Line of Sight (LOS)

LOS Tools

The Draw Visibility Line tool allows the user to draw a line defining the Observer location and the Target location.  Then it calculates the line of sight between the Observer and Target from the surface selected in the Surface Layer box.
With the tool the user drags a line on the View. The start point of the line defines the position of the Observer. The visibility is calculated for the data points along the line.  The results are displayed:

• On the View - a group graphic with color coded visible and invisible portions of the line
• In the Profile Window - the line of sight is drawn together with the profile of the surface which gives the user better understanding of the results. The user has option to display also the Break Lines - LOS for which the visibility changes

The Draw Visibility Observer tool allows the user to move the Observer location by clicking on the Map.

The Draw Visibility Target tool allows the user to move the Target location by clicking on the Map.

Whenever the Observer or Target locations are changed a new Line of sight is calculated and displayed.

LOS Settings

The settings for the Line of Sight can be adjusted from the  Line of Sight Settings dialog (Settings Menu ==> Line of Sight Settings).

On the Line of sight settings tab the user can change the following parameters:

• Observer offset above the surface
• Target offset above the surface
• Apply corrections for
  • Earth curvature
  • Refraction of light
  • Radio waves refraction
• Change the values for Refraction correction and Earth radius correction for radio waves

See LOS Discussion

On the Display settings tab the user can change the following parameters: 

• Adjust the colors for the visible and non-visible portions of LOS
• Change the Line style and width of LOS lines
• Draw the lines for which the visibility changes (Break Lines)
• Rotation angle for rotating the Observer
• Whether or not the previous LOS graphic to be deleted when a new LOS is calculated and drawn on the View.

EXAMPLE:

Observer and Target offset applied

See examples for applying Earth Curvature, Light and Radio Waves refractions here