TransDEM question

[psferg]

Just starting out with TransDEM, and the question is, I am assuming that the most important thing that has to happen is that the coordinates line up between the DEM and the raster map. Is this right?

The other question is this: I am using topographic maps downloaded from the USGS for the raster maps. But the thing is, the USGS apparently has not digitized all of the maps for the route that I want to do. Can I use a mixture of topographic maps and the aerial photographs with the coordinates on them? If I can do that, how does Trainz (2009) handle the textures for the photo maps when it imports the route?

otherwise.... Wow! I can't wait to get going on this!

 

[geophil]

I am assuming that the most important thing that has to happen is that the coordinates line up between the DEM and the raster map. Is this right?

Yep. A key feature of TransDEM.

The other question is this: I am using topographic maps downloaded from the USGS for the raster maps. But the thing is, the USGS apparently has not digitized all of the maps for the route that I want to do.

Did you try the Microsoft Research Maps WMS? (Durango & Silverton tutorial in the TransDEM main manual)

Can I use a mixture of topographic maps and the aerial photographs with the coordinates on them?

In TransDEM: Yes, no problem. For Trainz, you will have to export the two sources separately, see below.

If I can do that, how does Trainz (2009) handle the textures for the photo maps when it imports the route?

Maps up to a scale of 1:24,000 (USGS topo maps) shall be exported using ground texturing (1:24k requires the Trainz 5m terrain grid). Aerial images shall be exported as UTM tiles and will end up as flat texture carrier objects in the Trainz route. Do the Muengsten tutorial in the TransDEM Trainz manual to see the two techniques in action.

 

[psferg]

Thank you for the information! I have not tried the Microsoft site yet but I will. It was a minor ordeal finding a site I felt comfortable using for both the DEM and raster maps (true, it probably would have been easier if I had read all of the instruction manual regarding the wms), I ended up using the USGS raster maps, but I am finding that some of the maps I need are missing. The next thing is creating the route maps....
Thanks again for the information.