Having trouble with GEOTiffs

[fumblesredeye]

I am using Autocad map 2011.  I downloaded some elevation tiffs from the USGS website.  When I try to bring them in with the connect to data on the task bar I get a 'failed to connect' warning and it wont bring them into my map.  Each tif is a 3 part file.  There is the tif file, an rrd file and a aux file.  Am I doing something wrong?  I have tried with map import, map insert and external references also.  I tried attaching the files to this post but the server removed the rrd and the aux files, and it said the tif file was too large.

[NateMoore]

It could be the format - at various times in the past, the USGS had made 16 bit tiffs available that were incompatible with AutoCAD.  That should be resolved in 2012 though, if you have access to it.

[fumblesredeye]

You mean 2012 ACAD Map right?  Thanks.

[antoniovinci]

@ fumblesredeye

I'm afraid those TIFF files are DEM (Digital Elevation Model) files, so they cannot be handled by Autocad...

For instance, this is a TIFF/DEM image from the Barringer Crater, northern Arizona.

If you open it with a .DEM viewer, you see all its beauty, with WGS84 coords, heights and so on:

I guess there's no chance to insert such a thing in Map (I use the 2006 version), but I hope I'm wrong...

[AllenJessup]

Depends on the version. I don't remember which was the first one but by 2009 you can connect via FDO.

Or

To create a surface from DEM data

1. Click Home tab  > Create Ground Data panel  > Surfaces drop-down  > Create Surface from DEM or At the Command prompt, enter CreateSurfaceGridFromDEM.
2. In the Grid Surface From DEMdialog box, browse to the location of the file.
3. Select the DEM (.dem), GeoTIFF (.tif), ESRI ASCII Grid (.asc or .txt), or ESRI Binary Grid (.adf) file. The filename is displayed in the File Namefield.
4. Click Open.

[fumblesredeye]

Thank you for your reply and I appolgize for not understanding but Im using acad map 2011.  Connect to data-add raster images doesnt work on the geotiff images (DEM).  I get a failed to connect error message.  Is your reply refering to the Civil package because there is no 'createsurfacegridfromdem' command in ACAD map, unless Im not spelling it right.  I can create contours from a DEM if I could get it to import.  Thats the problem.  ACAD Map 2011 will not connect to these geotiffs..  Please see my original post.  Is there an add on or fix that I am missing?  There is a previous poster in this message stating that these DEMs wont work in ACAD map.  I hope thats wrong because that is another step ahead ESRI has.

[AllenJessup]

Sorry. Sometimes it's hard to tell if Map has an equivalent command or not and sometimes there there even when they're not supposed to be. Can you post a link to the files you downloaded. That might tell us something.

Allen

[fumblesredeye]

Yes.  But you would need to provide an email and name for access.  Each tif consists of 3 files which is about 80mb total for the 3 files.  Do you have an ftp site that might be easier?  We should probably go offline to provide info.

[AllenJessup]

No. We don't have and FTP Site. I did remember that I had a Geotiff saved on my machine. It had been generated by Civil 3D. I didn't have any problem connecting to it through FDO. So it's possible the files you downloaded are incompatible.

Give me the link anyway. I'll see how much of a pain it is to download them.

Allen

[fumblesredeye]

Like I said Its a secure ftp site and I would need a name and email address.  This might be easier for you then.  Go to this web site. http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/GDGOrder.aspx You may have to register first.  If you do and it gives you trouble go here http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/ and then click on the get data button .  Select New Mexico as the state and Dona Ana as the county.  Scroll down to elevation and pick National Dataset 3 meter.  Go down to the bottom of the page and hit continue to order that set.  They will then send you an email when it is ready to download.  Download the set and then try to bring it into ACAD map.  I have done this with 3 counties and get the same results each time.  So I am pretty sure its not me.

[AllenJessup]

OK. Waiting for the email. Don't think it's you. Might be the files of your in install of Map. Just got the email and am downloading. Will let you know what results after I try to link to them.

Allen

[AllenJessup]

I get the same results you do. Since I know I can connect to GeoTiffs I would think that Nate is correct and these are incompatible files. Your best bet may be to search for a program that can convert them to a DEM or other compatible file.

Also. Civil 3D cannot create a surface from these files either.

Allen

[fumblesredeye]

Thats good that you got the same result.  I guess Ill put this on Autodesk's wish list.  Thank you.

[antoniovinci]

---

fumblesredeye wrote:

There is a previous poster in this message stating that these DEMs wont work in ACAD map

---

From the "previous" poster, waiting for apologies:

http://sieradz.orangespace.pl/map3d/dem/dona_ana.zip

By the way, please read this, sir...