THE TRACKER - Track Air - HomeAir X-TRACK snapPLAN manual.pdf · TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems...

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TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems ZUTPHENSTRAAT 55, 7575 EJ OLDENZAAL, THE NETHERLANDS Tel +31 - 541 229030 - Fax +31 541 229033 - Hot line +31 6 51363197 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.trackair.com TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008 THE TRACKER snapPLAN Aerial Survey Photography Planning USERS MANUAL

Transcript of THE TRACKER - Track Air - HomeAir X-TRACK snapPLAN manual.pdf · TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems...

Page 1: THE TRACKER - Track Air - HomeAir X-TRACK snapPLAN manual.pdf · TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems ZUTPHENSTRAAT 55, 7575 EJ OLDENZAAL, THE NETHERLANDS Tel +31 - 541 229030 - Fax +31

TRACK'AIRAerial Survey Systems

ZUTPHENSTRAAT 55, 7575 EJ OLDENZAAL, THE NETHERLANDS

Tel +31 - 541 229030 - Fax +31 541 229033 - Hot line +31 6 51363197

Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.trackair.com

TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

THE TRACKER

snapPLAN

Aerial Survey Photography Planning

USERS MANUAL

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

2snapPLAN aerial survey system

• Copyright © by TRACK'AIR, 1994 -2008. All rights reserved.

• TRACKER™ is a trademark of TRACK'AIR.

• This manual, or portion thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of TRACK'AIR.

• Windows and Access are trademarks of Microsoft inc.

• Autocad is a trademark of Autodesk inc.

• Other products mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

3snapPLAN aerial survey system

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 - ABOUT THIS MANUAL

2 - OVERVIEW

3 - QUICK TOUR

4 - MAIN TOOL BAR

5 - BUTTONS SHARED BY ALL MODULES

6 - BLOCK TOOL BAR

7 - SINGLE STRIPS TOOL BAR

8 - FEATURES SHARED BY ALL MODULES

9 - SPECIAL DEFINITIONS

10 - BLOCK FLIGHT PLANNING

11 - CHECKING THE PHOTO COVERAGE

12 - SETTING LONGITUDINAL PHOTO COVERAGE

13 - EDITING RUNS

14 - SINGLE STRIPS PLANNING

15 - EDITING STRIPS

16 - SAVING FLIGHT PLANS

17 - PLANNING GRID PINPOINT

18 - PLANNING GEOGRAPHIC PINPOINTS

19 - LOAD AN EXISTING FLIGHT PLAN

20 - SAVING THE TERRAIN HEIGHT

21 - USING THE SPECS FORM

22 - THE CORRIDOR FUNCTION

23 - LOADING A BACKGROUND

24 - PRINTING A TEXT FILE

25 - CONFIGURATION

26 - MENUS

27 - CAPTURE MENU

28 - HOW TO RENUMBER STRIPS

29 - PLANNING SINGLE PHOTO

30 - MOSAICING BACKGROUNDS

31 - MERGING FLIGHT PLANS

32 - GRID OVERLAY

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

4snapPLAN aerial survey system

33 - AUTOMATIC PLANNING (OPTION)

34 - LARGE FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS (NEW ENTRY FORM)

35 - SMALL FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

36 - DIGITAL CAMERAS SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

37 - FRAME SCANNER SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

38 - LINE SCANNER SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

39 - GEOPHYSICS SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

40 - PINPOINT GEOGRAPHICS (NEW ENTRY FORM)

41 - PINPOINT GRID (NEW ENTRY FORM)

42 - NON METRIC SCALE CONVERSIONS

43 - SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT (OPTIONS)

44 - NOTES

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1 - ABOUT THIS MANUAL

Please note that this manual might not exactly match the software you are using. As the system is being changed and improved all the time, the written material might become slightly different from the current software release. Manuals are regularly updated to reflect changes made to the software. UPDATES

Pages numbers include the chapter number and the page number, E.G. 15 - 3, meaning page 3 of chapter 15. You will receive updates that consist of complete chapters. Simply discard the old chapter pages and replace them with the new chapter. CHAPTERS

Chapters are in no particular orders. Newly written chapters are added at the end of each manual.

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

2-1snapPLAN aerial survey system

2 - OVERVIEW

The current version of snapPLAN covers the following types of planning:

• Parallel runs planning for block areas.

• Grid pinpoint planning for block areas.

• Geographical pinpoint planning for block areas.

• Single strips planning.

Runs’ planning is automatic and does not require any action other than clicking a few buttons. Pinpoint planning is also fully automated and does not require other input than a few clicks and keyboards entries. Single strips are drawn manually by dragging the mouse between 2 points.

PLANNING

By default, snapPLAN carries out all planning in the manner a Navigator would manually create his flight plan on a map, that is with runs drawn as straight lines, roughly orientated along the

geographical grid. In case the national sheet cut is based on geographical coordinates (as in Germany), E/W and N/S runs will be conveniently aligned with the edges of the map sheet.

GEOGRAPHIC PINPOINT

Geographic pinpoint is a special case of planning where runs are segments of Meridians and Parallels, particularly useful when designing map sheet centered photography for ortho photo plans. Note that to benefit from such planning it is required that the navigation system is capable of guiding the airplane along a curved track (great circle navigation).

GRID PINPOINT

Another style of pinpoint planning specifies that the runs are defined in relation to a given grid system (UTM, GK, OS, etc.). Grid systems are generally divided in discontinuous zones. Flying from one zone to an other requires either a change of flight direction or extending the lines into the other zones. Both methods are available in snapPLAN.

SYSTEM LIMITATIONS

• Runs: Temporarily limited to 150. Will be increased to 500.

• Photos: 700 per run. Maximum 32000 per block area.

• Run sections: A run can have a maximum of 7 segments.

• Strips: Temporarily limited to 150. Will be increased to 500.

• Photos per strip: 700 per strip

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

3-1snapPLAN aerial survey system

3 - QUICK TOUR

The following will assist you to run the program the first time and get familiar with its operation. The database contains several examples which can be loaded and edited to practice with the system.

Start the program by clicking the snapPLAN icon

Figure 3-1

Figure 3-2

Figure 3-3

1) Select Start new flight plan and click OK.

2) Select the project DEMO country (as in DEMO Australia or DEMO Germany) or select any other project .

3) select an area and click OK.

4) Press the default button to fill the specification automatically then press OK.

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3-2snapPLAN aerial survey system

The display will now look like this:

Figure 3-4

Figure 3-5

Figure 3-6 Figure 3-7

7) To quit the program, click and press the NO button when asked to save your work.

Limit of project area.

5) Clicking this button will compute and display an E/W runs coverage.

6) Clicking this button will compute and display an N/S runs coverage.

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4 - MAIN TOOL BAR

Last updated 7 December 1999

SAVE Self-explanatory.

UNDO If an action can be undone, for example the removing of a run, click this button to return to the previous situation.

Note that only one level of undo is available and that undo only applies to actions that cannot be corrected by the user.

SHOW PLANNING SPECIFICATION FORM

SHOW THE SPEX FORM Pop the spex form.

STRIP TOOL BAR Shows the strip tool bar.

BLOCK TOOL BAR Shows the block toolbar.

CORRIDOR Creates a zone of a given width around a line, for example around the banks of a river.

SPECIAL AIRSPACE Pressing this button loads the file named “airspace”. Normally this file is intended to contain the limits of danger, restricted and prohibited areas as well as international borders. Load this file to run a quick check and see whether the project area is interfering with any special airspace. Refer to the topic Airspace for more information.

PRINT Pressing this button will pop the print dialog box.

EXIT Self explanatory.

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5 - BUTTONS SHARED BY ALL MODULES

The following describes the buttons shared by all the Tracker modules:

REFRESH Click this button to redraw the screen if it has not been properly painted or to remove garbage.

ZOOM IN (REDUCE SIZE). Clicking this button will increase the scale of the drawing. Click until the drawing is at the required size. A beep and no effects will indicate that the limits have been reached. The maximum scale depends on the original size of the area.

ZOOM OUT (ENLARGE). Clicking this button will decrease the scale of the drawing. Click until the drawing is at the required size. A beep and no action will indicate that the limits have been reached. The minimum scale depends on the original size of the area.

RESTORE Clicking this button will restore the drawing to its first size and position.

ZOOM WINDOW. Press this button down and draw a rectangle around the area to be enlarged.

Note: To draw a rectangle, position the mouse pointer on the rectangle upper left corner position, press the mouse button and while keeping it down, drag the mouse towards the right and down. A rectangle is displayed while this operation is taking place, when its size is satisfactory, release the mouse button.

OPEN NEW PROJECT Click this button to return to the project selection dialogue box.

EXIT THE PROGRAM. Click this button to shut down the program.

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6 - BLOCK TOOL BAR

EAST WEST RUNS Clicking this button will automatically compute and display an E/W runs coverage.

NORTH SOUTH RUNS Clicking this button will automatically compute and display an N/S runs coverage.

OTHER DIRECTIONS To draw runs in an other direction, first press this button. Draw a line from any position holding the left hand mouse button down and rotate it until its angle is OK. After releasing this button, the runs will have the same angle as the line.

MINIMIZE Click this button to find out the most economical flight plan. By default this button will compute the flight plan that has the smallest number of models. Other options are available with the Minimize menu.

ADD ONE RUN After a flight plan has been displayed, click this button to let snapPLAN attempt to recompile the current flight plan with one extra run. This operation will not work if the additional coverage falls totally outside the area boundary. In this operation, snapPLAN keeps the specified run spacing. This function can be useful in the case of a complex area shape.

REMOVE ONE RUN After a flight plan has been displayed, click this button to let snapPLAN attempt to recompile the current flight plan with one less run. In this operation, snapPLAN will give you the choice to either increase the specified run spacing or the required scale. The new parameters are displayed in the status bar.

Note: Please remember that this function might result in parameter values that are not the ones originally specified. It is a good idea to check if these new values are acceptable to everyone.

SHOW RUN NUMBERS This button toggles the visibility of the run numbers. Drawing numbers is a time consuming operation that will slow down the speed at which the display is redrawing. Toggle this button as required, particularly with a large amount of runs.

SHOW INDIVIDUAL PHOTO POSITION This button toggles the visibility of the computed photo positions. Drawing these positions is a time consuming operation that will slow down the speed at which the display is redrawing. Toggle this button only when required, particularly with large amounts of runs.

Remark: snapPLAN uses the specified photo base as a reference for all its calculations. Even if the job is intended to be flown with manual overlap, the system will use the pre-computed photo positions as references throughout all programs.

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TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

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SHOW FULL COVERAGE Toggle down this button and click the run for which you want to check the coverage. The red outline shows the theoretical photographic extent. Remark: Please account for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.

SHOW COMPLETE STEREOSCOPIC COVERAGE Toggle this button to get an overview of the theoretical stereoscopic coverage. Drawing these boxes is a time consuming operation that will slow down the speed at which the display is redrawing. Toggle this button as required, particularly with a large amount of runs. Remark: Please account for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.

ANCHOR BUTTON Toggle this button to override the normal behavior of the editing buttons (cut, join, trim/extent) which pop up after each single operation. As long as the last operation or action was successful, the current button will remain pressed if the anchor button is down. Remarks: There are two types of buttons in use, push buttons and toggle buttons. A push button will pop up by itself, a toggle button will remain in the down position until it is popped up either manually or by the program. In the down position, all buttons have a green background. By design, a toggle button will remain pressed only until the selected action has been completed and then it will automatically pop up. This means for example that each time a

new strip has been drawn, will pop up. You can override this behavior and prevent the button from popping up after each action by toggling the anchor button. Additionally, if you do not perform the action for which the button was pressed, it will also pop up automatically (this behavior can be used to toggle up a button by simply clicking anywhere on the display).

DELETE A RUN Toggle this button and click the run to be deleted. In case of mistake, use the undo button on the main tool bar (only one level of undo is possible!). You might, for example, decide to remove a run and to replace it with a single strip that could have a slightly different orientation along a coast line.

CUT A RUN Toggle this button and click at the location you want the run to be cut. A gap will appear between both sections. Note: Single runs can have a maximum of 7 segments. It takes at least 2 photos to make a run.

JOIN 2 RUN SEGMENTS Toggle this button and click one of the 2 segments anywhere on the side that has to be joined. Use this function to connect runs that might have been split by the planning computations and which could be flown through. Note: How runs are automatically split into sections can be controlled via parameters. Refer to the block photography topic for details.

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TRIM/EXTEND Toggle this button to drag the end of the run that has to be edited. Note: The minimum size of a run is 1 photo base (2 photos).

REMOVE ONE FRAME: Toggle this button and click the end(s) of the line(s) from which you want to remove photo frame(s).

ADD ONE FRAME Toggle this button and click the end(s) of the line(s) to which you want to add photo frame(s).

ACTIVATE GRID OVERLAY This function gives the user additional flexibility to optimize the planning. It allows the user to

shift the photo block manually with the mouse to find the optimum position. Unnecessary runs can be discarded (see manual chapter 32)

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7 - SINGLE STRIPS TOOL BAR

modified 11 October 1998

DRAW NEW STRIP Toggle this button to draw a new strip. To do this, drag the mouse pressing the left hand button from the start position of the strip to the position where it should end. While the dragging action takes place, the corresponding parameters are being displayed on the status bar.

TRIM ROTATE Toggle this button and pick the end of the strip you want to edit, then drag it to the new position. The strip will remain anchored at its other end. The resulting strip has the same origin but has a different course and length.

MOVE Toggle this button and pick the strip you want to move, then drag it in its new position. The strip is not modified, only shifted to an other position.

TRIM EXTENT Toggle this button and pick the end of the strip you want to edit, then drag it until the strip has the required length. The strip will remain anchored at its other end. Movement is allowed only along the axis of the strip. The resulting strip is shorter or longer than the original one.

SIDE STRETCH Toggle this button and pick the side of the strip you want to enlarge then drag it until the strip has the required width. The other side will remain anchored in its position.

Note: This operation creates a new strip with a scale different from the original specification.

FULL STRETCH Toggle this button and pick one side of the strip you want to enlarge then drag it until the strip has the required width. The other side will move at the same time in the opposite direction while the center line of the strip remains anchored.

Note: This operation creates a new strip with a scale different from the original specification.

DUPLICATE To create a parallel strip, press this button down, position the mouse pointer on the strip you want to duplicate and press and hold the left mouse button then drag the new strip away to the required position. Note that you must pick and drag the new strip in the same movement, otherwise this function does not work. While the dragging action takes place, the lateral overlap with the original strip is being displayed on the status bar.

REMOVE A STRIP Press this button and click the strip to be removed. In case of mistake, use the undo button on the main tool bar (only one level of undo is possible!).

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Strips are arbitrarily numbered in the order they are created and the number of the deleted strip is not immediately reused. At the end of the planning, simply select the EDIT menu and renumber all strips in one single operation.

SHOW INDIVIDUAL PHOTO POSITIONS This button toggles the display of the computed photo positions. Drawing these positions is a time consuming operation that will slow down the speed at which the display is reacting. Toggle this button as required, particularly with large amounts of strips.

snapPLAN uses the specified photo base as a reference for all its calculations. Even if the job is intended to be flown with manual overlap, the system will use the precomputed photo positions as a reference throughout all the programs.

SHOW STRIP NUMBERS This button toggles the visibility of the strip numbers. Drawing numbers is a time consuming operation that will slow down the speed at which the display is redrawing. Toggle this button as required, particularly with a large amount of strips.

ANCHOR BUTTON Toggle down this button to override the normal behavior of the drawing buttons (draw, trim, stretch, etc.) which pop up after each single operation. As long as the last operation or action was successful, the current button will remain pressed if the anchor button is down. Remarks: There are two types of buttons in use, push buttons and toggle buttons. A push button will pop up by itself each time it is pressed, a toggle button will remain in the down position until it is popped up either manually or by the program. In the down position, all buttons have a green background. By design, a toggle button will remain pressed only until the selected action has been completed and then it will automatically pop up. This means for example that each time a

new strip has been drawn, will pop up. You can override this behavior and prevent the button from popping up after each action by toggling the anchor button. Additionally, if you do not perform the action for which the button was pressed, it will also pop up automatically (this behavior can be used to toggle up a button by simply clicking anywhere on the display).

SINGLE PHOTO Pressing this button will toggle the single photo mode. In this mode, the other buttons will generate a single photo position instead of a strip. See the relevant chapter

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8 - FEATURES SHARED BY ALL MODULES

The following describes features and behaviors that are common to all TRACKER modules.

DRAGGING THE DISPLAY

Figure 8-1

GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF RUNS

Tracker represents runs and strips by their centerline and crosswise ticks which represents the photo positions.

To move the entire drawing area, PRESS AND HOLD the LEFT mouse button anywhere on the map area, drag the mouse to an other spot and release the button. The whole map will be shifted. While the mouse button is held down, the cursor changes to a 4 heads arrow.

Center of first photo.

Center of last photo.

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9 - SPECIAL DEFINITIONS

The following are definitions that are special to this program: BLOCK AREA VERSUS BACKGROUND DRAWINGS.

snapPLAN distinguishes between block areas and background drawings: We call block areas (or simply areas) a closed region to be covered by parallel runs of photography. Block areas can be created in any of the digitizing utilities provided with the TRACKER system (snapLIM, snapXYZ). The main characteristic of a block area is that it has to be a closed shape for the automatic runs planner to do its job.

We call background a file containing any kind of digitized cartographic details (closed or not closed shapes). Its primary use is to provide the background required to plan single strips of photography (road, rivers, etc.). Additionally, background files can be also used to add useful information to a flight plan (restricted airspace, international borders, etc.). Contour lines can also be digitized as background. Remarks: This distinction is arbitrary and only reflects the way the data is internally saved and organized by the TRACKER system.

RUNS VERSUS STRIPS

snapPLAN distinguishes between runs and strips. We call runs parallel photo lines that share the same specifications (scale, overlaps, etc.) and cover one or more block areas. Runs are created automatically by snapPLAN. We call strips individual photo lines that do not belong to a block of parallel runs. Within a flight plan, strips can have different specifications (scale, overlap, etc.) and are created manually by the user. Remarks: The above distinction is arbitrary and only reflects the way data is saved and managed by the TRACKER system.

PINPOINT PHOTOGRAPHY

We call pinpoint photography a special case of planning where the center position of each photo conforms to a given grid. By extension we define a pinpoint project as a project whose run orientations and individual photo positions are imposed by the technical specifications. snapPLAN allows to plan either along the geographical grid or along the local grid.

FLIGHT PLAN NAME

Each flight plan should have a unique flight plan name. One area may have many flight plans, each with a different name, for example “color 5000”, “B/W 25000”, “Extension”. A valid name is maximum 30 characters long and may contain blanks and any alphabet characters. The first time a flight plan is saved, it has to be given a name, just like a file in a word processor.

Similarly, if you modify this flight plan and choose FILE | SAVE again (or ), the prior version will be overwritten, unless you choose FILE | SAVE AS... and give it a new name. In this case, the former flight plan is preserved and a new one is created.

CHARTS

If the database contains a project named CHARTS containing a background file named AIRSPACE,

then this file will be automatically loaded when pressing . This background file is useful to find out if a job interfere with a special airspace. This file should only contain the limits of restricted airspace, international borders, etc. This file can be easily created and updated by the user, either by digitizing aeronautical charts or copying the coordinates from the AIPs into the snapXYZ module.

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FREEZE STRIPS

To prevent single strips to be moved or modified by mistake, open the SPECS WINDOW, change the item “FREEZE” to YES individually for each strip to be frozen or set the item “FREEZE ALL STRIPS” to YES to freeze all the strips presently on the planning. To free the strips, set “FREEZE” to NO either individually or for all strips. Note that strips created in the snapLIM and the snapXYZ modules are frozen by default. DOCKABLE TOOLBARS

The toolbars used in this system are “dockable”, which means they can be allowed to float freely at any convenient location or they can be dragged towards one side of the display where they will attach themselves. Double clicking the toolbar will toggle between its floating position and its docked position. At the start of each session, the toolbar is reloaded in its last position.

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10 - BLOCK FLIGHT PLANNING

See also chapter 34 for new large format specification entry form. Upon start up the MAIN MENU is displayed.

Figure 10-1

When the SELECT PROJECT AREA window is displayed, choose first a project then the area that you want to plan (backgrounds are used for strips planning).

Choose Start a new flight plan? And press OK.

This list shows the names of all projects presently in the database. Select the project that contains the area that you want to plan.

A block area (or area) is a closed region that has to be covered stereoscopically by parallel runs of photography. A project may have one or many areas. Select the area that you want to plan.

Backgrounds are used for single strips planning.

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When the BASIC SPECIFICATIONS window is displayed, enter the minimum basic information required to start the flight planning. Please fill in all items. See also chapter 34 for new large format specification entry form.

.Figure 10-2

Enter either the lateral overlap or the spacing. The lateral overlap (sidelap) and spacing are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the lateral overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the spacing.

Only affects single strips: Enter the “safe width”, either as a percentage of the strip width or in meters. Tip: Enter 80.

Types in this box the photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale.

Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

The same applies to the forward overlap (endlap) and the photo base.

The defaults button fills the boxes with initial values that are intended to speed things up and also to provide you with workable examples. You can modify these values as required.

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Once a project area has been loaded from the database, the display will initially look like this:

Figure 10-3

Figure 10-4

Block floating tool bar.

Area limits.

All block planning functions are grouped in the block toolbar (the toolbar can be reshaped at will). The first group of 4 buttons controls the orientation of the planning.

Press this button to create automatically North/South runs.

Press this button to create automatically East/West runs.

Press this button to draw the runs manually.

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To draw runs at a given angle, press and draw a line in the required direction of flight (the red line is only used to help visualizing the course of the run, its origin as well as its length do not matter). The current course in degrees is displayed close to the line start point. The flight plan will be generated and aligned on the course displayed at the moment the mouse button is released.

Figure 10-5

Figure 10-6

Figure 10-7

Track.

Release the mouse when the track or the orientation is correct.

Press to see the photo positions.

Press to see the stereoscopic coverage.

Press and click a run to see its full coverage.

Press to see the run numbers.

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To save the current flight plan, press on the main tool bar or select the FILE | SAVE menu. You can then return to the drawing and carry on with more planning if you want to create a set of options for evaluation and comparison. In this case select FILE | SAVE AS... and give a different name to each option, for example Köln 1, Köln 2, Köln 3, etc. Refer to the SAVING FLIGHT PLANS chapter for more information,

Figure 10-8

Please remember that any photo-coverage displayed by snapPLAN represents only the theoretical calculated coverage for a flight carried out under ideal conditions above perfectly flat terrain. In practice, however, it is obvious that the designer has to make provisions for the numerous deviations encountered under operational conditions (tilt, crab, terrain relief, etc.).

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11 - CHECKING THE PHOTO COVERAGE

CHECK STEREOSCOPIC COVERAGE

To see the full stereoscopic coverage, press the coverage button and click the runs you want to check. The red outline shows the theoretical stereoscopic extent (not accounting for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.).

Figure 11-1

The red line roughly shows the region which is stereoscopically covered, starting at the position of the first photo until the position of the last photo, therefore ignoring any stereoscopic coverage before and beyond the last photo.

Figure 11-2

Position of the last photo.

Position of the first photo.

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CHECKING PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

You can also display the full photographic coverage of the run (not accounting for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.). select the menu CONFIG > PLANNING CONFIGURATION and the SPECIAL PLANNING page.

Figure 11-3

Figure 11-4

Click the Show full photographic coverage check box.

Press the coverage button and click the runs you want to check. The full photo cover will be shown.

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12 - SETTING LONGITUDINAL PHOTO COVERAGE

To change the amount of coverage on the edge of the area, select the menu CONFIG > PLANNING CONFIGURATION and the RUNS page.

Figure 12-1

Figure 12-2

Figure 12-3

Adjust here how many photos are being planned outside of the area limit. The values can be set from -1 to +3.

Setting = -1. The area is not fully covered stereoscopically but is covered photographically.

Setting = 0. The area is fully covered stereoscopically but without any safety margin.

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Figure 12-4

Setting = 1 to 3. The area is fully stereoscopically covered with 1 to 3 additional models for safety margin.

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13 - EDITING RUNS

The four basic editing actions are:

• CUT A RUN: split the run into 2 or more individual segments (7 maximum per run)

• JOIN: Join two separate segments of the same run into one.

• TRIM/EXTEND: Shorten or lengthen the run.

• ADD/REMOVE FRAMES: Add or remove one photo at the end of a line.

CUTTING A RUN

Figure 13-1

Remarks: A run can have a maximum of 7 segments. The shortest allowed segment or run consists of 2 photos.

JOIN 2 SEGMENTS

Figure 13-2

Press the button and click one of the 2 segments on the side to be joined. Both segments will be merged into one.

Press the button and click on the line joining 2 photos to create a cut. The resulting segment will be numbered according to its position in the run, for example 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, etc.

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TRIM EXTENT

Figure 13-3

• Extending a segment over an other one will automatically join both segments into one (overlapping segments are not possible).

• The shortest allowed segment or run consists of 2 photos.

• The length of the run will be adjusted automatically to be an integer multiple of the photo base.

ADD OR DELETE ONE PHOTO

Figure 13-4

allows the operation to be repeated. Remarks: Extending a segment over another one will automatically join both segments into one (overlapping segments are not possible). The shortest allowed segment or run consists of 2 photos.

Press the button and place the cursor on the run near the end to be edited. Keeping the left mouse button down, drag the end of the run to shorten or extend it. During this operation, the outline of the run is shown in red and the corresponding values are displayed on the status bar.

Press the button and click the end of the run to be edited. A single photo will be added or removed.

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14 - SINGLE STRIPS PLANNING

See also chapter 34 for new large format specification entry form. Upon start up the MAIN MENU is displayed.

Figure 14-1

2) When the SELECT PROJECT AREA window is displayed, choose a background.

Figure 14-2

3) This list shows the names of all projects presently in the database. Select the project which contains the area that you want to plan.

4) Select one or more background files.

1) Choose Start a new flight plan? And press OK.

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3) When the BASIC SPECIFICATIONS window is displayed, enter the minimum basic information required starting the flight planning. Please fill in all items. See also chapter 34 for new large format specification entry form.

.Figure 14-3

6) Enter a lateral overlap, even if the strips are not overlapping. .

The defaults button fills the boxes with initial values that are intended to speed things up and also to provide you with workable examples. You can modify these values as required.

8) Enter the “safe width”, either as a percentage of the strip width or in meters. Tip: Enter 80.

7) Enter the forward overlap (endlap) or the photo base. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the forward overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the base.

4) Types in this box the photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you can change later the scale of each strip.

5) Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal, you can change later the required lens for each strip.

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9) Once a background file has been loaded from the database, the display will initially look like this:

Figure 14-4

All strip planning functions are grouped in the strip tool bar (the toolbar can be reshaped). The first group of 7 buttons controls the actual planning functions. Refer to the strips tool bar for a complete description of each button.

Figure 14-5

Floating tool bar

10) Press to draw a strip from one point to the other. Position the mouse pointer on the place where the strip must start. Then press the left hand mouse button, hold it down and move the mouse pointer to the place where the strip must end, then release the left mouse button.

The red outline represents the full coverage of the strip at the specified scale.

The green lines on each side are the limits of the “safe” width specified in the basic specifications (these green lines are simple visual guidelines).

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SAFETY LIMITS

By default, the green lines are positioned at 10% of the full width. This is the minimum recommended value for large scale photography. This narrower width is used to position strips so that critical details are safely covered. While drawing or editing a strip, these lateral lines show the currently selected width. You can vary these limits in the specs window either by changing the acceptable percentage of the strip width or the absolute width not to exceed. Remarks: Single strip planning requires special attention from the designer under condition of ground relief variation. Please remember that the outline of the strip represents only the theoretical coverage on a flat ground. It is a good idea to add some contour lines while digitizing and to keep a topographic map handy at all times.

Figure 14-6

Figure 14-7

Once a couple of strips have been drawn, they can be easily manipulated and modified to finalize the planning. Refer to the EDITING STRIPS topic for more details. Refer to the SAVING FLIGHT PLANS chapter for information about saving.

It is possible to create a parallel

copy of a strip by toggling and dragging the new strip from the original one. While this is done, the actual lateral overlap between the original strip and the new one is displayed on the status bar.

Position your strips so that they cover the features you want to photograph.

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15 - EDITING STRIPS

The 6 basic editing actions available for strips are:

• ROTATE: Rotate one end of the strip while the other end remains fixed.

• TRIM-EXTEND: Shorten or lengthen a strip keeping the angle.

• MOVE: Shift the strip position, keeping length and angle.

• LATERAL STRETCH: Change the width of a strip keeping one side fixed.

• CHANGE WIDTH: Change the width of a strip keeping the center line fixed.

• COPY: Drag a copy of an existing strip.

Strips have to be unfrozen before they can be edited! See page 17.

ROTATE ONE END

Figure 15-1

MOVE

Press the button, pick the strip anywhere and drag it around keeping the left hand button down. The angle and length are preserved.

TRIM - EXTEND

Press the button, pick the strip on the side to be edited and change the length of the strip by dragging the mouse keeping the left hand button down. The angle is preserved.

Press the button, pick the end of a strip and move it keeping the left hand button down. The other end remains fixed. One can rotate, extend or shorten the strip at the same time.

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LATERAL STRETCH

Figure 15-2

Remarks: Widening the strip may result in a departure from the nominal specifications.

CHANGE WIDTH

Figure 15-3

Remarks: Widening the strip may result in a departure from the nominal specifications.

COPY

Figure 15-4

Press the button, pick the strip anywhere on the side to be stretched and widen the strip by dragging the mouse keeping the left hand button down. The other side remains fixed and the angle is preserved. The length is adjusted to the new scale and corresponding photo base.

Press the button, pick the strip anywhere and widen the strip by dragging the mouse keeping the left hand button down. The center line remains fixed and the angle is preserved. The length is adjusted to the new scale and corresponding photo base.

Press and hold the left mouse button on the strip to be copied and drag the mouse, This will create a copy of the strip. While this is done, the actual lateral overlap between the original strip and the new one is displayed on the status bar. Release the mouse button when the new strip has been positioned.

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16 - SAVING FLIGHT PLANS

Last updated 6 December 1999

Do not forget to highlight the backgrounds you wish to attach to this flight plan. Attached backgrounds will automatically be loaded when the flight plan is reloaded in snapSHOT.

Export. Select this option if the flight plan is ready to be flown and has to be exported to snapSHOT. In this case the flight plan can be directly transferred to a floppy disk.

Select this option if you want to add simulated photos on the flight plan. This is useful to check the system and the printing functions.

Enter the name of the flight plan: 30 characters maximum.

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17 - PLANNING GRID PINPOINT

See also chapter 41 for new entry form INTRODUCTION

Grid pinpoint is a special planning where the photo positions are predefined in relation to the map grid. For example grid pinpoint planning is useful to plan ortho-photography centered on the map sheets. Start snapPLAN

Figure 17-1

Figure 17-2

1) Select new grid pinpoints?

2) Select the project.

3) Select the area and press OK.

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This dialogue window is used to enter the basic information required to design a grid pinpoint flight plan. All items must be filled in. See also chapter 41 for new entry form

Figure 17-3

ORIGIN COORDINATES

Planning a pinpoint job results in a lattice of photo points whose individual position are related to each other. snapPLAN uses this characteristic to define the pinpoint project. Initially, one photo point has to be given as “origin”. This can be any of the photo points providing it is selected within the rectangle bounding the project area. To determine the origin, one has to look at the specification documents or maps to find a photo position which qualifies.

4) In this box type the photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale.

5) Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal lens, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

6) Type the northing and easting coordinates of the origin. Refer to the explanations below.

7) Enter here the direction of flight. You can give the direction in 3 ways:

a) Click EW or NS to be parallel to the grid.

a) Or enter the true course of the runs.

a) Or enter a second point. The direction is determined by the angle between the point of origin and this point.

9) Press the Defaults buttons to fill the boxes with initial values that are meant to speed things up and also to provide you with workable examples.

8) Enter either the lateral overlap or the spacing. The lateral overlap (sidelap) and spacing are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the lateral overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the spacing. The same applies to the photo base and forward overlap.

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GRID ZONES

In the case of a grid project, the coordinates of the reference origin that you choose determine the zone in which the planning will be done. Please remember that at the junction of 2 zones, the grids have a different orientation. Generally East-West photo lines are interrupted after the zone boundary to allow for the change of direction of the G.K. grid. In some other cases, the client requires that the lines are extended into the other zone. Practically, if your project spans across 2 or 3 zones, you could do the following: - Make 2 different flight plans by taking a reference origins in each zone and trim the runs at the zone boundary.

- Make one flight plan by selecting the reference origin in the zone required by the client and keep the runs in one line.

Remark: snapPLAN always places the boundaries between zones along the East side of the map sheet where the jump occurs, not in the middle of the map as is usual. Remark: The maximum width of a single area should not spread across more than 2 zones. Remark: snapPLAN does not perform any checking on the coverage provided by pinpoint specifications. Please verify that there is sufficient overlap and that the resulting coverage will be suitable for the intended purpose.

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18 - PLANNING GEOGRAPHIC PINPOINTS

See also chapter 40 for a description of the new entry form INTRODUCTION

Geographic pinpoint is a special planning where the photos positions are predefined in relation to the geographic grid. For example pinpoint planning is useful to plan ortho-photography centered on the map sheets.

Start snapPLAN

Figure 18-1

Figure 18-2

2) Select the project.

1) Select new geographic pinpoint flight plan

3) Select the area and press OK.

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5) This dialogue window is used to enter the basic information required to design a geographical pinpoint flight plan. All items must be filled in. See also chapter 40 for a description of the new entry form

Figure 18-3

ORIGIN COORDINATES

Planning a pinpoint job results in a lattice of photo points whose individual position are related to each other. snapPLAN uses this characteristic to define the pinpoint project. Initially, one photo point has to be given as “origin”. This can be any of the photo points providing it is selected within the rectangle bounding the project area. To determine the origin, one has to look at the specification documents or maps to find a photo position which qualifies. Remark: snapPLAN does not perform any checking on the coverage provided by pinpoint specifications. It is a good idea to verify that there is sufficient overlap and that the resulting coverage will be suitable for the intended purpose.

6) Select the direction of flight here. Geographic pinpoint planning can only be orientated EW or NS.

7) Type the coordinates of the origin in degrees, minutes and seconds. See the explanations below.

8) Enter the base in unit of latitude or longitude: Minutes and decimal E.G. 5.5 or minutes and seconds E.G. 5 30

9) Enter the spacing in unit of latitude or longitude: Minutes and decimal E.G. 5.5 or minutes and seconds E.G. 5 30

10) Press the defaults button to fill the boxes with initial values that will provide you with workable examples. You can modify these values as you wish.

4) In this box type the nominal photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale.

5) Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal lens, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

11) Click on the labels to re-compute these values. These values are approximate because the lateral overlap varies along N/S photo lines and the forward overlap varies with the latitude of E/W runs.

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QUAD PLANNING (USA ONLY)

To prepare a flight plan according to the current USGS specifications for QUAD planning, select the Quad planning option.

Cover full quad Select this option to insure that runs always extend to the limit of a quad sheet.

Prevent additional photos outside of the block. In case of a square block, select this option to avoid extra photo outside of the area limit.

Show quad sheet cut. Select this option to see the underlying quad sheets.

Example: Planning for a single quad sheet, the other map sheets are visible in light blue.

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19 - LOAD AN EXISTING FLIGHT PLAN

Start the program.

Figure 19-1

Figure 19-2

Figure 19-3

If you need to change strips, you must first change the freeze property to NO.

3) Select the flight plan that you want to load.

1) Choose load existing flight plan and press OK.

2) This list shows the names of all projects that contain flight plans. Each project may contain more than one flight plan. Select the project which contains the flight plan you want to load.

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20 - SAVING THE TERRAIN HEIGHT

Common to snapBASE, snapSHOT, snapPLAN. It is possible to save the average ground height for each run. If this is done, the required flying altitude will be displayed in snapSHOT each time a run is selected.

• In snapBASE press the altitude button to show the altitude dialog box.

• In snapPLAN and snapSHOT select the TERRAIN HEIGHT menu from the TOOLS menu

Figure 20-1

Note: To speed up you can skip typing the heights if they are identical to the last height you typed. In this case the previous height is automatically taken. 1=1200 2=1300 3=1500 4= 5= 6= 7=1200 8=800

2) Type the reference ground height (average height) in the text box.

1) Select the unit.

Runs 4,5 and 6 will get 1500.

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21 - USING THE SPECS FORM

Most of the planning data and parameters are displayed by the specs window . It is also possible to use this window to change some of these parameters as well as to create a text file that can be saved to the hard disk or printed.

OBJECT BOX.

SETTINGS BOX.

Located beneath the title bar, the object box shows the name of the current flight plan (if it has one) or the currently selected run or strip. Click the arrow at the right side of the Object box to see the list of planned photo lines. From the list, choose the run or strip of interest to fill the grid with its corresponding data.

Located beneath the Object box, the Settings box is where you can make changes to the item currently selected in the grid. Each time you select an item in the parameter’s grid, its value appears in the setting box. If the characters are grayed, then this value cannot be edited. Otherwise you can enter the new value directly by typing it in the box or, if the setting box arrow is not dimmed, click it and choose from a list of pre-defined settings for the current item. Changes are immediate and can only be undone by retyping the original value.

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PARAMETERS GRID LIST.

Figure 21-1

This two-column grid shows all parameters and specifications connected with to the selected item in the object box. Those that can be changed appear in black characters in the setting box when they are selected. For values that have pre-defined settings, double-clicking on the title in the parameter grid cycles through the available choices. For items with only two choices, double-clicking the grid toggles between the two choices.

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22 - THE CORRIDOR FUNCTION

This function is used to display a “corridor” of a specified width on each side of a line. It is used when it is required to provide photo coverage up to a certain distance from a road, river bank, etc. Remark: The “corridor” is only a visual help to position the photo strips. It is not an automatic planner for single photo strip. Automatic planning will be included in Tracker 2.0.

To use the function, press on the main tool bar, enter the total width of the corridor and click all the required lines (clicking again removes the corridor for that particular segment). If the function does not find a line, the button is popped up.

Figure 22-1

Remark: Most lines in TRACKER are polylines (lines made of segments). Each segment must be clicked to obtain the required effect. Remark: To remove all corridors, press the corridor button, answer NO to the message box and cancel the input box.

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23 - LOADING A BACKGROUND

Figure 23-1

Figure 23-2

Remark: Backgrounds can be selected from any project and several background can be displayed simultaneously. It is therefore possible to re-use graphics from different projects or to keep a library of valuable graphical information (restricted airspace, international borders, etc.). Refer to the CHARTS topic. Remark: A background is only displayed if it covers the project area currently in use.

1) Select load background from the file menu.

3) Select the background.

2) Select the project.

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24 - PRINTING A TEXT FILE

Pressing the Text File button on the specs’ window or the will pop up the text file dialogue box: Be aware before printing that this file can become very large!

Important remark: The text file feature is a simple dump file containing the current data. It is not formatted and is only meant as a working tool. The text file can be directly viewed or printed by any text editor. You can use one of the text editors that come with Windows to view the file. Once the file has been created, it will be automatically displayed in Windows notepad. The file will be saved in the TRACKER\DATA folder

Select whether to print the resulting file.

Select one or more options: Remark: In case of a large project, the file may become very big. The file will be saved in the TRACKER\DATA folder

Select how geographical coordinates should be displayed.

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25 - CONFIGURATION MENU

Last updated 9 December 1999

Ends of run (overhangs) setting. We call overhang (or R.O. factor) the amount of photography to be flown outside of the limits of the area on each end of the runs. This factor is expressed in terms of model width and may vary from 0.1 to 3.0 times the model widths. For example, a factor 1 guarantees that at least one complete model will totally fall outside of the project limits at each runs ends. Some experimenting might be necessary to find the best compromise for complex area shapes (the default is 0.4).

Gap between runs segments In the case of complex area shapes, it is possible that runs will be discontinued and split into individual segments. In this case you can control the maximum length a run is allowed to fall outside of the actual photo area. By default this value is set to 5 model bases, which simply means that if the gap exceeds this length, the run will be cut. In the current release, runs covering more than 10 model bases outside of the project area are automatically split into segments.

Safe width These parameters are used to draw 2 green lines that define a rectangle narrower than the full single strip coverage (red rectangle). This narrow rectangle can be used to avoid positioning details too near the edge of the photos. By default, the green lines are positioned so that they show 80% of the full width. This is the minimum recommended value for large-scale photography. This narrower width is used to position strips so that critical details are safely covered. While drawing or editing a strip, these lateral lines show the currently selected width. Remarks: Single strip planning requires special attention from the designer under condition of ground relief variation. Please remember that the outline of the strip represents only the theoretical coverage on a flat ground. It is a good idea to add some contour lines while digitizing and to keep a topographic map handy at all times.

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To see the full stereoscopic coverage, press the coverage button and click the runs you want to check. The red outline shows the theoretical stereoscopic extent (not accounting for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.). Normally, the red line roughly shows the region that is stereoscopically covered, starting at the position of the first photo until the position of the last photo, therefore ignoring any stereoscopic coverage before and beyond the last photo. Select the option show full photographic coverage to display the full coverage of the strip.

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26 - MENUS

Last updated 6 December 1999

1-FILE MENU

2-HIDE MENU

Return to main menu. Click this item to exit the current planning and return to the main menu.

Basic specs. Click this item to return to the basic specification window in order to change one of the primary parameters, for example the scale.

Save flight plan with a new name. Use this feature to create options and variants of the same flight plan.

Export. Use this menu to create an export flight plan for snapSHOT.

Background. Use this menu to load a background. Refer to the background chapter for details.

By checking the HIDE menu entries, it is possible to hide temporarily parts of the drawing and to restore them later. Use this function to prevent display clutter.

Select hide background to temporarily hide some of the background details.

Save work to database: Save flight plan.

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3-CONFIG MENU

4-EDIT MENU

Renumbers runs snapPLAN numbers runs with an internal arbitrary numbering. Before saving a flight plan, use this menu to renumber the block in one single operation. To do this, click this menu entry, then type the number of the first run in the input box. All the other runs will be numbered consecutively.

Renumber strips snapPLAN numbers strips with an internal arbitrary numbering. Before saving a flight plan, you should renumber all the strips in one single operation. To do this, click this menu entry and type the number of the first strip in the input box. Click each strip one after the other in the order they should be numbered. The new numbering becomes effective when the operation is completed (all strips must be clicked), otherwise the former numbering remains in use.

Remove runs or strips. Self-explanatory (cannot be undone!)

Use this menu to display the planning configuration form to set some of the defaults used by the program. See chapter 44.

Options: This menu displays the options that are available on your computer (most options are add-ons that have to be purchased)

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5-TOOLS MENU

Minimize

Select one of the menu entries to let snapPLAN carry a search to find the run direction that either produces the minimum number of photo models, the minimum number of runs or the minimum flying distance. The normal scan is performed at 5 degrees interval (and might take some time for a large project). It is also possible to select a scan of 1 degrees that will take longer. Important note: In case of equivalent multiple answers, snapPLAN reports only the first flight direction from the North.

See capture menu chapter: Note that this menu will be removed.

Remove simulated photos. To remove photos taken by the software simulators.

Terrain height. See chapter 20.

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27 - CAPTURE MENU

(This feature is not required for normal operation)

Figure 27-1

Select this menu to save the current display as a Windows metafile. A metafile is a Windows graphic file that can easily be imported into other applications. metafile can be scaled but cannot easily be edited.

Select this menu to place on the clipboard a copy of the current display in the Windows metafile format. A metafile is a Windows graphic file that can easily be imported into other applications. Metafiles can be scaled but cannot easily be edited.

Select this menu to save the current display as a Windows bitmap. A bitmap is a Windows graphic file that can easily be imported into other applications. Bitmaps do not scale very well but can be easily edited in a bitmap editor such as Paintbrush.

Select this menu to place on the clipboard a copy of the current display in the Windows bitmap format. A bitmap is a Windows graphic file that can easily be imported into other applications. Bitmaps do not scale very well but can easily be edited in a bitmap editor such as Paintbrush..

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28 - HOW TO RENUMBER STRIPS

It is possible to renumber strips in 2 ways: RENUMBER ALL THE STRIPS CONSECUTIVELY

Select the Renumber all strips sub menu in the Tools menu.

Type the first number from which the numbering has to start, i.e. 100 and so forth. Note that the number must not overlap with existing run numbers.

Click each strip in the order they have to be number.

You must click all the strips. When finished, the new number will automatically be saved.

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RENUMBER INDIVIDUAL STRIPS

It is also possible to renumber individual strips with arbitrary numbers.

Select the spex button

Open the combo box and select the strip to be renumbered.

Type the new number in the combo box and press enter. Only numerical values are allowed.

The new number will be automatically saved.

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29 - PLANNING SINGLE PHOTO

Added July 1998 It is possible to plan single photos that will be automatically fired by snapSHOT above the required positions.

Place the program in single strip mode. Press the single photo toggle button .

Press the strip button and proceed as with normal photo strips.

Place the cursor at the position where the photo has to be made, then move the cursor until the photo cover the required area. The single photo can be edited (rotated, moved, etc.) with the usual edit function.

Several photos can be planned on the same flight plan. Save as usual.

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30 - MOSAICING BACKGROUNDS

Last updated 11 October 1998 Added 08/98 It is possible to load simultaneously several backgrounds to create a larger planning area. For example, you can save several DXF map tile in snapXYZ and load them in snapPLAN as a mosaic. To proceed, start snapPLAN and simply select several backgrounds from the background list:

All the backgrounds will be loaded together.

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31 - MERGING FLIGHT PLANS

Last updated 11 October 1998 Added 10/08 It is possible to merge several flight plans from one project into one single flight plan. This feature will allow the crew to display all the runs belonging to one project in snapSHOT, instead of having to switch between flight plans. INTRODUCTION

snapPLAN does not allow the user to give more than one set of specification to create a flight plan based on parallel runs. Runs belonging to one flight plan can only have one scale, one forward overlap, etc. For example, if the user want to fly an area at two different altitude, he has to create 2 different flight plans. If the user wished to do so, it is now possible to merge these flight plans into one. In this case the runs are converted into individual single strips, which can have different specifications. For the crew, the results will be the same as if they were dealing with runs (other than the fact that their screen will be more cluttered, watch it). PROCEDURE

start snapPLAN and select the option 3) Merge existing flight plans?

All the selected flight plans will now be converted to single strips. Select save and give a new name to the merged flight plan.

Select the flight plans you want to merge. Note: All the flight plans must belong to the same project and have the same coordinates systems.

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32 - GRID OVERLAY

Last updated 15 December 1998 This function gives the user additional flexibility to optimize the planning. It allows the user to manually shift the photo block with the mouse to find the optimum position. Unnecessary runs can be discarded. On the block toolbar, press the grid overlay button then press one of the runs buttons (E/W, N/S or draw a run direction). When the runs will be drawn, a grid will be shown. Each individual rectangle represents a stereoscopic model.

Use the RIGHT mouse button to pick the grid and to shift it around until you are satisfied that the runs cover the area as you wish. You can use the left mouse button to move the whole drawing.

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You can press the full coverage button to check that the runs actually cover the area. Remark: Please account for variations in terrain height, aircraft altitude, camera orientation, etc.

You can then use the kill button to remove unwanted runs.

The thick red outline shows the theoretical photographic extent.

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33 - AUTOMATIC PLANNING (OPTION)

The automatic planning was developed for the Northern Ireland Ordnance Survey. The concept can be extended to other users, please contact Track'air if such a feature would be of interest to your organization. OVERVIEW

The system only applies to 10,000 map sheets revision planning. It automatically generates parallel runs and cross strips as in the following example:

OPERATION

Start snapPLAN.

When the select project dialog box is displayed, select the menu Sheetcut, then Northern Ireland.

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When finished, press OK, then wait until the save menu is display (the rest of the operations is automatic, please do not attempt to intervene until the save menu is displayed).

Select the map sheet numbers from the list...

..or click the map sheets which are required. Clicking a second time will deselect the sheet.

Give here the name of the flight plan (by default a name based on the date and time is given).

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RUN AND CROSS STRIPS NUMBERING

The runs are numbered from 1 to 89 and the cross strips are numbered from 1011 to 1201 as follows: the first digits 1(000) is used to identify a strip, the second and third digits, 01 to 20 are used to identify the actual strip number, the forth digit is used to identify different sections of a cross strips when this is required:

OSNIREV OVERVIEW FLIGHT PLAN

To simplify the management of the project, all photos made on any flight plan belonging to the OSNIREV project will also be automatically copied to a general flight plan overview call OSNIREV. For the system to operate properly, the project OSNIREV and flight plan OSNIREV must be present in the database. The numbering of the OSNIREV plan cross strips follows the convention described above. Note: The OSNIREV flight plan excludes the 3 sheets which are drawn on a different grid than the others. These sheets should be flown separately.

Strip 12, section 1 and 2.

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34 - LARGE FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS (NEW ENTRY FORM)

Last updated 20 December 1999

Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

Select from the list the negative size that corresponds to your camera.

Types in this box the photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale. You can also plan for a required altitude (in meters or feet) or footprint. The altitudes and footprint are linked together and changing one affects the others.

Enter the lateral overlap (0% to 95%) or enter the spacing in meters. Enter either the lateral overlap or the spacing. The lateral overlap (sidelap) and spacing are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the lateral overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the spacing.

Enter the forward overlap (0% to 95%) or enter the photo base in meters. The forward overlap (endlap) and base are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the forward overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the base.

Defaults menu: Allows to save the current specifications as defaults or use the previously saved defaults values.

Scale conversions menu: Allow to convert non-metric scales into metric scale used by TRACKER (1/XXXXXX).

Menu special: Only for special options.

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35 - SMALL FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

Last updated 6 December 1999 1) PLANNING PARAMETERS

Open the combos box and select the required camera system (see next page to add new camera definition)

These 5 parameters are linked together. Changing one of them will affect the others. The scale can also be changed with the menu scale conversion (for non-metric scales).

Defaults menu: Allows to save the current specifications as defaults or use the previously saved defaults values.

Scale conversions menu: Allow to convert non-metric scales into metric scale used by TRACKER (1/XXXXXX).

These 4 parameters are linked together. Changing one of them will affect the others. Sidelap = % lateral overlap (0% to 95%) Spacing = distance between 2 runs Endlap = % forward overlap (0% to 95%) Photo base = distance between photos. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the forward overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the base.

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2) CHANGE OR ADD A CAMERA DEFINITION

To add a new camera system, enter the new system name in the text box, change the cameras parameters and press the save button. To change an existing system, make sure that the camera is selected in the active windows, edit the parameters and press the save button To delete a camera system, make sure that the camera is selected in the active windows and press the delete button. It is not possible to remove the LAST camera.

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36 - DIGITAL CAMERAS SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

Last updated 6 December 1999 1) PLANNING PARAMETERS

Open the combos box and select the required camera system (see next page to add new camera definition)

These 7 parameters are linked together. Changing one of them will affect the others. The scale can also be changed with the menu scale conversion (for non-metric scales).

Defaults menu: Allows to save the current specifications as defaults or use the previously saved defaults values.

Scale conversions menu: Allow to convert non-metric scales into metric scale used by TRACKER (1/XXXXXX).

These 4 parameters are linked together. Changing one of them will affect the others. Sidelap = % lateral overlap (0% to 95%) Spacing = distance between 2 runs Endlap = % forward overlap (0% to 95%) Photo base = distance between photos. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the forward overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the base.

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2) CHANGE OR ADD A CAMERA DEFINITION

To add a new camera system, enter the new system name in the text box, change the cameras parameters and press the save button. To change an existing system, make sure that the camera is selected in the active windows, edit the parameters and press the save button To delete a camera system, make sure that the camera is selected in the active windows and press the delete button. It is not possible to remove the LAST camera.

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37 - FRAME SCANNER SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

Last updated 6 December 1999

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38 - LINE SCANNER SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

Last updated 6 December 1999

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39 - GEOPHYSICS SPECIFICATIONS (OPTION)

Last updated 6 December 1999

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40 - PINPOINT GEOGRAPHICS (NEW ENTRY FORM)

Last updated 7 December 1999

Defaults menu: Allows to save the current specifications as defaults or use the previously saved defaults values.

Scale conversions menu: Allow to convert non-metric scales into metric scale used by TRACKER (1/XXXXXX).

Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

Select from the list the negative size that corresponds to your camera.

Special menu: For special type of planning. 1) USA QUAD

Select the direction of flight here. Geographic pinpoint planning can only be orientated East-West or North-South.

In this box type the nominal photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale.

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Type the coordinates of the “origin” in degrees, minutes and seconds. Explanations: Planning a pinpoint job results in a lattice of photo points whose individual position are related to each other. snapPLAN uses this characteristic to define the pinpoint project. Initially, one arbitrary photo point has to be given as “origin”. This can be any of the photo points providing it is selected within the rectangle bounding the project area. To determine the origin, one has to look at the specification documents or maps to find a photo position that qualifies. Remark: snapPLAN does not perform any checking on the coverage provided by pinpoint specifications. It is necessary to verify that there is sufficient overlap and that the resulting coverage will be suitable for the intended purpose.

Enter the spacing in unit of latitude or longitude: Minutes and decimal E.G. 5.5 The label right show the spacing in minutes and seconds E.G. 5 30 The last label shows the spacing in approximate percentage of the lateral overlap. (Approximate because the lateral overlap varies along N/S photo lines)

Enter the photo base in unit of latitude or longitude: Minutes and decimal E.G. 5.5 The label right show the base in minutes and seconds E.G. 5 30 The last label shows the base in approximate percentage of the forward overlap. (Approximate because the forward overlap varies with the latitude of E/W runs)

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41 - PINPOINT GRID (NEW ENTRY FORM)

Last updated 6 December 1999

Defaults menu: Allows to save the current specifications as defaults or use the previously saved defaults values.

Scale conversions menu: Allow to convert non-metric scales into metric scale used by TRACKER (1/XXXXXX).

Open the combo box and select the focal lens specified for this project. If an area has to be flown with more than one focal, you must make a new flight plan for each lens.

Select from the list the negative size that corresponds to your camera.

In this box type the nominal photo scale at which the project has to be flown. If an area has to be flown at more than one scale, you have to make a new flight plan for each scale.

Enter the lateral overlap (0% to 95%) or enter the spacing in meters. Enter either the lateral overlap or the spacing. The lateral overlap (sidelap) and spacing are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the lateral overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the spacing.

Enter the forward overlap (0% to 95%) or enter the photo base in meters. The forward overlap (endlap) and base are linked together and changing one affects the other. Remark: As soon as a field is edited, it becomes bold. This indicates that this entry has the priority. It will remain constant if the photo-scale is varied. For example, if the forward overlap is bold then changes in scale will only affect the base.

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Enter here the direction of flight. You can give the direction in 3 ways:

b) Click EW or NS to be parallel to the grid.

b) Or enter the true course of the runs from the origin point (orientated with another grid).

b) Or enter a second point. The direction is determined by the angle between the point of origin and this point.

Type the northing and easting coordinates of the origin. Planning a pinpoint job results in a lattice of photo points whose individual position are related to each other. snapPLAN uses this characteristic to define the pinpoint project. Initially, one photo point has to be given as “origin”. This can be any of the photo points providing it is selected within the rectangle bounding the project area. To determine the origin, one has to look at the specification documents or maps to find a photo position that qualifies. Grid zones. In the case of a grid project, the coordinates of the reference origin that you choose determine the zone in which the planning will be done. Please remember that at the junction of 2 zones, the grids have a different orientation. Generally east-west photo lines are interrupted after the zone boundary to allow for the change of direction of the grid. In some other cases, the client requires that the lines be extended into the other zone. Practically, if your project spans across 2 or 3 zones, you could do the following: - Make 2 different flight plans by taking a reference origins in each zone and trim the runs at the zone boundary.

- Make one flight plan by selecting the reference origin in the zone required by the client and keep the runs in one line.

snapPLAN always places the boundaries between zones along the East side of the map sheet where the jump occurs, not in the middle of the map as is usual. The maximum width of a single area should not spread across more than 2 zones. Remark: snapPLAN does not perform any checking on the coverage provided by pinpoint specifications. Please verify that there is sufficient overlap and that the resulting coverage will be suitable for the intended purpose.

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42 - NON METRIC SCALE CONVERSIONS

Last updated 6 December 1999

Move the slider until the correct scale is indicated in the corresponding label (you cannot type directly in the labels). Press Apply to transfer the scale. .

Page 79: THE TRACKER - Track Air - HomeAir X-TRACK snapPLAN manual.pdf · TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems ZUTPHENSTRAAT 55, 7575 EJ OLDENZAAL, THE NETHERLANDS Tel +31 - 541 229030 - Fax +31

TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

43-1snapPLAN aerial survey system

43 - SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT (OPTIONS)

Last updated 7 December 1999 If your software options allow you to prepare flight plan with different type of equipment, you will have to select the one that will be used for planning. Flight plans prepared for different devices cannot be merged. Note that certain type of equipment correspond to a special option which must be purchased separately from Track’air. On 7/12/99, The system support planning for the following type of equipment:

• Large format cameras

• Small and medium format film cameras

• Digital cameras

• Frame scanners (rectangular scan)

• Line scanners

• Geophysics (generic type of planning)

• Custom 1 (special for NERC, UK)

Page 80: THE TRACKER - Track Air - HomeAir X-TRACK snapPLAN manual.pdf · TRACK'AIR Aerial Survey Systems ZUTPHENSTRAAT 55, 7575 EJ OLDENZAAL, THE NETHERLANDS Tel +31 - 541 229030 - Fax +31

TRACK'AIR © 1995 - 2008

44-1snapPLAN aerial survey system

44 - NOTES