New Features in Profile Analyst 5.5

• Drag-and-drop support extended
  Improved file support for drag-and-drop with additional formats such as .TIF, Geosoft compressed grids (as well as uncompressed) and others.
  
• Component and Template Browser
  The Component/Template browsing dialog has been updated with file icons, larger preview area and better file information, improved directory browser and new History and Favorites buttons.
  
• Database Selection
  In certain circumstances where more than one database was being accessed to populate sections and profile curves, it could be difficult to select the required data channels from the appropriate database. An improvement to the selection logic overcomes this problem.
  
• Additional Raster Format
  Support provided for .BIL (Band Interleaved by Line) format and improved use of ER Mapper raster file. This is a file format type often used in raster and satellite imagery.
  
• Gemcom Block Model Support
  Mine modeling support provided for Gemcom block models and GoCAD Tsurf files (.ts). Files of the format .BT2 can now be accessed for display in a 3D map when using the voxel modeling option. Noddy simulation models can now also be imported as voxel models.
  
• Geosoft Compressed Grid File Support
  Previously restricted compressed grid file access was not available in Profile Analyst. This has now been provided and these files can be displayed similarly to the uncompressed format.

• New Section Grid Displays
  The presentation of layered section displays (such as CDI's, etc.), has always been slow due to the data volumes involved, especially when rendered in a 3D map. A new facility allows layered sections to be gridded and a new display capability allows the grids to be shown in profiles and sections. Line iteration is also available. Since the new display type uses image files, you can apply the image enhancement facilities of real-time shading, real-time color table control and contouring/labeling.
  
• IP Data Display Support
  The new Section Grid display functionality can be applied to Geosoft databases containing IP data. You can grid the data channels (e.g. for Resistivity, Chargeability and Metal Factor) and then present this data as IP pseudosections in combination with conventional data profiles or graphs.
  
• Optimized Grid Access
  Faster and simpler grid access is provided by dialogs presenting all supported types for selection. Alternatively, you can filter on a selected type from a pull-down list.
  
• Grid Flipping Tool
  A powerful grid display feature of Profile Analyst that has always been available but awkward to use has been supplemented by a simple dialog to allow grid flipping (that is, cycling grids in memory on-screen to view data and anomaly correlations from different, overlapping grids in 2D maps).
  
• Real Time Updating of Data
  This powerful function allows automatic updating of data if a file changes. For example, if a bitmap is displayed but an external editing process modifies or re-creates the bitmap, Profile Analyst now detects this and reloads and displays the updated file. This process applies to most data files (e.g. EGBs, grids and object files such as DXFs). Note that this capability cannot be applied to Geosoft databases modified in Oasis montaj™ since only a single application can access a Geosoft dataset at one time.
  
• Improved Raster Output
  Improvements were implemented to control the output resolution of rasters. The File>Save View As command now requests you specify output in terms of either pixel size or resolution in dots per inch (DPI).
  
• Automatic Contour Change
  If contours are being displayed from a loaded grid but the grid data alters (through a re-gridding or external adjustment of level, etc.), the drawn contours automatically update to reflect the change.
  
• Color Look-Up Table Updates
  The Color Look-Up Table Editor of Profile Analyst now updates newly added or modified color look-up tables to the available list. This overcomes a difficulty of creating an LUT file but not being able to have it available for use with a display.
  
• Improved Frame Control
  Access the row and column properties of frames that allows you to fix the width/height of columns and rows and so prevent accidental re-sizing. Cells can now display a comment or hint when they have no embedded object. Embedded frames now also switch off the display of the frame border by default and switch it back on when the frame is floated.
  
• Feature Export of Object Vertices
  The export facility in the Feature Manager has been updated to allow export of individual items such as feature points, polygons and polylines but an expanded alternative now provides the export of line-based items (polylines and polygons) to have their vertex locations exported as well. The export format uses ASCII .CSV format files that can then be imported or used in other software.
  
• Default Map Axis Titling
  2D map objects such as images, georeferenced bitmaps, flight paths, etc., will now have the X/Y Axis titles hidden by default. To turn on, go to the X-Axis/Y-Axis properties and select the Title tab and then check the Show Title option.
  
• Optimization of Textures
  Loaded vector files can be displayed as textures draped over a surface or raster image. Vector files can be loaded from MapInfo, DXF and ArcView .SHP files.

• Animation
  The powerful view control available in the real-time 3D presentations has always had the capability to view the displays from any position. 'Fly-through' capability has been added. Now, Profile Analyst can save various view locations, and build a 'fly-through' flight path, joining these locations in three dimensions. The changing views can be re-played and the motion saved to a movie (.AVI file).
  
• Animation and Sound
  When a 3D animation movie or replay is stored, it can be saved with sound items. The sound content could be for example, "Note the high gold grade in this drillhole, DH123 at 60 meters depth" or a .WAV sound file.
  
• Animation Along a Track
  You can create pre-created flight path tracks for the acquisition of animation. The fly-through track can be created as a polygon in the Feature Manager and then used to record the animation in the 3D map.
  
• Tube Displays
  Data curves can be displayed in 3D views using a 'tube' style of presentation. Tubes can have their appearance modulated by other data or 'painted' by a legend (color and patterns).
  
• Improved Surface and Raster Use
  Added the ability to associate a raster grid surface with a located bitmap exported from a 2D graph or map. This enables you to easily export content in a 2D map and render it on a 3D surface.

Utilities Filtering Option

• Grid Filter FFT Implementation
  Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) two-dimensional filtering operations have been added into a new Grid Processor tool. Exceptionally fast FFT operations with sophisticated padding capability have been added with a range of grid operators. Standard FFT filters available include low, high, band-pass, upward/downward continuation, derivative and reduction-to-the-pole.
  
• GeoFilter Module
  As well as the standard GridProcessor filters, the GeoFilter Module includes:
  
  
  • Reduction to the Equator for low latitude geophysical simulation
  • Pseudo-Gravity to enhance deep anomalies in the presence of shallow magnetic anomalies (Pratt & Shi, 2004, paper available on request)
  • Vector Component Transform filters derive field components from TMI
  • ZS filters include Analytic signal, tilt, modulus, Edge, edgezone, plateau, are and block filters (Shi & Butt, 2004, paper available on request).

This is a new module for Profile Analyst. If you would like to find out more about these filters contact David Pratt or Zhiqun Shi.

Voxel Model Option

• Extended Voxel Model Format Support
  Additional voxel model support has been provided to import Gemcom .BT2 format files in addition to Datamine, Surpac and Vulcan block model formats.
  
• Voxel Export Capability
  For certain voxel display conditions, export capabilities have now been included. Entire voxel models can now be exported. Additionally, if a voxel display is thresholded, you can export ER Mapper grids for particular depths, banded ER Mapper grids for layered depths, slices or upper and lower grids for thresholded 'layered' models.
  
• Voxel Model DXF Export
  When an isosurface display is used, it can now be used to export an AutoCAD 3D DXF format file.
  
• Volumes of a Voxel Model
  Cubic meter volume information and other useful data can be reported from a voxel model display. This is especially useful when a threshold voxel view is displayed but an entire voxel model information report is also provided.
  
• 3D Voxel Gridding Improvement
  A minimum curvature option has been added to the voxel model creation utility (EM Voxel) that allows better layered gridding control and results.