Create terrain from points file

[tejasnoj]

Hi,

I am completely new at 3DS Max, that's why I am stuck at the very beginning. I have file: DEM with approximately 13000 points. The text file is (Y X H):

436800,00 104700,00 559,00

436805,00 104700,00 558,20

436810,00 104700,00 557,30

and so on....

I would like to insert those points  into 3DS Max and later create a model from it. The problem is because I don't know how to import those points with this software. What would be the best way?

Thanks, Teja

[Tudor_Timotin]

Hi

Maybe this plugin - http://www.maxplugins.de/r2012_files/habware/Terrain2_Max2012.zip from maxplugins can help

I've used it in the past, although sometimes I had to alter the csv file in excel in order for it to work properly - I don't remember what the plugin used to separate the values - I think it was a space and not a comma or a ; (in your case it might work directly)

hope it helps,

Tudor

[Stefan_L]

If you have access to Autocad Architecture, there are some tools to generate terrain from DEM points, which then can be imported.

[omri]

I normally use global mapper to get DEM, point etc. data into max. import as generic text, export as .stl or dxf

If this is a one time issue you can probably get away with using their trial, which is limited to something like 4 exports. 

Consider buying the program if you will be doing lots of imports. It's well worth the money if you work with geographical data.

I can see that you have some large numbers, probably meters in UTM or similar, so you will need to move your model closer to the origin (0,0) in max or you will get accuracy problems.

Ole

[samab]

See the script on this thread, it may help.