Help using DEM, TIGER, and HOG.

S

Simcik

New member
Well, I've been reading up on using DEM and TIGER files to make protoypical layouts, however, I'm having trouble doing so...

I've found an online tutorial and tried to follow it, but it's not been working... The tutorial used a program called MicroDEM 7.0 - MicroDEM is not 7.0 anymore, and so some of the functions are different, and therefore is hard for me to understand and get to work... The main problem is that the DEM map shows up as a solid color no matter what I do. The map never looks anything like how it does in the tutorial... Also, when I try to overlay the TIGER info, nothing appears! It's very frustrating... Is there a better tutorial out there? Or a better program? Anything? I'd really like to get this to work...

Here's the tutorial I've been trying to use:
http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ance...ology/TerrainGeneration/Downloading-TIGER.htm
 
you are using the best tutorial I know. As you say the Microdem version is different, as are the Trainz requirements. Some of the changes needed are intuitive, others are not. There is plenty of help available through the forum, but unfortunately the forum search engine does not recognise a three-letter search, so searching HOG or DEM yields null returns. Follow the tute as best you can. When you get bogged down, post specific questions and we will get you thru it....
 
Sorry Simcik for hijacking your thread,
@Dermmy Am I right in thinking that these Tiger lines only apply in the USA ?
Is there anything similar for the UK ? Free ?
take care
Don W
 
G'day doncraig,

...it's good to hear your words again...

...you are indeed, correct! There IS no such thing as the so-called "Tiger Lines" for anywhere outside of the 'continental' USA. Nothing! Nil! Zilch! Zero! Nada! Nichts! Njet! Niente! Nought! My only suggestion is to use the best available Topographic maps. Unfortunately, the 'free' ones aren't the best there are but I have had had good enough results using them...

Jerker {:)}
 
Okay, I was habing lots of problems with MicroDEM so I unistalled/reinstalled it, and - guess what? It worked! Finally! I got my DEM and Tiger data to show up! Of course it couldn't be that simple though...

I launched Trainz, made my blank map, and saved it. I then copied the .gnd file from the HOG program to the Trainz folder, but when I load it, it is not correct! The image and the map appear as very small little hills in a regular pattern and lots of little red, blue, and light blue dots all over. No roads, rails, or true elevations...

What happened???
 
Simcik:

1. What version of Trainz are you using?

2. Did you skip the 'rescale image to 10meters=1 pixel step?
 
Hi Jerker,
I am back thank you.
I don't think we really need all these tiger etc. doodahs to map a simple route in the U.K.
take care
Don W
 
G'day doncraig,

...I don't think we really need all these tiger etc. doodahs to map a simple route in the U.K....
Click to expand...

...indeed, Don, as I said above, the freely available Ordinance Survey Topographic maps of the U. K. are perfectly adequate for the purpose (and if you ask me, a much better product, by far)...

...none of which helps out poor Simcik with their problem, so...

G'day Simcik,

...I wonder if we might be able to entice an image of the Trianz screen showing precisely that which you describe at the end of your last post (it will make it just that much easier for us to understand your plight)?...

Jerker {:)}
 
Here it is:

layouttroublesba7.png
 
Last edited:
Exactly where is the route you are modelling? I got something like that once when the route straddled two DEM zones.

Andy
 
Well it isn't the zone thing, I am surprised no-one else has jumped in. There is a known issue with HOG and the area where baseboards jopin, but I have never seen it manifested so 'spike-ily'. The scale on the mini-map looks wrong, although it is hard to be certain...
 
I downloaded and used the 30m DEM-24K data...

The minimap and and the baseboards may show up wrong in Trainz, but I don't know how to fix it. The .tga files appear fine! I'm very confused...
 
G'day Simcik,

"30m DEM-24K data" you say? Hmmm, that may well be the cause of your problems. I use the SRTM data EXCLUSIVELY (except for some 1 arcsec - 10 meter - resolution data that I have recently found for Switzerland). For a start, the data from SRTM for the continental US is all at 10 meters (1 arcsec) resolution - a distinct advantage and, if you download version 3, there are no more "holes" in the data (a possible cause of the spikes in your image). I can't tell from the images exactly what problems you are having with the 'Tiger' data but...

...is this the sort of result you are looking to achieve?...

Big_Sandy_01.jpg



Big_Sandy_02.jpg



Big_Sandy_03.jpg



Big_Sandy_04.jpg



...as you can see from the images, this is a route centred on Big Sandy (first image), that extends Northward to Gilmer (not shown) via the St. Louis Southwestern, South to Tyler (to include the extensive Locomotive facilities there - the second image), where we take in a short portion of the Missouri Pacific from Lindale towards the Gravel pits in the nearby 'hills'. There are also included a small portion of the lines from Tyler to Gresham (via the St. Louis Southwestern) and towards the lakes to the South West (also on the St. Louis Southwestern).

Along the East/West axis, the route starts in the East at Longwiew (with short portions of the Missouri Pacific lines off to the East and South East as far as Estes, as well as the line South West towards Kilgore. As an added bonus, the "Industrial Loop" around Longview is included in it's entirety (image #3). Heading west from Big Sandy the route goes as far as the big yard located at West Mineola. As you can see from the images, I have utilised the available Topographic maps from the USGS rather than your preferred "Tiger Data", because I believe this to be the better 'option' of the two.

Since you appear to be having so much trouble getting the results you want, if all of this is to your liking, I will make the route available as a *.cdp file for you, as if it were requested from me....


...by the way, you are quite correct in stating that Texas is not as flat as everyone tends to think it is but come on, let's face it, it isn't anything even remotely close to what could be described as 'hilly', either...

Jerker {:)}
Big_Sandy.jpg
 
That is absolutely perfect!!! Thank you so much for your help, and I will look into using the same methods you have in any future attempts. I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me a copy of the *.cdp file! For what versions would this route be compatible?

Thank you!
 
Thank you, Jerker!

I found out alot about the *.cmd files yesterday after doing some Googling... Thank you for helping me with the DEM! I plan to get started finallizing it right away and will be sure to post screenshots of it as I go along!

Again, thanks!
 
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