This section discusses the basic functionality of Optioneer. We will cover:
🧠 Are you already comfortable with the Basic Operations? Then skip to the next article in this Module:
🧑🏫 Overview of Points, Lines and Polygons
Objects (also known as "Project Features") such as points, lines and polygons allow us to represent project-specific features and use them for Optioneering! For example:
Substation locations [point]
Route centrelines [line]
Alignments [line]
Laydown Areas [polygon]
Substation footprint [polygon]
Survey findings [any]
Functionality relating to points, lines and polygons can be found in the Data Window. To access all the tools available on an object, click on the three-dot menu next to the selected object.
💡Toggling Visibility of Points, Lines and Polygons
In the Data Window, on the right-hand side, there are three tabs: points, lines and polygons. By clicking on the tab, a list containing the objects of that type will appear. Here you can toggle the visibility of individual objects.
NB. Objects will not appear if the object type is not visible via the Map Controls (see 'Map Functionality' in Module 1.1).
🔴 Adding & Editing Points
Points are used to define the start, end or waypoints along a route. Optioneer does not process these as a constraint. They are added, edited or deleted in the Data Window.
A point can be added by:
Using the Add Feature tool
Using the Point Inspection Tool
Using the + ADD option under the Points Tab in the Data Window
Using the Import function and importing via a .csv file.
To import via .csv click upload arrow as indicated by the number four in the figure below.
Drag and drop your .csv file into the pop-up box when prompted.
Pair up the fields in Optioneer to the headings of your csv file.
Point: This will be the name of your point
Latitude: The latitude coordinate of your point
Longitude: The longitudinal coordinate of your point
Description: The text you would like to appear in the description next to your point.
To edit a point, hover over the project feature in the list and click the three-dot menu. Click 'edit', make your changes and click 'save'.
📈 Adding & Editing Lines
Lines determine the location of a centreline. Optioneer doesn't automatically process these as a constraint. They are added, uploaded, edited, copied or deleted in the Data Window.
In order to validate or compare a result developed outside of Optioneer, you will first need to add it to the project area.
A line can be added to the project area by:
Using the Add Feature tool
Using the +ADD option under the Lines Tab in the Data Window
Using the Import function to import a .geojson file
To edit a line, hover over the project feature in the list and click the three-dot menu. If the three-dot menu doesn't appear, scroll to the right-hand side of the menu. From the three-dot menu select 'edit', make your changes and click 'save'.
A line can be edited in four ways:
Moved by clicking on the existing red waypoints and dragging them to the desired location.
Adjusted by creating new points. This is done by clicking on the yellow waypoints and dragging them to the correct position.
The number of waypoints can be reduced by clicking on the waypoint and pressing Backspace on your keyboard.
The appearance of the line can be edited by clicking on the ‘Edit Style’ option in the three-dot menu next to the object.
🔲 Adding & Editing Polygons
Polygons allow you to represent areas such as routes and corridors, or a defined area such as a substation footprint or laydown area.
A polygon can be added in three ways:
Add Feature tool
+ADD tool in the Polygons Tab
Using the Import function to import a .geojson file
Adding a Route / Corridor
Routes and Corridors may be added to your project via lines or options (detail in Module 2.0).
Select your line or option via the Data Window or Results Library, respectively.
Alternatively, if your line or option is visible on the map, click on it to select it. Then Point Inspection Tool tool, navigate to "Objects" for lines and "Options" for options.
Click on the three-dot menu next to your line/option and select Generate Corridor.
You will be prompted to select a buffer distance. You can either select from the menu or define a custom buffer distance. Please note this is the buffer distance and not the corridor width.
Add a name and description to your corridor and click 'Create'.
To edit a polygon, hover over the project feature in the list and click the three-dot menu. If the three-dot menu doesn't appear, scroll to the right-hand side of the menu. From the three-dot menu select 'edit', make your changes and click 'save'.
A polygon can be edited in four ways:
Moved by clicking on the existing red waypoints and dragging them to the desired location.
Adjusted by creating new points. This is done by clicking on the yellow waypoints and dragging them to the correct position.
The number of waypoints can be reduced by clicking on the waypoint and pressing Backspace on your keyboard.
The appearance of the line can be edited by clicking on the ‘Edit Style’ option in the three-dot menu next to the object.
Okay, now let's move on to cover some general tips for working in Optioneer...