CSV Grid Files: Sample Workflow

This topic describes a sample workflow for importing CSV Grid files. In the example used in this workflow, there are seven columns with numeric data and there is one column with text data. (The CSV file was converted to an Excel table for viewing purposes.)

Process overview

To import a CSV Grid file:

1.     Open Map Layer Import from Home > Default > Map Layer Import or from Administration Console > Object Management > Custom Map Layers > Import. The Map Layer Import dialog box opens.

2.     Next to the File Selection field, click and navigate to the location of the CSV Grid file that you want to import, such as "m60_evt24_1km_windpspeed_points.csv".

3.     In the Open dialog box, select Comma Separated Grid File (*.csv, .txt) as the file type, select the CSV file, and then click Open. You only need to import the .csv file.

4.     In the Import Options area, specify the following options:

a.     Layer Name: Enter a unique name that describes the specific type of map layer being imported. For example, to display wind speed bands for the Songda storm, enter Songda Windspeed Bands. The layer name is useful when you are searching for the layer to display on your exposure data or to use with geospatial analysis results.

b.    Group Name: Select an existing group or create a new group. A group name is a unique name that describes a collection of map layers of the same spatial data type (all event layers, all boundary layers, or all hazard layers) that are associated with a given event. The group can contain a mixture of shapefiles and CSV Grid files. Click here for important map layer grouping considerations. For the example used in this workflow, create a group named "Songda Windspeed" that will contain a grid file and a shapefile (for the typhoon track).

c.     Data Type: Select the data type associated with the selected import. When selecting a data type, consider where you want the map layer to appear on the Touchstone Mapping ribbon. For example, you could select "Historical Event".

d.     Peril: Select the appropriate peril based on your import data. The peril list includes four categories: Earthquake, Tropical Cyclone, Severe Storm, and Other. Using the sample CSV Grid file, select the Wind peril under Tropical Cyclone.

e.     Event Year: This optional field appears only if you select Historical Event or World Scenario as the data type. For example, specify an event year, such as "2004" for the Songda 2004 event. This can be useful when you are viewing map layers because you can display layers by the specified event year.

4.     In the Field Mappings area, select the appropriate field based on the column headings in your CSV Grid file. For example, since the sample data includes columns labeled “Latitude” and “Longitude”, select Latitude in the Latitude Field list and Longitude in the Longitude Field list. The latitude and longitude coordinates in the import file must be in decimal degrees (DD) format using positive or negative values (+/-DD). If the data is in units such as degree/minute/second or degree/decimal/minute, you must first convert them to decimal degrees before importing the file.

5.     Click Next. You now define how you want the map layer to be displayed (Map Layer Import > CSV Grid Files > Legend > Global Controls).

6.     In the Existing Legend field, select the legend that describes the map layer you are importing. The data in the import file, such as maximum wind speed, should intersect with the data associated with the map layer associated with the selected legend. The selected legend determines the legend type. In this example, selecting AIR Windspeed Footprint, a pre-defined legend provided by AIR; results in selection of “Banded Ranges” as the legend type, the type that was saved with the AIR legend.

7.     In the Analysis Field or Legend Field list, select the field that contains the categorical data that you want to map. For example, select "Maxwind_speed".

8.     Optionally, set the following global controls and display options. (If you selected a predefined legend, as in this sample workflow, you cannot modify the display options.) The content of the Global Controls and Display panes varies according to the selected legend and legend field.

•       Fill: The fill opacity is useful for displaying layers with other layers. Adding transparency to the top layers enables users to view them while still viewing underlying layers. Fill values are based on values in percent. For example, use 85% for the fill opacity and 100% for the border.

•       Border: This is useful for displaying background images on the map.

•       Palette: This is useful for assigning different colors to associate with each unique value, such as each unique maximum wind speed value. Select colors from the palette. The Palette option appears only for Discrete Values and Banded Ranges. The palette offers four settings: Warm, Cool, Ice, and Monochrome.

9.     Click Next. Map Layer Import displays a summary of your settings.

10.  If you are satisfied with the settings, click Import to submit the job.

11.  To monitor the status of the import, open the Activity Monitor. In the Activity Monitor, the name of the activity is “ShapeFile Import <LayerName>” and the type is “GIS Shape File Import”. When the status is “Completed,” you are ready to view the map layer on a contract, or use the imported layer in geospatial analysis results.

12.  To add a shapefile for the Songda track to the Songda group, open Map Layer Import, navigate to the location of the shapefile, such as "event24_pathlinefile.shp", and click Open. Enter a layer name, such as "Songda Track", and select "Songda" from the Group Name list. Select Historical Event as the data type, Wind as the peril, and enter 2004 for the event year. Leave the Label Field blank and then click Next.. Click Add and enter a legend name, such as "Songda Track". You can leave all the other defaults in this sample workflow. Click Next and then click Import.

After you run a Geospatial Analysis, open the analysis results. On the ribbon, select Map Tools > Mapping and then, in the Custom Defined Layers area, select Events > Wind. You will see the Songda group that includes the grid and the track.