In this case, the grid positions are identified by a latitude-longitude coordinate pair, and the data values may encode such things as surface reflectance in the ultraviolet. Generally, the decision about which dependency the data has is made by you at the time of data collection or simulation. We can extend our data sampling into three dimensions where appropriate. In that case, we identify each grid position with three coordinates. The path connecting grid positions is called a connection in Data Explorer.
Quads require four positions for each connection and triangles three.
Data Explorer supports these element types as well as cubes, tetrahedra, and lines. Suppose we first choose to link adjacent positions in the botanist's sample area with line connections. The grid markers were 1 meter on a side. We assume that the grasses are free to spread across the area and the wind is free to blow in any direction over the area. Now, assume that the botanist measures temperature values at each grid position .