LandSerf allows you to visualise and perform analysis on spatial data. It is primarily designed to be
used with surface and elevation models, but will work with most types of 'GIS' data. It supports rasters,
vectors, TINs and other models of elevation. This section includes a summary of command line options and
functionality accessible via LandSerf's menus and toolbar.
In addition to its own file format, LandSerf supports many common GIS and spatial data file formats
including rasters and vectors from ArcGIS and GRASS, EDX, Ordnance Survey, US Geological Survey and
the visualisation software Terragen, TerraExplorer ('BT' files) and VistaPro. Raster and vector data
can be output as GIS files in a range of formats, text for spreadsheets and other software, and web
formats including, SVG, KML, VRML and XML. Data may be imported and exported directly from and to Garmin
GPS receivers.
New rasters can be created using polynomial expressions or fractal simulation. The spatial boundaries of
rasters and vectors can be edited along with other supplementary data. Data can be reprojected between
latitude/longitude and a variety of coordinte systems. Rasters can be rectified using on screen selection
of ground control points. Vector maps can be digitized on screen. DEMs may be transformed into TINs or contour
models. TINs can be transformed to DEMs.
Rasters can be visualised as interpolated colour maps, as shaded relief maps, or combined hue-intensity,
hue-saturation or blended maps. Vector contours and TINS may be displayed separately or overlaid on rasters.
Colour tables associated with raster and vector maps can be edited graphically or numerically.
LandSerf can view surfaces as if in 3 dimensions. A virtual camera can be 'flown' over a surface in real
time to produce more realistic terrain visualisations. Images and vector maps may be draped over the
surface to provide contextual information. Various viewing parameters such as haze density, camera field
of view, lighting etc, can be altered interactively.
Raster and vector header information (title, bounding area, map projection, min/max values etc.), and colour
tables may be displayed. Rasters can be interactively queried for attribute values, or multi-scale parameters.
Numeric raster cell values can be overlaid onto raster maps for detailed analysis. Univeriate statistics,
fractal dimension, variograms, scatterplots and frequency histograms can be calculated from raster data.
A variety of surface parameters (slope, aspect, curvature etc.) and surface features (channels, ridges,
peaks etc.) may be calculated from elevation models. Analysis can be performed over a range of scales
and spatial extents. The degree of scale-dependency can be quantified and visualised.
LandSerf can also be controlled via script commands using the landuge LandScript. This can be used as a batch
or macro languge to mimic GUI controled functions, or as a map algebra calculator. It can also be used for lower level
control of rasters and the development of spatial algorithms.