steamboateng
New member
Cascaderairoad,..........you got your TransDEM problems sorted out yet. As I mentioned earlier; I think you need to update your program. Version 2.4.1 is the latest.
TransDEM issues
- Thread starter steamboateng
- Start date
cascaderailroad
New member
It is up to date ... And no it won't open any adf files from the USGS Map Viewer: "Error Opening DEM" ... I have 20.6 GB free disc space
I imported some ready made DEMs from the internet (which are multi-county extremely large areas) ... but I can not understand how to get topo map layers on top of the colored DEM.
It seems that you can't cut/copy/paste any topo image on top of the DEM ... and can't draw your own lines on top of the DEM
I imported some ready made DEMs from the internet (which are multi-county extremely large areas) ... but I can not understand how to get topo map layers on top of the colored DEM.
It seems that you can't cut/copy/paste any topo image on top of the DEM ... and can't draw your own lines on top of the DEM
Last edited:
It's very kind of steamboateng trying to help you. 
(Click on the images to enlarge.)
As always, I recommend the Quick Start Guide to begin with. It explains one of the techniques to create map overlays and how to draw lines.
If you do not have six adf files in that grdn... folder, your download may be broken. Remember, those 1/3 arc sec files are huge!
It appears that the two TransDEM PDF manuals, installed with the program and easily accessible from the TransDEM main menu and toolbars, have escaped your notice. Here is a short glimpse at the table of contents of both:
(Click on the images to enlarge.)
As always, I recommend the Quick Start Guide to begin with. It explains one of the techniques to create map overlays and how to draw lines.
steamboateng
New member
Map overlays need to be 'georeferenced'; which basically will give each corner of the map a geographic coordinate location. It tells the map where it 'belongs', in UTM coordinates, on the face of an associated DEM. TransDEM will do this if you have three of four coordinates (long. & lat. is ok) or two diagonally opposite coordinates (on a square map) as inputs to the program.
If you send me a copy of the USGS data you downloaded and can't open, I'll take a look see. All I need is the .grdn file.
If you send me a copy of the USGS data you downloaded and can't open, I'll take a look see. All I need is the .grdn file.
steamboateng
New member
Just another thought,.........the USGS files are downloaded as .zip files.............................you must extract the .grdn file before TransDEM can use it. Believe me, even I tried it without unzipping (lazy).......it don't work!
Should happen within a few seconds. Too many TransDEM users requesting data at the same time?
What we see with The National Map Viewer is only the portal. The actual servers behind it tend to fail occasionally.
USGS was fast for me. Getting TransDEM was fast, too. Thanks again, Roland. In no time at all, I was driving a train on very bumpy track from Cordova out to the airport.
At this rate, it will take... well, it will still be years before it looks anything like Cordova, but that's all on me.
At this rate, it will take... well, it will still be years before it looks anything like Cordova, but that's all on me.
steamboateng
New member
Don't know if this is relevant to the above issue; but yesterday I was able to down load directly from the USGS site without waiting for an e-mail prompt!.........maybe sumthin's changed!
Cascade,
Can you give us a little more information? A screenshot of the folder where you extracted your DEM zip file? What resolution and area of the US are you trying to download a DEM for? If it's a secret, PM one of us on this thread instead. I'm sure we can keep it under our hats. The USGS file may be corrupt. They are not infallible. If we get the same errors, then this might be the case.
Andrew
Can you give us a little more information? A screenshot of the folder where you extracted your DEM zip file? What resolution and area of the US are you trying to download a DEM for? If it's a secret, PM one of us on this thread instead. I'm sure we can keep it under our hats. The USGS file may be corrupt. They are not infallible. If we get the same errors, then this might be the case.
Andrew
steamboateng
New member
Yeahhhhhhh, right! We're trying to run a railroad right through Area 51! And what aea are you interested in!?
cascaderailroad
New member
I recieve the USGS Map viewer E-Mail ... click on download the ArcGrid ... Save it to a file ... unzip the file ... save the "grdn41w078_13" file to a folder ... point Tranzdem to open that "grdn41w078_13" file ... it does not open.
I open the "grdn41w078_13" file ... and save the "w001001.adf" file ... point Tranzdem to it ... it does not open.
What am I doing wrong !
I could drop the file in the Skype dialog box, to send it to you ?
Skype: cascaderailroad
I open the "grdn41w078_13" file ... and save the "w001001.adf" file ... point Tranzdem to it ... it does not open.
What am I doing wrong !
Now how am I going to get that: grdn41w078_13 file, or w001001.adf file to you to test it ?
I could drop the file in the Skype dialog box, to send it to you ?
Skype: cascaderailroad
Last edited:
Pray be precise as to details, Watson. We cannot help you unless you tell us EXACTLY what file and geographic location you are attempting to process.
cascaderailroad
New member
I listed the files below ... and it is Central Pa Duncannon 40 -78 41 -77
The area has 1/3 arc data
I could send the file for you to test:
grdn41w078_13 folder, which contains:
w001001 adf file
Error Reading DEM
The area has 1/3 arc data
I could send the file for you to test:
grdn41w078_13 folder, which contains:
w001001 adf file
Error Reading DEM
Last edited:
cascaderailroad
New member
All the files are extracted and saved to a folder ... there are 2 adf files ... the larger adf file "w001001" will not open up ... the smaller adf file "w001001x" will not open up
I have 26Gb free disc space, on a Vista 32bit laptop ... and the file just won't load ... all I get is a spinning "Vista Working Swirlie Symbol" for 1/2 hour ... does it take longer than 1/2 hour to open a DEM map
I have 26Gb free disc space, on a Vista 32bit laptop ... and the file just won't load ... all I get is a spinning "Vista Working Swirlie Symbol" for 1/2 hour ... does it take longer than 1/2 hour to open a DEM map
Last edited:
As soon as I get my email, I'll give it a try. But you should have 6 files as indicated in geophil's post here. Sounds like the file may be missing something. I requested all 3 1/3 arc second DEMS - ArcGrid, Float and IMG. May be one of the others will be OK. I'll let you know as soon as I get my email.
cascaderailroad
New member
Well lo and behold ... after 45 minutes a DEM rainbow colored blank map appeared, that is exactly the same blank rainbow colored DEM that I downloaded from the internet ... with no roads, rivers, nor tracks.
Now how do you add/edit roads rivers tracks onto this colored DEM ?
There are no drawing tools in Transdem ... a bit better tutorials might be helpful
I read the tutorials, and vague as they are ... they do not explain how to add road, river, and track layers on top of the blank rainbow colored DEM
This DEM I created is exactly the same blank rainbow colored DEM that I downloaded from the internet ... This is a very confusing, frustrating program, that needs tutorials on adding a topo map layer.
Honestly, once I fully understand the Transdem program, I am going to turn myself into a Trainz DEM making machine, making DEMs for everyone, and offering tutorials and help ... please help me ... so that I can help others learn this program.
I am presuming that I must open up all of the other 5 adf files ... and click "Add DEM" to my "Saved DEM ? ? ?
Now how do you add/edit roads rivers tracks onto this colored DEM ?
There are no drawing tools in Transdem ... a bit better tutorials might be helpful
I read the tutorials, and vague as they are ... they do not explain how to add road, river, and track layers on top of the blank rainbow colored DEM
This DEM I created is exactly the same blank rainbow colored DEM that I downloaded from the internet ... This is a very confusing, frustrating program, that needs tutorials on adding a topo map layer.
Honestly, once I fully understand the Transdem program, I am going to turn myself into a Trainz DEM making machine, making DEMs for everyone, and offering tutorials and help ... please help me ... so that I can help others learn this program.
I am presuming that I must open up all of the other 5 adf files ... and click "Add DEM" to my "Saved DEM ? ? ?
Last edited:
As you discovered yourself, as I just did, the files are fine. The DEM does not include roads, tracks or rivers. It is just that - a DEM (Digital Elevation Model). TransDEM does include a basic drawing tool called the Simple Route Editor. Roland's TransDEM manuals have everything you need to go from the DEM to editing the route in Surveyor. That includes overlaying topo maps too. I would suggest blocking out several hours to study the manuals and going through the examples carefully. That's how I did it.
BTW, congrats on your 10,000th post.
BTW, congrats on your 10,000th post.
cascaderailroad
New member
It would be really nice if Transdem was selectable to be a varried opague slider tool button, transluscent (see through page) ... then you could overlay topo maps on top of the blank rainbow colored DEM.
You mean to tell me the only drawing tool is that poly line blue path button ... sheesh
You mean to tell me the only drawing tool is that poly line blue path button ... sheesh