Generating Terrain Tiles (TIN) from Raster Dataset

Usage Instructions

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

Function Entrances

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

Operation Steps

  1. Select Generate 3D Tiles... from the right-click menu of a raster dataset. The "Generate 3D Tiles" dialog box pops up, used to add data and set parameters.
  2. The default selected dataset has been added to the list. If you need to add other raster datasets, click the Add Dataset button. The "Select" dialog box pops up. On the left side of the dialog box, all data sources in the current workspace are listed, and on the right side, all datasets in that data source are listed. Users can use the toolbar above the dialog box to filter and search for the required datasets. After selection is completed, click the "OK" button to return to the "Generate Scene Tiles" dialog box.
  3. In the "Generate 3D Tiles" dialog box, you can see the selected datasets displayed in the list.
  4. Toolbar:
    • Select All: Select all datasets in the data list for batch operations, such as deletion and batch setting of tile parameters.
    • Invert Selection: Select the datasets in the data list that are not currently selected.
    • Delete: Remove the dataset from the current data list.
    • Set Password: Set a password for the generated 3D tiles. 3D tile data with a password set will require a password to open. Click the "Set Password" button, enter the same value in the "Password" and "Confirm Password" boxes, then click "Confirm" to complete the password setting. Note that only the "Compact" storage format supports setting a password.
      Notes:
      • When batch setting tile parameters, after entering specific parameter values, you need to press the Enter key to make them effective. Otherwise, it may cause the batch assignment of the same parameter values to 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 it is "Terrain (TIN)". Click the drop-down button, and the drop-down list shows all tile types supported by the selected data, from which users can choose.
    • Scene Type: The scene type is divided into spherical and planar.
  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 for the tiles in the text box to the right of "Storage Path". It can be a local path or a network path. Users can also select the path by clicking the "Browse" button after the text box.
  7. Tile Range Settings:
    • Check the "Default Range" radio button to use the default range of the dataset. The four text boxes for top, left, bottom, and right display the system default range.
    • Check the "Select Range" radio button to determine the tile range by specifying the dataset range. The coordinate system of the specified dataset must be consistent with the coordinate system of the raster dataset to be operated on.
  8. Parameter Settings:
    • Organization Type: Select the organization form of the tiles. Options include tile storage and block storage.
      • Block Storage: Use fixed-size block files to store data, which can improve the loading efficiency of data on the front end. If generating terrain (TIN) tiles of block storage type, compatibility with lower versions is not supported.
      • Tile Storage: Use tiles without fixed sizes to store data.
    • Storage Format: Select the storage format of the result data. Options include: Compact and Original. Compact indicates that a certain compression and encryption mechanism is used to compress and encrypt the data when building tiles. Original indicates that the data is not compressed, retaining the original information of the data.
    • Normal Map Size (Pixels): Only when the "With Normal" checkbox is checked, this parameter is available. It is used to set the normal map size. Options include 32*32, 64*64, 128*128. This parameter will affect the accuracy of slope and aspect analysis on the result data.
    • Thread Count: Set the number of threads involved in generating tiles to make tile generation more efficient. The parameter value cannot exceed the maximum number of threads supported by the computer.
    • Start Level, End Level: Automatically obtain the level numbers. Both the start level and end level can be modified, and the supported modification range is between the automatically obtained level numbers.
    • Fine Level Error (Meters): Set the fine level error to control the fineness of terrain tiles (TIN), 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: By default, the "With Normal" checkbox is not checked. Users can decide whether to check it.
    • Compression: Only when the organization type selects tile storage, this parameter is available, used to set whether the result tile data is compressed.
    • High Precision: Set 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.
    • Retain Precision: Set whether to retain precision.After checking, the fine level error is usually smaller, and the result tile data will be finer.
  9. By default, "Show Progress Bar" and "Automatically Close Dialog After Execution" are checked. After setting is completed, click the "OK" button to execute the TIN terrain tile generation operation. After successful execution, the result TIN terrain tile data is generated at the specified location, where *.sct is the tile configuration file.