Find Similar Linework

Used to locate similar linework. A linear element is similar to another element if it occupies a nearly identical area.

Similar elements may not necessarily be of the same element type.

Similar elements are found by generating a zone around all linear elements within a fence. This radius of the zone is defined by the tolerance setting.

Setting	Description
Mode	Determines how similar linework is handled. Move - Moves all but the first similar element to the target level. Delete - Deletes all but the first similar element. Merge - Deletes all but the first similar element, except that any database and feature linkages from the deleted elements are moved to the first element. Flag – Places an error flag around similar elements.
Facetize	Breaks the fence into a grid of cells. See Facetization for details.
Columns	Sets the number of cells (in the grid) that the fence is cut in the X or horizontal direction.
Rows	Sets the number of cells (in the grid) that the fence is cut in the Y or vertical direction.
Tolerance	Defines the zone radius that is generated around each linear element. For similar elements that are close to parallel, set this to a value equal or greater than the maximum distance between the elements.
Percent	Defines the zone overlap in percentage, that must exist for the elements to qualify as being similar. The lower the percentage, the greater the number of elements that will qualify as similar. To avoid accidental deletion of valid elements, always start with a high number for this setting.
Flag	Places an error flag around similar elements. Designate flags as review-only or write-to-file.
Level	Sets the target level when the mode is set to Move.
Color	Sets the target level of the flags.
Weight	Sets the target weight of the flags.
Offset	Determines the size of the flag. This setting is measured from the line.

To Find Similar Linework:

Place a fence around the target linework.
Select the Find Similar Linework tool.
Set the Mode.
If needed, enable Facetize and set the Columns and Rows options.
Set the Level and Flag output options as needed.
Initiate the processing with a data point.
Review the content of the Results dialog.

The results may be saved or appended to a text file by selecting the appropriate option from the Results dialog File menu.

Note: Find Similar Linework is CPU intensive, especially when applied to an entire file.

Key-in: FIND SIMILAR