Geobody Polygon Context Menu
Commands available when right-clicking a Geobody Polygon in the Interpretation Tree. Geobody polygons are 2D interpreted outlines of sedimentary bodies (channels, bars, lobes) or other geological features. They represent the planform geometry of geological bodies and can be extruded into 3D geobodies for volumetric modelling.
Navigation & Display
Navigate To
Menu name: Navigate To
Tooltip Move the 3D view to frame the selected geobody polygon.
What it does See Navigate To in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Centres and zooms the 3D view on the selected geobody polygon, positioning the camera to provide a clear view of the entire polygon outline.
When to use it
- Quickly locating specific geobodies in large channel or reservoir models
- Reviewing polygon geometry after digitisation
- Inspecting spatial relationships between geobodies
Notes Particularly useful when working with dense geobody networks or complex channel systems.
Make Active
Menu name: Make Active
Tooltip Set this geobody polygon as the active body for operations.
What it does Designates the selected geobody polygon as the "active" body. The active geobody is used as a reference or target by various operations. Only one geobody can be active at a time. Active status is indicated in the project tree.
When to use it
- Before operations requiring a reference geobody
- When adding palaeocurrents or attributes to specific bodies
- For workflows that reference the active geobody
Notes Active status persists until another geobody is made active. Some operations automatically apply to the active geobody.
Selection & Clipboard
Copy
Menu name: Copy
Tooltip Copy geobody polygon to clipboard.
What it does Copies the selected geobody polygon to the system clipboard. The polygon can then be pasted into the same project, a different group, or even a different VRGS project. All polygon properties (vertices, facies, orientation, palaeocurrents) are copied.
When to use it
- Duplicating geobodies for modification whilst preserving originals
- Transferring interpretations between stratigraphic intervals
- Creating template geobodies for similar features
Notes Copied polygons retain their spatial coordinates. When pasting into a different project or stratigraphic level, you may need to adjust elevation. Consider whether associated palaeocurrents should be copied.
Copy Orientation
Menu name: Copy Orientation
Tooltip Copy geobody orientation to clipboard.
What it does Copies the orientation (dip and azimuth) of the geobody's bounding plane to the clipboard. This represents the orientation of the stratigraphic surface on which the geobody lies. The orientation can be pasted to other geobodies, polylines, or structural measurements.
When to use it
- Propagating consistent stratigraphic orientations across geobodies
- Applying measured bed orientations to interpreted features
- Standardising orientation values within stratigraphic intervals
Notes Orientation represents the depositional surface, not the geobody's internal geometry. For flat-lying strata, dip is zero. Useful for ensuring consistent stratigraphic framework across interpretations.
Paste Orientation
Menu name: Paste Orientation
Tooltip Paste orientation from clipboard to geobody polygon.
What it does Applies a previously copied orientation (dip and azimuth) to the selected geobody polygon. This updates the polygon's stored orientation property, affecting how it's displayed and how 3D geobodies are generated from it.
When to use it
- Applying consistent stratigraphic dip to multiple geobodies
- Correcting geobody orientations based on structural measurements
- Standardising depositional surface orientations
Notes Does not modify polygon planform geometry, only orientation property. Affects 3D extrusion operations where thickness follows dip direction.
Delete Selected Nodes
Menu name: Delete Selected Nodes
Tooltip Remove selected vertices from polygon outline.
What it does Deletes vertices that have been selected (typically using interactive selection tools in the 3D view) from the geobody polygon outline. Remaining vertices are reconnected to maintain a closed polygon. Useful for editing polygon shape by removing unwanted vertices.
When to use it
- Removing erroneous vertices from digitised outlines
- Simplifying polygon geometry by removing excess vertices
- Editing polygon shapes interactively
Notes
Only works if vertices are selected first using selection tools. Polygon must remain closed (minimum 3 vertices). Cannot undo - ensure selection is correct before deleting.
Quality & Refinement
Re-Mesh
Menu name: Re-Mesh
Tooltip Regenerate internal triangulation of polygon.
What it does Regenerates the internal triangulation of the geobody polygon. The polygon outline is preserved, but the internal mesh topology (how vertices are connected into triangles) is rebuilt. This can improve mesh quality or incorporate newly added internal vertices.
When to use it
- Improving mesh quality after polygon editing
- Regenerating mesh after adding internal constraint points
- Fixing mesh artifacts or poor triangulation
Notes Polygon boundary is preserved. Only affects internal triangulation. Useful after significant polygon editing. Can improve visualisation quality and attribute interpolation within the polygon.
Adaptive Refine by Angle
Menu name: Adaptive Refine by Angle
Tooltip Add vertices where polygon curvature is high.
What it does Opens a dialogue to specify an angle tolerance (in degrees). Analyses polygon boundary segments and adds vertices at locations where the angle between adjacent segments exceeds the threshold. This creates denser vertex spacing in curved regions whilst maintaining sparse spacing in straight sections.
When to use it
- Improving representation of sinuous channel margins
- Preparing polygons for high-quality 3D geobody generation
- Increasing detail in morphologically complex regions
Notes Lower angle thresholds create more vertices. Typical values: 5-20 degrees. Excessive refinement can create unnecessarily large datasets. Original vertex positions are preserved; new vertices are inserted between existing ones. Particularly important for accurate representation of channel meanders.
Refine by Spacing
Menu name: Refine by Spacing
Tooltip Add vertices at regular distance intervals.
What it does Opens a dialogue to specify maximum spacing distance (in project units, typically metres). Subdivides all polygon boundary segments longer than this distance by adding evenly-spaced vertices. This creates uniform vertex distribution regardless of curvature.
When to use it
- Creating consistent sampling density for geobody generation
- Preparing polygons for operations requiring uniform vertex spacing
- Standardising resolution across geobody datasets
Notes Spacing is measured in 2D planform distance. Shorter spacing values dramatically increase vertex count. Original vertices are preserved. Useful for ensuring consistent resolution before 3D extrusion or volumetric calculations.
Transform
Translate
Menu name: Translate
Tooltip Move geobody polygon by specified offset.
What it does See Translate in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Opens dialogue to move the polygon by specified X, Y, Z offsets.
When to use it
- Repositioning geobodies to correct stratigraphic levels
- Creating offset duplicate geobodies
- Adjusting polygon positions after coordinate transformations
Notes Moves all vertices by the same offset vector. Original polygon shape is preserved. Z offset is particularly useful for moving geobodies between stratigraphic surfaces.
Align to View Direction
Menu name: Align to View Direction
Tooltip Rotate polygon to align with current view direction.
What it does Rotates the geobody polygon to align its orientation with the current 3D view direction. This is useful for re-orienting geobodies that were digitised in a different view orientation or for aligning palaeocurrent indicators with depositional flow directions.
When to use it
- Re-orienting geobodies after view changes
- Aligning channel axes with known flow directions
- Correcting polygon orientations after import
Notes Rotation is applied about the polygon centroid. Consider whether geological validity supports the new orientation. Particularly useful when digitising channels or elongate features that should align with specific directions.
Remove Dip
Menu name: Remove Dip
Tooltip Remove regional dip from polygon coordinates.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify dip angle and azimuth. Rotates polygon coordinates to remove the specified orientation, effectively viewing the feature as if the stratigraphic surface were horizontal. This reveals true depositional geometry by removing post-depositional tilting.
When to use it
- Restoring geobodies to depositional orientation
- Removing regional tilt to study palaeocurrent patterns
- Analysing channel morphology in bedding-perpendicular coordinates
Notes Rotation is applied about the polygon's centroid. Essential for accurately interpreting palaeocurrent data and depositional geometries in tilted strata. Consider stratigraphic compaction when interpreting restored geometries.
Attributes
Set Facies
Menu name: Set Facies
Tooltip Assign facies classification to geobody.
What it does Opens dialogue to select or specify a facies type for the geobody polygon. Facies represent lithological or depositional classifications (e.g., channel fill, bar, levee, overbank). This assigns a categorical attribute that affects display colour, filtering, and volumetric analysis.
When to use it
- Classifying geobodies by lithology or depositional environment
- Assigning reservoir quality categories
- Enabling facies-based filtering and statistics
Notes Facies classifications are typically defined in a project-wide facies scheme. Affects display colour in many colour schemes. Important for volumetric calculations and reservoir modelling. Can be changed at any time as interpretation evolves.
Classify Visible
Menu name: Classify Visible
Tooltip Classify geobody based on visible attributes or context.
What it does Opens dialogue or applies automated classification to the geobody based on visible data layers or attribute information. Classification may use geometry (width/thickness ratios), position relative to other features, or linked attribute data.
When to use it
- Automated facies classification based on geometric criteria
- Classifying geobodies using visible attribute layers
- Applying classification rules to multiple geobodies
Notes Classification method depends on available data and configured classification schemes. May use machine learning or rule-based approaches. Results should be reviewed for geological validity.
Palaeocurrent
Add
Menu name: Add
Tooltip Add palaeocurrent indicator to geobody.
What it does Opens dialogue to add a palaeocurrent measurement to the geobody polygon. Palaeocurrents are directional indicators (arrows) showing interpreted sediment transport or flow direction. They are positioned interactively within the polygon and have azimuth and magnitude properties.
When to use it
- Recording interpreted flow directions from channel morphology
- Documenting palaeocurrent indicators from field observations
- Building depositional flow models
Notes Multiple palaeocurrents can be added to a single geobody to represent local flow variation. Palaeocurrent directions can be displayed as arrows in plan view. Important for understanding depositional systems and channel evolution. Consider whether flow direction represents thalweg flow, margin flow, or averaged flow.
Import...
Menu name: Import...
Tooltip Import palaeocurrent data from external file.
What it does Opens file dialogue to import palaeocurrent measurements from external data files. Formats typically include CSV or text files with position (X, Y) and azimuth data. Imported palaeocurrents are attached to the geobody polygon.
When to use it
- Importing palaeocurrent datasets from field mapping
- Loading palaeocurrent interpretations from other software
- Incorporating published palaeocurrent data
Notes File format typically requires position coordinates and azimuth. Position should be within or near the geobody polygon. Coordinate system must be compatible with project coordinates.
Create Centre Line
Centre line commands create simplified 1D representations of channel or geobody axes:
Linear
Menu name: Linear
Tooltip Create straight centre line through geobody.
What it does Calculates and creates a straight line through the geobody polygon representing its axis. The line connects the endpoints or defines the principal axis of elongation. This simplified representation is useful for channel network topology and connectivity analysis.
When to use it
- Creating simplified channel network representations
- Analysing channel orientations and trends
- Generating skeleton networks for connectivity studies
Notes Linear centre line is a straight line approximation. Appropriate for relatively straight channels or bars. For sinuous features, use "Sinuous" option instead. Centre line is created as a separate object that can be analysed independently.
Sinuous
Menu name: Sinuous
Tooltip Create curved centre line following geobody axis.
What it does Calculates and creates a curved line (spline or polyline) that follows the medial axis of the geobody polygon. This represents the thalweg or channel axis, following the sinuosity of the feature. Uses skeletonisation or medial axis algorithms.
When to use it
- Creating centre lines for sinuous channels
- Analysing channel sinuosity and meander characteristics
- Generating realistic channel axis representations
Notes Sinuous centre line follows the medial axis (equidistant from margins). More computationally intensive than linear option. Accuracy depends on polygon vertex density. Result can be used for sinuosity calculations, meander wavelength analysis, and palaeocurrent interpolation.
Convert To
The Convert To submenu creates 3D geobodies from 2D polygons:
Geobody (Follow Base)
Menu name: Geobody (Follow Base)
Tooltip Extrude polygon to 3D geobody following base surface.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify base and top surfaces or thickness. Creates a 3D geobody (volumetric geological body) by extruding the polygon vertically from a base surface. The geobody bottom follows the base surface topography, and thickness is added vertically or normal to the surface to define the top.
When to use it
- Creating channel fill geobodies resting on erosional surfaces
- Generating 3D reservoir bodies from planform interpretations
- Volumetric modelling of sedimentary bodies
Notes Requires specification of base surface (geosurface or mesh) and thickness or top surface. Geobody fills the space between surfaces within the polygon extent. Important for volumetric calculations and reservoir modelling. Consider whether thickness should be vertical or normal to bedding.
Geobody (Follow Center)
Menu name: Geobody (Follow Center)
Tooltip Extrude polygon symmetrically about central surface.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify a central reference surface and thickness. Creates a 3D geobody by extruding the polygon symmetrically above and below the reference surface. Half the thickness extends above and half below the central surface.
When to use it
- Creating geobodies centred on stratigraphic surfaces
- Modelling features with symmetrical vertical distribution
- Generating geobodies where central axis is the primary constraint
Notes Geobody is symmetric about the reference surface. Total thickness is split equally above and below. Appropriate for features like levees or symmetrical bars. May produce geobodies that cross stratigraphic boundaries if thickness is large.
Geobody (Follow Top)
Menu name: Geobody (Follow Top)
Tooltip Extrude polygon downward from top surface.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify top surface and thickness. Creates a 3D geobody by extruding the polygon downward from a top surface. The geobody top follows the surface topography, and thickness extends downward to define the base.
When to use it
- Creating geobodies that fill to a flooding surface
- Modelling units where top surface is the primary constraint
- Generating backfilled or onlap features
Notes Opposite approach to "Follow Base". Appropriate when the top surface is better constrained than the base. Geobody extends downward from top surface by the specified thickness.
Polyline
Menu name: Polyline
Tooltip Convert geobody polygon outline to polyline.
What it does Converts the geobody polygon's outline to a standard Polyline object. The polygon boundary vertices become polyline vertices, removing geobody-specific properties (facies, palaeocurrents) but preserving geometry. Original geobody is typically preserved.
When to use it
- Converting geobody outlines for use in other workflows
- Simplifying geobodies to boundary representations
- Preparing data for operations requiring polylines
Notes Loses geobody-specific attributes (facies, palaeocurrents, internal mesh). Only preserves outline geometry. Useful when geobody interpretation should be re-categorised as a general boundary line.
Apply
Active Facies
Menu name: Active Facies
Tooltip Assign the active facies classification to geobody.
What it does Assigns the currently active facies type (set elsewhere in the interface) to the selected geobody polygon. This provides a quick way to assign consistent facies to multiple geobodies without opening the facies dialogue repeatedly.
When to use it
- Rapidly classifying multiple geobodies with the same facies
- Batch facies assignment workflows
- Streamlining interpretation with consistent classifications
Notes Requires an active facies to be set. Geobody can be reassigned to different facies. Useful for efficient interpretation of large numbers of geobodies.
Active Horizon
Menu name: Active Horizon
Tooltip Assign geobody to the active geological horizon.
What it does Assigns the selected geobody to the currently active geological horizon (stratigraphic surface). This associates the geobody with a named stratigraphic level, allowing filtering, display control, and analysis by horizon.
When to use it
- Organising geobodies by stratigraphic interval
- Tagging interpretations with geological context
- Enabling horizon-based filtering and volumetric analysis
Notes Requires an active horizon to be set. Geobody can be reassigned to different horizons. Horizon assignment is essential for multi-interval reservoir models.
Closure & Topology
Close Geobody
Menu name: Close Geobody
Tooltip Close open polygon to create valid geobody.
What it does Closes an open polyline or polygon by connecting the end vertices, creating a topologically closed polygon suitable for geobody operations. This ensures the polygon forms a valid enclosed area required for 3D extrusion and volumetric calculations.
When to use it
- Fixing polygons that were incompletely digitised
- Converting open polylines to closed geobody polygons
- Ensuring topological validity before 3D operations
Notes
Geobody polygons must be closed (end point connects to start point) for 3D extrusion and volume calculations.
Creates a straight line segment connecting the endpoints. For complex geometries, you may need to digitise the closing segment manually first.
Group & Organisation
Group
Menu name: Group
Tooltip Create group containing selected geobody polygons.
What it does See Group in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Creates a new group (folder) containing all selected geobody polygons.
When to use it
- Organising geobodies by stratigraphic interval or facies type
- Creating logical groupings for filtering and display
- Simplifying project tree structure
Notes Selected geobodies must be at the same tree level. Useful for organising complex depositional systems with many geobodies.
Ungroup
Menu name: Ungroup
Tooltip Dissolve selected geobody group.
What it does See Ungroup in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Dissolves the group container and moves child geobodies up one level.
When to use it
- Flattening project tree structure
- Breaking up temporary groupings
- Reorganising interpretation hierarchy
Notes Only works on group containers. Geobodies are preserved.
Object Operations
Export
Menu name: Export
Tooltip Export geobody polygon to external file.
What it does See Export in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Opens export dialogue to save geobody polygon to various file formats (DXF, Shapefile, CSV, KML, etc.).
When to use it
- Sharing geobody interpretations with external applications
- Creating deliverables for reservoir modelling
- Archiving interpretation work
Notes Format options vary. Export typically includes polygon outline; facies and palaeocurrents may be included in attribute tables. Consider coordinate system compatibility for GIS formats.
Delete
Menu name: Delete
Tooltip Permanently remove geobody polygon from project.
What it does See Delete in Shared Commands for complete documentation. Permanently removes the geobody polygon from the project database.
When to use it
- Removing incorrect or obsolete geobody interpretations
- Cleaning up test or trial geobodies
- Simplifying projects with redundant features
Notes
Operation is permanent. Ensure you have backups if needed. Deleting geobody polygons does not affect 3D geobodies generated from them - those are separate objects.
Group Operations
When right-clicking a Geobody Group (folder), additional commands are available:
New
Menu name: New
Tooltip Create new empty geobody polygon.
What it does Creates a new empty geobody polygon object ready for digitisation. The polygon can then be drawn interactively in the 3D view or imported from external data.
When to use it
- Starting new geobody interpretations
- Creating placeholder geobodies for planned interpretation
- Initiating geobody digitisation workflows
Notes New polygon requires digitisation to define its geometry. Useful as first step in manual interpretation workflows.
Spreadsheet
Menu name: Spreadsheet
Tooltip View geobodies in spreadsheet format.
What it does Opens a spreadsheet view displaying all geobody polygons in the group with their properties in tabular format. Columns typically include name, facies, area, perimeter, palaeocurrent summary, and horizon assignment. Allows sorting, filtering, and batch editing of properties.
When to use it
- Reviewing geobody population statistics
- Batch editing geobody properties
- Sorting geobodies by facies or size
- Quality control of interpretations
Notes Spreadsheet is editable - changes update geobody properties in the 3D model. Useful for systematic analysis of depositional systems with many geobodies. Can calculate statistics like total sand area per facies type.
Paste
Menu name: Paste
Tooltip Paste geobodies from clipboard into group.
What it does Pastes previously copied geobody polygon objects into the selected group. Geobodies are added as new objects with the same geometry and properties as the originals.
When to use it
- Populating groups with copied geobodies
- Transferring interpretations between stratigraphic intervals
- Duplicating geobodies for alternative interpretations
Notes Pasted geobodies are independent copies. Coordinate system must be compatible. Consider adjusting elevation if pasting between different stratigraphic levels.
Set Focus
Menu name: Set Focus
Tooltip Set this group as the focus for geobody operations.
What it does Designates the selected geobody group as the "focused" group. The focused group receives new geobodies created through digitisation or import operations. This allows directing new interpretations to specific organisational containers.
When to use it
- Before digitising new geobodies in a specific stratigraphic interval
- When importing geobodies that should go to a specific group
- For organised workflows with multiple geobody collections
Notes Focus status persists until another group is focused. Only affects where new geobodies are created, not operations on existing geobodies.
Import
Menu name: Import
Tooltip Import geobody polygons from external file.
What it does Opens file dialogue to import geobody polygon geometry from external formats. Supported formats typically include DXF, Shapefile, KML, and CSV (with polygon coordinates). Imported polygons are converted to geobody objects.
When to use it
- Importing geobody interpretations from other software
- Loading channel or reservoir interpretations from GIS
- Bringing in published geobody mapping
Notes Import format options vary. Polygons must be closed for geobody operations. Facies attributes may need to be assigned after import. Coordinate system should be specified during import.
Export
Menu name: Export
Tooltip Batch export all geobodies in group.
What it does Opens export dialogue to batch export all geobody polygons in the selected group. Can export to individual files per geobody or combined formats where supported.
When to use it
- Exporting complete depositional system interpretations
- Creating deliverables of all interpreted geobodies
- Archiving geobody interpretation projects
Notes Export options vary by format. Large groups may take significant time to export. Consider coordinate system conversion for external software. Facies and palaeocurrent data may be included in attribute tables.
Empty List
Menu name: Empty List
Tooltip Remove all geobody polygons from this group.
What it does Removes all geobody polygon objects from the selected group. The geobodies are deleted from the project database. This is a bulk delete operation affecting all group contents. The group container itself is preserved empty.
When to use it
- Removing all test or temporary geobodies
- Clearing groups before reimporting
- Resetting geobody collections for reinterpretation
Notes
This operation permanently deletes all geobody polygons in the group. Ensure you have backups or exports before clearing. Does not affect 3D geobodies generated from the polygons - those are separate objects.
Add Palaeocurrent to Bodies
Menu name: Add Palaeocurrent to Bodies
Tooltip Batch add palaeocurrent indicators to all geobodies in group.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify palaeocurrent parameters (azimuth, magnitude, positioning). Adds palaeocurrent indicators to all geobody polygons in the group using automated positioning (e.g., at centroids or along axes) and specified orientation.
When to use it
- Batch application of regional palaeocurrent trends
- Adding consistent flow indicators to channel systems
- Populating geobodies with interpreted flow directions
Notes Applies the same palaeocurrent parameters to all geobodies in group. Individual geobodies can have palaeocurrents edited afterwards. Useful for systematic application of regional depositional trends. Consider whether uniform flow direction is geologically appropriate across all geobodies.
Delete All Palaeocurrents
Menu name: Delete All Palaeocurrents
Tooltip Remove all palaeocurrent indicators from geobodies in group.
What it does Removes all palaeocurrent measurements from all geobody polygons in the selected group. This is a batch operation that clears palaeocurrent data whilst preserving geobody geometries and other properties.
When to use it
- Clearing incorrect or obsolete palaeocurrent interpretations
- Resetting palaeocurrent data before reinterpretation
- Removing palaeocurrents that were batch-applied inappropriately
Notes
Removes palaeocurrents from ALL geobodies in the group. Cannot be undone. Ensure this is intentional before proceeding.
Geobody geometry, facies, and other attributes are preserved. Only palaeocurrent indicators are removed.
Set Dip Azimuth
Menu name: Set Dip Azimuth
Tooltip Batch set stratigraphic dip for all geobodies in group.
What it does Opens dialogue to specify dip angle and azimuth. Applies this orientation to all geobody polygons in the group, setting their stratigraphic surface orientation consistently. This defines the orientation of the depositional surface for all geobodies.
When to use it
- Applying consistent regional dip to stratigraphic intervals
- Batch setting orientation for structural restoration
- Standardising stratigraphic framework across geobody populations
Notes Applies the same orientation to all geobodies in group. Affects how 3D geobodies are extruded and how thicknesses are interpreted. Consider whether uniform dip is appropriate across the geobody population - local structural variation may require individual treatment.
Force Refresh on all
Menu name: Force Refresh on all
Tooltip Regenerate display for all geobodies in group.
What it does Forces all geobody polygons in the group to regenerate their display representation (meshes, symbols, palaeocurrent arrows). This updates visualisation to reflect any changes in display settings, data, or properties that may not have automatically updated.
When to use it
- Fixing display issues after data updates
- Ensuring all geobodies reflect current display settings
- Troubleshooting visualisation problems
Notes Useful when geobodies are not displaying correctly after property changes or system updates. Does not modify geobody data, only refreshes visualisation. May take time for groups with many geobodies.