TransDEM Question

[jrfolco]

I'm currently constructing a TransDEM generated route between Cumberland MD, and Hagerstown MD, using Web Mapping Services in conjunction with MSR Maps (Terraserver USA), and I’ve run into a problem with Terraserver that I was completely unaware of.

It seems that there is a missing section of approximately 30 miles about midway along the route. It can best be described with the following photos.

West

East

Ever since acquiring TransDEM about four years ago, I’ve always used Terraserver.
The Western Maryland Thomas Sub was constructed in its entirety using Terraserver and WMS.

My question: Is there another way to use Terraserver that would eliminate the missing section, or is there another Map Service that supports WMS, and if so, what would the WMS URLs be?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards, Joe

 

[geophil]

Joe, you seem to have touched a UTM zone border.

Acquire the WMS clippings for the eastern and western sections separately, either from an empty TransDEM session or with the DEM converted to the correct UTM zone. Crop the white margins (you can do that in TransDEM).

Start over, load your DEM and then the map groups. TransDEM should convert the maps from the adjacent zone automatically.

 

[jrfolco]

Thanks, Geophil

I've already acquired the WMS clippings for the eastern and western sections, so I'll be giving that a try.

You're were right. The western clippings are in UTM zone 17, and the eastern clippings are in UTM zone 18. Thanks for the comeback.

Regards, Joe

 

[jrfolco]

Geophil,

I'm unable to apply the Crop Image Margins command. It is grayed out. Can you run me through the procedure for this? I've tried it with and without the DEMS open.

Joe

 

[Marinus]

Joe,

As far as I've found out, the "crop image margins" command only works as long as the raster map is not georeferenced. After georeferencing it I've been only able to use the "transparent margins" command to get rid of unwanted image areas.

Maybe that helps?

Cheers,
David

 

[geophil]

David is correct, I was wrong, the "crop" function does not do the job here, "transparent margins" has to be used. It supports an arbitrary shape mask, often needed for sloped map edges.

 

[jrfolco]

David and Geophil,

Thanks for the help. The "transparent margins" command did the job.

Regards, Joe

 

[jrfolco]

I'm unable to get the UTM tiles on the map. I've sucessfully exported them from TransDEM to the TS2010 editing/scenery folder, imported them into CMP, and committed them.

Although they show up in Surveyor in the objects menu, they are not on the map. I can also physically place an individual UTM tile from surveyor to the map.

No ground texture has been exported. Instead, I use the route textures over bare baseboard. I've also successfully exported the track to the map.

I've tried changing the TS2010 Layer Name from TransDEM-UTM to Route Layer, but to no avail.

In the past I've able to successfully export the UTM tiles to TRS2006, but that was when I began creating the WM Thomas Sub two years ago. and this is my first attempt with TS2010.

Any help would be appreciated,

Joe

 

[wheelsonfire]

I'm not an expert with TransDem but I've had no problems with using it in 2010. Surely you have to import the ground texture (Georeferenced raster map) into the baseboard so that the UTMs will know where to go.

 

[geophil]

Joe,

for the ground textures to appear they have to be imported into TS2010 (CM3) in a separate step. The TransDEM ground textures are provides as a .cdp file in the TransDEM installation directory.

UTM tiles are created the the "scenery" folder underneath the export folder chosen. You have to explicitly import (CM3) either the entire scenery folder or the UTM tiles of interest therein.

In the resulting route sometimes UTM tiles have an initial vertical position below the terrain surface. You may need to switch to wire frame mode in Surveyor. Once you touch them they will jump to their designated position.

 

[jrfolco]

Geophil,

I probably didn’t explain my problem correctly in my previous post, so here is a detailed procedure of the map that I’ve generated.

When I mentioned ground textures, I was referring to the “Ground Texture From Raster Map” box in the “Export to Trainz: Basic Files, DEM and Ground Textures” dialogue. I left this box unchecked, so that the raster maps would not show up. The other boxes, ‘Show Route”, and “Show UTM Grid” were checked. The TransDEM ground textures were previously installed in the TS2010 CMP.

When originally generating the map in TransDEM, I used WMS to create a series of map images. Using Polylines, I then created a rough route along the right of way. changed the scale to 1:24000, changed mode to “Map image’ along path”, and clicked on “Get Maps”.
This created a much more detailed raster map.

Again, I used Polylines to closely follow the tracks, zooming in where necessary, and saved the Polylines as a separate route.

At this point, I exported the map to Trainz. The result was a map with textures only along the rail lines. In the past I’ve always used this method and then exported the UTM tiles.

Now, here is where my troubles began. I created a mask around the entire map, opened the dialogue: “Export to Trainz: UTM Tiles as Overlay Objects (Automatic Placement)”
I checked the Route Filter “Apply” box, left the radius at zero, entered the map name, and clicked on OK.
I then opened CMP,imported the UTM files from the scenery folder, committed them,and launched Trainz. The UTM tiles did not show up on the map, even though they appear in CMP, and Surveyor. I also noticed that the UTM tiles are not in the config.txt file. I’ve tried using a series of smaller masks with the “Route Filter” box applied, checked and unchecked, and changed the radius to "1".


I’ve exported the map to TRS2004, and TRS2006, but I still can’t get the UTM tiles to show up on the map. About three years ago, I started construction on the Western Maryland Thomas Sub route which has almost 2700 baseboards. I was able to load the UTM tiles into the entire route, but that was with an earlier version of TransDEM

I uninstalled, and reinstalled TransDEM 2.1, but this didn’t solve my problem. I have closely followed the instructions im the Trainz Exporter help PDF.

I just discovered that I can no longer export the track splines into the map. They no longer appear on the map. But the track kuid does appear in the route config.txt file.

Any help would sure be appreciated,


Joe

 

[jrfolco]

Geophil

I started thinking that since the previously referenced map was generated within two UTM zones: 17s and 18s, something may have happened to corrupt the map, so I decided to create a simple map to see if I still had the problem.

When I first started using WMS three years ago, I used the Durango to Silverton tutorial to familiarize myself with it, so I redid the D&S again from scratch. Before exporting the map to Trainz, I carefully followed the instructions in the “Trainz Exporter” help menu.

Unfortunately, I was still unable to get the UTM tiles, or the track splines to appear in place on the map. I also checked all of the layers.

I loaded the D&S into TRS2006, and still no UTM tiles or track splines.
Originally, the D&S worked perfectly in TRS2006 with an earlier version of TransDEM.

I’m using TransDEM 2.1 and TS2010, with the latest build 44088.

Any additional info needed, please let me know.

Regards, Joe

 

[geophil]

The important file of the route which gets modified when UTM tiles are added is the .obs file.

I guess you are adding UTM tiles to an "existing" route, a route that has already been edited in Surveyor.

You have to follow these steps, and I am sure you are doing this:

1. Open the route for edit in CM3. IMPORTANT: Make sure no route with the same name exists in the destination directory. Otherwise CM3 will export under a new cryptic name. Delete any route with the same name in this folder before exporting with CM3.
2. Prepare TransDEM for exporting UTM tiles. Export the tiles to the route just exported with CM3. Again make sure this is the route you want.
3. Commit the the changes in CM3

The pitfall: You create a route in TransDEM, produce the Trainz files and import to Trainz with CM3. The route files created by TransDEM remain in place in the edit folder. You then do some work in Surveyor and save your route. Later you want to add more UTM tiles. You export with CM3 and find the route with the name in question in the edit folder. However, this may still be the original route created by TransDEM, not the one you just exported. CM3 may have exported with a new (cryptic) name, and CM3 will commit this cryptic name route, not the one you expect it would.

 

[jrfolco]

Geophil,

That did the trick. I was exporting the route to the “editing” folder, and importing it into CM3. I then went back and exported the UTM tiles and the track splines. At this point, I should have reimported the content from the editing folder to CM3, but instead, I went directly to “Start”, and opened the route, not realizing that the UTM tiles and track splines were still in the “editing” folder.

I mentioned that I had used TransDEM with TRS2006 three years ago when I started building the Western Maryland Thomas Sub, but, at the time, I was actually using TRS2004.

This would explain why I didn’t have the same problem then. I didn’t have to import the content because it was already in the TRS2004 “Map” folder.

I like to build large routes, but unfortunately, I don’t get to work with TransDEM in between and I have to start refreshing my memory all over again.

At this point all of the UTM tiles and track splines are in place, ready to start construction.

Thanks for all of your support.

Regards, Joe