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DEM has x,y coordinates in meters, z elevation in feet...

12 REPLIES 12
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Message 1 of 13
eladkcem
3044 Views, 12 Replies

DEM has x,y coordinates in meters, z elevation in feet...

I'm trying to create a surface from a DEM (as a *.adf file)

 

I've managed to figure out how to convert between coordinate systems. (a UTM system to a State Plane)

How do I control the elevation values? My DEM has x,y coordinates in meters, but elevation values are in feet...

 

So far what's happening is that I end up with all the z values multiplied by 3.08... (I assume it is trying to convert the meters to feet..., but since I already have feet in the DEM ... no good)

 

I bet there is a simple solution to this.. but I'm struggling to figure it out...

 

-d

12 REPLIES 12
Message 2 of 13
Neilw_05
in reply to: eladkcem

There have been several posts about this problem. As far as I know there is no way to adjust the vertical units in the transformation settings. You may find a workaround in the posts.

 

Try a search on DEM Elevation Units.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 3 of 13
eladkcem
in reply to: Neilw_05

Thanks Neil,

 

I had hoped that perhaps there had been some progress on this issue since the other posts. I can do coordinate transformations to the DEM before I pull it into C3D to compensate (*sigh), but I'm not entirely sure what AutoCAD is doing with the z elevations. It appears to assume that if the coordinate system is specified in meters, that the elevation must be also... thus the fact that my elevations appear to be scaling by about 3.2...

 

Do you think it'd be 'safe' to say that I could just pre-scale the elevation values by 1/3.2 ...?

 

thanks,

 

-d

Message 4 of 13
ToddRogers-WPM
in reply to: eladkcem

Have you tried creating a surface, then adding a DEM file?  This tends to work much better than creating a surface from DEM.  If you create a surface, then add a DEM file (under Definition), you are prompted to add the file, then you have to specify the CS Code to match the DEM file.  Make sure you specify the correct UTM zone and in METERS.  If you have a coordinate system set to your drawing, it will transform it correctly.



Todd Rogers
BIM Manager
Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn

Message 5 of 13
AllenJessup
in reply to: eladkcem


@eladkcem wrote:

 

Do you think it'd be 'safe' to say that I could just pre-scale the elevation values by 1/3.2 ...?

 


That depends on how accurate the DEM is and how accurate you need the results to be. Theoretically transforming from one datum to another should be done with an algorithm that compensates for each X,Y. But if you don't mind some error creating in, it might be OK. You'd also want to know if the DEM is in International Feet or US survey feet as the scaling would be different.

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 6 of 13
eladkcem
in reply to: ToddRogers-WPM

@trogers:

 

I am creating the surface first. I set the style to no_display (it's a big DEM). I've also added a data clip boundary to keep the size of the file manageable. I am using the correct CS settings. (Nad 83 DEM to State Plane dwg) The surface ends up located in the correct place in x and y space. The z values, however, are multiplied by 3.2. There doesn't appear to be anyway to adjust how elevation values are imported...

 

Thanks though.

 

-d

Message 7 of 13
Neilw_05
in reply to: eladkcem

First off, while it is true that you will have more control over the transformation settings if you first create an empty surface and then add the DEM data, it won't provide a means to compensate for the different vertical units.

 

The only solution I can think of is to apply the transformation via the settings when you create the DEM surface and then generate the triangles and rescale them in the Z direction and use the resutling triangles to create a new surface.

 

Of course with DEM's you will have lots of triangles so you can plan on long processing times for each step.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 8 of 13
AllenJessup
in reply to: Neilw_05

The only way I can think of scaling the triangle in the Z only is to make them a block and change the z scale on the block. I'd have to try that to see how it would work. Is there another way?

 

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 9 of 13
eladkcem
in reply to: Neilw_05

Neil/Allen,

 

It's a bit of a work around, but it does appear to work.

 

I exploded the surface twice, and then made a block out of the 3d faces (surface triangles).

Inserting the block with a scale of 1,1,0.3048006096 changed the z-coordinates. I then recreated the surface, and voila, the points have the correct elevations.

 

A solution.

 

but...Shouldn't there be a better one...?

 

-d

Message 10 of 13
Neilw_05
in reply to: eladkcem

There absolutely should be a better one. I'm sure the development team is aware of the problem but it would be good to submit a problem report.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 11 of 13
eladkcem
in reply to: Neilw_05

So far the best (by far) solution I've been able to find is to use ArcGIS to manipulate the elevation values prior to letting C3D at them... I created a fully metric version of the DTM, where the elevation is also in meters. C3D dutifully follows my coordinate system transformation and blindy converts the meters to feet. (and now that is okay.)

 

-d

Message 12 of 13
Neilw_05
in reply to: eladkcem

ArcGIS can be a great way to solve problems like this. Nice suggestion.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 13 of 13
ToddRogers-WPM
in reply to: Neilw_05

Global Mapper is another great tool for doing this as well.



Todd Rogers
BIM Manager
Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn

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