Map Tile Servers - Resuming A Creative Session

[rkillins]

I sent several hours the other day tracing a route using Google Map tile servers in TransDEM. I'd like to resume from where I left off, but I'm having difficulty.

How does one go about continuing from where he left off. The tutorial only explains how to start fresh. I have the route file (.str), and many auto named .trf files.

 

[SharkNose]

Once you bring up your route file, activate the Simple Route Editor and your route should look like this (click to enlarge):

View attachment 221

Then left-click on a line of the route (not a point) and it should turn dark blue with arrows. Then right-click on the point (arrow) of where you wish to continue and you should see this dialog:

View attachment 222

Choose "Continue Polyline" and you can add more points from there.

 

[rkillins]

Thanks Shark for your reply.

I don't think I explained my needs thoroughly. I need to generate the maps from where I left off for me to continue to trace the route. In my previous session, the maps generated themselves as I moved forward ("Map images along path" in the map tile servers dialogue) with the route tracing. The first map was defined in the map tile servers dialogue, and the subsequent maps along the route were built off it based on my advancement in route tracing.

Now, when I wish to resume where I left off, I don't know how to get the last map generated so that I can continue to move forward.

With your suggestion, I am unable to open a route from within TransDEM ... the menu items in ROUTE are greyed out. If i load a .trf map created in my previous session from the raster map menu, I am still unable to access the route menu. If I open a DEM file, then I can open my route, but there are no maps for me to access to continue tracing or to continue to move forward via the map tile servers.

Sorry if I'm not explaining this clearly.

 

[Jerker]

G'day rkillins,

What you need to do here is to reduce your 'route polyline' to the point at which you now wish to start, so that the beginning of the polyline is at the point from which you want to continue and the end is the point where you want to end. As Sharknose has suggested, this can be accomplished using the right click polyline menu functions. BE SURE TO IGNORE ANY PROMPTS to save the alterations you make to the route polyline during this type of exercise, as you will lose the bits that you have deleted (which should only be done temporarily). Also, be sure to remove any branch lines or sidings that may be 'attached' to the section that you no longer require...

Jerker {}

 

[geophil]

Now, when I wish to resume where I left off, I don't know how to get the last map generated so that I can continue to move forward.

Load the .lgb file which the last map tile session created. That's a simple text file which groups all the individual clippings acquired along the path into one list. If the session terminated prematurely, shorten the path as suggested. To open the .lgb file: Main menu, Raster Map | Open georef raster map. Set the Open File Dialog filter to "List of georef raster maps (.lgb)".

 

[rkillins]

Thank you folks.

geophil .... this appeared to have worked, however, I am now encountering "Path too complex" errors as I try to move forward in building onto my map based on the terminus of my route. There is only one spline on the map, not unlike my previous session where I had no issues using the "Map images along path" mode with map tile servers.

I followed your instructions, loading the last available .lgb file. It opened up the full map from where I left off. I then proceeded to load up my route, which linked to the maps exactly as I had left off. To create the next tile of maps along my route, I opened up the Map Tile Server dialogue, focusing in to the area on the preview map to where my project ended, and selected it as the co-ordinate and scale provider (right arrow click). I chose "map images along path" and immediately got a "Path too complex error". I reduced my spline by a few points, and continued to receive that error as i tried to map images along the path. I don't get the error if I just use "single map image", but I don't progress with this option.

Did I fail to do something properly? I can't move forward as long as I keep getting this error.

 

[JCitron]

Thank you folks.

geophil .... this appeared to have worked, however, I am now encountering "Path too complex" errors as I try to move forward in building onto my map based on the terminus of my route. There is only one spline on the map, not unlike my previous session where I had no issues using the "Map images along path" mode with map tile servers.

I followed your instructions, loading the last available .lgb file. It opened up the full map from where I left off. I then proceeded to load up my route, which linked to the maps exactly as I had left off. To create the next tile of maps along my route, I opened up the Map Tile Server dialogue, focusing in to the area on the preview map to where my project ended, and selected it as the co-ordinate and scale provider (right arrow click). I chose "map images along path" and immediately got a "Path too complex error". I reduced my spline by a few points, and continued to receive that error as i tried to map images along the path. I don't get the error if I just use "single map image", but I don't progress with this option.

Did I fail to do something properly? I can't move forward as long as I keep getting this error.

Have you deleted the previous paths or have you only hidden them? If you just hid them, they are still there but now invisible.

John

 

[Jerker]

G'day rkillins,

...I'll chip in for "geophil" for the moment and he can correct me if I say something amiss but I have to say that your methodology is absolutely impeccable. The reason you receive the message you are getting is because somewhere along the line for which you are attempting to obtain the map tiles, there are some number of polylines that are confusing TransDEM, trying to get it to calculate the tiles it needs for several different paths, ALL IN THE SAME PLACE. This occurs especially around yard areas! For the purposes of obtaining Map Tiles, TrainsDEM only requires ONLY a single polyline where it needs to 'look'. It is fine to mark out the tracks in a yard with the polyline editor and for the purposes of exporting the polyline as a guide in Trainz (or for the purposes of providing the location of spline points for the automatic placement of tracks, etcetera), this works without issue but when getting Map Tiles, TransDEM just becomes 'confused' by multiple lines in the same place. You should also remove any large yards with many tracks from your polyline, leaving only the one polyline to provide 'guidance' for the Map Tile extractor (and for your 'pain', here, I must offer an apology, for not thinking to include this as part of my earlier response)...

Jerker [}

 

[rkillins]

Hi folks, once again, thanks for the support.

John, I deleted several points back along the polyline, thus deleting a large section of my route.

Hi Jerker, after researching the "Path too complex" error, I understood the issues that multiple route splines can cause. However, I have only one small yard (main line plus two branches) that was part of my previous session. For the several hours I worked the other day tracing routes, with the small yard, I not once encountered a path too complex error. It was only today after I resumed that previous session did I start to receive this error. The point where I resumed today was miles from the yard ... only one spine at the end of the route at the point I was building out on.

I am progressing, but slowing, by just using the "single map image" mode. (unless I'm in for a surprise later)

 

[Jerker]

G'day rkillins,

...there is one other possibility that would not be obvious and that is that you have two polylines, one duplicated perfectly on top of the other (or even bits of the one line duplicated in places). Unfortunately, there is only one way to check for this and that is to highlight your route polyline and delete it. If there is a duplicate beneath it, the route polyline will 'appear' to still be there, despite your best efforts to remove it. Similarly, if there are sections duplicated, these will show where the polyline would otherwise have obscured them. If the whole line is NOT duplicated, then it can be restored using the 'undo' function. If there are 'anomalies', then their location needs to be remembered, then route polyline restored and the 'anomalies' INDIVIDUALLY selected and deleted, one at a time (a tedious task but I know of no other way to overcome this issue)...

...there should be no surprises for you at the end of the route if you are using the "one tile at a time method". In fact, I use that same 'process' to obtain Tile Maps when I don't have a polyline from which to work. I obtain each new tile by zooming in on the spot on the current tile (using the [F2] key) and by placing the 'dot' visible in the middle of the TransDEM workspace at a point close to the edge of the map, centred on the railway line I am following and TransDEM will automatically obtain a new tile using the co-ordinates of the 'dot' as the centre of the new tile. I continue along the railway line until I have all the tiles I need...

Jerker {}

 

[geophil]

I would separate the two vector related tasks: The simple path for acquiring map tiles is different from the carefully traced vector route to serve as a template for track laying. The two have different objectives. Save them under different names. Have a look at the map tile tutorial in the manual again which takes this two-step approach.

Start with an overview map. Lower scale, about zoom level 10-12, just large enough to identify your railway. Choose size from 1024 to 2048 pixels. "Open Street Map", "transport" rendering = "Other 2" in TransDEM is a suitable source for this overview map. Then draw a few polylines. A rudimentary sketch of the course of the railway will do. Use this path to acquire map tiles at a higher zoom level, now "along the path". You may wish to reduce the size of each map tile somewhat now if you set it to 2048 px before. this higher zoom level will probably be 14 - 15 for maps (including topo maps) or 17-19 for ortho-imagery. Use this higher zoom level map tiles to actually trace the track.

 

[rkillins]

Thany you and A Question About Incorporating Multiple Route Layers

As always guys, thanks so much for helping e out. Your advice was very educational, each response contributing to more knowledge as I explore TransDem and route building.

GeoPhil, your suggestion proved to be the one I needed. Following your advice, I was able to accurately, quickly, and without error, trace my entire route over the mapped extent of my project.

Thank you!

With my map created (using the Open Street Map tile server), and my rail polyline traced, I'm wondering if it's possible to use the same map, this time tracing roadside and / or water bodies? I know in TransDem, I will layer my route map over the DEM layer. But is it possible to apply a number of route layers?

Rob

 

[geophil]

With my map created (using the Open Street Map tile server), and my rail polyline traced, I'm wondering if it's possible to use the same map, this time tracing roadside and / or water bodies? I know in TransDem, I will layer my route map over the DEM layer. But is it possible to apply a number of route layers?

In the TransDEM vector data export dialog, enter a new name in the "Layer Name" drop-down box and TransDEM will export the vectors to that new Trainz layer.