The UNAVCO GEON IDV -- Help for UNAVCO and GEON Demos

Seismic Tomography: Bk 4 deg. REM model
Quicktime movie The GEON Integrated Data Viewer (GIDV) - Contents
INTRO Introducing the GEON IDV
INSTALL Download & Run the GEON IDV
LEARN Tutorial ... How to Use the GEON IDV ... Bundles
DATA Geophysics Data Types and Sample IDV Displays
YOUR DATA Data Formats for the IDV
EDUCATION Ideas for using the IDV in Education
CONTACT to get help with the IDV

Learning the GEON IDV with Bundle Files
First, Install the GEON IDV. Be sure you do all of the first three numbered steps. Installation should take less than 15 minutes. You need a computer with some 2 GB of RAM and 2 GHz of cpu speed to get impressive response with these complex demos using big data sets. If you do not have GEON IDV version 2.5, install that version using the same process.
IDV Bundle Files
IDV "bundle files" are files of configuration information about a particular IDV data display or displays. With a bundle file you can recreate a complex display in the GEON IDV in essentially one step. The IDV knows how to interpret bundle files; they are not for human reading. You load a bundle file into the IDV, just as if it were a data source, and the display is automatically created with no other actions on your part.
Bundle files do not contain the data used to make the display. The bundle file tells where to find the data source online, or on a computer you have access to for file operations.
With these bundle files you can make some impressive displays of research-quality earth science data in the GEON IDV.
There are three parts here: first a list of uses for bundle files(next); then links to pre-made IDV bundle files, and then a few basics about controlling GEON IDV displays.

IDV Bundle File Uses
1. Use the sample bundle files on this page to learn about the IDV.
2. Save IDV set ups of important data displays of your data for future use. This could be for education or research.
3. Share IDV displays with colleagues - just email them a bundle file and they can see what you see (data sources must be accessible to everyone, such as files online with an HTTP URL). You can add a text note to a bundle file describing what is important in the display or data.
4. Save snapshots of data while you are processing it. Use the IDV as a field log of experiments while the data is coming in.
5. Use the IDV with bundle files for classroom exercise. Create a lesson with a problem to be solved using , at least in part, the IDV. Send bundle files to students. Get bundle files from students as homework or lab results. This requires that students be adept IDV users of course.

GEON IDV Bundle Files
You can use these links to pre-made bundle files to create complex displays in the IDV, very simply. Then you can learn to control IDV displays without having first to learn to load data sources and create displays.
You need a fast internet connection for the demo displays to be created quickly; data source sizes can be large.
Do not load multiple bundles at one time or the IDV may freeze, due to too much in memory to handle. After you are done with a bundle, do the main menu command Edit->Remove all data sources and displays.
Start the IDV
On the desktop double click on the "Integrated Data Viewer" or "GEON IDV" icon. You should see the GEON IDV logo appear in the center of the screen; then two larger windows - the main IDV display window (Labled "GEON IDV - Map Display") with map views of data, and the "Dasboard" window with data and display selection controls. You can move and enlarge these windows like normal. For public displays make the map display window as large as is convenient.
To load a bundle file in the GEON IDV, find the "Dashboard" window.
Click on "Data Choosers" tab (right of "Quicklinks").
Click on the "URLs" item in the left column.
Cut and paste the URL for a bundle file from the list below into the URL: entry box.
Click Add Source
In the small window that pops up, check the box Remove all displays & data.
Note that once you have loaded a bundle in the Data Choosers URLs entry box, it is saved in the pull down list attached to that box so you don't need to use the web site list again. You do need to remember which URL goes with each demo!
Colorado Geology in 3D http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/geomapCO.xidv
USGS fault lines in western U.S., Colorado geology map (southwest quadrant) as 3D relief over topography, and a vertical cross section below the Rockies to 60 km deep from geophysics (Alan Levander et al., 2005, plate 3)
PBO GPS velocity vectors ("pbo_final_frame" data) with PBO station names, USGS surface faults lines, JPL Blue Marble surface image (from the JPL WMS server), and volcano names and locations from the Smithsonian Institution. http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/pbogps.xidv
Demo for Yellowstone National Park geophysics http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/ynp.xidv
Our best demo of regional geophysics, showing results of research by the team at the Univ. of Utah under Bob Smith, and others. Univ. Utah GPS surface motion vectors (Science , Sept 2007, W. Chang et al.); 3D surface colored by elevation (NGDC DEM); red caldera outline (USGS); surface faults in yellow (USGS); YNP outline in green (NPS); UU seismicity (colored by magnitude, mostly blues), UU earthquake focal mechanism 'beachballs;' UU seismic tomography (yellow 3D blobs; Vp offset); inflation model by Vasco (green blobs)' and state outlines.
Demo for Mt St Augustine, Alaska http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/msa.xidv
Mt St Augustine in the Aleutian chain is active. This shows 3D surface, a USGS island map drapped on the 3D surface, PBO GPS surface motion vectors, and (zoomed way out) seismicity (colored by depth) showing the subduction zone in the area.
This shows a USGS surface map of Mt St Augustine and area in 3D relief, PBO GPS surface motion vectors (their "pbo_frame_final_vel" data file), and seismicity in the area from IRIS. You can click on a live surface satellie image from JPL via a WMS (web map server). The subduction zone area and size are clearly shown by the earthquake hypocenters.
Demo for Mt St Helens http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/msh.xidv
This shows a 3D relief surface photo of Mt St Helens, PBO GPS surface motion vectors, and seismicity to depths more than 30 kilometers relocated in the area by Greg Waite. There is also a 3D model of seismic velocities (preliminary as of 2006) by Greg Waite.
Demo for global convection model uppermost mantle temperatures and velocities http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/geodynum.xidv
Upper mantle temperatures with time from data supplied by Allan McNamara from a fluid dynamics convection model tied to known plate locations and velocities. Turn on time animation; and rotate the globe to other views.
Demo for global convection model - vertical cross section of whole mantle http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/geodynxc.xidv
A vertical cross section of mantle temperatures with time from data supplied by Allan McNamara from a fluid dynamics convection model tied to known plate locations and velocities. Turn on time animation.
Demo of a global view of 250 million years of plate motions http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/plates1.xidv To make this "do" something, use the time animation 'play' control on the upper right corner of the display showing the globe. You can also rotate the globe with the arrow keys, or turn on auto rotate with menu choice View->Viewpoint->Auto-rotate View.
The same demo of a global view of 250 million years of plate motions, with plate velocity vectors too. http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/plates2.xidv
Global seismic tomography http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/smtomo1.xidv
Harvard REM S vel percent deviations from layer averages, 2 degree grids
Demo for Western US crust and mantle geophysics http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/wus.xidv
17 data sources in one IDV display. The data includes:
from PACES (Randy Keller at al.): Colorado Bouger gravity anomaly (color image and contours);
from PACES: Wyoming Bouger and magnetic anomalies ((color image and contours);
from Dogan Seber "US MOHO 1" depth to moho; surface color by value, contours, and 3D moho surface at depth;
PBO "final_vel" GPS vectors of surface deformation;
volcano names (USGS);
GSRM stain image, 2nd invariant strain rate values image (absolute strain quantity);
CRUST 2.0, a global crustal model at 2x2 Degrees by Gabi Laske, Guy Masters and Christine Reif

Gravity data flicker comparison http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/gflicker.xidv
Compare two different gravity models of the Bouguer anomaly in Colorado with the IDV.
Antarctica topography in color http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/antarc.xidv

Arctic 3D relief topography http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/arc.xidv

New Zealand seismicity http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/nz1.xidv
(can be joined with Tonga display, next; data from IRIS)
Tonga Islands region seismicity http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/tonga.xidv
(can be joined with New Zealand demo; data from IRIS)
Seismic ray paths http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/rays.xidv
(so far this only has one path- demo needs to be much improved)
Mars globe http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/mars2.xidv
Data sources have two other views of Mars; imagery from NASA
Venus http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/venus.xidv

Sea Surface Temperature (world) http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/sst.xidv
current SST, note the time label in the display
US weather forecast: sea level pressure and 500 mb hgt http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/PSL3D.xidv
Time loop of sea level pressure (colors and contours on 3D topo relief) and 500 millibar heights
Jetstream in 3D http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/jetstream3D.xidv
Jetstream in 3D, time loop of 50 m/sec wind speed isosurface, and sea level pressure (colors and contours on 3D topo relief)
3D grid of wind speed as cloud of values by color http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/demos/wsvr.xidv
You can display 3D grids of scalar values as partially transparent clouds; includes time animation. This example shows the jet stream over the U.S.
The "IDV Leaping Lion" icon indicates a demo that looks great in True 3D IDV, with the inexpensive true-color system developed at UNAVCO with the polarized projector and polarized glasses, or as impressive GeoWall displays.

How to Control the IDV:
If there is a display in the IDV when it starts, you can remove that display with the main display window menu item Edit, choice "Remove all displays" (the first choice on top).
The IDV displays are true 3D. They can be zoomed in or out, panned, rotated, switched to any other Earth location or map projection. There are full color controls and time animation controls.
To toggle on/off items in the display use the check boxes in the right columnunder the word Displays.
For demos this will only tell you how to control the display viewpoint. For more see nnn How to Use the GEON IDV and More How-tos
Click in the display window first to make it active.
Right button drag moves the display with rotation around the center of the display (remember -- its the center of 3D space, not just spinning the picture) ;
Right and left arrow keys do side to side rotation;
Up and down arrow keys rotate up and down.
CTRL plus right-button drag drags (pans the display) sideways or at any angle.
Shift plus right-button drag to zoom in (drag up) or to zoom out (drag down).
For more see Zooming, Panning and Rotating. Be sure to check the "viewpoint toolbar" and the "zoom-pan" toolbar" sections on that page.
If the display becomes confusing, hit CTRL-R to return to an overhead view. IDV controls for zooming panning and rotating are more complex than is common for other computer displays, since it is a true 3D system. There are two or more ways to pan, zoom, and rotate. Once you learn them, it is very powerful. Until you learn them it can be a little confusing or surprizing.
Display legends and Controls: see here.
For more about how to operate the IDV see the GEON IDV web site at http://geon.unavco.org/unavco/IDV_for_GEON.html especially the "How-to". Unidata provides two day long IDV training sessions, and the GEON IDV has more features than Unidata covers. There is a lot to the IDV!

Comments or questions about this page? Send e-mail to Stuart Wier (wierunavco.org).