Synopsis

This ECOTECT tutorial explains how to manipulate the analysis grid to acheive a desired visual result.

Duration

You will need about 15 minutes to complete this tutorial.

Training and Accreditation

Successfully completing this tutorial fulfills one of the practical skills required for completing Level 1 of the Solar Radiation Analysis training module.

Resources Required

To complete this tutorial, open the Stadium.eco file located in the Examples folder of your Ecotect installation.

Tutorial

1. Open the example file, and in the Analysis Grid panel, click on the Display Analysis Grid button. The analysis grid is currently configured to show the Uniform Sky Factor falling on the stadium pitch for the current day. However, you'll notice that the analysis grid is not particularly useful in its current state, as all associated display options have been turned off.
   

   The analysis grid in its raw state.
   
2. Most of the basic settings that control the display of the analysis grid can be found under the Grid Settings section of the panel. Let's examine these one by one to see what impact they have on the analysis grid display.
3. The Show Gridlines checkbox toggles the display of the lines between each grid cell.
4. The Shade Grid Squares checkbox toggles the display of each grid cell as a colour-filled block. The colour corresponds to the scale shown in the top-right of the 3D Editor canvas.
   

   Gridlines on.

   

   Gridlines off.
5. Show Contour Lines displays values as a series of contours over the grid. The range and increment of contours can be specified under the Grid Data_Scale section of the panel. If Shade Grid Squares option is also checked, the contours are shown as coloured bands instead of lines. Contour bands provide a smoother visualization of the analysis grid values, as opposed to the fixed size of the grid cells.
   

   With Shade Grid Values On.

   

   With Shade Grid Values Off.
6. The Clip to Minimum checkbox is used in conjunction with the Minimum value field under the Grid Data_Scale section of the panel. When checked, values below the specified minimum value are not displayed on the analysis grid. Click the Fit scale to values button to reset the minimum and maximum values for the analysis grid.
   

   Clip to Minimum hides values below the specified minimum from being displayed on the analysis grid.
7. Show Grid Axis displays a 3D axis around the grid with units. If neither the Show Gridlines or Shade Grid Squares options are selected, the axis shows the actual cell indexes in each direction.
   

   Grid Axis visible.

   

   Cell index.
8. The Show Node Values checkbox option displays the numeric value currently stored at each grid node. also has two sub-options. Peaks & Troughs displays the value at a grid node when all surrounding points are either higher or lower (on a relatively smooth grid this usually gives a clearer view than showing all node values). Selected Only displays values only at grid points that are currently selected (see the Display Analysis Grid Solar Radiation Values tutorial for more information about this sub-option).
   

   Show Node Values.

   

   Peaks
9. When the Show Average Value is checked, the average grid value is displayed in the bottom-left corner of the 3D Editor canvas. This is simply the sum of all visible node values divided by the number of nodes summed.
   

   Show Average Value.
10. Show Values in 3D displays each point value with an offset based on its value and the current scale. This produces an undulating grid surface as opposed to a flat plane, and assists in providing more visual emphasis to the values of the analysis grid.
    

    Show Values in 3D.
11. Lastly, many of the analysis grid display options are also visible under the Visualise tab. Combined with OpenGL rendering capabilities, compelling images can be created in conjunction with the analysis grid.
    

    Many analysis grid options also display under the Visualise tab.

Useful Tips

• Any and/or all of the above analysis grid display options can be used in conjunction with each other.
• If you change the minimum or maximum values for the analysis grid, be careful that this doesn't distort the representation of the grid data (eg. reducing the range to make the zone seem brighter).