Quad Maps

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

I don't know if I should post here or Raster Design. I was wondering if there is a way to develop a surface from a Quad Map. We are just looking for something that is kind of quick.

Thanks

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

I don't know your location, but I've downloaded free quad DTM data from the following site.
http://data.geocomm.com/dem/demdownload.html
You'll have to log in to download data. I haven't needed any new data for over a year, but last time I did, it was free.
You'll also need the SDTS translator that is also a free download.
Downlaod the data, unzip the file, double click on the SDTS translator, type in the numbers it asks form hit enter and you should have a dtm that you can then add to a surface in C3D.
I advise you to create a boundary in your surface before you build the surface. If you don't, you'll end up with a huge file and a really slow machine.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

Download the SDTS format of the USGS map, and then use Map>Tools>Import and
pick Spatial Data Transfer Standard from the filter list. Works like a
champ. For a surface you need to download the Hypsography files. You can
also download DEM data and use it as points, but that is a lot of data to
try that way.

Tim

wrote in message news:5171499@discussion.autodesk.com...
I don't know if I should post here or Raster Design. I was wondering if
there is a way to develop a surface from a Quad Map. We are just looking for
something that is kind of quick.

Thanks

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

I suggest that you try Tim's method first. It looks less cumbersome than mine.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

I got it and up zipped it and imported it into CAD. I didn't see what coordinate system its in though. I am in North Dakota, Ramsey County.

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

I'm in S.E. Minnesota.
The one I'm looking at shows the following:
Coordinate System Type: UTM
Zone: 15
Horizontal Datum: NAD 27
Vertical Datum: NGVD 29
The units are Meters.
I'll attach a screen shot of the dialog box.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

I think I got it. Thanks

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

I don't know. I just tried Tim's method myself and all I got was dots. When I pick on one of the dots and check it's properties, the z position looks like it thinks it's on Pikes Peak. Tim's post mentions hypsography files, which I can't seem to find.
If he doesn't respond soon, you could try the method in my first post.
The attached screen shot shows the results I get.

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

Did a post just disappear from this thread? What I thought I was replying to is no longer visible.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

Sorry I removed my post about how to include the dots into a surface. Under the Surface tab in Toolspace right click on drawing objects and add points to the surface. You will then have your surface created.

I am not sure about hypsography files.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

The data I get is from gisdatadepot.com. It is listed under the State and
County that you want data for under the DLG download option. I think all
USGS DLG data is now in SDTS format. It imports like a dream. I looked a
Ramsey County ND but did not see Hypsography files available. Not sure why
not.
Tim

wrote in message news:5171771@discussion.autodesk.com...
Sorry I removed my post about how to include the dots into a surface. Under
the Surface tab in Toolspace right click on drawing objects and add points
to the surface. You will then have your surface created.

I am not sure about hypsography files.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

And attached is a picture of what I get using this method and inserting a
USGS map. This is not after I make a surface and contour it, this is what is
imported directly from the SDTS data.
A lot of people don't realize that you can import the whole USGS map in a
vector format very easily.
Tim

"Tim S" wrote in message
news:5171915@discussion.autodesk.com...
The data I get is from gisdatadepot.com. It is listed under the State and
County that you want data for under the DLG download option. I think all
USGS DLG data is now in SDTS format. It imports like a dream. I looked a
Ramsey County ND but did not see Hypsography files available. Not sure why
not.
Tim

wrote in message news:5171771@discussion.autodesk.com...
Sorry I removed my post about how to include the dots into a surface. Under
the Surface tab in Toolspace right click on drawing objects and add points
to the surface. You will then have your surface created.

I am not sure about hypsography files.

Anonymous · ‎05-11-2006

tscheevel,

Have you tried putting the free color air photos under contours. I have been following your post and have messed around with it a little bit, but I can not get the photo to come in the right spot. The photo says same coordinate zone but no dice yet. Here is where you can get free color air photos for Minnesota. you might have know this already. I think I am missing something with the meters and feet. See what you can do with it if you like.

http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/chouse/naip03mrsid.html

tscheevel · ‎05-11-2006

I've used a county air photo downloaded from the Minnesota GIS data clearinghouse but haven't figured out how to get it to line up properoy either. I just line up an intersection with a section corner, then scale and rotate around that point until it is close enough for our purposes.

Anonymous · ‎05-12-2006

Are you able to insert a photo in CAD without having to scale and rotate. Like the DEM's you can just import and its in the right spot, with an image you have to tell it where to be placed.

Anonymous · ‎05-16-2006

wrote in message news:5173677@discussion.autodesk.com...
Are you able to insert a photo in CAD without having to scale and rotate.
Like the DEM's you can just import and its in the right spot, with an image
you have to tell it where to be placed.

Anonymous · ‎05-16-2006

I'm not sure what you are asking. If you have a tif file that has an
associated tfw file, then just use Map>Image>Insert and that will read the
tfw and place the image in the correct spot. If you need to change the
projection of an image, be sure it is set to the correct projection in the
current drawing, start a new drawing set up for the new projection, and
query it in. That will automatically skew it, scale it, rotate it, move it,
etc.

Tim

wrote in message news:5173677@discussion.autodesk.com...
Are you able to insert a photo in CAD without having to scale and rotate.
Like the DEM's you can just import and its in the right spot, with an image
you have to tell it where to be placed.

Anonymous · ‎05-17-2006

When I open a SID or TIF file in ArcView, all I have to do is to tell it what projection its in and it is placed correctly. When I try to insert image in CAD I have to find out where to insert it and rotation. I was wondering if there is an easier way.

Anonymous · ‎05-18-2006

As long as you have the drawing setup correct, and it is in the correct
zone, and the tif file has a corresponding tfw file, then just use Map>Image
>Insert and you are done, right? Then if you want it in a different zone
after that, start a new drawing, run drawing setup to what you want the new
datum to be, and Query it in.
Tim

wrote in message news:5178125@discussion.autodesk.com...
When I open a SID or TIF file in ArcView, all I have to do is to tell it
what projection its in and it is placed correctly. When I try to insert
image in CAD I have to find out where to insert it and rotation. I was
wondering if there is an easier way.

Anonymous · ‎05-18-2006

Now I got it to work. A little confusing at first but I think I got it now.

Thanks

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