Creating TINs

In order to create a TIN in GMS you must have a set of TIN vertices. Then the TIN is created by triangulating the vertices (connecting the vertices with lines to form triangles). The triangulation algorithm assumes that each of the vertices being triangulated is unique in the xy plane, i.e. no two points have the same xy location. Duplicate points can be removed by selecting Find Duplicates from the  TINs menu.

TINs can be created 3 different ways in GMS: manually entering the vertex locations and triangulating, converting a different GMS data type to a TIN, and copying a currently existing TIN.

Manually Creating a TIN

A TIN can be created manually from the following steps:

1. Right-click in the empty space of the Project Explorer and select the New -> TIN command.

2. Select the Create Vertices tool from the Tool Palette.

3. Create the vertices by clicking inside the Graphics Window at the xy coordinates where you want the vertex located. (To change the vertex location see: Editing TIN Vertex Coordinates)

4. Select the Triangulate command from the Build TIN menu.

Creating a TIN from GMS Data

2D meshes, 2D grids, and 2D scatter points can all be converted to a TIN. This is accomplished by using the following commands:

• Mesh -> TIN

• Grid -> TIN

• Scatter Points -> TIN
• Contacts -> TIN
• Watertable -> TIN
• Add Contacts to TIN

Copying a Current TIN

To make a copy of a TIN that currently exists in GMS follow these steps:

1. Select the TIN you wish to copy using the Select TINs tool.

2. Select the Duplicate TIN command from the TIN menu.

Related Links:
TIN Module