National Geographic Topo Software Transdem

[HSSRAIL]

There was a Geotiff Export function available with National Geographic Topo Software though it is now discontinued I happen to have this capability:

Dem Question?

The following menu choices come up with the Geotiff Export:

Optional Compression (choose one)
No Compression
PackBits Compression

Optional Metadata Files
Choose one or none
.tfw file
.prj file
.tab file

Projection and Datum
Use Current Coordinate Display settings

Choose one
Geographic (Lat/Lon)
UTM

Choose one or none
NAD 27
NAD 83

Can Microdem or Transdem read any of these formats and if so which ones
trial and error has not produced results?

Raster Map Question?

I am able to produce .BMP Maps readable by TransDem's Raster Maps section.

The Coordinates with these maps come out as 40 degrees 42.758 N
73 degrees 59.720 W

The format for Georeferencing coordinates in Transdem does not use this format would you enter this as 40.42 N ?

The Topo exporter can also make TIFF maps as well.

 

[Jerker]

G'day HSSRAIL,

Optional Compression (choose one)
No Compression
PackBits Compression

No compresssion would be preferred...

Optional Metadata Files
Choose one or none
.tfw file
.prj file
.tab file

...I'm not sure about this one (although *.prj is the 'industry standard', I think), perhaps the "good doctor" can provide some insight...

Choose one
Geographic (Lat/Lon)
UTM

...UTM, old son, UTM - always...

Choose one or none
NAD 27
NAD 83

...whichever is appropriate...

Yes, indeed, TransDEM can read all of them as far as I know...

The Coordinates with these maps come out as 40 degrees 42.758 N
73 degrees 59.720 W

The format for Georeferencing coordinates in Transdem does not use this format would you enter this as 40.42 N ?

..."40 degrees 42.758 N" and "73 degrees 59.720 W" are required to be read as "42 degrees 42.758 MINUTES N" and "73 degrees 59.720 MINUTES W" respectively. You can convert these values to an appropriate degrees/minutes/seconds format (there are free 'converters' available online) but 42.758 minutes is as near as damn it to 42 minutes 45 seconds as you can get (.008 percent inaccurate). I am surprised that TransDEM cannot interpret these values correctly - have you tried entering them at the appropriate time during the georeference process?

...Finally, the Tiff/Geotiff file format would be preferred over *.bmp file format...

Jerker {}

 

[HSSRAIL]

I am sure that transdem can read them I was asking a data entry question on how to enter them in the Transdem window.

I have figured out how to get the coordinates in Topo to read out as UTM

I get the following

18T 577501m E
4506803m N

When using the Geo-refrencing function for raster maps it first asks for the SW point

Point 1

East North

I figured out that I can plug in 4506803 into the north the m stands for meters.

The T in the east is confusing me?

How would I plug this value into transdem typing "18T577501" didn't take properly I ended up with the wrong UTM zone?

 

[ZikChil]

Geo Rectified Imagery & DTED2

If you find that geoTiff files are too large you can use an app like GlobalMapper to rectify points on a *.bmp. Just a thought...

Here is a decent reference for your UTM \ MGRS questions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_coordinate_system

Is there a way to import dted into Surveyor? Seems to me I once saw a elevation map at the d\l station for Horseshoe Curve, TS2004 perhaps? I didn't understand what it was good for then but I sure wish I still had that map now. :'(

 

[cascaderailroad]

By the way...There are 2 completed terrain DEM's of the Horseshoe Curve-Altoona to Johnstown Pa, by DC Fox and Fishlipsatwork

 

[Jerker]

G'day HSSRAIL,

The "18T" is the Zone related to the co-ordinates and has nothing to do with either the 'Easting' or the 'Northing' values. The 'Easting' is only the figures "577501". To use the georeferencing function in TransDEM, you require at least two points (one at the SW corner and the other at the NE corner of the image), which should be available from your image source. Ideally, you need all four corners, although TransDEM will only 'ask' for the SW, SE and NE corners and will provide the NW corner based on the location of the other three. ALL OF THIS IS IN THE EVER SO EXCELLENT INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WITH THE PROGRAM (as I always say, when all else fails, RTFM)...

Jerker {}

 

[HSSRAIL]

I just published my first segment with Transdem. The map image is very blury and unreadable but this will now be matter of practice and refinement. The mini-map image is legible

 

[Jerker]

G'day HSSRAIL,

The 'blurriness' of the 'image' placed on the terrain when compared with the identical image seen in the route's "minimap" is NOT a "matter for practice and refinement". This 'lack of detail' is a direct result of the resolution inherent in the quality of the images provided by the source location. I'm willing to bet the family jewels that this first 'segment' of which you speak is of a route that is sourced from an American railroad for which the images were sourced from the USGS (terraserver) website. Compared to the general quality of most topographic maps available online, these maps are atrocious (and that is being flattering by description), in addition, the 'resolution' of the base grid in Trainz itself, makes it almost impossible to get any degree of quality from the process as it is created by TransDEM (or any other method currently known to DEM creators).

As can be seen from these images of my own work...

...in which one can clearly see the superb image quality provided by the Swiss government from their geodataviewer website...

...and which translates into something that is, at least, legible (despite the degradation introduced by the Trainz 'lack of' resolution)...

...both of which you can compare to your own results...

Jerker {}

 

[cascaderailroad]

Topo Maps

I suppose that this process of transferring Topo Maps into Trainz is rather complex, and a highly entailed process ? Is it really difficult for beginners ?

 

[nomen]

The "process of transferring Topo Maps into Trainz" can be very easy, provided you have the appropriate software tools. I recommend using TransDEM (Payware, but at a bargain) and make use of the so called "UTM-tiles" function. The most impressive is using Google Earth Orthophotos, perhaps in addition to topographical maps. And the manual tells you everything you need to know. So even a beginner can, by following the tutorials, achieve quick and exact results.

 

[HSSRAIL]

Actually the first image was actually a BMP file created with the topo software of Jersey City New Jersey MP 0.0 on the Erie Railroad.

My second spin was to Georeference One of my tiger maps the image was blurred but usable. The first round produced results very similar to your illustration. Now the quality of the tiger map thru Tranzdem was worse than through Hog. This tells me that I need to adjust the Pixel size of the tiger map image so that when it goes thru transdem it comes out more readable. I want to play around with the image size of raster maps and see how that impacts the graphics display in trainz. This is partly what I ment by trial and refinement.

My second try did produce a Transdem route that is workable. The next step in the process is to produce route sections in tranz dem and try and merge them into routes I am very curious if the various sections are going to line up. I suspect they will.

Howard