3DForcer

Adds z coordinates to features, creating or modifying 3D geometry.

Typical Uses

Converting 2D geometry to 3D
Updating z coordinates with new values

How does it work?

The 3DForcer receives any geometry type and adds z coordinate values, converting 2D features to 3D.

Z values may be supplied by an attribute, expression, or user parameter. Existing z values may be preserved or overwritten. If a non-numeric value is provided, features will output via the <Rejected> port.

Z values should generally be in the same units as the x and y coordinates. Features with latitude/longitude coordinate systems may need to be reprojected.

Raster features, including digital elevation models, will pass through unchanged.

Examples

Example: Creating 3D objects from 2D footprints

In this example, we have a set of 2D building footprint polygons, which have a number of attributes including base elevation and building height.

We want to turn these into 3D objects. Note that the coordinate system is UTM, with ground units in meters.

This will take two steps:

The features are routed into a 3DForcer to convert them from 2D to 3D.
The 3D features are extruded based on the building height to create objects.

In the parameters dialog of the 3DForcer, Elevation is set to the value of the baseelev_m attribute, which contains the elevation of the base of the structure.

Note that the units - meters - match the ground units of the coordinate system. If they did not match (if the coordinate system was latitude/longitude, for example) the features would need to be reprojected before using the 3DForcer.

The output features are now 3D, with z coordinates obtained from the baseelev_m attribute. Though they now have an elevation, they have a height of zero (0).

The features are passed on to an Extruder, where they are extruded to their height above ground.

Usage Notes

This transformer applies the same z value to all vertices of a feature. To interpolate vertex elevation values from another dataset, use the SurfaceDraper.
To apply elevations from an underlying digital elevation model, use the PointOnRasterValueExtractor.

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

General

Elevation

Supply an elevation value by entering it, or provide an attribute name, expression, or user parameter.

Preserve Existing Z Values

Specify how features with existing z values should be treated:

If No (default), the transformer overwrites all z coordinates.
If Yes, the transformer provides z coordinates only to those features that do not have z coordinates.

Editing Transformer Parameters

Using a set of menu options, transformer parameters can be assigned by referencing other elements in the workspace. More advanced functions, such as an advanced editor and an arithmetic editor, are also available in some transformers. To access a menu of these options, click beside the applicable parameter. For more information, see Transformer Parameter Menu Options.

Defining Values

There are several ways to define a value for use in a Transformer. The simplest is to simply type in a value or string, which can include functions of various types such as attribute references, math and string functions, and workspace parameters. There are a number of tools and shortcuts that can assist in constructing values, generally available from the drop-down context menu adjacent to the value field.

How to Set Parameter Values

Using the Text Editor

The Text Editor provides a convenient way to construct text strings (including regular expressions) from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and constants, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.

Text Editor

Using the Arithmetic Editor

The Arithmetic Editor provides a convenient way to construct math expressions from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and feature functions, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.

Arithmetic Editor

Conditional Values

Set values depending on one or more test conditions that either pass or fail.

Parameter Condition Definition Dialog

Content

Expressions and strings can include a number of functions, characters, parameters, and more.

When setting values - whether entered directly in a parameter or constructed using one of the editors - strings and expressions containing String, Math, Date/Time or FME Feature Functions will have those functions evaluated. Therefore, the names of these functions (in the form @<function_name>) should not be used as literal string values.

Content Types

String Functions	These functions manipulate and format strings.
Special Characters	A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor.
Math Functions	Math functions are available in both editors.
Date/Time Functions	Date and time functions are available in the Text Editor.
Math Operators	These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor.
FME Feature Functions	These return primarily feature-specific values.
FME Parameters	FME and workspace-specific parameters may be used.
Creating and Modifying User Parameters	Create your own editable parameters.

Dialog Options - Tables

Transformers with table-style parameters have additional tools for populating and manipulating values.

Table Tools

Row Reordering

Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:

Add a row
Remove a row
Move current row up one
Move current row down one
Move current row to top
Move current row to bottom

Cut, Copy, and Paste

Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:

Cut a row - delete and copy to clipboard
Copy a row to the clipboard
Paste a row from the clipboard

Cut, copy, and paste may be used within a transformer, or between transformers.

Filter

Start typing a string, and the matrix will only display rows matching those characters. Searches all columns. This only affects the display of attributes within the transformer - it does not alter which attributes are output.

Import

Import populates the table with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. Specific application varies between transformers.

Reset/Refresh

Generally resets the table to its initial state, and may provide additional options to remove invalid entries. Behavior varies between transformers.

Note: Not all tools are available in all transformers.

Reference

Processing Behavior	Feature-Based
Feature Holding	No
Dependencies	None
Aliases	ElevationSetter
History

FME Community

The FME Community is the place for demos, how-tos, articles, FAQs, and more. Get answers to your questions, learn from other users, and suggest, vote, and comment on new features.

Search for all results about the 3DForcer on the FME Community.

Examples may contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver and/or the Open Government Licence – Canada.