SMS 3D Animation

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Introduction

This page explains how to make a 3D animation using the SMS software. SMS version 11.0 has been used for this example, however good results can also be achieved using older versions of SMS. As a minimum you will need a licence for the SMS VIZ edition (see SMS pricing).


Data Required

As a minimum you will need:


• Digital Elevation Model/TIN;
• Aerial Photography; and
• Model Results.

Together with aerial photography, the 2D results for Tutorial Module 3 are used here. The complete model is available from the Downloads section of the TUFLOW website.


Creating a 3D Animation

The 2D results include the ground elevation (.2dm), water level (_h) and velocity (_v) and datasets. The following steps may equally be followed using other datasets you may have.

1. Begin by opening in SMS the ground elevation (.2dm) and 2D results datasets using the M03_5m_001.ALL.supresults file located in the TUFLOW\results\M03\2d folder together with the aerial photography Aerial_Photo_M01.jpg available in the Module_Data\Aerial_Photos\SMS folder.
2. SMS should now look something like this:
   
   
3. To view the 2D mesh at a pseudo-3D oblique view, open the Display Options >> 2D Mesh window and check the Elements on. Using the Rotate tool you can drag the map view and change ot an oblique view.
   
   
4. Return to Display Options >> 2D Mesh and uncheck Elements. To display imagery draped over a 3D surface we need to turn on Texture Mapping. Go to Display Options >> General and select 2D Mesh under the Texture Mapping Display Location list. Selecting 2D Mesh uses the TUFLOW model ground elevations contained in the .2dm file as the 3D surface over which imagery is draped. The Scatter Set option may be used to drape imagery over an active scatter set TIN. The General options include the ability to exaggerate the Z axis scale by changing the Z magnification. Change the Z magnification to a factor of 4.0. SMS should now look something like this:
   File:SMS 3D AVI 3.jpg
5. Turning Contours on in the display options drapes the active dataset over the terrain. This can however look somewhat strange because an animation will show the water surface rising and falling according to the underlying terrain. A useful feature in SMS is to define one dataset as a functional surface, over which a second dataset other than the terrain may be draped. This allows, for example, water depth to be draped over the water surface rather than the terrain, giving a more realistic 3D impression of the water surface and varying depth.
   To enable a functional surface, go to Display Options >> 2D Mesh, uncheck Contours, check Functional Surface and select Options.
6. Under Data Set, select User defined dataset and select your water surface (_h) dataset.
7. Under Display Attributes, select Contour surface and check Specify separate dataset for contours and select your water depth (_d) dataset. This instructs SMS to drape the water depth contours over the water surface, which will provide a realistic view of the water surface and the depth of water above the terrain.
8. Under Contour surface, select Options.