used to generate TIN terrain tiles is located.
    • Tile Type: Displays the type of 3D tiles to be generated, here "Terrain (TIN)". Click the dropdown button, and the dropdown list shows all tile types supported by the selected data, from which the user can choose.
    • Scene Type: The scene type is divided into Sphere and Plane.
  6. Basic Settings:
    • Tile Name: Enter the tile name in the text box to the right of "Tile Name", which is the name of the tile root directory.
    • Storage Path: Enter the output path of the tiles in the text box to the right of "Storage Path", which can be a local path or a network path. Users can also select a path by clicking the "Browse" button after the text box.
  7. Tile Range Settings:
    • Select the "Default Range" radio button to use the dataset's range by default. The four text boxes for Top, Left, Bottom, and Right display the system default range.
    • Select the "Select Range" radio button to determine the tile range by specifying a dataset range. The coordinate system of the specified dataset must be consistent with that of the raster dataset being operated on.
  8. Parameter Settings:
    • Organization Type: Select the organization form of tiles. Options include Tile Storage and Block Storage.
      • Block Storage: Uses fixed-size block files to store data, which can improve the front-end loading efficiency of the data. Generating terrain (TIN) tiles of the block storage type does not support backward compatibility with older versions.
      • Tile Storage: Uses tiles without a fixed size to store data.
    • Storage Format: Select the storage format for the result data. Options include: Compact and Original. Compact means using a certain compression and encryption mechanism to compress and encrypt the data when building tiles. Original means not compressing the data and preserving the original information of the data.
    • Normal Map Size (pixels): This parameter is only available when the "With Normal" checkbox is checked. It is used to set the size of the normal map. Options include 32*32, 64*64, and 128*128. This parameter affects the accuracy of slope and aspect analysis of the result data.
    • Number of Threads: Sets the number of threads participating in tile generation to make the process more efficient. The parameter value must not exceed the maximum number of threads supported by the computer.
    • Start Level, End Level: Automatically obtains level numbers. Both the start level and end level can be modified, with the modification range being between the automatically obtained level numbers.
    • Fine Level Error (m): Sets the fine level error to control the fineness of the terrain tile (TIN), with the unit in meters.The smaller the error value, the finer the result. This parameter directly affects the finest level and indirectly affects other levels.
    • With Normal: The "With Normal" checkbox is not checked by default. Users can decide whether to check it.
    • Compression: This parameter is available only when the organization type is Tile Storage. It is used to set whether the result tile data is compressed.
    • High Precision: Sets whether the result data is high precision.High-precision terrain tiles (TIN) can be used for related TIN operations, such as Boolean operations, surface operations, etc.
    • Keep Precision: Sets whether to keep precision.When checked, the fine level error is usually smaller, and the resulting tile data will be finer.
  9. By default, "Show Progress Bar" and "Automatically Close Dialog After Execution" are checked. After completing the settings, click the "OK" button to execute the TIN terrain tile generation operation. After successful execution, the resulting TIN terrain tile data is generated in the specified location, with *.sct as the tile configuration file.