Auto-DEM download - new feature in next beta

[Krein]

A huge bonus of the nasa server is that it also hosts SRTM data for the entire world.  Since I spent so much time working out the qwirks on the landsat images it didn't take too long to work in automatic elevation data download.

Right now there is no 3dmaps.dat (the equivalent of maps.dat), it just asks for elevation data each time a 3d model is generated.  In my experience so far this is actually faster than sifting through DEMS and doing the various interpolations.

The only downside is that you can't do 3D without an internet connection (unless you have DEMS, of course).  But this feature is so useful that I want to get it into everyone's hands and a 3dmaps.dat filesystem and such can be developed later.

[Krein]

Actually it gets even better, the server has the NED dataset... which means they are nearly as good as having the DEM files in the US.  Outside the US we'll still have the SRTM which is still pretty good... but the difference is noticable if you make very small 3d models.

This is too cool.  I've already checked out many of my tracks (such as the great divide) in areas where I was too lazy to download/convert DEMs.  Now all I do is hit the '3' key...

[Krein]

Ok, version 2.17 with the auto-elevation download is out!  Please give it a thorough testing, then we can get a full release out, hopefully.

Alan did such an awesome job with the 3d engine with the only problem being the pain of downloading/converting DEMs.  Now it's awesome to see his work closer to it's full potential.

[jmstacey]

Just got to take a look. Looking excellent so far '>
The only thing I'm stilling longing for are zoom in/out.
For example, viewing Long's Peak here in Colorado with a 4m topo map, the camera view is to close to the mountain to effectively see steep edges that are near the edge of the map block.
Otherwise, ecellent work! Keep it up  

[Krein]

Thanks to everyone who has written in about the auto-elevation download.  I knew people would find it useful (and cool).

Unless there are any bugs reported soon I'll release a full version to get it in everyone else's hands.

Jon - I agree that zooming on the map would be cool.  You can crank down the tileset switching slider to get the more detailed maps.  But then your 2d zooming/panning might get a bit more sluggish.

[brian.r.hamilton]

Combo tilesets give me "Zoomed too far out" way too early.  Individual tilesets all seem fine.  I didn't mess with it enough yet, but maybe it is happening when moving to the next larger tileset?

[Krein]

Well there is a setting for tileset switching which you can crank so that it will shrink tilesets further -- meaning longer before it is 'zoomed to far out.'

But the limitaiton on combo tiles is the aerial, which only goes to 64 Meter.  Topo goes up to 512M, so we're able to zoom further on it.  

The landsat stuff is ideal for large scale aerial type images.  Stitching the b/w aerials together looks pretty crappy IMHO, even at 64M.

[brian.r.hamilton]

I should have been more clear.  What I am seeing is a bug.  When I select the map type & size (Topo 4M, Combo 4M, etc.), I no longer necessarily get what I choose.  Right now, when I pick Combo 1M, for example, I get a way zoomed out LandSat.  Other times, when I choose a Combo view, I get the "Zoomed out too far" message even though I clearly am not zoomed to far (way down in 1 M territory).

It could just be a coincidence, but I have been using the Download Maps tool to gather a bunch of local tilesets.  It seems like the last time I tried this is when my maps.dat files and/or index file got corrupt and I had to delete them and start all over (a few weeks ago).  After that it was fine again until I installed the latest beta (2.17).  Perhaps the root of the problem lies with the Download Maps tool?

I've tried restarting, etc. and the problem won't go away.

EDIT:  OK, the trouble is only when selecting Combo 1M.  When I select Combo 1M, I get a way zoomed out LandSat (wider than any other LandSat in the dropdown menu).  All the other views work fine (I have all Tile Sets enabled in Preferences).

EDIT:  I also noticed the problem does not seem to be present if I start in Combo 4M and use the magnifying glass instead of the drop-down selector thing.

[Krein]

Ah, yes thanks for reminding me about this!  Combo 1m right now is actually Landsat 1024 which is a tileset that I didn't intend to release with the beta version since it has problems when you cross zones or do too large of a picture.

It will be fixed in the next beta or the full release.   I am 99% confident that this will solve all the issues you're describing.

Thanks.

[brian.r.hamilton]

Sounds good, thanks!  Hey, what does a LandSat/Topo Combo look like?  I really like the current Topo/Aerial Combo, so I am just curious.

I assume Combo 1M will still exist?  The current Combo 1M 's Topo 2 or 4M and Aerial 1M correct?

[Krein]

Yep, combo 1 will still be there and it's topo 2m and aerial 1m.

I haven't tried landsat + topo, but may eventually get to it.  It's so course that it might not be interesting, but anyway for now I am focusing on getting 2.17 ready for a full release.

Thanks for pointing out the problem with combo tiles -- it was actually more involved of a bug than I thought.

Any more bugs or problems anyone?  I'd appreciate it if you'd give it a more or less thorough testing....

[gtc]

Wow -- just got the beta and it rocks!  I'm new to the program, but I spent yesterday making DEMs, so I know how nice the auto-download is.  Thanks!

And BTW, the link to the seamless server has changed to http://seamless.usgs.gov/website/seamless/viewer.php -- you may want to update your 3d page.  Also, in the data source selection page you need to select an elevation data set as well as changing to TIFF format.  That had me confused at first.  (This may all be moot with the auto d/l, but might still be useful for those who want to create custom DEMs.)

[mcdavis]

please send me the beta version as soon as you can...this DEM, SDTS, etc etc is an unbleievable pain...i have not been able to get it working right

make the program do all of this files conversions and thinking like it does for reading different GPS formats

thanks