Urban ASCII Database Format (ODA)

The ODA database-files (Outdoor ASCII) are in a simple ASCII format. Such files can be generated by loading an ODB database within WallMan and using the File > Export > ASCII option.

An ODA file starts with a header which is 6 lines long: 
* Urban Database
* Last changed on: 11. 3.2013  9:20:26
* Database generated by WallMan
*
*
Five comment lines 
SETTINGS 2087 0 5 2399.000 3392.000 WallMan
 General database settings
  • Total number of buildings
  • Database offset x direction
  • Database offset y direction
  • Database extension in x direction
  • Database extension in y direction
  • Info text

The database offset (x and y) is added to the coordinates of the individual buildings. The coordinates of the individual buildings are thus relative to the given offset and must be positive. The coordinates of the individual buildings should not exceed 106.

The database extension is to be understood relatively to the lower-left corner of the database, it is not the upper-right corner in absolute coordinates, but it is the vector pointing from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner.

It is not recommended to delete any line, no matter if this affects the pre-processing or not. WallMan returns an error if the number of buildings is incorrect when processing the file.

Following the header, material definitions are listed as described below: 
BEGIN_MATERIAL
 This keyword marks the beginning of the material data. 
* [MATERIAL]  [ID]  [GENERAL]  ["Name of Material"]  [Thickness (in cm)]   [Filled in Display]   [Color: Red]  [Color: Green]  [Color: Blue]
 The structure of the material properties belonging to the visualization settings. 
* [MATERIAL]  [ID]  [FREQUENCY]  [Frequency (in MHz)]  [Dielectricity (relative)]   [Permeability (relative)]   [Conductivity (in S/m)]  [Transmission Loss Vertical (in dB)]  [Transmission Loss Horizontal (in dB)]  [Reflection Loss (in dB)]  [Diffraction Loss incident min (in dB)]   [Diffraction Loss incident max (in dB)]  [Diffraction Loss diffracted (in dB)]
 The structure of the material properties belonging to the electrical settings for each defined frequency. 
MATERIAL 1 GENERAL "Material 1" 10.00000 1 0 0 0
 Sample Code. 
MATERIAL 1 FREQUENCY 2000.000 4.000000 1.000000 0.010000 10.000000 20.000000 9.000000 8.000000 15.000000 5.000000
   
END_MATERIAL
 This keyword marks the end of the material data. 
BEGIN_BUILDINGS
 This keyword marks the start of the building data. 
{Building Index Number [integer]}
{Number of corners [integer]}
{x-coordinate of corner # 1 [float]},
{y-coordinate of corner # 1 [float]}
{x-coordinate of corner # 2 [float]},
{y-coordinate of corner # 2 [float]}
              .....
{x-coordinate of corner # n [float]},
{y-coordinate of corner # n [float]}
{Building height [float]}
{Material identifier [integer]}
{Type of building [integer]}
Note: Each building is described by one line. In this description, the line break has been inserted for readability. Between two buildings, there must be a line break, but there must be none in one building line.
 
END_BUILDINGS
 This keyword marks the end of the building data.

Description of the Building Parameters

Table 1. Building Parameters
Parameter Type Description
Building Index Number Index Number which allows to identify buildings, for example, in a prediction.
Number of corners Index Number of corners of this building. Must be at least 3.
x-coordinate of corner # n Geometric

Coordinates [m] of each individual corner of the building.

The values must be positive. The offset has to be chosen accordingly.
y-coordinate of corner # n Geometric
Note: The orientation of the corners should be counter-clockwise.
Building height Geometric Uniform building height [m] (in z-direction).
Material identifier Index Code describing the material defined for this building.
Type of building Index Code describing the type of this building (standard, virtual, vegetation or courtyard/ tower).