Google Earth Pipeline Maps - Multiple

RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Lines | Pipelines | Multiple

This program:

• Reads from the Datasheet Editor a listing of the names of one or more external text files which list XY locations for the vertices for the separate pipelines.
• Creates a KML output file with connected 3D line segments drawn between these endpoints using a fixed color. The pipelines can be clamped to the ground or plotted an an elevation relative to the ground.
• Creates a KMZ (zip) output file, containing the KML file.
• Loads the KMZ file in Google Earth.

See also: Google Earth Pipeline Maps - Single

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 what data.
  Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list. See a sample data layout below.
  • Name: Select the column that contains the text to label the pipeline in the Google Earth side panel.
    
  • File Name: Column that contains the names of the external XYZ text files with the pipeline vertices.
    Tip: use the File | Import | Create File List program to quickly create a list of specified file names.
  • Color: Column that contains the color for each pipeline.
  • Radius: Column that contains the radius values and units for each pipeline.
    
• Smoothing Factor: Use this setting to smooth out the pipeline joints. A setting of 0 will offer no smoothing.
• Elevation: These settings determine the vertical placement of the pipelines.
  • Automatic (Ground): Choose this for the pipe segments to lie along the ground topography.
  • Manual:
    • Elevation (Meters): This option allows you to enter a specific elevation for all of the pipelines.
    • Connect with ground: Insert a check here to have the pipeline endpoints extend from the elevation defined above, to the ground.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Utilities program tab. 
2. Create a new datasheet and enter or import your list of pipeline XY files and other information 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\Pipelines_Mulitple_01.rwDat")

You can use the Columns | Column Properties menu option to establish the file-name column (such as "Pipeline_007.rwDat" shown above) as containing linked data, specifically another .rwDat file. Doing so allows you to double-click in one of the cells to display the contents of the linked file.

Longitude and latitude coordinates in the linked files 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 | Lines | Pipelines | Multiple 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 with the various pipelines plotted at the defined locations, in the color, thickness, and elevation mode you specified. 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 Line Maps Summary

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