The visualization toolbar is used to change the way you view your surface. To open it, click Visualization Toolbar on the Optimization Toolbar.

The themes and different views are seen in the four categories defined below.

Tip: In some cases, it may be beneficial to not see the grading object in the display. You can hide objects or object types in the Grading Objects Browser. Expand the browser to the node you want to hide and place your cursor over it. Select the Visibility icon to hide it. Select it again to view it.

Result

The Result views visualize specific data for analysis. When using Result views, you will not be able to select a theme or topology. To use Themes and Topology, you will need to disable Result views by selecting None.

Cut-Fill

The Cut-Fill view displays the surface triangles as either cut or fill in the optimization process. This visualization shows the degree of earthwork that will be involved. Surface triangles in a cut area are shown in red. Triangles in a fill area are shown in green. Colors darken the more the surface elevation changes. Gray triangles represent no elevation change.

The legend displays the maximum depth at the top and the minimum depth at the bottom.

Violations

The Violation view displays triangles that are not yet optimized to meet the constraints and objectives of the project in either maroon or red. Place your cursor over a red triangle to see the violation data. For more information, see Violation Views.

The legend is not used in Violation view.

Theme

Theme displays the surface by coloring the surface triangles based on specific traits: elevation, slope, or direction. Theme can use either Topology option.

Elevation

The surface triangles in an Elevation view are color-coded by elevation. Purples represent the lowest elevation and reds represent the highest elevations.

The legend displays the colors in relation to their true elevation in Elevation view.

Constant

The surface triangles in a Constant view are a monotone gray, regardless of their elevation. This view is useful for viewing contour and wireframe lines during optimization.

The legend is not used in Constant view.

Grayscale

The surface triangles in a Grayscale view are color-coded by elevation. Black represents the lowest elevation and white represents the highest elevations. The grays get progressively lighter as elevation increases. Grayscale is useful when the contrast in elevation is necessary.

The legend displays the elevations in relation to their representative gray in Grayscale view.

Slope

The surface triangles in a Slope view are color-coded by the percentage of their slope.

The legend displays the slope percentage range in relation to their color in Slope view. You can change the number of ranges, their percentage weights, and colors, in the Visualization Settings dialog.

Aspect

The surface triangles in an Aspect view are color-coded by the direction of their slope.

The Aspect view does not have a bar legend. It uses a color-coded compass rose to represent the slope direction of the surface triangles where north is yellow, east is blue, south is purple, and west is red. Colors blend evenly around the compass.

Topology

Topology specifies how the surface lines should be viewed in your selected theme. Select either Contours or Wireframe.

Contours

Contours mark elevation changes of the surface. They can be applied to any theme as shown in the images above. Contours have been applied to a Constant view to the left, and an Elevation view to the right.

You can change the base elevation and the intervals of contours in the Visualization Settings dialog.

Wireframe

Wireframes display the surface triangles along the surface. They can be applied to any theme as shown in the images above. Wireframes have been applied to a Constant view to the left, and an Elevation view to the right.

Hydrology

Hydrology applies drainage visualization to your Result or Theme view. Disable Hydrology by selecting None.

Direction Vectors

Direction Vectors overlay surface triangles with arrows showing the intended drainage direction of each triangle. The arrows are orientated toward the closest Drain Line or the closest Low Point.

The example above is shown on a grayscale theme for contrast.