Is it transdem or me?

[JCitron]

I demand map server not be overhauled... lol.... Anyway... thanks so much... I'm giving this a try.

Well... ok... USA TOPO ended up looking worse than all of them so far.

{pic removed}

Peter, try a higher resolution terrain. The 5-meter terrain should produce a higher resolution image.

 

[PWillard]

I need to spend more time in the manual I guess

 

[JCitron]

Importing GeoPDF maps from the National Map server.

Downloading and using GeoPDF maps in TransDem

This document will provide a step-by-step procedure for downloading and importing GeoPDF map files into TransDEM.
By following this procedure, you should be able to:

1. Locate and download the GeoPDF maps on the National Geologic Survey website
2. Import and convert these files for use in TransDem

[h=1]Obtaining and downloading the GeoPDF map files from the National Geologic Survey (NGS) website.[/h]

1. Navigate to the NGS website:
   USGS.gov | Science for a changing world

1. Under Products heading, choose Topographic (Topo) Maps located on the left under Maps

Get Maps | topoView (usgs.gov)
A tutorial screen will appear. You can optionally watch the video or click anywhere to dismiss it.

1. Using the map located in the middle, choose the area you want your maps to cover.

1. On the right you may optionally search for your location and choose the date range for your maps.

1. Click on 24K (the red button)

Your search results will appear.
If there are multiple years listed, choose the one you want and also choose 24K only.

1. Click on the GeoPDF option.

A separate window will open up and the map will download.

[h=1]Importing the GeoPDF files into TransDEM[/h]Let's look at bringing in your images....
First Ensure that all your PDFs are 7.5 x 7.5 resolution this is the same as 1:240000 which we need for the best maps.

1) Unzip all your PDFs (if they are zipped) and put them into your route's data folder with the unzipped .img file.

1. Startup TransDEM, and choose Raster Map from the menu. (We will ignore the other stuff for now...).

3) Choose open Raster Map and open up one of your GeoPDFs.

Now this is important:

If these are old maps you can skip this step...

For new maps the open dialog will bring up some a new dialog boxes. Apparently, the new maps have layers. Check only the middle box for Map_Frame and ignore the rest.

Trimming and fixing up for assembly...

The map will load... Click okay to dismiss the warning about the map "being too big".

Trimming and rotating is done in 3 mouse clicks.

1) Click transparent margins.
2) Click transparent margins again and the outside will turn brownish-beige.
3) Click on Convert to UTM.

The map will flicker and the margins will disappear and the map will rotate.

4) Save the map as a GeoRef. map

5) Repeat for any other PDFs you have downloaded...

Once these are done,

There are two files associated with this... a .trf and a ,png one is the file for TD and the other the preview. Don't separate the files.

When the last map is done, choose Close all Raster Maps from Raster Map Menu.

Map "assembly"...

This process will get all your GeoRef images into one map, which you can save as a single map later.

1) Click Raster Map
2) Click Open GeoRef raster map... (You should see a bunch of them).
3) Click on the first one which should load up.
4) Click again on open GeoRef raster map... and the second one will load into position ... It may not be next to the one you first loaded but it will load up.
5) Repeat until all the maps are loaded into a mosaic of topographic maps.

6) Save this. Click Raster Map, and choose Save GeoRef raster map... The file will be an .lgb. Call this group whatever you wish.

This will setup a complete map with all your images....

 

[lildsleez]

Using the bulk asset replace, select the rail line color ( the black line that represents rails on the map) and replace it to a grid texture. It will cause the tracks to raise and become visible. Also next dem map you make UNCHECK use raster map as texture. you can use transdem to strip those off also.