TransDEM Help

[quakers1]

Hello guys,

About a year ago or so, I shelled out the money and purchased TransDEM, just in the case that I needed it for future use. Well, I am changing my primary route from the BNSF Thayer South Sub to the BNSF Thayer North Sub, which runs for 130 miles or so between Springfield and Thayer, Missouri. Since there is no DEM floating around for it out there, it is time for me to put TransDEM to use, and make the DEM that my new route requires!

Right now, I am oblivious on what exact steps I need to take in order to complete my DEM. I did read the Seamless server tutorial at the TransDEM forums, but the design of the seamless server has completely changed. Could someone please point me in the right direction, so I can complete this DEM, and get the route underway?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide!

Best Regards,

-Ace

 

[JCitron]

Ace,

A lot has changed on the seamless servers since last year, and that was different from a few months before that!

You need to go here: http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ to get your DEM.
You'll need to login and create an account.

Once you get that squared away, you can then select the area you need and the server will email you a link to the files you choose.
For Trans DEM, you'll need to choose GeoTiff version.

Here's a tutorial on how to download files from the server:
http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/help/9.0%20TNM%20Cart%20Tab.htm

The files will then have to be imported into Trans Dem using the tools in the program.



John

 

[quakers1]

Hey John,

Thank you for your speedy response! That has me one step closer to getting my DEM complete!

Now it is time to start getting that data!

 

[JCitron]

Hey John,

Thank you for your speedy response! That has me one step closer to getting my DEM complete!

Now it is time to start getting that data!

You're welcome, sir.

This stuff will only get better when you start fiddling with Trans Dem.

You know you can trace the Geotiff and lay the tracks right on the baseboards within Trans Dem? This will save you a ton of time later even if the track is not perfect.

Have fun!

John

 

[quakers1]

You're welcome, sir.

This stuff will only get better when you start fiddling with Trans Dem.

You know you can trace the Geotiff and lay the tracks right on the baseboards within Trans Dem? This will save you a ton of time later even if the track is not perfect.

Have fun!

John

Laying the tracks in TransDEM? Now that sounds pretty epic! Might just have to try that out.

Also, besides the terrain files, is there anything else I need to download from the Seamless Server (orthoimagery, structures, etc)? I do plan on using the GoogleEarth ground texture feature, so I am uncertain as to whether or not I need to download all the line data, and structure data. What do I need to do here?

Once again, thanks for all the help you have provided thus far, and thanks for any help you provide in the future.

-Ace

 

[JCitron]

Laying the tracks in TransDEM? Now that sounds pretty epic! Might just have to try that out.

Also, besides the terrain files, is there anything else I need to download from the Seamless Server (orthoimagery, structures, etc)? I do plan on using the GoogleEarth ground texture feature, so I am uncertain as to whether or not I need to download all the line data, and structure data. What do I need to do here?

Once again, thanks for all the help you have provided thus far, and thanks for any help you provide in the future.

-Ace

You trace the trackage in TransDEM and this will produce a spline of your choice (you choose from the list). This is great for the quick-laying of the main route and even a few sidings. Wherever you add in a spline point, this produces the same spline point in the track when it's imported into Trainz. You'll have to make some adjustments, add bridges, etc., afterwards but everything is in place.

I don't think you can use the other download layers in TransDEM such a structures. You can use the ortho imagery from just what it is - a picture. The GeoTiff file will produce a preview file that can be imported into Trainz as a ground texture. There's a set of options for this. This will produce an out of focus ground map of your route, but at least you can see somewhat where things go.

As far as using the tiles-method with Google Earth, I think, from what I read you can create the DEM file using the geotiff data, and then use images from topomaps and Google Earth images on top of the DEM. They're placed using UTC coordinants. I'll leave that to the experts in that arena. I've never done it that way.

John