MARS v Release Notes Revised: December 20, 2018 (Builds )

Transcription

1 MARS v Release Notes Revised: December 20, 2018 (Builds ) Contents New Features:... 2 Enhancements:... 2 List of Bug Fixes

2 STATEMENT OF KNOWN ISSUE: The following Albers coordinate reference systems do not write a correct WKT or PRJ tag to either LAS or shapefile data EPSG codes 5070, 5071, 5072, and These are the four (4) variations of the NAD83-based Conus Albers projected coordinate system. A fix for this issue is being developed by Blue Marble Geographics, who supplies the datasource dictionary used in all MARS coordinate conversion and coordinate definition tools and functions. The next release of MARS will include this fix, and a patch may be issued before that release. Affected tools and functions for these four coordinate systems include but may not be limited to Export, GeoCalc, Add Spatial Index, and Add CRS Info. New Features: USGS NGP LBS 1.3 compliance testing The QC Module in MARS now includes a drop-down selection for testing data compliance against the latest revision of the USGS NGP Lidar Base Specification Version 1.3. This is in addition to the pre-existing choices of testing compliance with the LBS Version 1.2 and Version 1.0 standards. There are many changes to the new Version 1.3 tool, so careful examination of the help file is recommended. See the Help Topic Quality Control USGS 1.3 QC Module for details and usage. The General Information sub-topic contains a link to the entire specification as published by the USGS. Multiple new shortcut keys implemented There have been four (4) new shortcuts keys added to increase productivity and aid in data reviewing tasks: Shift-B -- immediate save of breaklines when naming has already been established. Ctrl-M -- displays only Class 2 (ground) and Class 20 (superseded). Ctrl-H -- displays only Class 8 (regardless of any legacy Model Key-point bit flag status). Ctrl-<arrow keys> -- Pan in direction of arrow by a pre-selected percentage (set in Misc. Options). See the Help Topics Reference Information Keyboard Accelerators and Tab and Ribbon Layout Options Tab for details. Enhancements: Revised datasource used for all Coordinate Conversion functions MARS now uses the latest GeoCalc SDK version 7.4 from Blue Marble Geographics to control all Coordinate Conversion functions. These include, but are not limited to: GeoCalc, GeoEdit, Add CRS Info, and the Projection tab on the Export tool interface. This new datasource includes many new systems as well as several revisions to existing ones. 2

3 Transforms tab available for limited Export types The Transforms tab (for XYZ shifting and multipliers) on the Export tool interface is now available only for the LAS, Text ASCII, and Contours Shapefile export types. This is to encourage any necessary shifting/stretching to be done to the source data, not derivative products. Multiple enhancements made to Volumetrics tool The Volumetrics tool has several enhancements: analyzing one or more strata for Cut calculations based on lower/upper elevation limits; selecting one or more polygons from a loaded (as Tile) shapefile to be analyzed both individually (based on a unique attribute) and in aggregate; saving and re-using settings based on an XML file. Multiple enhancements for Canopy Density extraction tool The Canopy Density extraction tool has several enhancements: when the tool is added to a macro script, batch processing of tiled DAT (ENVI) can be done; the Extraction by Polygon and Extraction from Selected Polygons methods can now be used (for the latter method, only one polygon can be selected per operation); vertical layering has been clarified in the tool interface. Revised classification for superseded points in breakline operations Per the latest USGS specifications, the default classification for superseded points when adding breaklines or using the Reassess Points for Superseded Classification tool is now 20. This is set in the Compilation Options section of the Breakline Properties interface. Clearing of Model Key-point bit flags when ground points are superseded When ground points are set to superseded by either adding breaklines or using the Reassess Points for Superseded Classification tool, any Model Key-point bit flags will be cleared. Clearing of Model Key-point bit flags for Target Class in LiDAR Spatial Reclass tool When using the LiDAR Spatial Reclass tool, all Class 2 (ground) that is reclassed to the selected Target Class will have any Model Key-point bit flags cleared. 3

4 Meters to be reported first in all QCM LDC and QCM LCC testing For all tests that show units in both the LiDAR Workflow QC 1 LiDAR Data Checks and LiDAR Workflow QC 2 LiDAR Calibration Checks tools in the QC Module drop-down list, Meters will be listed first followed by Feet, except for test DC4 in the Data Checks tool which lists only Points per Square Meter. Time Conversion option removed from the GeoCalc interface The Convert to Adjusted GPS Time option has been removed from the GeoCalc tool interface, since there is already a complete standalone GPS Time Conversion tool under the Edit Date/Time drop-down on the Tools tab. Export warning message when the chosen PDRF is lower than the source data During Export, when choosing a Point Data Record Format (PDRF) that is a lower number than the input data (e.g., input data is PDRF 7 and the output selection is PDRF 6), the following message will be displayed: "The selected Point Data Record Format (PDRF) may cause some loss of information in the output files. You can continue (OK) or choose a different PDRF (Cancel)." Batch Process Tiles warning message when the chosen PDRF is lower than the source data When using the Batch Process Tiles tool, if a Point Data Record Format (PDRF) is selected that is a lower number than the input data (e.g., input data is PDRF 7 and the output selection is PDRF 6), the following message will be displayed: "The selected Point Data Record Format (PDRF) may cause some loss of information in the output files. You can continue (OK) or choose a different PDRF (Cancel)." Intensity export grid types now have two options for Algorithm selection For Intensity-based Grid exports Esri ASCII Grid, Float Grid, IMG, and TIFF the choices for Algorithm (method) are either Grid from TIN (default) or Closest Point to Cell Centroid. Results table for QCM LDC test DC3 enhanced with color coding For test DC3 (Report on Point Density and Nominal Pulse Spacing) of the LiDAR Workflow QC 1 LiDAR Data Checks tool in the QC Module drop-down list, the results table now uses green and red fonts to indicate compliance or non-compliance with the USGS Lidar Base Specification Version 1.3 based on the Required NPS and Horizontal data Units entered on the Input tab. 4

5 Re-flights included in QCM USGS test C-4 for proper density reporting In the results table for test C-4 of the USGS NGP Version 1.2 tool in the QC Module drop-down list, re-flights will be included with original flights to obtain more accurate final point density and spacing values. The pairing of a re-flight with an original non-compliant swath will have its results displayed immediately after the non-compliant swath. This same methodology is also in place for test C-4 of the USGS NGP Version 1.3 tool. Frequency distribution chart added to QCM LCC test CC1 For test CC1 of the LiDAR Workflow QC 2 LiDAR Calibration Checks tool in the QC Module drop-down list, a frequency distribution chart has been added to more clearly display the RMSDz values detected during testing. This is similar to the chart provided with test DPH-9.1 of the USGS NGP Version 1.3 tool in the QC Module drop-down list. 5

6 Frequency distribution chart added to QCM LDC test DC3 For test DC3 of the LiDAR Workflow QC 1 LiDAR Data Checks tool in the QC Module drop-down list, a frequency distribution chart has been added to more clearly display the point density and spacing values detected during testing. This is similar to the chart provided with test C-4 of the USGS NGP Version 1.3 tool in the QC Module drop-down list. 64-bit versions of the Quick Classifications and Ground Filter EXE files are now used for those tools When running the Quick Classifications or Ground Filter tools, the EXE files used are now 64-bit to improve performance. In addition, improved pre-checking is done to insure that the necessary files are in the correct path, and that a valid license from LAStools exists (if used in a commercial, government, or production environment). See the Help Topics Data Classification (Manual & Batch) Quick Classifications and Data Classification (Manual & Batch) Filter Action Ground Filter for details. 6

7 Empty Float Grids removed from output folder of Export to prevent wasted storage space and possible issues When empty Float Grid files are produced by Export usually due to insufficient LAS data within the boundary of a tile they take up as much storage space as a good Float Grid because of the rows-and-columns nature of a raster file. In addition, if these empty Float Grids are included in a batch to create gridded LAS files ( Convert tool on the Project/Data Preparation tab), MARS may hang or crash while attempting to make empty LAS files. The output directory of Export will now be checked for empty Float Grid files based on all cells being marked as NODATA. Enhancements for Ctrl-Z undo function during breakline compilation While compiling breaklines, the Ctrl-Z shortcut key function (vertex undo) will now work following the placement of a three-point arc. The arc will be removed back to its first point and the arc function will be disabled until the user reinvokes it by left-clicking and pressing the A key where the arc is to begin. List of Bug Fixes: Bug fixed in Contours Shapefile export type causing too many exported contour lines to be moved to the Removed sub-folder. Bug fixed causing a program hang when using Quick Classifications with large tiles (full section size or larger). Bug fixed when converting from GPS Week Time to Adjusted GPS Time using the GPS Time Conversion tool, causing the thinned points to still display the original week time. Bug fixed when reloading a saved MPD with a reference shapefile having an attribute other than ID labeled. Bug fixed causing error messages, incomplete output, and crashes when exporting Flightline Separation JPEG 2000 rasters (a.k.a. FSR) by tile. Bug fixed causing a crash when canceling a Place Cross-Section Line or Place an Adjustable Cross-Section Line operation by right-clicking before the line is completed. Bug fixed causing the loaded data to disappear in a Cross-Section/Profile window when a cross-section area is created that is exactly horizontal, and the mouse scroll wheel is immediately used to rotate the area. Bug fixed causing a crash when Cross-Section/Profile-related tools were invoked on the Custom Tab and no Cross-Section/Profile window was open. Bug fixed causing Canopy Density extraction tool to crash when used in an XML script with the Filter Region method. 7