A
alert 
An alert is used to monitor values during analysis and report if specific conditions occur. Alerts may be displayed as a chart with (colored) target bars, an alert message, or as a feature color on a map. An alert may be associated with an assumption, a dynamic attribute, or an indicator.
alert condition
An alert condition is the value you set to notify you if a goal, target, threshold, or constraint condition has occurred.
analysis
A Scenario 360 analysis is a means of evaluating an issue or opportunity. An analysis includes alternative approaches ("scenarios"), community input, outcome analysis, and decisions. In Scenario 360, an analysis provides the overall framework for a project. It includes all of the map data, scenarios, calculations, and indicators for the various alternatives you may consider when evaluating an issue or opportunity. A Scenario 360 analysis is comparable to a Microsoft® Word "document", PowerPoint "presentation", or Excel "workbook".
assumption 
An assumption is a value that is used as input to an analysis and it is often changeable. Assumptions can be a way to express subjective inputs, such as how much weighting to give to a particular community value like open space or economic development. Output values that depend on a particular assumption are automatically updated when the assumption is changed and you click the Apply button.
attribute 
A piece of information describing a map feature. The attributes of a census tract, for example, might include its area, population, and average per capita income. Attributes can also be a characteristic of a geographic feature described by numbers, characters, images, and CAD drawings. For example, the attributes of a well might include depth and gallons per minute.
B
base scenario
An analysis can contain one or more scenarios. Each scenario represents a different decision-making alternative. The first scenario in your analysis is called the base scenario. It can represent existing conditions, the primary proposal under evaluation, business as usual, or the first of several alternatives you wish to compare in your analysis.
Boolean
A logical statement, or a condition, that is either true or false. Often represented as yes/no or 1/0.
C
chart
A chart is a graphic display of the current values of your indicators and assumptions. Charts are dynamically linked to assumptions and indicators. As changes are made in the analysis, chart displays will update automatically to reflect analysis results.
conditional operator
A symbol or keyword that specifies the relationship between two values. Examples include = (equal to), < (less than), > (greater than).
D
docked toolbar/view window
A docked toolbar or docked view window is a toolbar or view window that is attached to one edge of the program window. When you drag a toolbar (like the Scenario 360 toolbar) or view window (like the charts view window) below the program title bar or to the left, right, or bottom edge of the program window, the toolbar or view window snaps into place on the edge of the program window. See also: floating toolbar/view window.
dwelling units per area
(DU/area) density usually describes residential land use density in a land use plan (master, community or comprehensive plan). Frequently the density is listed as a range (3-6 DU/area), but numeric build-out requires you enter a single number. You can create two scenarios and run the Build-Out Wizard using the low and high range for comparison.
dynamic attribute 
A dynamic attribute is an attribute that is automatically updated as changes are made in the analysis using the unique capabilities of Scenario 360. For example, a proposed road layer may contain dynamic attributes for length, pavement type, intersecting slopes, and construction costs. As each new road segment is added or modified, each of these dynamic attributes will be updated automatically or, if you choose, on demand (manually). A formula is associated with each dynamic attribute that specifies how the attribute is calculated.
dynamic data layer
A dynamic data layer is a layer that is stored in your personal geodatabase. Only dynamic data layers can contain dynamic attributes. That is, a data layer must be designated as dynamic in order for you to be able to create a formula for any of its attributes.
E
efficiency factors
Efficiency factors adjust density values to reflect common density losses. They are entered as a percentage where 100% means complete efficiency (no density lost), and 0% means no buildings will be estimated for that land use.
eyepoint 
The point where the view originates in the 3D viewer. A particular point of view in your 3D scene.
F
FAR
FAR is the ratio between the total floor space in a building (including all stories) and the area of the land it is built on. It is calculated by dividing the total floor area of all buildings or structures on a lot by the total area of the lot.
feature
Features on a map are individual points, lines, or polygons. A typical map layer contains multiple features that together illustrate geographic information. In the 3D viewer, a feature is a shape that represents an actual or imaginary object such as a building, road, or tree.
fixed assumption
A fixed assumption is an input to the analysis that will not likely change, such as the municipal water supply. A fixed assumption value cannot be altered and has the same value across all scenarios in an analysis.
floating toolbar
A floating toolbar or view window is a toolbar or view window that is not attached to the edge of the program window. See also: docked toolbar/view window.
G
geodatabase
An object-oriented geographic database that provides services for managing geographic data. These services include validation rules, relationships, and topological associations. A geodatabase contains feature datasets and is hosted inside of a relational database management system. (See also: personal geodatabase).
geodatabase data model
A geographic data model that represents geographic features as objects in an object-relational database. Features are stored as rows in a table; geometry is stored in a shape field. Supports sophisticated modeling of real-world features. Objects may have custom behavior.
geotexture
A texture or image file that has real world latitude and longitude coordinates associated with it. When draped over terrain polygons with the same coordinates, it provides visual detail of the actual area in the 3D viewer.
I
indicator 
Indicators are impact or performance measures. They can reference datasets anywhere in a scenario. They are used to provide an overall measurement and apply to an entire scenario.
inset window
A small window that displays what is in view behind the eyepoint in the 3D viewer.
L
layer
In ArcGIS, geographic information is displayed on a map as layers. Each layer represents a particular type of feature such as streams, lakes, or highways.
level of detail
In the 3D viewer, level of detail indicates sets of models for the same object with varying amounts of complexity. The 3D realtime system switches the level of detail in and out depending on the distance from the eyepoint to the 3D view and the number of polygons the realtime system can process.
line feature
A line connects two or more x,y coordinate pairs. Rivers and roads are both line features.
M
motion model
The method of moving through a 3D view. In SiteBuilder 3D you can fly (either as a plane or as a UFO), walk, drive through a scene, or drag the eyepoint using a trackball-type motion.
multi-point feature
A feature that consists of more than one point but only references one set of attributes in the database. For example Hawaii, as there is a single set of attributes for multiple islands.
N
normalized suitability score: A suitability measure scaled so that the smallest value in the analysis is 0 and the largest value in the analysis is 100. For example, a suitability score based on proximity might range from 0 miles to 4.7 miles. The normalized version of the same factor would range from 0 (corresponding to 0 miles) to 100 (corresponding to 4.7 miles). The Scenario 360 Suitability Wizard normalizes suitability measures so that they can be fairly compared.
O
OpenFlight
The format for feature models placed in SiteBuilder 3D.
P
personal geodatabase
A geodatabase stored in Microsoft Access database format that supports many readers and a single editor.
point feature
A single x,y coordinate pair representing a single geographic feature such as a tree.
polygon feature
An enclosed shape that may have any number of sides such as a shape representing a state.
prototype feature shape
The geometric shape of the feature upon which a particular style has been based. Not all styles have prototype feature shapes.
S
spatial
Pertaining to space or a geographic area or the relationships between those geographic features. For example, distance, slope, or density.
suitability measure: One of potentially many ways of rating suitability of features in a layer. For example, one measure could be suitability for building, and another measure could be suitability for farming.
suitability factor: One of potentially many considerations contributing to a suitability measure. Some examples of suitability factors include proximity to roads, overlap with sensitive lines, and property value.
suitability weighting factor: A number used to give more or less relative importance to a suitability factor compared to other suitability factors in a given measure. The Scenario 360 Suitability tool allows you to assign weighting factors between 0 and 10 using variable assumptions during analysis. A smaller weighting makes a suitability factor less important in the overall measure, while a larger weighting makes a factor more important.
syntax
The structure used for a formula, including the order of operations, the parentheses and commas required, and the element types allowed in each place.
T
target (formulas)
In a formula, the target is the element that a function evaluates. Often attributes or features of the target layer. These are referred to as target attributes or target features. Attribute formulas can be understood as taking the form, Current Attribute = Function operating on Target Layer.
template
Templates allow you to save analysis component properties, relationships between components, and formulas so that they can be used with other data or shared with other users.
TIN
A TIN is a set of non-overlapping triangles that represent a surface. You can create a TIN from vector data or from a grid.
V
variable assumption
A variable assumption is an input to the analysis that might change as part of the analysis, such as the current interest rate, seasonal resource consumption values, residential density, or survey results. A variable assumption may be altered during analysis (using a slider bar or other method), and it can vary across scenarios.
view cone
A triangular-shaped object in the 2D view that indicates the location and direction of the eyepoint in the 3D viewer. The view cone moves as the eyepoint moves.
virtual texture
A series of low-resolution versions of the 3D base texture image which are swapped as the eyepoint moves closer to the ground and finer resolution is required.
W
weighting factor
A factor assigned to a number in a computation to make the number's effect on the computation reflect its importance.
where clause (formulas)
“Where” conditions let you specify one or more conditions for selecting which features to include in a calculation. For example, to count the number of buildings over four stories tall, you would write a formula to count the number of houses "where" the number of stories is greater than four.
Z
z-fighting
The flashing that occurs when two polygons are in close proximity to each other on the same plane (X, Y, or Z) and the graphics card cannot determine which polygon should be displayed in front.
