Help with a Google Earth KMZ

[rick1958]

Maybe someone here would be willing to help me out with a problem. I have a Google Earth KMZ that I'm just entering the last Place Marks. Does anyone here know how I can translate these Place Marks to a texture on a DEM for plotting the ROW. Google Earth gives the coordinates of each push pin, but I'm not smart enough to put the puzzle together.
BTW, the route is long gone and doesn't show up on the Tigers. If only it was that easy

 

[seeseeme]

Hi Rick,

To save retyping details, have a read of this thread and it should answer your questions.

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=44471

Craig

 

[rick1958]

Thanks Craig, I just read through the posts quickly, but I think I see how this will work for me. I'll dig into it deeper tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[rick1958]

Hello again folks, I just read the thread twice and I don't think it really addresses what I want to do.
I'm trying to find a way to be able to move to X,Y coordinates on a route and insert a Toolz push pin or drop a dab of bright texture. Later, I can use these marks to plot the ROW.
If I'm missing something in the referenced thread, I could really use some help. Thanks again

 

[Approach_Medium]

I used TransDem (Trainz Edition) for my prototype routes. TransDem handles the GE .kmz and .jpg files easily.
For going directly to placemarks on your TS route, I would suggest you use the build-in trig stations <kuid:44179:60019>. You need to set your World Origin in the correct spot before you can get accurate Lat and Long readings with the them.

The problem with this method is that it is very slow and tedious.
That's why I decided to go with TransDem. Well worth the money if you're building a proto route.

I think there may be better ones in DLS, but I don't recall the name at this time.

FW

 

[prometheus_au]

I prefer MapMaker. If you can find a map of your area (proto) which has 1km UTM grids, it's a very easy program to use. I now have 478 square kilometres mapped out this way, with about 100 more to go... (I'm unsure how Trainz'09 will respond to a 'layout' this large though.)

Good luck!

 

[seeseeme]

Hello again folks, I just read the thread twice and I don't think it really addresses what I want to do.
I'm trying to find a way to be able to move to X,Y coordinates on a route and insert a Toolz push pin or drop a dab of bright texture. Later, I can use these marks to plot the ROW.
If I'm missing something in the referenced thread, I could really use some help. Thanks again

Hi Rick,

From that other thread you will see how to convert the Lat/Long figures to something the World Origin Marker understands. So pick a place on your area in GE and then convert the figures to work in the WOM and on a baseboard (blank) place the WOM and enter the figures. This now becomes a "Central" reference point for all your other locations where you want to put your Push Pins.

I then use a tool from Martinvk (kuid2:70337:23016:2) that shows the Lat/Long readings any where on my layout. With your WOM set with the reference point, any where you move Matinvk's tool (you may need to add more baseboards) will give you the readings at that point, based on your WOM reference.

Remember though that once you have placed the WOM you can not delete it from a layout, but you can move it around. If you move it around this will/can change all other Lat/Long readings. You can hide a WOM by placing something on it, like a house.

This is a rather slow way of creating a route but it will work. As other have said though working from a DEM file is much easier. At the moment I am working on a DEM based layout but there are other areas some distance from any railway line that are not on the DEM file. So on my DEM layout, I placed a WOM at a known site like a Railway Station. Then for the other areas not covered by the DEM file I use the method above.

Hope this helps, but keep posting if your not to sure.

Craig

 

[rick1958]

Thanks Graig, Since my last post, I've pulled the information out of the thread and began doing exactly as you last instructed. The only difference is, instead of doing the coordinate conversions manually, I told GE to give the read outs in decimals and it seems to be working fine.
It would be really nice if there would be a utility where the coordinates could be entered and cross hairs would mark the spot, but a million dollars would also "be nice". Thanks again for the help

 

[seeseeme]

Thanks Graig, Since my last post, I've pulled the information out of the thread and began doing exactly as you last instructed. The only difference is, instead of doing the coordinate conversions manually, I told GE to give the read outs in decimals and it seems to be working fine.
It would be really nice if there would be a utility where the coordinates could be entered and cross hairs would mark the spot, but a million dollars would also "be nice". Thanks again for the help

I did not know you could change the details like that. A friend who is working on our project with me has more experience with GE then me and I do not think he knew either (hes away today). He had worked on the DHR project and I am sure he did not know this either, nor the others who also worked on that project.

Now my turn to say "Many Thanks for the help":hehe: .

Craig