Cross Plot - Overlay Image
StephB
.jpg map image onto a cross plot of longitude versus latitude. I've
created the cross plot, set the required min and max x and y-axes
values, set the desired tail value, and moved over the latitude and
longitude parameters. Since I wasn't able to overlay the image, I'm
guessing that I'll have to create my own activeX control for this
capability?
Jim Bretz
Nah... We wouldn't make you go through all that effort ;)
We could add the capability to load a bitmap in the back of a crossplot
pretty easily for you. But first, you might want to check out our
"aircraft location display" ActiveX control to see if it meets your
needs. It's called "IadsSA.IadsMovingMap" and it's sole purpose in life
is to do what you've specified.
Of course, you'll need further questions answered on how to use the
display... And you'll probably need us to send you a map (or
calculation a .geo file for your .jpg map image). For the display to
work properly, it needs to know latitude/longitude/projection
information for the map (jpg) that you are using. We can help calculate
this info.
Here's an example map for the Los Angeles area, so you can get an idea
of what the display does:
What do you think?
Jim
Jim Bretz
I found the display in the help manual. Click the "index" tab in the
help window and type in "Moving map display". If you need any more
specifics, or you need us to send you a map (or calculate the .geo file
for your jpg), just holler.. The info about the geo-referencing is at
the bottom of the message.
Here's a clip from the help file:
The Moving Map control allows the user to display a raster map image
with one or more aircraft accurately positioned over the map. Using
the standard IADS drag and drop interface, parameter information such
as latitude, longitude, airspeed and heading are applied to each
aircraft to present control room engineers with real time situational
awareness capability.
At any time after the IADS moving map has been created and a map has
been loaded, the user has the option to overlay the image with vector
symbols such as polygons, lines, circles and text. This information is
stored in a text file with a very simple .CSV format. Once plotted on
the map, each individual overlay can be turned on or off via the
right-click pop up menu.
The Moving Map display can hold two map images. You can switch between
a VFR and an IFR map.
To add the Moving Map display icon to the Display Builder:
Click the Display Builder dashboard button.
Click on the Active X Controls tab on the Display Builder.
Right-click the mouse inside the tab.
Click the IadsSA.IadsMovingMap.1 check box.
Click OK.
To create a Moving Map display:
Create a Moving Map Active X display.
Click the Open Map File button.
Select the desired map file. See Note.
Click OK.
Creating an Overlay File
Setting Up an Overlay File - Below is an actual overlay file, use it as
a starting point to guide you in creating your own overlay file.
Select the text below and copy/paste it into Notepad", and save the
file on your computer.
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// This is a template for a very rudimentary overlay input file for
// the IADS moving map display.
//
// Comment lines like this one begin with two forward slashes.
//
//
//
// The "TYPE" keyword is next, followed by one of the following:
// 1. Polygon - The remainder of the overlay block will consist of
pairs of latitude longitude
// points which will be plotted to form a polygon on the
display.
// 2. Ellipse - The next two lines will consist of pairs of latitude
longitude values which
// define the upper left and lower right points of a
bounding rectangle for an ellipse.
// 3. Text - The next point will be the latitude and longitude to
begin the text string.
// The text string is identified within the overlay block
by the keyword "String," followed
// by a string value.
// 4. Icon - Not yet implemented
//
// Note: latitude and longitude coordinates need to be in degrees
format (xxx.xxxxxxx)
//
// Ideas, suggestions to mh...@iads-soft.com
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// label,type,string,color,lat,lon,lat,lon...
overlay1,polygon,,0,34.5,117.0,34.5,118.0,35.0,118.0,35.4255,117.1237,35.5,117.1237,35.5,117.0,34.5,117.0
overlay2,polygon,,134000,34.8,117.2,34.8,118.6,35.3,118.6,34.8,117.2
overlay1,ellipse,,550000,35.2,118.3,35.6,118.8
Opening an Overlay File
Open Overlay - Opens a new overlay text file (Click the link to learn
how to make your own overlay file). The current overlays will be
replaced.
Placing a Marker on the Map
Drop Marker - Places a flag at the cursor position on the map.
To place a Marker on the map:
Click the Drop Marker button.
Click the mouse anywhere on the map.
Type the Marker name in the text box and click OK.
To view the Marker name:
Allow the mouse to linger on or near the marker.
To move the Marker:
Hold down the left mouse button and drag the marker to the desired
location.
To delete a Marker:
Place the cursor on the marker and right-click the mouse.
Click Delete on the menu.
Note: The Distance Bearing Markers do not currently save between IADS
sessions.
Toggling Between Two Overlays
Toggle Overlays - This button toggles the display of all overlays
added via the overlay file. Individual overlays can also be toggled
via the right-click menu.
Moving IFR Maps and VFR Maps
Grab/Drag Button - When the button is toggled the cursor will become a
hand. You can move the map by holding down the left mouse button and
dragging the map to a new location.
Note: If there is an aircraft target active on the map and its
tracking is set to center window, you will not be able to move the map.
Right-click on the target and select Tracking and Track Free from the
menu, this will allow you to move the map.
Creating Distance and Bearing Markers
Distance Bearing Marker - Creates a Distance Bearing Marker on the
map.
To create a Distance Bearing Marker:
Click the Distance Bearing Marker button.
Move the cursor onto the map and left click the mouse to "start" the
marker.
Move the cursor to the end point and left click the mouse again to
"stop".
To move a Distance Bearing Marker:
Click the start or end point of the marker and move with the mouse.
To attach a Distance Bearing Marker to a target:
Click the Distance Bearing Marker end point and drag it onto the
desired target.
To view the Distance and Bearing Values:
Attach the Distance Bearing Marker to a target and view the results at
the bottom of the window.
OR
Click on any Distance Bearing Marker's start/stop point on the map.
Note: The Distance Bearing Markers do not currently save between IADS
sessions.
Zooming
Zoom Buttons - Zooms in/out the current IFR/VFR map only.
Pop Up Menu Options
Additional Pop up Options:
Right click the mouse anywhere on the map image to get a pop up of
global operations, which apply to the display or all targets at once.
Options include toggling the display of trace history, range rings and
polygon intercepts.
Right click on any aircraft for additional options specific to that
aircraft. These options include the aircraft type, color and size and
ID. Other available options include settings for trace history, range
rings and overlay intercepts.
Polygon Overlay Intercepts
Polygon Overlay Intercepts
Right click on the aircraft and toggling the option on the properties
dialog. When active, a vector will be drawn from the aircraft to the
nearest polygon edge along the aircraft's heading. Distance and time
to intercept will be displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the
display. To acquire an intercept with a polygon that is not
necessarily the nearest, other polygons can be hidden via the right
click menu option.
Note: The Moving Map display can be used with Bitmaps, gifs and jpeg
files. To operate correctly with positional data, the images must be
geo-referenced. A geo-referenced image map will have an associated
text file with the same name and the extension (.geo) to go along with
it. This file must be in the same directory as the map file. If the
geo-reference file cannot be found, the map will not be geo-referenced
and will not work correctly with positional data. To have your map
geo-referenced, please contact the IADS team, as the geo-referenced
software is not available in this version of IADS. Please contact
mh...@iads-soft.com
mh...@iads-soft.com
In response to your query about the IADS moving map control, let me
explain a bit about some of the features and limitations of the control
as it now stands.
The control is actually a fairly simple program which loads and
displays a raster image - preferably a bitmap - with the ability to
overlay symbols, polygons, text, and up to two aircraft icons. This,
along with a variety of display options which you can read about in the
IADS help system, is sufficient to provide users with a simple
real-time situational awareness ability.
The original requirement was to display scanned US sectional and World
aeronautical charts, which use the Lambert Conformal Conic projection.
This, therefore, is the type of map projection that the control works
best with. Some customers, however, prefer to use their own maps, or
even satellite images as the background, and that's fine.
However, what our control does not do, and we intend to change this in
a future release, is use true georeferenced images such as geotif.
Instead, the control reads georeference information from a small text
file of our own format.
So where does that leave us? Currently we provide the maps and
reference files to users as they are requested. We have charts covering
the US and can generally find charts for other parts of the world as
well, though this can be problematic. If they have their own images,
IADS users can send them to us and we will generate the reference file
for them. The control does not yet give users the ability to generate
their own georeference file, though this feature will be included in
future releases.
Stephanie, if you have an image you want for the background of the
control and it's in the LCC format, or if it covers a fairly small
area, email it to us and we'll send you back the geo file required to
make it work. Alternatively, if you like the look of sectional,
terminal, or world aeronautical charts, simply email us the coordinates
of the general area you need covered and we'll provide you with the map
and the geo file.
Any other questions, feel free to ask!