MFworks Analysis Features

MFworks provides a streamlined graphical environment to allow users to quickly and easily manipulate their data. The analysis features of MFworks make use of this environment to improve the new user learning experience, and to add flexibility to experienced users.

Raster GIS analysis is critical when trying to identify and quantify specific relationships within or between images or data sets. Raster analysis is ideally suited to working with varying data sets such as elevation, aspect, slope, precipitation, density, population and other continuous characteristics. MFworks raster analysis will add a powerful new dimension to your GIS projects.

MFworks was developed to emphasize the potential of raster analysis. The latest version of MFworks optimizes this technology by extending the boundaries of traditional GIS analysis. A key feature to MFworks is the extensive set of standard operations which enable you to easily execute and visualize detailed analysis. MFworks also offers a unique, yet simple full featured scripting facility which is designed to allow you to easily construct, edit and save custom spatial operations or models.

The analysis features of MFworks offer you the flexibility to test new ideas, explore new concepts and make more informed decisions in a quick and efficient manner. MFworks represents the highest level of raster GIS analysis available on a desktop system. Expand the scope of your GIS project by applying the powerful raster analysis capabilities of MFworks.

[ Introduction to Raster Based GIS | MFworks Operations ]

The new MFworks Scripting Dialog Interface had been added to the Operation and Translator modules. This interface contains controls and fields to select operand map layers, set execution options, and to specify additional parameters. The dialog interfaces can also be used to interactively generate spatial modelling scripts when accessed through the Script window.

These Operation Dialog Boxes also provide a Contextual Help feature which prompts the user and gives a general explanation of the field they are working with.

MFworks still comes with a full featured scripting window that allows users to construct, edit and save cartographic models.

Text can be imported into a script window from other applications using a text file, or via the clipboard.

The script window makes use of pull down menus and standard cut and paste techniques.

An Operations Menu has been added to the main menu bar. This menu accesses the new Operation dialog interface and allows Operations to be executed one at a time without having to write a script.

Balloon Help has been added to the system for all the main windows in MFworks.

Special contextual help is included in all the module dialog boxes. This help system is automatic and is always available when a dialog box is open.

A "Commands" menu has been added to the Script window. This menu allows users to create scripts which: export map layers, import text/color into legends, export legends as text/PICT files, save files to disk, delete files from disk, specify information parameters, and define color sequences.

A pop-up color menu has been added to make it easier to change the color of a map zone, the color of the drawing zone, and the end points of a color sequence. The "Other..." item at the bottom of the pop-up menu can be used to display the standard color picker dialog.

Two items have been added to the "Map/File Names" menu. These items allow for interactive insertion of input and output file names using the standard file Finder dialogs.

Map Arithmetic

An extensive set of single map and multiple map layer transformations that produce spatial measurements, area based statistics, filtering, and layer superimposition.

Arithmetic functions that can be applied to single and multiple map layers include: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponent, summary statistics, as well as trigonometric and logarithmic functions.

Floating Point Math

Map data can consist of either single precision floating point or 32-bit fixed point (integer) values. Floating point data use six decimals of comparative precision.

History Window

A complete self-documenting record is maintained for all maps. This record includes the histories of all maps used to create the current map. History information can be used to view the steps taken to produce a map, or as the basis for new scripts.