Using for example google earth screenshots for laying tracks.

[allebrugere]

Can anyone tell me, or give me a link to some tutorial about how to get an image, such as a screenshot from google earth into trainz to be able to lay tracks from the real world? I have found out that there is something called TransDEM, but thats way too advanced...I simply want a flat image to show where to put my tracks...?

[Tokkyu40]

You need basemaps. Here's a tutorial on where to get them, how to install them and how to use them.
http://www.g0akh.f2s.com/Trainz/Basemap_tutorial.html
I used to use them all the time. Now I use them on routes where I can't get DEM data. They're very handy.

:cool: Claude

[geophil]

Now I use them on routes where I can't get DEM data.
Reasonable Google Earth images but no DEM? Where would that be?

[Tokkyu40]

Japan. For some reason, the USGS seamless data is hard to download for areas outside the country.
I have some SRTM files (I think that's what they are) but I haven't learned to use it yet. And since they don't include TIGER files, the basemaps also work for laying tracks and roads. There are a lot of good uses for basemaps.

:cool: Claude

[Jerker]

G'day Tokyyu40,

For some reason, the USGS seamless data is hard to download for areas outside the country

Since USGS stands for United States Geodetic Survey, I'm not at all surprised...

...SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) is the correct term to use and these files can be used with any of the 'recommended' DEM programs commonly used 'with' Trainz...Global Mapper...TransDEM, Mapmaker and MicroDEM, to name a few (the data will, in fact, probably be the only DEM data for anywhere other than the continental united States that is available FREE - I don't know how they do it)...

Jerker {:)}

[Jerker]

G'day allebrugere,

I don't see how you can say that TranzDEM is way too advanced. If you are trying to lay track as it has been in the real world, then it would be logical to lay that track on a route that has been created with DEM data (and thus has all the right hills and valleys in all the right places). To my knowledge, TranzDEM is the most efficient program available to accomplish this task...

Jerker {:))

[Tokkyu40]

It's faster but more complicated than basemaps. With care and patience, the results can be just as good, but it takes forever for a large route. That's why I like DEM maps.

:cool: Claude

[Ausrail8040]

Hi guys .... I'm getting great results with the tutorial at http://www.g0akh.f2s.com/Trainz/Basemap_tutorial.html

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/7527/aerialviewwithgoogleearvg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This has changed the way i make routes forever :D .
Awesome.

Cheers!
Ausrail.

[Larrymc812]

Just an observation here... There is a game called Freight Yard Manager. It uses satellite images as you suggest to create a 2-D image of yards. Each yard being a separate entity controlled by a player- outbound trains being uploaded to a server addressed to the next yard/player- no mainlines displayed. With well over 300 yards modeled in North America it is quite a system. The point being that the denizens of the game are constantly adding new yards. And are willing to train newcomers. You may find useful info there- or become 'hooked' on it. No Trainz content used. Oh BTW- its free.

[lewisner]

I thought it may be worth mentioning that I downloaded the Basemaps into TC3 and they show up as "Faulty" in CMP.