The Path Profile / LOS command selects the 3D path profile/LOS (line of sight) tool as the current tool. This tool will display a vertical profile along the specified path using loaded elevation datasets. In addition, registered users can perform line of sight calculations along the defined path. Perpendicular profiles also allow stepping through a line in cross-sections. With the Lidar Module enabled, the Path Profile tool also displays Lidar data and enables the Lidar Toolbar. The Lidar Module also enables 3D Feature Extraction from the Path Profile window.
To define the path along which to generate the 3D path profile, first select the path profile tool from the Analysis Toolbar or the Tools menu. Press and release the left mouse button at the position where you wish to start the path. Left click to add vertices along the path. Right click on the last location in the path profile to complete selecting points and display the Path Profile/Line of Sight dialog (pictured below). The Path Profile/Line of Sight dialog will appear displaying the 3D path profile of the selected path.
Generate 3D path profiles for existing line features by selecting the line feature in the Digitizer Tool, right clicking, then selecting the Generate Path Profile Along Line(s) option from the Analysis/Measurement submenu that is displayed.
Enable a Perpendicular Profile from the Path Profile Settings menu. This enables stepping through sequential cross sections of the path, rather than profiling along the length of the path.
The Path Profile/Line of Sight dialog displays the 3D path profile and provides several options related to the profile. A vertical scale is displayed on the left hand side of the profile window. The start and end coordinates of the path are displayed at the top of the profile window.
If more than two points are in the path, the intermediate points will be marked in the profile window with a yellow dot. These intermediate points can be turned off using an option available in Path Profile Settings. Also note that this dialog is re-sizable or can be embedded in the main map window.
With water display enabled on the Vertical Options tab, the water line will also be displayed along the path.
Moving the cursor over the profile window displays information about the current cursor location along the profile, including the position and profile elevation at the cursor location. The cursor location in the profile window will also display in the 2D Map view as a red X, and in the 3D view as a red dot connected to the profile line.
Get information about a portion of the profile (a sub-path) by left clicking to start a sub-path definition, then left-clicking again at the end of your desired sub-path. Details about the sub-path, like length, elevation change, and slope, will then be displayed on the bottom of the profile window.
Right clicking on the profile window brings up an options menu allowing the user to change the start and end positions, select the units (meters or feet) to display the elevations in, configure display of the path profile, and display a dialog containing details about the path. These options are also available under the Display Options menu on the dialog.
If Multiple Elevation layers are loaded, each layer will be shown with a dashed line of a different color. The color used for each layer is picked from a pre-determined list of colors, but you can also right-click on the profile itself and select the option on the right-click pop-up menu to Specify Color for Terrain Layer Line... and set the color to use for any of the terrain layers.
