A brief guide to using WindTrax
This section provides a simple overview of how to use WindTrax; it will get you started on the path of loading, running, and saving projects. More detailed information is provided in other sections of the help.
Running a demonstration
Three sample project files are included with the WindTrax program, and are located in the directory Examples. All project files in WindTrax end in either the extension .wxf (Version 2) or .wpf (Version 1). The following topics will be discussed in conjunction with the example projects:
- Running a simulation
- Viewing simulation results
- Testing what-if scenarios
- Using the map Legend
- Using data files
- Viewing output data files
- Using different sensor platforms
- Changing the environment
- Automated demonstration
Running the example simulation
From the main directory, select File|Open to display the Open Project dialog box; navigate to the Examples directory and select Example1.wpf, then click OK to load the project. Examine any of the objects on the map by selecting the Query Pointer tool 
from the set of buttons to the left of the map, and click the mouse button over the object of interest. Selecting the Pointer tool 
and double clicking on any object, or on its name in the Object List form, will display its property editor; from which its data values can be altered. To run the simulation, click the Start button 
at the top of the map, or select Simulation|Start from the main menu.
Viewing simulation results
When the simulation is done (it should take only a few seconds), the Rewind button 
at the top of the map will be enabled. Before pressing it, you can observe the result of the simulation by clicking the mouse cursor over any object on the map. When you are finished, press Rewind or select Simulation|Return from the main menu.
You might be surprised what happens if you press Start again: the red dots which appeared the first time should not show up the second time you run the model. This is because the information calculated the first time has not been lost; the model is smart enough to minimize the amount of work it needs to do.
Back to startTesting what-if scenarios
You have now run a simulation calculating the emission rate from an area source, in an interactive or What-If mode. To modify any of the objects appearing on the map, move the mouse cursor over them and double click (or double-click on its name in the Object List form). A form will appear, which will allow you to modify the properties of the selected object. For example, by double clicking on the light yellow background, you will be able to change its colour or specify the roughness of the surface. Clicking the Start button will run the simulation with the new values. In this way, different experimental designs can be tested quickly. As mentioned, sometimes no apparent recalculations will be performed, depending on what changes were made to the objects on the map.
Using the map Legend
To determine the identity of the objects on the map, move the mouse cursor over them and look at the Legend appearing at the bottom left of the main form. A small icon, along with the object's name, will be displayed there. Other information available on the status bar includes the position of the cursor in map coordinates, the tool presently being used (likely Pointer), the map's Zoom value (1 to 8) , and the present grid distance.
Back to startUsing data files
Open project Example2.wpf, also found in the Examples directory. In this case, two new objects have been added to the map: input and output files. These are connected by green and blue lines (data cables) to other objects on the map. As before, click the Start button to begin the simulation. To pause the run, click the Pause button 
; and to stop it, click the red Stop button 
. This will reset the simulation back to its beginning, closing the input file and deleting the incomplete output file. By clicking the Step button 
, the simulation will process a single line of the input data file at a time.
Viewing output data files
You can view the input file by clicking on the input file icon:
(which looks like a very small spreadsheet) before starting the simulation, and then clicking the View button. Once the simulation is completed (it should take perhaps ten seconds), click on the output file's icon:
(which looks like a tiny data logger). A file viewer form will appear; you can choose to view the output either as a grid or as text.
Using different sensor platforms
Open project Example3.wpf, located in directory WindTrax\Examples, which has added two new objects: a horizontal contour plot and a profile plot. In WindTrax, sensors are placed on platforms of different types, each of which will impart different properties to the sensors attached. When a concentration sensor is placed on a contour plot, it will provide concentration measurements at each point on the grid; similarly, if a sensor is placed on a vertical profile plot, it will measure its associated value at each point along the profile.
By double-clicking with the mouse on any of the objects, you will be able to change the number and vertical location of points on these grids.
In Example 3, a known concentration measurement at a single point is used to estimate the emission rate from an area source; this source strength is then used to estimate the concentration everywhere on a horizontal grid. The vertical profile plot has an anemometer attached, which will display the wind profile used by the default model.
Back to startChanging the WindTrax environment
The general environment of WindTrax can be customized to some extent. To make changes to it, select Tools|Environment from the main menu, to open the Options form. Scanning through the items on the check list, you may find a way to turn off that annoying bahaviour you're noticing. Of course, I would really appreciate feedback, both on things you find and don't like and things you don't find and would like added to the program. The list of planned expansions is already huge, but your ideas will be gladly received if you'd care to offer them, and may be given priority if appropriate. We particularly value feedback on bugs you encounter.
Back to startAutomated demonstration
You can watch WindTrax perform the basic steps in creating and running a simple project by selecting Automated Demo from the Help menu.
Back to start