Importing from XYZ.. OPEN don't IMPORT

[rocket 9]

Well, shesh. What a mission. I've now learnt so much about GIS applications that my brain hurts.

To stop anyone else going through what I went through, if you have DEM data that you want to import, make sure you do the following:

1. Check whether the data is stored in Lat/Lon or UTM

2. "Reinterpolate" non UTM data using MicroDEM (File > Save > Reinterpolate as UTM)

3. Export as XYZ, making sure UTM for XY is selected, and Meters for Z

4. OPEN the file using Visitor 3. Do NOT try and Import the XYZ file, 99% of the time... it crashed my whole system

If you are not sure whether the DEM data is stored in Lat/Lon or UTM - export it as XYZ, and open it with a text editor. If the co-ordinates look like:

-145.799881 68.750000 1894

then its Lat/Lon, and it aint gonna work (and it if does load, it aint gonna look pretty!.

If it looks like:

499920 7542840 696

Then you are in business. But whatever you do, OPEN don't IMPORT it into Visitor 3!

I've got my hands on some really, really outstanding DEM data... now to try and see what I can make of it

So, to reiterate, don't IMPORT xyz data, OPEN it. Perhaps this could be emphasized in the tutorials a bit more? (Its actually written in the BIS Wiki, but its confusing, cause its under the "Import" heading and listed as an import type).

[mpantel 0]

hmm, im gona try exporting to xyz, format, the only way ive got dem data to work, is by exporting it via, a hightmap. problem is that hightmaps are low ress

dem data of the whole world is availble, very good resoultion. just click on the view & download international data here

http://seamless.usgs.gov/

but i must warn you, it takes a while to learn how to even get it from that site lol

[rocket 9]

There are a number of places that provide good DEM data. I have had very good success in exporting from DEM into visitor. However, most of the DEMs I downloaded were stored in Lat/Lon format - so it was VITAL to reinterpolate them as UTM. I've also tried reducing the spacing, say from 60m to 30m to give higher resolution (but obviously half the size).

[bravo 6 0]

I've also tried reducing the spacing, say from 60m to 30m to give higher resolution (but obviously half the size).

I think the best balance is 40.0x40.0m

I will try to learn this aswell, its very useful to complete Visitor3!

More information about this appreciated.

[bravo 6 0]

dem data of the whole world is availble, very good resoultion. just click on the view & download international data here

http://seamless.usgs.gov/

but i must warn you, it takes a while to learn how to even get it from that site lol

Of the whole world available?

I tried to zoom some cities in Iraq but i don't get any layers nor topographic information. i just get light brown screen with no lines..

Can be specific links be posted here please, or is it too complex?

[mpantel 0]

yea, sometimes the layers, might not display when zooming in, it happens. its just a display issue, you can still download the area you want, if you can find it lol, its hard with no names on the map.

If you want to get it, to load again, on the right side under display, click on ELEVATION --> uncheck "NED shaded relief (1 arc second)" --> then check STRM Finished 3 arc sec shaded relief.

should show up as grey, STRM 3 ARC, is the one you should be using and downloading, its the higest resoultion for the interntational data. by the way, it still might not show up. its just a bug dont worry about it too much.

to download the data

on the right pannel, click on download. then under Elevation, make sure STRM 3 ARC, is selected, not 1" ned.

then on the left pannel under downloads, click on the "Define rectangular download area icon.

drag a rectangle around the area you want.

another window should pop up, where you can choose your download. If you choose a large area, it will split up the download area, into a grid, in seprate downloads

click on download, with in this new window.

wait, for the que.....

1 to 15 min!

it should then download, or come up with more options, cant remember through

theres also an option to modifiy the data request (change the format, of the elevation data)

I usualy change it into GEOTIFF, and load it into something like globalmapper. then export it as a hightmap. But usually find a format that suits you and your program.

good luck!

[rocket 9]

FTP: e0srp01u.ecs.nasa.gov

Much faster for getting the same DEM's

Also, importing into MicroDEM I have found is the perfect way, and it allows you to easily merge them. Faster loading in Visitor too.

[bravo 6 0]

FTP: e0srp01u.ecs.nasa.gov

Much faster for getting the same DEM's

Also, importing into MicroDEM I have found is the perfect way, and it allows you to easily merge them. Faster loading in Visitor too.

Ok, im a noob on this subject.. i just have 1 day of this and i feel very interested about having this in my maps.. (even if i have to redo all from scratch..

I ask for a little patience:

edit 4:

I have download an area from http://seamless.usgs.gov/ and got a zip file

edit5: ok, i got it work! also used GEOTIFF format.

Finally I got something in visitor, based on DEM - Digital Elevation Model! COOL!

Thanks LADS!

About the other way FTP, i don't know how its done.

[bravo 6 0]

is there a way set 1024x1024 or 512x512 before saving the data from that site?

I ask this because i can't get right and dimensions that match with my backgrounds in visitor.