Vector Plot
Planes from the Pole Data Grid can be displayed as either Pole or Dip vectors.
Pole Plots
A Pole Vector Plot is the most basic representation of your orientation data (i.e., the orientation data pairs in the first two columns of your Dips Pole Data Grid).
To generate a Pole Vector Plot:
- Select Presets > Vector
from the Stereonet 2D (or Stereonet 3D) ribbon. - Select Vector Mode > Pole Vector
from the Stereonet 2D (or
Stereonet 3D) ribbon. - Set the Pole Mode = Vector from the drop down in the Properties pane.
On a Pole Plot, points are plotted on a stereonet which correspond to the orientation of either (1) linear features or (2) poles representing planes:
- If the data is linear in nature (e.g., stress trajectories), then the corresponding point on the stereonet represents this orientation directly.
- If the data is planar (e.g., rock structure survey), the points on the plot represent the poles (normal vectors) to the planes in question.
The default projection is a Lower Hemisphere, Equal Angle Projection. Upper Hemisphere and Equal Area Projection options can also be used. See the Projection topic for details.
The Pole Plot is also capable of displaying feature attribute information in the form of color-coded, symbolic plots. See the Symbolic Plot option for details.
Dip Vector Plots
A Dip Vector directly represents the maximum dip of a plane and is orthogonal (90 degrees) to the pole vector of a plane. A Dip Vector is located at the midpoint of the great circle projection of a given plane.
To view a Dip Vector Plot:
- Select Presets > Vector from the Stereonet 2D (or Stereonet 3D) ribbon.
- Select Vector Mode > Dip Vector
from the Stereonet 2D (or Stereonet 3D) ribbon. - Set the Pole Mode = Vector from the drop down in the Properties pane.
A Dip Vector Plot is an alternative to the Pole Vector Plot representation of planar data on a stereonet. Dip vectors have a one-to-one correspondence with pole vectors (i.e., for each plane there is one pole vector and one dip vector, so the number of pole vectors or dip vectors is equal for a given file).
KINEMATIC ANALYSIS
Either Pole Vectors or Dip Vectors can be used for Kinematic Analysis. Dip Vectors are preferred by some users for various Kinematic Analysis methods, and so Dip Vector plotting is available for applicable Kinematic Analysis options (Planar Sliding and Flexural Toppling).
SETS
It is important to note that, in general, the creation of joint Sets from Dip Vectors is not valid, and therefore, all Set options are disabled in Dip Vector Mode. If you wish to define joint sets and the Set options are disabled, you must first switch to Pole Vector Mode. You will then be able to define Sets.
DIP VECTOR DENSITY CONTOURS
Dip Vector Plots can be contoured just like Pole Vector Plots. If you are in Dip Vector mode, the Contour Plot will automatically contour the Dip Vectors.
Symbols Legend
The Legend displays a single symbol for Pole Vectors under the Symbols Legend. The Pole Vectors symbol can be edited in the Display Options dialog.