Creating Impact Area ShapeFiles - Hazard Services

Purpose:

Tasks:

REQUIRED SCRIPT: baseline2shape.py

1. [NO ACTION] Looking Ahead: This process involves drawing a baseline in CAVE, then calling a conversion script to export the baseline. The script will require information about which baseline to export, the filename/directory to save to, and a name for the new shape.
2. Download the required python script, and save it to a memorable location
   1. [FOCAL POINT WORKSHOP] Execute the following command in your terminal, to retrieve the file to your desktop: 

      cp /data2/HazSvcsFPWorkshop/DataScripts/baseline2shape.py ~/Desktop/;

3. In the D2D perspective, launch the baselines tool by clicking on its icon in the D2D toolbar, or selecting "Baselines" from the "Tools" menu
4. Zoom out to see all the baselines and their endpoints by using the middle-mouse scroll wheel
5. Choose a baseline to use for drawing
   1. Make a note of which baseline you're using, as this will be important later when exporting its coordinates
6. Form a rudimentary polygon with your baseline as follows:
   1. Left-click and drag on the vertices to move them
   2. Middle-click on a portion of the baseline to create additional vertices (you must have at least three vertices)
   3. Use zoom and other aides like maps to help better localize your polygon to an area of interest
   4. It is not necessary to close the shape, but keep in mind that the unconnected ends will be bridged when converted to a shapefile
7. Once satisfied with the shape of your baseline, open a terminal on your Linux, by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Open Terminal"
8. Prepare to export the baseline to a shapefile by making sure a good directory exists to output them to
   1. [FOCAL POINT WORKSHOP]: For simplicity, make your own directory the desktop with a command like:

      mkdir -p ~/Desktop/myLLLShapes/damBreak

   2. [FOR OPERATIONAL USE]: One best practice is to use a path outside of /awips2 to store shapefiles, like /localapps/HazardServices/LLL/shapefiles/damBreak/MyExampleDam ...where LLL is your CWA
9. [DO NOT EXECUTE COMMAND YET] Prepare to run a conversion command (below) which turns your baseline into a shapefile. The command below accomplishes this after appropriate substitutions are made to the color-coded expressions

   /awips2/python/bin/python baseline2shape.py ${outputFilePath} ${baselineName} ${shapeName}

   1. ${outputFilePath}: Substitute with the full path for the shapefile to create (including the name)
      • EXAMPLES:
        • [FOCAL POINT WORKSHOP]: ~/Desktop/myLLLShapes/damBreak/MyExampleDam
        • Operational Recommendation: /localapps/HazrdServices/LLL/shapefiles/damBreak/MyExampleDam  ...where LLL should be your CWA
      • Use a full path, ending in the desired filename (no .shp or other extension needed), to save the files in the place you want them
   2. ${baselineName}: Substitute with the name of the baseline you used
      • EXAMPLE: A   (or B , C, D, etc)
      • Only the letter is needed, no quotes or other surrounding characters
   3. ${shapeName}: Substitute with the name you want for your shape in the database
      • EXAMPLE: "My Example Dam"
      • Wrap in quotes, especially if you use spaces in the name
      • WHAT NAME TO USE? This will be the name added to your maps table as well as a default name in products, however you'll have a chance to specify an alternate in MetaData files later
   4. FULL EXAMPLE OF COMMAND:

      /awips2/python/bin/python baseline2shape.py ~/Desktop/myShapes/damBreak/MyExampleDam A "My Example Dam"
      

10. After typing a customized version of the command above in your terminal to suit your shape, hit ENTER to execute the conversion command
    1. If successful, there should be NO message displayed
11. You're finished creating your shapefiles!
    1. Remember the output directory you used... that will be a crucial input when using ingestShapeFile script to load your shapefile into AWIPS