[GPlates-discuss] Rotating multiple sites

[Christian.Heine at shell.com]

Marcus,

cookie cutter to the rescue: 

1) Generate a GMT xy file (or any sort of GPlates-readable feature collection) with your site locations

2) Import it into GPlates. It'll nag you about assigning metadata (name, PlateIDs etc) to the attribute columns in your file which you can skip for now.

3) Load the plate model of your choice into GPlates, especially a set of (static) polygons. The sample dataset is probably a good start.

4) In the Menu -> Features -> Assign Plate IDs

5) In the wizard, specify the partitioning layer (the static polygons), the features to be partitioned (your sample sites). Then decide on the way things should be partitioned (if you have points I recommend "copy ... from polygon that most overlaps each geometry in a feature"). If you want to also assign ages, check the "Time of " checkbox. 

6) Click "Apply"

7) You data should now have been assigned plate ids and you should be able to rotate them around.

8) Export the rotated point data set through Reconstructions -> Export -> Single Snapshot (if you only require a single recon time) -> Add export -> Reconstructed geometries -> GMT as output file format.

GPlates works with GMT files all fine, but make sure that valuable metadata/attributes of your point locations are preserved. The "extended" GMT format with attributes in the comment line should work if I recall correctly. 

HTH,
Christian


> -----Original Message-----
> From: gplates-discuss-bounces at mailman.sydney.edu.au [mailto:gplates-
> discuss-bounces at mailman.sydney.edu.au] On Behalf Of Marcus Badger
> Sent: Friday, 29 January 2016 2:06 PM
> To: gplates-discuss at mailman.sydney.edu.au
> Subject: [GPlates-discuss] Rotating multiple sites
> 
> Hiya,
> 
> I have a database of site localities which I'd like to use GPlates to
> rotate to palaeolocations. I see I can create a feature by digitising a
> single point geometry, assign that to a plate and then rotate it
> successfully, and then get the palaeolocation coordinates from the Query
> feature dialogue.
> 
> However, as I have quite a lot of sites to rotate, is there a way to
> batch import the modern day lat-lons, perform the rotations and export
> the paleolocations? (ideally to a format which plays well with GMT).
> Looking through the Docs and mailing-list archive I don't see a way to do
> it...
> 
> Any help greatly appreciated!
> 
> best wishes
> Marcus.
> 
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Dr Marcus Badger
> Research Associate
> 
> Organic Geochemistry Unit and BRIDGE (Bristol Research Initiative for the
> Dynamic Global Environment)
> 
> School of Chemistry
> University of Bristol
> Cantock's Close
> BRISTOL BS8 1TS
> UK
> 
> Office: W417
> Tel: +44 (0) 117 33 16795
> Mobile: +44 (0) 774 07 96811
> Email: marcus.badger at bristol.ac.uk

--
  Christian Heine, Ph.D.
  Upstream - Opportunity Identification (UPX/N/OH)
  Shell Intl. Exploration and Production B.V. 
  Carel van Bylandtlaan 5 
  2596 HP Den Haag, The Netherlands

  W: http://www.shell.com
  G: http://goo.gl/7GfvPZ