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Applied Imagery has been busy with two “minor” releases since the release of QT Modeler version 8.0.5 in October, 2015.  Version 8.0.5.1 came out in December to fix a few minor bugs – but also to add very useful new capability such as buffer areas around markers, enhanced range rings, and an optional magnetic north on the compass.  Version 8.0.5.2 was released in February, 2016 to introduce two significant new capabilities – the editing plane and a “Resample Texture” (i.e., “sharpen 2D image) capability.  We also fixed a few bugs along the way.  Read on for more details.

New Features/Tools – Version 8.0.5.1 & 8.0.5.2:

  • Editing Plane: The Editing Plane is a very flexible tool to define a plane at a custom angle or “tilt”, then use that plane to edit the model.  The editing functions that are available are flatten, cut, recolor, or reclassify.  These functions can be applied to all points in the selection area, or just to points above or below the surface of the plane.  The Editing Plane can also be used as part of a volume calculation (i.e., calculate volumes above/below the plane – good for cut/fill operations).
  • Resample Texture: QT Modeler’s Resample Texture capability enables an easy way to sharpen a texture that has been downsampled.  Simply load a large texture (smaller textures may not need to be downsampled), then zoom to a specific area and click the resample texture button.  QT Modeler will go back to the original image file, carve out (aka “chip”) the smaller portion of the image, and add it to the scene at the highest resolution possible.  Note that the original texture will still be present in the scene, but the small chip will be “on top” of the larger, lower resolution texture.  You will see the resampled texture in the Layer Tree Textures Folder in a subfolder called “Temp”.  Note:  Resample Texture is built in to the tactical toolbar, but will need to be added to the default toolbar.
  • Buffer Regions around Markers and Measurement Line: Simple tool to create and merge a circular perimeter of all visible markers.  The user defines the perimeter distance and QTM draws the merged line.  This was in response to evaluate threats and visibility around a facility but can have many other uses.  It has been used in a transportation application to assess streetlight lighting coverage down a road (markers represent light posts, buffers represent lighting coverage for each light post – buffer evaluates total lighting coverage).  This buffer tool foreshadows additional buffer tools to come – around lines, polygons, selection areas, etc. – in a future release.  Right click the marker folder in the layer tree to access this tool.
  • Enhancement of Range Rings:  Added the ability to extend the cross hairs out to the edge of the rings.  The new option will appear in range ring tool.
  • (Optional) Magnetic North Compass: This is important to pilots, whose onboard instrumentation relies on magnetic north to establish their heading.  Magnetic north depends on where you are on the earth.  Compared to true north, magnetic north can be the same, or it can vary significantly (tens of degrees).  Note that if magnetic north is turned on, the orientation of the range ring cross hairs will be aligned with magnetic north.  Right click on Compass in “Special Overlays” folder and select “Magnetic”.
  • New Movement Mode – Zoom to Cursor:  CTRL + Mouse Wheel Zoom will zoom to the cursor position, not the center of the screen
  • APASS/ATAK: Tweaked the export formats a bit based on SOCOM feedback of desired file formats for APASS (routes now exported to GPX) and new export folder structures for ATAK.  Export Menu > Export to APASS/ATAK, or use APASS/ATAK buttons.