The Section View feature enables accurate vertical and horizontal project sections, ensuring vectorization on a single plane. Easily adjust the section box parameters to define and control section content for enhanced precision and customization.
Note: The Section view is replacing the Profile View feature and is available from PIX4Dsurvey version 1.62 and above
IN THIS ARTICLE
Section view in PIX4Dsurvey
Access
To access the Section view:
- From the bottom panel, navigate to
Section View - From the Content Panel on the left side, navigate to
Sections
How to create a section
There are two methods available (in 3D view), depending on the use case:
- Draw Section: A line is drawn to indicate the desired location for the vertical section. This method is ideal for scenarios where sections are not interconnected.
- Select Polyline: A polyline is selected to serve as a guide for multiple sections. This method is primarily used in terrain and road workflows, where a polyline (e.g., the axis of a road) is selected to maintain sectioning over an extended distance.
Steps Interval [units]: To create multiple parallel sections, define an interval and use the Previous < or Next >arrows to step through the sections. Each time the Previous or Next buttons are clicked, the Section view will move parallel to the project. The minimum value is 0.1 m or 0.1 ft. The default value is 0.3 m or 1 ft.
Tip: It is possible to start drawing a profile anytime using the Ctrl+D key combination.
Adjusting the section box
The section box defines the visible area in the bottom panel. The half-transparent face represents the section plane, which faces the interior of the box. Ensure the plane is oriented towards the region intended for vectorization.
To adjust the section box, there are two options:
- From the 3D view: Provides a quick and rough box adjustment.
- From the bottom panel: Allows for precise adjustments of the box's height, width, and depth. The depth determines the visible area in the bottom panel, and this method offers greater control over rotation angles.
- Use the invert profile direction icon in the bottom panel.
Information: The grid in the section can be used to have an estimation of the scale. There are major and minor lines. The distance between the lines can be seen in the bottom right corner. This value is automatically updated when zooming in or out.
Navigation:
- Use the mouse scroll wheel or pinch zoom on the trackpad to zoom into the section.
Click and drag with the mouse cursor to pan within the section. - To invert the direction of the section, click on the Invert button
. - To reset the view, click on the Reset view button
. This will reset the section view focusing on the profile box. - To rotate the section, click on the Rotate section 90° button
. - For more information click on the Info button
.
Vectorize
After creating the section box, the next step is to vectorize it manually or by using the Draping function.
The Draping function automatically locates the best-fitting polyline for the terrain and applies this polyline to both the Section view and the 3D view.
To use this feature:
- Click on the Draw section or select a section box from the 3D view
- Navigate to Draping
- Click on Drape in section
A polyline will automatically be created in the section view and the 3D view. When using Drape in section, adjust the polyline's complexity once it is visible in the scene.
Each section is listed in the Content panel under "Sections," aiding in navigation, toggling, deletion, and export selection.
Geometries (i.e. polylines) are stored in the vector layers along with other elements. All geometries created, manually or via the Drape in section function, are constrained to the section plane and can only be edited in the Section View bottom panel. Geometries cannot be moved out of the section plane. To break this link:
- Delete the section from the Content Panel, which will then enable the geometries or
- Right-click the geometry in the Section view panel and select Detach [geometry] from section.
Tip: For sections created from a polyline (select polyline), offset the polyline by the desired amount, place it in the preferred location, or fill in the information in the pop-up and confirm.
Export
After creating the Section view and modifying the settings, click on Export to export the Section view to the location identified in the Destination setting. The status bar will be updated with the progress of the export. After the export is complete, a .dxf file will be created in the desired location for further use. The .dxf file will contain the polyline(s) created within each Section view.