Navigating The Viewer

---

Video Tutorial – Navigating the Orbital Stack Viewer

---

1. Dashboard Overview

Your dashboard displays all projects you have access to and provides high-level account information.

• Account type
• AI and CFD credits used
• Remaining credits
• Credit expiration dates

To access your profile settings, click on your initials in the top-right of the screen.

Note: Only users with the Org Admin role can access the Company Administration page.

User Role Permissions:

1.1 Finding and Organizing Projects

Orbital Stack offers several ways to organize and find your projects:

• Projects: Displays all projects you have access to
• Shared with Me: Shows only projects that others have shared with you and that you’ve accepted
• Favorites: Lists any projects you’ve marked as favorites for quick access
• Sample Projects: provides demo projects you can explore.

To quickly find a specific project:

• Use the search bar to enter keywords related to the project name, location or project ID
• Sort using the Order by filter (alphabetically, oldest, and newest)

1.2 Project Tile Overview

Click the star icon to add or remove a project from your Favorites.

– Project Tile Actions

• Details – View all scenarios within the project
  • From this view, you can sort scenarios by name, status, type, or date created
• Properties – Access project settings
  • Access to Details, Scenarios, Share Settings, Administration and Resources
• Add Scenario – Create a new scenario

Note: Some options may not be visible or accessible depending on your role permissions.

2. Access / Review Scenarios

There are multiple ways to access scenarios within a project.

• From the Project Tile (as described above)
• Within the Viewer using the dropdown menu under the name project (top left of the viewer)

• From the Properties tab by navigating to the Scenarios section

• Within the Scenarios tab, you also have the ability to:
  • Sort scenarios by clicking the column headers of the project name, status, type, created date, or simulated date
  • Edit scenario names
  • Duplicate scenarios
  • Delete scenarios

3. Using the 3D Viewer

The 3D Viewer launches automatically once you select a scenario from a project.

Use the menu above the Viewer to switch between:

• 3D Viewer
• Properties

Refer to section below to explore the Properties tab.

3.1 Geometry

Ensure all geometry layers are toggled on for full model visibility.

3.2 Adding Results Layers 

To visualize results, click +Add in the Layers section

Choose between Horizontal or Volumetric results

• Horizontal layers are for typical surface plots
• Volumetric layers are for streamlines

Select desired layers, then click Add Layers

Toggle a layer on by checking the box next to its title

Tip: Hover over a layer name to view its full title or click Layer Title within the toolbar.

3.3 Toggling Between Presentation Planes 

If your simulation contains multiple presentation planes, you can toggle between them to view them individually. This is especially important if your presentation planes overlap each other.   

To do this, simply click on the Toggle Results button located under the +Add Layers button. 

Then select the presentation layers you want visualized:  

3.4 Compass

Located in the top-left corner:

• Rotates automatically with your model
• Click the compass to automatically center your model with north facing up.

3.5 Keyboard & Mouse Controls

Scroll the mouse wheel to zoom. Scroll up to zoom in and scroll down to zoom out.

4. Toolbar and Visualization Tools

The toolbar has relocated to the bottom of the viewer.

– Split View

Click the Split View icon to divide your screen into two viewing windows. This can be used to view two different layers, or scenarios side-by-side.

You can choose different options for Screen A and Screen B independently. This allows you to compare two differently designed scenarios side-by-side, such as design variations, wind directions, or seasonal conditions.

Click Single View to return to one viewing window.

Note: For quick and easy access, save the URL to navigate quickly to the split screen view.

– Collapse Toolbar

For improved flexibility, you now have the ability to collapse the toolbar.

– Themes (Geometry Colors)

You can choose from five available themes to customize the appearance to your preference.

– Probe Values

Probe Mode lets you inspect specific data values directly on your results layers.

1. Toggle on a results layer
2. Click the Toggle Probe Mode icon in the menu
3. Click anywhere on the layer to view data values at that specific point.

Use this feature to explore detailed results across different locations in your model.

For more details, visit our Probe Data Values post.

– Clipping Plane

The Clipping Plane tool allows you to slice through your geometry to reveal hidden results, such as data beneath overhangs or cantilevered sections.

You can activate the clipping plane using the sliding scale toggle or enter a specific height in meters for precise adjustment.

– 2D and 3D Perspective View

You can select either a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional view of the Geometry by clicking the buttons at the top of the Scenario Toolbar.

– Save / Select Camera Angles

It is often desirable to return the view to exactly the same orientation as a previous visit in order to generate screen captures with identical placement of reference geometry.  Saving and reusing ‘Camera Settings’ provides this ability.

1. Adjust the view to your desired angle
2. Click the Camera Angle icon and select Save Camera Angle
3. Enter a name and save the angle

Tip: You can also save a camera angle directly from the Screenshot feature:

– Screenshot

Use the Screenshot feature to download an image of your current view.

1. Click the Screenshot icon
2. Choose the preferred Aspect Ratio and Resolution
3. Choose Screenshot Type
   • Current Layer – Downloads an image only of the visible layer in the current view
   • All Layers – Downloads an image for each results layers of the current view
   • Set Project Image – Saves the current view as the main project image in the Project Dashboard

Tip: You also have the ability to save your camera angle here.

– Simulation Settings

Note: Some parameters above may not be visible within your project if certain metrics were not requested at scenario creation.

– Layer Title

Full name of the layer that is currently displayed

– Wind Rose

– Color Legends

5. Project Properties

5.1 Properties

Within the Properties tab, you have the ability to view and manage key settings related to your project. This includes access to: Details, Scenarios, Share Settings, Administration, and Resources

Note: Depending on your assigned user role, you may not be able to view/update these fields.

You can access your projects Properties panel in two ways:

• From the Project Tile on the Dashboard, click the Properties button
• From within the 3D Viewer, from the menu options located at the top of the viewer

5.2 Details

When first creating a project, you will need to specify certain details such as the project name, address, geolocation, etc. If you would like to make any changes to this information, you may do so from within the Details page.

The geolocation is the exception and cannot be adjusted.

You can upload an image of your project here to appear on your project tile. You also have the ability to add a project image directly from the viewers screenshot feature

When you are satisfied with your changes, click “Update“.

5.3 Scenarios

Scenarios tab shows all scenarios created under the current project, the status of each scenario and type of simulation run i.e. AI, CFD.

If you no longer require a specific scenario, you have the ability to delete a scenario here.

You also have the ability to create a new scenario from this view.

5.4 Share Settings

Share settings enable you to specify who can access your project. Projects may be shared with Share Groups or specific individuals. 

You may also share projects with all RWDI Engineers by selecting that option.

– Share Groups

Share Groups are managed by your Company Administrator and include only users within your organization.

To share your project with a Share Group, find the desired share group in the drop-down menu and click “Add”. The project will now be shared with all users in that share group. Learn how to create a new Share Group.

To stop sharing the project with a share group, simply click the Trash icon to the right of the desired share group.

For instructions on how to create Share Groups go to our Company Administration page.

– Share with Individual Users

To share your project with a specific user, type their email address into the search bar under “Users”, then click “Add”. The user will then be sent an invitation to access the project.

Note: The user must accept the invitation in order to access the project, this will show up in the notification bell at the top right of your screen. If the user does not have an Orbital Stack-affiliated account, they will be prompted to create one.

After you have shared the project with the given user, you can grant them permission to allow this user to share the project with other users by checking the Can Share box.

– How to Accept a Project Share

Locate the Project Sharing Email Invitation from no-reply@orbitalstack.com, then follow the instructions.

Additional instructions can be found at Accessing a Shared Project.

5.5 Administration

To give other users the same privileges as the project owner, you may assign additional project administrators to the project. This will enable them to edit, share, and add new project admins to your project. You can only give this privilege to users within your own company.

Note: Organization Admins have full access and permissions. Those users can be viewed in the right hand column of the screen above. They can also be assigned under your Company Administration page.

5.6 Resources

The Resources tab is where you can download or request your surrounding context model for your project location. For additional instructions please visit Automatic Generation of Surrounds.

The Weather Data source is identified and a map is provided with a pin to identify your project location and weather station selected (if you selected measured weather data).

---