Introduction to Surfer

Surfer is a grid-based mapping program that

interpolates irregularly spaced XYZ data into a
regularly spaced grid. Grids may also be
imported from other sources.

The grid is used to produce different types of

maps including contour, vector, image, shaded
relief, 3D surface, and 3D wireframe maps.
 Map Types

Contour Maps Base Maps Post Maps

Image Maps

3D Surfaces 3D Wireframes
Vector Maps
Shaded Relief Maps
 1- Map Types

Contour Maps
A contour map is a two-dimensional
representation of three-dimensional data.
Contours define lines of equal Z values across
the map extents. The shape of the surface is
shown by the contour lines. Contour maps can
display the contour lines; they can also display
colors and patterns between the contour lines
 2- Base Map

Base Map
Base maps display geographic and political
information such as roads, streams, lakes, or
state and county boundaries. Base maps can
be combined with any other map type in
Surfer.
Base map files draw objects at precise X, Y
locations on a map and can contain points,
polygons, polylines, text, and raster images.
 3- Empty Base Map
The Map | New | Empty Base Map command allows you to
create an empty base map with the intention of creating new
geometry within the empty base map limits by using the Enter
Group command.
 4- Post Maps

Post Maps

Post maps and classed post maps show data

locations on a map. Post symbols and the
individual post label positions can be
customized.
 4- Post Maps

Post Map

Post maps indicate X, Y locations with symbols and labels.

Post maps display a fixed or proportionally sized symbol
at each data location. Posting data points on a map can
be useful for determining the spatial distribution and
density of your data, as well as placing data or text
information at specific locations on the map. You can
specify the symbol type, size, color, and angle for the data
points. An associated data value or text string may be
placed next to the posted point. The size, angle, color,
and typeface for the label can also be specified.
 4- Post Maps

Post maps can be used to show the spatial

distribution of the original data when overlaid on a
grid-based map, such as a contour map. This is
often an excellent means of presenting a qualitative
measure for the accuracy of the contour lines on
the map.

The limits of a post map are based on the limits of

the X and Y coordinates contained within the
associated data file. These limits can be changed if
necessary.
 4- Classed Post Maps

Classed Post Map

Classed post maps indicate XY locations with symbols and

labels and require Z values in addition to the XY
coordinates. Classed post maps group the data into
discrete classes (bins). The data points are displayed using
the symbol assigned to the class. Classed post maps can
also include a legend.

The limits of a classed post map are based on the limits of

the X and Y coordinates contained within the associated
data file. These limits can be changed if necessary.
 5- Image Maps

Image Maps

Image maps are raster images based on grid

files. Image maps assign colors based on Z
values from a grid file. Shaded relief maps assign
colors based on slope orientation relative to a
light source.
 6- Shaded Relief Maps

Shaded Relief Maps

shaded relief maps are raster images based on

grid files. Image maps assign colors based on Z
values from a grid file. Shaded relief maps assign
colors based on slope orientation relative to a
light source.
 7- Vector Maps

Vector Maps

1-grid and 2-grid vector maps display direction and

magnitude data using individually oriented arrows. For
example, at any grid node on the map, the arrow points
in the direction of steepest descent ("downhill") and the
arrow length is proportional to the slope magnitude. In
Surfer, vector maps can be created using the information
in one grid file (i.e. a numerically computed gradient) or
two different grid files (i.e. each grid giving a component
of the vectors).
 8- 3D Surfaces

3D Surfaces

Surfaces are three-dimensional color

representations of a grid file. The colors,
lighting, overlays, and mesh can be altered on a
3D surface
 8- 3D Surfaces

3D Wireframes
Wireframes are three-dimensional representations
of a grid file. A wireframe is created by connecting Z
values along lines of constant X and Y. At each XY
intersection (grid node), the height of the
wireframe is proportional to the Z value assigned to
that node. The number of columns and rows in the
grid file determines the number of X and Y lines
drawn on the wireframe.
Surfer User Interface
 Using Surfer

The most common application of Surfer is to

create a grid-based map from an XYZ data file.
The Grid | Data command uses an XYZ data file to
produce a grid file. The grid file is then used by
most of the Map menu commands to produce
maps. Post maps and base maps do not use grid
files.
 Using Surfer
The general steps to progress from a XYZ data set
to a finished, grid-based map are as follows:
1. Create a XYZ data file. This file can be created
in a Surfer worksheet window or outside of
Surfer (using an ASCII text editor or Microsoft
Excel, for example).
 Using Surfer
The general steps to progress from a XYZ data set
to a finished, grid-based map are as follows:
2. To display the data points, click the Map | New
| Post Map command.
 Using Surfer
The general steps to progress from a XYZ data set
to a finished, grid-based map are as follows:
3. Create a grid file .GRD from the XYZ data file
using the Grid | Data command.
 Using Surfer
The general steps to progress from a XYZ data set to a
finished, grid-based map are as follows:
4. To create a map, select the map type from the Map |
New menu commands. Select the grid file from step two.
Grid-based maps include contour, image, shaded relief,
vector, 3D surface, and 3D wireframe maps
 Using Surfer
The general steps to progress from a XYZ data set
to a finished, grid-based map are as follows:
5. To Make any changes to the map. Click File |
Save to save the map as a Surfer file .SRF.
Surfer Flow
Chart
Lesson 1 - Creating an XYZ Data File
 Lesson 1 - Opening an Existing Data File
1. Click the File | Open command, click the button, or press
CTRL+O on the keyboard to open the Open dialog.
2. If you are not in the SAMPLES folder, browse to it. In the list of
files, click TUTORWS.DAT.
3. Click Open to display the file in the worksheet window.
Lesson 1 - Creating a New Data File
 Lesson 1 - Saving the Data File
When you have completed entering all of the data:

1. Click the File | Save command, click the button, or press

CTRL+S on the keyboard.

2. In the Save as type list, choose the DAT Data (*.dat) option.

3. Type the name of the file into the File name box.

4. Click the Save button and the Data Export Options dialog
opens.

5. Accept the defaults in the Data Export Options dialog by

clicking OK.
Latitude and Longitude in Decimal Degrees

Latitude and Longitude coordinates are often presented in degrees, minutes, and
second, such as 3925'30" (39 degrees, 25 minutes, 30 seconds). However, Surfer
can only plot values in decimal degrees. So, for example, 3925'30" is referred to
as 39.425 in Surfer.

Converting from degrees, minutes, and seconds is actually quite easy. There are 60
minutes in one degree and 3600 seconds in one degree. To convert minutes and
seconds to decimal degrees, divide minutes by 60, divide seconds by 3600, and
then add the results to obtain the decimal equivalent.

Conversion Equation:

Decimal Degrees = Degrees + (Minutes / 60) + (Seconds / 3600)

Example

Consider the latitude value 3925'30". This value needs to be converted to decimal
degree in order to use it in Surfer.

To convert 3925'30" to decimal degrees:

First, convert minutes (25') and seconds (30") to their degree equivalents and add
the results.

25'/60 = 0.4167
30"/3600 = 0.0083
0.4167 + 0.0083 = 0.425
Then, add this number to the number of degrees.
39 + 0.425 = 39.425
The final result is the decimal degree value.
3925'30" = 39.425