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Point

Query: This tool allows users to query any surveyed point.

Find: If a number is allocated to a point, this function enables users to find it by inputting the number, and it will then highlight it in its location. The tool will pan the view so the point is in the centre screen at the current view level. 

Create

Insert: This function enables users to insert new points into the current DTM.

For more information on the options displayed within the Insert dialog box, please click this link: INSERT

Copy: This tool allows users to copy points from the backcloth.

Generate: This option will enable users to generate points from CAD elements. There are multiple options as to how users can generate points

The From options on the drop-down menu allow users to generate data from an assortment of CAD elements, as indicated by the appropriate option. After they have specified the parameters in the dialog, they will be asked to indicate the CAD elements to use. The options follow the current pick mode setting, so they will either be asked to indicate a CAD element, sketch a rectangle containing the CAD elements to use or confirm that they want to generate points from the elements that are selected in each CAD model.

The Along options on the same drop-down menu allow users to generate points at set intervals along lines and arcs. These options follow the current pick mode, and users will only be asked to indicate an object, sketch a rectangle or confirm the list operation when one of the Along options from the 'Generate' point menu is selected. This enables the points that are generated to be refined.

The Numbers options allow users to generate point numbers from text in the CAD backcloth. There are three options under this function, which are as follows:

Indicated: When a backcloth is visible, users can select a point in the model and generate a point number from a text in the CAD backcloth.

By Border: Similar to the 'Indicated' tool, this function will generate a point number from the text in the CAD backcloth however, it will take the information from the CAD text whose border is closest in proximity.

By Origin: Almost identical to 'Border', this function will generate point numbers from the text in the CAD backcloth however, it will take the information from the CAD text whose origin point is closest in proximity.

For context, the 'Border' and 'Origin' are displayed below:

Border	Origin

Place: This function allows the user to place a copy of a coordinate block into a model. These options can be used to represent anything from the footprints of houses to a full survey. 

1 Point: Allows users to simply specify the origin of the points.

2 Point: Allows users to specify the origin and orientation of the points.

3 Point: Allows users to specify the origin and orientation for the points, together with a third point specifying the side to which the points will be created.

Note that the Block should be generated in the first instance via the "To Block" option under the List menu. This generates the block from the contents of the List but also prompts users to specify the Origin and Direction points of the block to ensure it can be correctly inserted via the "Block Place" command at a later date.

More information on Block Place can be found by clicking on the following link: BLOCK PLACE

Edit

Delete: The delete button has two options, as follows:

Indicate - This option allows you to select the point that you wish to delete using the current pick mode setting. You will be asked to indicate a series of individual points, a series of rectangles surrounding pounds or confirm that you wish to delete the points that are on the Select List. The indicated or selected points are then deleted. If the points are part of the DTM, they will be removed from the DTM before being deleted.

Not Modelled - Using this option allows you to delete all the points that are not used by the DTM. Care should be taken here since if you have duplicate points that are used by different features, the DTM will not use all the points. Deleting such points will alter the display of features.

Move: The Move button houses the following 13 options:

Coordinates

Drag - Points can be moved using the cursor by dragging and dropping.

Distance - Using this option will require you to select a point's direction, and an option box will open, allowing you to input the required distance the point will move in the indicated direction.

Relative - When using the Relative option, you will need to select a point and click a point in space, which will then open an options box, as seen below. You will then need to input values for the Eastings, Northings and Height. 

New - This option allows you to move points to a new location by inputting the Eastings, Northings and Heights.

Height

Set - Using this option will allow you to select a point and give it a new height value.

Raise - This option allows you to select a point and raise its height by inputting a value in the input box.

Copy - Users can use this option to copy the height of a point and allocate it to another given point.

Project - This tool allows you to select a feature and project its height value onto a chosen point.

Height

2D - Setting the heights to 2D will remove the height value of the point completely.

DTM - This function allows you to move the height of chosen points to those on a given DTM.

Trend - When using the Trend function, you will need to list the points you want to include in the trend and use the DTM trends function under the Design tab to create the desired trend. Lastly, select the point which you want to move to the DTM trend height and click on one of the points that was included in the DTM trend.

Height From

Text - This function allows you to move a point's height to that of a selected text feature.

Neighbours - Using this option will move the height of the selected point to that of a chosen neighbouring point.

Project: This feature enables you to project a chosen point onto a line feature.

Rotate: Using this option will enable you to rotate points about a given angle by typing an angle value in the input box. 

Scale: There are two options affiliated with the Scale function, as described below

Indicate - This option enables you to select an origin point from which to scale other points. With this function, you can use any of the three pick modes to scale the points you want to scale to the respective origin point (typically, the 'Rectangle' pick mode would be ideal with this function).

All - The All function allows you to scale all the points in a project to a point of origin. In the same option box, the OSTM scale can be added or removed if required. 
Note: If you are working with UK OS coordinates, the values n4ce calculates from them should be very close to 1 (see the image below for context). If the numbers in the OSTM fields are not close to 1, there is likely an issue with the imported data, and it is not safe to continue.

Mirror: There are 4 different mirror functions.

Points - Mirror a point about a line defined by two points. 

Segment - Mirrors a point about a line feature segment.

Horizontal - This function will mirror points about a horizontal line through an indicated point.

Vertical - Using this option allows you to mirror points about a vertical line through an indicated point.

Snap: When using the Snap tool, clicking on a point will open a dialog box, and you will need to indicate the size of the search area. When you have chosen a search value from the chosen point, this tells n4ce for far to look for other points and snap them back to the chosen point.

Average: This function has two options to choose from.

Single -  This option allows you to average the coordinates for multiple occurrences of the same point.  You will be asked to indicate the point that you wish to average, and due to the nature of this operation, more than one point will likely be found in the search radius.  If this is the case, the dialog box dealing with duplicate points and features will be displayed, and you should select the required point.

Once the required point(s) is selected, the current model will be searched, and all of the points that lie within the search radius of the indicated point and have the same code will be selected.  A dialog box similar to that shown below will then be displayed.

The average coordinates of the selected points are displayed in the top-right of the dialog. The list in the top-left shows points located within the distance specified in the Search Radius field. If this value is changed, the Search button must be selected to refresh the results.

By default, each point is marked with a green tick, indicating inclusion in the averaging process. To exclude a point, double-click it to replace the green tick with a red cross; double-click again to re-include it. Attempting to deselect the initially selected point will trigger an error beep. Details of the currently highlighted point, including its offset from the average coordinates, are shown in the lower-right section.

When OK is selected, all points marked with a green tick are deleted and replaced by a single point at the calculated average coordinates. This new point retains the attributes of the initially selected point, including its point number, unless the Set Number checkbox is enabled. When selected, this option allows a new point number to be entered in the adjacent field.

Multi - Similar to the Single option, although when using the Multi option, it will take the average of all points with the same number found in the points properties box seen below. The numbers can be changed manually by deleting the current one in the box and inputting a new number.

When the function is used correctly, the pop-up box on the left will appear; however, if no identically numbered points are found, the pop-up box on the right will appear.

Align: This function has 4 different options that can be used.

All - Using this option will enable you to Align a complete line feature as seen in the before and after pictures below.

Before Alignment

After Alignment

Between - Similar to the All function, however, you can select a start and end point to align on a line feature as seen in the pictures below.

Points - This function works by selecting the 1st and 2nd points to align to; once that's done, you can individually select the points you want to align respecting the original chosen direction. Alternatively, by using Rectangle pick mode, you can align multiple points at once, as seen in the demo below.

Parallel - This option enables you to make points have the same offset to a line feature as seen below

Attributes: There are 11 different options under the Attributes function

Graphical

Set - This option allows you to change the attributes of selected points to values which you define in the dialog box seen below. The three checkboxes enable you to choose which of the three attributes you wish to change, and the drop boxes beside them show the value that you wish to assign to the points. After you select OK, you will be asked to indicate the points to be changed.

Get - This option allows you to get the attributes from a single point. You will be asked to indicate a point and a dialog box like that shown below. This time, the checkboxes are used to identify which of the attributes you wish to get and the values in the drop boxes are the values currently assigned to the point.

Dimension

Set - This option allows you to set a Dimension value to a point

Remove - Using this function will allow you to remove individual dimensions from a point as indicated in the input box as seen below.

Length - This function calculates the total line length in metres and adds it as a dimension to the first point of the string.

Set

Remark - This option allows you to define a remark for points. When selected, a simple input box will appear, asking you to enter the required remark. Note: If any of the indicated points have a remark, they will be replaced by the new value you entered.

Don't Model (,X) - Using this function will allow you to add an 'X' comma code to a point. This will ensure that the point is not modelled, which can be useful if you want to exclude points when creating a DTM.

Match

All - This option will allow you to match all the attributes of a given point with other points.

Dims & Rems - Similar to the All function, however, this function only matches the Dimensions and Remarks as opposed to all of the attributes of the point.

Align to Height

Indicate - This function will align the point with the angle of the height text. If the height text is at a 45-degree angle, the point will then be aligned to the identical angle, as seen below.

All - Similar to the Indicate function, this option will match the point angle to that of the height text, however, this will align ALL the point angles to their respective height texts.

String Numbers: Using this function will allow you to add a numeric value to a point code which can be useful to separate points that have been generated with the same code but are part of a different group.

Transformations

Points: The following 5 options come under the Points function

2D - This function allows you to transform points to another coordinate system, and this is done by selecting a minimum of two points and right-clicking the mouse. A dialog box like the one shown below will appear and then you can start inputting new coordinate values for each point you have selected. The transformation can be saved and loaded at a later time using the Save Transformation button at the bottom right of the box. Additionally, you can scale the points by using the Force Scale button and manually inputting the required scale value.

3D - Similar to the 2D option, however, this function allows you to transform the height coordinates of selected points. Once again, a minimum of two points must be selected to complete the transformation.

Apply - This option allows you to load previously saved transformations.

Reverse - Using this option reverses a given transformation from the list in the pop-out box.  

Report - Creates reports from saved transformations. 

Coords: The following 5 options come under the Coords function

2D - This function transforms points to another coordinate system using block coordinates. Prior to using it, you will be required to set up a block coordinate to reference.

3D - When using the 3D coords option, you will be able to transform points and their height values to another coordinate system using block coordinates as references.

Apply - This option allows you to load previously saved transformations that used block coordinates.

Reverse - Using this option will reverse a given transformation from the list in the pop-out box.  

Report - Creates reports from saved transformations.

OSGB36: This function allows you to transform all the point coordinates in the current model between the OSTN02 and OSTN15 transformation. When selected, the dialog box seen below will be displayed. The current system field informs you which transformation model is currently in use and can display one of three values.

Snake: This option allows you to create a consistent scale factor across large survey models by applying a specialised grid transformation.

Apply: When using this option, you can apply a transformation you previously saved.

Reverse: Use this tool to revert a transformation to the previously stored coordinate system.

Report: This option will generate a report on all stored transformations.

GG951 Highways Transformation: Allows users to convert OS Grid data to a specified Highways grid and vice versa, convert Highways Grid data back to OS grid data. 

To Survey: This option is used to relocate points generated from Total Station data that have already been edited, transferring them from a local grid to their recalculated positions after the survey has been reduced to OS values.

This process depends on each point having a unique identifier. Points are repositioned by matching their point number with the corresponding point in a selected Survey job. Only points with matching identifiers can be transformed; newly created points cannot be moved, as they do not have corresponding entries in the Survey job.

Elevations

Create: When you need to create an elevation of points in your model, you can now select two points to become the baseline of your elevation using this tool. 
The Legacy option, which appears in the dialog box, will rotate the points about the indicated origin and swap the Y and Z coordinates. This used to be the default method in n4ce. 

The new standard uses the Full 3D option, which rotates points about the indicated origin and then rotates about the X-axis. This is now the new default as it represents a true transformation of the elevation in three dimensions, which is the ultimate goal. An example is displayed below:

Base Line: Similar to the Create tool, although this function allows you to select a feature/segment as a baseline instead of two separate points. 

Reverse: As it sounds, this option will reverse the elevation that has been created to its original position.

Point Images

Place: This option will allow you to attach and position survey images to model points. When attaching the image, you can customise the image box size, title text and connecting arrow. Note that the image and the arrow are both stored in the dedicated backcloth; however, they can be manipulated through the points image tool, as seen in the short video below.

Move: Once the image has been plotted in the project, you can use the Move tool to change its position.

Delete: If you need to remove a previously plotted image, you can use the delete tool and just click on the image, as seen below.

Tools

Commit: This option allows you to commit points to the CAD backcloth, however, you will not be able to turn the newly created CAD points on and off as you wish. The CAD points can be removed by going to the Home tab, selecting the CAD & Model option (see below) and deleting them using the Delete function under the Edit tab.

Select CAD & Model

The difference with the CAD & Model view is that users can manipulate the CAD data while being able to view the model data simultaneously

Followed by Edit - Delete

Restore: Allows you to restore selected points' attributes and annotations to the code default. 

Setting Out: As a check whilst setting out and for QA purposes, n4ce can create a setting out schedule for points based upon known instrument set-up and reference object stations. The Setting Out option allows you to create this data. To create the schedule, add the required points to the select list for the current model and display the stations.

You will then be asked to indicate the instrument and reference stations that you will use when you are on site. The information displayed assumes that you set up your instrument at the instrument station and zeroed the horizontal angle onto the reference station. Therefore, the horizontal angle is the angle from the reference station to the point to be set out.

A Setting Out report will be created in the report view for the current model (image below). This can be copied and pasted into another application, saved to a text file for later retrieval or printed so that a hard copy can be taken on-site.