EVS Data Input & Output Formats

Input

EVS conducts most of its analysis using input data contained in a number of ASCII files, ESRI shapefiles or dBaseIV database files. Additionally, a Microsoft Access database form is provided to virtually automate the process of creating these ASCII files from your database, and ESRI extensions are provided to automate the process of creating these ASCII files from your ArcView or ArcGIS Projects. The content and format of these files has been designed to facilitate export of the data from common database and spreadsheet data storage formats.

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Requirement for Consistent Coordinate Systems

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Projecting File Coordinates

$image\grybtn.jpg$ 3D Chemistry (.csv) Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ 3D Groundwater Chemistry (.gwc) Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Chemistry Time Files (.sct and .gwt) Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Handling Non-Detects

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Pre-Geology File Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Borehole (.geo) Geology Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Geology File Example: Sedimentary Layers and Lenses

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Geology File Example: Outcrop of Dipping Strata

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Geology Multi-File (.gmf) Format

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Geology Files for Fence Diagrams

$image\grybtn.jpg$ Time Control File (TCF)

$image\grybtn.jpg$ EVS Field File Formats (.eff, .efz & .efb)

IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENTS TO DATA FORMATS:

Note: As of Version 6.1 we have added the ability to read .csv, .gwc and .pgf file to create a single geologic layer model. This was not done as a preferred alternative to creating/representing your valid site geology. However, most sites have some ground surface topography variation. If Krig_3D is used without geology input, the resulting output will have flat top and bottom surfaces. The flat top surface may be below or above the actual ground surface at various locations. This can result in plume volumes that are inaccurate.

When a .csv or .pgf is read by Krig_3D_Geology or Spline_Geology the files are interpreted as geology as follows:

If Top of boring elevations are provided in the file, these values are used to create the ground surface.
If Top of boring elevations are not provided in the file, the elevations of the highest sample in each boring are used to create the ground surface.
The bottom surface is created as a flat surface slightly below the lowest sample in the file. The elevation of the surface is computed by taking the lowest sample and subtracting 5% of the total z-extent of the samples.

Output

Because EVS runs under all versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, there are numerous options for creating output.

Bitmap: EVS renders objects in the Viewer in a user defined resolution. That resolution refers to the number of pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Images: EVS also includes the Output_Images module, which will produce virtually all types of bitmap images supported by Windows. The most common types are .png; .bmp; .tga; .jpg; and .tif. PNG is the recommended format because it has high quality lossless compression.

Bitmap Animations: By using Output_Images with the Animator module, EVS-PRO and MVS can create bitmap animations. Once a sequence of images is created, the Images_to_Animation module is used to convert these to a bitmap animation format such as .AVI, .MPG, or a proprietary format called .HAV.

Printed Output: The Viewer provides the ability to directly output to any Windows printer at a user defined resolution. Alternatively, images may be created (as in a) above) and printed.

Vector: EVS offers several vector output options. These include:

VRML: EVS-PRO and MVS create VRML files which are a vector output format that allows for creation of 3D modules that model can be zoomed, panned and rotated and can represent most of the objects in the C Tech Viewer. VRML files are played back in a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape) using a free browser plug-in. We recommend the Cosmo plug-in from http://www.cai.com/cosmo/html/win95nt.htm.

4DIM: EVS-PRO and MVS create 4DIMs, which unlike bitmap (image) based animations contain a complete 3D model at each frame of the animation. Each frame can be thought of as a VRML model (though it is not) and has similar functionality. Each frame of the model can be zoomed, panned and rotated as a static 3D model or you can interact with the 4DIM animation as it is playing.

2D and 3D Shapefiles: Shapefiles that are compatible with ESRI’s ArcView, ArcGIS or Arc Info programs can be created in full three-dimensions. Nearly any object in your applications can be output as a shapefile. The primary limitations are associated with the limitations of shapefile. The most significant limitation is the lack of any volumetric elements.

AutoCAD .DXF Files: AutoCAD compatible DXF files can be created in full three-dimensions. Nearly any object in your applications can be output as a DXF file.

Archive: EVS and MVS offer several output options for archiving kriged results and/or geologic models. These include the UCD file format and netCDF. Both of these file types can be read back into EVS or MVS eliminating the need to recreate the models by kriging or re-gridding. This saves time and provides a means to archive the data upon which analysis or visualization was based.