GGU-GEO-GRAPH: "Contours" button

The data can be displayed as lines of equal value, e.g. groundwater isohypses. A dialog box opens in which you can define preferences for contour line representation.

The program shows the existing smallest and largest values and the separation of the contour lines. If you want the representation to begin with a different value, the initial value can be entered here. You can also vary the spacing, in order to reduce the number of contour lines drawn for example.

If you select the "Contours" button in the previous dialog box, the settings displayed here are always those automatically selected by the program. Using the "Old values" button, the preferences used for the previous contour line diagram are adopted. This information is saved with the record.

You can also select from three smoothing out procedures:

• "Do not smooth"
  As a linear method is implemented within the triangle elements, this will provide analysis results without smoothing performed by the program.

• "Method 1" and "Method 2"
  these smoothing out procedures employ two different Bezier splines. Smoothing out intensities can be given for both in order to acquire smooth contour lines. Method 2 creates very "round" contours, with the danger that the true results may be falsified.

There is no optimum method. Method suitability depends on the type of data.

You can specify the type of visualisation for the contour lines by means of the "Dash preferences" and "Further preferences" buttons. These settings can also be adjusted in advance by means of the "Presentation format" button.

If your preferences are confirmed by pressing "OK" the contours are displayed on the screen. The colour defined in "Graphics preferences/Pen colour and width" is used. If you need to display the contours in a different colour the colour can be adapted to suit your requirements here.