Visualization / Animation
Visualization
GMS is a powerful graphical tool for both model creation and visualization of results. A groundwater model can be displayed in plan view or 3D oblique view, and rotated interactively. Cross-sections and fence diagrams may be cut arbitrarily anywhere in the model. Hidden surface removal, and color and light source shading can be used to generate highly photorealistic rendered images. Contours and color fringes can be used to display the variation of input data or computed results.
The following figure illustrates a scanned TIFF image draped on the top of a MODFLOW model.
GMS utilizes the OpenGL graphics engines for all 3D visualization, both wireframe and shaded. This means that all displays are rendered using hardware acceleration. Fully shaded 3D images can be rendered instantaneously. Complex 3D objects can be rotated in real time in either shaded or wireframe mode.
Cross-sections and iso-surfaces can be interactively generated from 3D meshes, grids, and solids, allowing the user to quickly visualize the 3D model. GMS has a full suite of tools designed for Site Characterization and Visualization
Iso-surface rendering is a powerful tool for visualizing 3D data sets. Iso-surfaces can be generated for 3D grids and 3D meshes. An iso-surface is the 3D equivalent of a contour line. While a contour line is a line of constant value extracted from a surface, an iso-surface is a surface of constant value extracted from a 3D data set. An iso-surface visualization of a contaminant plume is shown below:
Animation
One of the most powerful visualization tools in GMS is animation. Animation film loops can be generated from any transient data set in seconds. The film loop can be played back in GMS or saved as a Windows video file (*.avi) file for inclusion in web pages (as shown below) or PowerPoint presentations.
Both steady-state and transient solutions can be displayed in an animated format using either vector, iso-surface, color fringe, or contour animation. For example, animation of a transient solution allows the user to observe how head, drawdown, velocity, and contaminate concentration vary with time.
In addition, GMS can also sweep an iso-surface through the 3D model. The minimum and maximum iso-surface values are determined from the model and the program will then linearly interpolate and display multiple iso-surfaces in rapid succession. This allows the user to quickly understand the spatial variation of a contaminant plume, for example.
Moving view animations can also be created in GMS. This option can be used in combination with any other animation options to change how you view the data as the animation proceeds. Views are defined and associated with particular frames of the animation. GMS will interpolate between the defined views to determine what the view should be at every frame.
For more detailed information on the Visualization and Animation options in GMS visit the following GMS wiki links:
www.xmswiki.com/...DisplayOptionswww.xmswiki.com/...ContourOptions
www.xmswiki.com/...IsoSurfaces
www.xmswiki.com/...Animations