Google Earth Cone Maps - Advanced

RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Points | Cones | Advanced

This program:

• Reads a listing of data from the Datasheet Editor: XY locations and (optionally) size declarations, measured values, colors, and label content.
• Creates a KML output file in which the point locations are represented illustrated with filled cones, up- or downward-pointing, whose radius, height, and color are either fixed, defined in the datasheet, or scaled proportionally based on measurements in the datasheet.
• Creates a KMZ (zip) output file, containing the KML file.
• Loads the KMZ file in Google Earth.

This is the most flexible (and complicated) cone map option.

See also:Cone Maps - Simple, Cone Maps - Proportional

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Input Columns: The prompts along the left side of the window tell Rockworks which columns in the input datasheet contain the required data.
  Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list. See a sample data layout below.
  • X: Column that contains the X coordinates for the points.
    These can be Eastings in meters or feet, decimal longitudes, etc. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
  • Y: Column that contains the Y coordinates for the points.
    
• Style: Choose upward- or downward-pointing cones by clicking in the appropriate button.
• Radii: Defines the radius of the cones.
  • Fixed: Click in this button if all of the cones are to have the same radius.
    • Radius (Meters): Defines the radius for all of the cones, in meters.
      For example, an entry of 1000 would create cones that have a radius of 1 kilometer.
  • Variable (Defined by Column): Click in this button if the radius for each cone is listed in the datasheet.
    • Radius Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the radius listings and units.
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
  • Proportional (Scaled Relative to Data Column): Click this button to create cones with varying radii, scaled automatically based on any measured value in the datasheet.
    In the image at the top of this topic, the cones represent earthquakes, and the radius is scaled based on the magnitude of the quake.
    • Data Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the measurements to use for scaling the cones.
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
    • Minimum Radius (Meters): Defines the radius for the cones, as expressed in meters, for the sample sites with the smallest value measurement (as read from the Data Column defined above).
      For example, an entry of 1000 would create cones that have a radius of 1 kilometer for those sites with the minimum data value.
    • Maximum Radius (Meters): Defines the radius for the cones, in meters, for the sample sites with the largest value measurement (as read from the Data Column defined above). Sites with intermediate Z values will be scaled proportionally between the minimum and maximum radii.
• Height: Defines the height of the cones.
  • Fixed: Click in this button if all of the cones are to have the same height.
    • Height (Meters): Defines the height for all of the cones, in meters.
      For example, an entry of 10000 would create cones that have a height of 10 kilometers.
  • Variable (Defined by Column): Click in this button if the height for each cone is listed in the datasheet.
    • Height Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the height listings and units.
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
  • Proportional (Scaled Relative to Data Column): Click this button to create cones with varying heights, scaled automatically based on any measured value in the datasheet.
    In the image at the top of this topic, in which the cones represent earthquake locations, the height of the cone is scaled based on the depth of the quake.
    • Data Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the measurements to use for scaling the cones.
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
    • Minimum Height (Meters): Defines the height for the cones, as expressed in meters, for the sample sites with the smallest value measurement (as read from the Data Column defined above).
      For example, an entry of 5000 would create cones that have a height of 5 kilometers.
    • Maximum Height (Meters): Defines the height for the cones, in meters, for the sample sites with the largest value measurement (as read from the Data Column defined above). Sites with intermediate Z values will be scaled proportionally between the minimum and maximum heights.
• Colors: Defines the fill color for the cones.
  • Fixed: Click in this button if all of the cones are to plot in the same color.
    • Color: Defines the color for the cones. The current color is displayed to the right. To change the color, click on the color sample and choose a new color from the drop-down list.
  • Variable (Defined by Column): Click in this button if the color for each cone is listed in the datasheet.
    • Color Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the colors.
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
  • Proportional (Scaled Relative to Data Column): Click this button to create cones with varying colors, assigned automatically based on any measured value in the datasheet.
    In the image at the top of this topic, the color of the cones is scaled based on the magnitude of the earthquake.
    • Data Column: Defines which column in the datasheet contains the measurements to use for coloring the cones. RockWorks will assign colors using a cold-to-hot scale (cold for low values, hot for high).
      Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
• Opacity: Use this setting to define how opaque/transparent the cones will appear. A value of 100 will be fully opaque.
• Include Labels: Insert a check here to label the site in the Google Earth side panel and in the map.
  • Label Column: Defines the column that contains the text to be used for the labels.
    Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
  • Color: Defines the color for the labels.
    Click on the current color, displayed to the right, to choose a different color.
  • Scale: Defines the size of the labels. Default = 1.
    Rule of thumb: 0.5 will create small labels, 2.0 large labels.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Utilities program tab. 
2. Create a new datasheet and enter or import your location coordinates, and any of the optional fields, into the datasheet.
   Or, open one of the sample files and replace that data with your own. (In this example, the sample file = "RockWorks17 Data\EarthApps Samples\Cones_Advanced_01.rwDat")

Longitude and latitude coordinates must be in decimal format. If you're using another coordinate system, be sure you've specified the Units and the Projection Settings as appropriate.

3. Select the RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Points | Cones | Advanced menu option. 
4. Enter the menu options as described above.
   
   ! Tip: If you're working with one of the sample .rwDat files, you can load its specific menu settings by (1) clicking on the Menu button at the top of the window, (2) clicking Load from RCL, and (3) browsing for the .rcl file with the same name as the .rwDat file you're working with.
   
   
5. Click the Process button to continue. 

The program will create a KML file containing a map in which the point locations are represented with filled 3D cones, using the scaling, coloring, and labeling options you specify. It will create a KMZ (zip) file containing the KML file. The Google Earth KML and KMZ file names will be assigned automatically.

6. If RockWorks displays the KMZ name in a popup window for your reference, you can confirm:
   • Automatically load file into Google Earth: Be sure this is checked if you want to display the output at this time.
   • Show this message every time a KMZ File is Created: If checked, this window will be displayed each time a Google Earth output is created. Uncheck this if you prefer not to see this window in the future.
     (Both of these settings are also available via the Preferences menu.)
     
     
   • Click OK to continue or Cancel to cancel the operation.

The resulting map will be displayed in Google Earth, if requested. 

Back to Point Map Summary

"Google" is a trademark of Google Inc.
 

RockWare home page