SANDS Mapping
The Mapping facility in SANDS is used as a visual reference to help users locate and view data. These maps generally relate to a study or project area and can be zoomed, windowed, and panned. The data locations themselves may be displayed as either location markers, or in the case of an area, polygons.
Location markers will be used where data is recorded at one particular location, for example grain size sample points. Polygons are ideal for mapping land use areas. Any data required can be attached to these areas. The maps can also be colour shaded to distinguish different uses.
Ideally SANDS will be set-up with a series of maps ranging from large scale through to very detailed or even aerial photographs. This varying range of mapping backdrops can be configured to allow SANDS to automatically change the map displayed as the user zooms in or out of an area. Maps can also be turned on and off as required by the user manually.
Maps are imported into SANDS and can be used in several ways. A map may be used as either a backdrop for reference or in the case of line-work, it may also have data attached to it. Note, a map imported as a backdrop may also take the form of an aerial photograph. Examples of the many different types of map data SANDS can import are DXFs, Bitmaps, Mapinfo, Arcinfo, and TIFs.
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Maps that are geo-referenced (e.g. DXF files) will be automatically placed in the correct geographical position when imported into SANDS. Other map data, such as aerial photographs, must be manually positioned by entering the co-ordinate limits of the image.
A map measure tool is also included in the mapping facility so it is possible to measure distances between points or features on background mapping.
It is important to note that SANDS is not a Geographic Information System (GIS), it is a database. Imported polygons can be edited in respect of colour and shading, however there is no functionality for line-work production. It is recommended that any preparation of line-work type data be conducted via a GIS.
SANDS modules
SANDS key uses
- Coastal data storage
- Erosion and accretion analysis
- Beach and structure inspection reports
- Area and volumetric analysis
- Tidal analysis and prediction
- Wind/wave extremes analysis
- Probability analysis
- Wave transformation
- Sediment transport
