Dips > Stereonet Plots > Vector Plot

# Pole Plot

A Pole Plot is the most basic representation of your orientation data (i.e. the orientation data pairs in the first two columns of your Dips file). To generate a Pole Plot:

- The Pole / Dip Vector Mode must be set to Pole Vector mode

- Choose the Vector Plot option from the toolbar or the View menu, OR

- In the Sidebar choose the Pole Vector Display checkbox and the Pole radio button.

On a pole plot, points are plotted on a stereonet which correspond to the orientation of either (1) linear features or (2) poles representing planes, i.e.:

1. If the data is linear in nature (e.g. stress trajectories), then the corresponding point on the stereonet represents this orientation directly.

2. If the data is planar (e.g. rock structure survey), the points on the plot represent the poles (normal vectors) to the planes in question.

The default projection is a lower hemisphere, equal angle projection. Upper hemisphere and equal area projection options can also be used – see the Stereonet Options topic for details.

The Pole Plot is also capable of displaying feature attribute information, in the form of colour coded / symbolic plots – see the Symbolic Plot option for details.

Overlay Plot Types

The Sidebar plotting options allow you to overlay poles, contours, planes, intersections etc. See the Overlay Plots topic for details.