P3D v4 About WGS84 Images

[GaryGB]

Hi Rob:

FYI: I've identified public domain KCCR area imagery at EarthExplorer with an even higher resolution !


Global Mapper 'Feature Info Tool' data from an example imagery tile at: 10.16 cm / 0.33 Ft. / 4 Inches per pixel:

/hsm/lta5/ortho/hro/ops/from_san_volunteer_ca_102015/201406_contra_costa_county_ca_in_sp_cnir/vol002/f10c4_4.tif

Name=<NO LABEL>
Feature Type=Unknown Area Type
Geometry=5 vertices, Perimeter: 3.05 km, Area: 0.559 sq km, Bounds: (-13588084.834, 4576961.828, -13586913.234, 4577756.833)
Index in Layer=820
Map Name=2014_contra_costa_co_ca_4in_4band.shp
location=/hsm/lta5/ortho/hro/ops/from_san_volunteer_ca_102015/201406_contra_costa_county_ca_in_sp_cnir/vol002/f10c4_4.tif

Global Mapper Metadata from 'Layer Control Center'

FILENAME=f10c4_4.tif ([path]\Downloads\3653634_f10c4_4.zip)
DESCRIPTION=f10c4_4.tif
UPPER LEFT X=6110999.88
UPPER LEFT Y=2186000.15
LOWER RIGHT X=6114000.21
LOWER RIGHT Y=2183999.81
WEST LONGITUDE=122.06384296° W
NORTH LATITUDE=37.98818733° N
EAST LONGITUDE=122.05331834° W
SOUTH LATITUDE=37.98255753° N
UL CORNER LONGITUDE=122.06384296° W
UL CORNER LATITUDE=37.98805011° N
UR CORNER LONGITUDE=122.05343354° W
UR CORNER LATITUDE=37.98818733° N
LR CORNER LONGITUDE=122.05331834° W
LR CORNER LATITUDE=37.98269475° N
LL CORNER LONGITUDE=122.06372699° W
LL CORNER LATITUDE=37.98255753° N
PROJ_DESC=State Plane (California Zone 3) / NAD83_NSRS / feet
PROJ_DATUM=NAD83 (NSRS2011)
PROJ_UNITS=feet
EPSG_CODE=EPSG:6420
COVERED AREA=0.558 sq km
GDAL_NO_DATA_VALUE=255
NUM COLUMNS=9010
NUM ROWS=6007
NUM BANDS=4
COLOR BANDS=0,1,2
PIXEL WIDTH=0.333 feet
PIXEL HEIGHT=0.333 feet
BIT DEPTH=32
SAMPLE TYPE=Unsigned 8-bit Integer
GT_CITATION=NAD_1983_2011_StatePlane_California_III_FIPS_0403_Ft_US
GEOG_CITATION=GCS Name = GCS_NAD_1983_2011|Datum = NAD_1983_2011|Ellipsoid = GRS_1980|Primem = Greenwich|
PHOTOMETRIC=RGB Full-Color
BIT_DEPTH=32
SAMPLE_FORMAT=Unsigned Integer
TILE_WIDTH=256
TILE_HEIGHT=256
COMPRESSION=None
PIXEL_SCALE=( 0.333, 0.333, 1.0 )
TIEPOINTS=( 0.00, 0.00, 0.00 ) --> ( 6110999.88, 2186000.15, 0.00 )
MODEL_TYPE=Projection Coordinate System
RASTER_TYPE=Pixel is Area
GeoTIFF: ProjLinearUnitsGeoKey=9003
GeoTIFF: ProjectedCSTypeGeoKey=32767
GeoTIFF: GeographicTypeGeoKey=32767
GeoTIFF: GeogGeodeticDatumGeoKey=32767
GeoTIFF: GeogEllipsoidGeoKey=32767
GeoTIFF: ProjectionGeoKey=32767
GeoTIFF: ProjCoordTransGeoKey=8
GeoTIFF: ProjStdParallel1GeoKey=37.066667
GeoTIFF: ProjStdParallel2GeoKey=38.433333
GeoTIFF: ProjFalseOriginLongGeoKey=-120.5
GeoTIFF: ProjFalseOriginLatGeoKey=36.5
GeoTIFF: ProjFalseOriginEastingGeoKey=6561666.7
GeoTIFF: ProjFalseOriginNorthingGeoKey=1640416.7

To configure your EarthExplorer portal session at:

https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

Navigate: EarthExplorer - Home - Map Viewer >

{Search Criteria} tab > Drag / Zoom Map to KCCR area of interest > click: [Use Map] button > click: [Results] button

{Data Sets} tab > click: [+] Aerial Imagery > check: High Resolution Orthoimagery checkbox

click: [Results] button > {Results} tab for High Resolution Orthoimagery shows ex: 100 files in 10 groups

The High Resolution Orthoimagery > Results > Groups 2 and 3 out of 10 ...areas of interest may include:

• Entity ID: xxxxxxx_F10xxx and xxxxxxx_G10xxx ...series of imagery tiles
• Acquisition Date: 12-JUN-14
• State: CA

In Results > Entity sub-dialog > Icon Toolbar > Hover Mouse Cursor: to see Icon Function > click: Function desired

Click: Show Metadata and Browse > verify Metadata shows:

Resolution .3
Units of Resolution FEET


Click: Show Footprint > verify colored coverage area > if tile coverage area is acceptable, click: Download Options

In Download Options dialog > click: [Download] button > wait for browser download prompts > Save file to disk


CAVEAT: Always Save file to disk (do not allow automatic opening of downloaded files by an associated ZIP utility


NOTE: Some web browsers may require leaving the download prompt dialog open ...to download successfully.

In these cases, a web browser download prompt dialog should only be closed after a file is download successfully.


Hope this helps yield a nicely detailed custom photo-real imagery land class BGL for your KCCR project area.

GaryGB

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Hi Gary,

I went thru the process of obtaining license trial key ... definitely does NOT work with GM-13, only with GM-20.1. But I'm going to assume GM-20.1 should have similar or more functionality per your info above, I will just need to figure out how to make it work. Here is what I think my workflow is now (feel free to correct):

1. Hi Res Ortho from https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ as GeoTIFF (.TIF) ... (which BTW, USGS had system maintenance and it looks like they updated their web front end ... slightly different now, can select an area (polygon) on the map rather than just a rectangle --> GM-20.1
2. GM-20.1 re-project GeoTIFF to "flat earth" (non-warped) for use in 3DSMax as reference plane and for use in ADE (not sure what you mean by ADE tile sizes? KCCR area I selected is relatively small)
3. ADE work (just started digging into this with alignment, runway sizes, blast area, papi, taxiways, etc. etc.)
4. GM-20.1 re-project GeoTIFF to WGS84 format suitable for P3D resample
5. Create .INF (per SDK spec) for resample.exe --L .BGL
6. TMFViewer to verify .BGL
7. 3DSMax work for buildings/objects and export as .X files
8. P3D XToMDL.exe /XMLSAMPLE .X --> .MDL and .XML
9. Edit .XML remove comments
10. ImageTool.exe to convert texture assets to .DDS (DTX5) --> ...\texture
11. BGLCOMP.exe using .XML (input) --> .BGL ...\scenery
12. Create add-on package (add-on.xml) for deployment/testing

Sound about right? Steps 2,3,4 are my weak spots that most likely will take some educated guess work and trial and error.

Cheers, Rob.

EDIT: add some steps ... I'm trying to workout my "flow" as I'm likely going to create a UWP store app to automate some of this process as my goal is to get airport completely as efficiently as possible and hopefully looking good.

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Hi Gary,

f10c4_4.tif

Yes that's the file I downloaded from EarthExplorer ... there is also a 2015 file (with a winter time green), however it's not of sufficient area ... I need a few more tiles which is puzzling since I selected a larger area?

Cheers, Rob.

 

[GaryGB]

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828300

Hi Rob:

FYI: I've identified public domain KCCR area imagery at EarthExplorer with an even higher resolution !


Global Mapper 'Feature Info Tool' (will display) data from an example imagery tile at: 10.16 cm / 0.33 Ft. / 4 Inches per pixel:

To configure your EarthExplorer portal session at:

https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

Navigate:

EarthExplorer - Home - Map Viewer > {Data Sets} tab > Aerial Imagery > High Resolution Orthoimagery

click: [Results] button > {Results} tab for High Resolution Orthoimagery shows ex: 100 files in 10 groups

The High Resolution Orthoimagery > Results > Groups 2 and 3 out of 10 ...areas of interest 'may' include:

• Entity ID: xxxxxxx_F10xxx and xxxxxxx_G10xxx ...series of imagery tiles
• Acquisition Date: 12-JUN-14
• State: CA

In Results > Entity sub-dialog > Icon Toolbar > Hover Mouse Cursor: to see Icon Function > click: Function desired

Click: Show Metadata and Browse > verify Metadata shows:

Resolution .3
Units of Resolution FEET


Click: Show Footprint > verify colored coverage area > if tile coverage area is acceptable, click: Download Options

In Download Options dialog > click: [Download] button > wait for browser download prompts > Save file to disk


CAVEAT: Always Save file to disk (do not allow automatic opening of downloaded files by an associated ZIP utility


NOTE: Some web browsers may require leaving the download prompt dialog open ...to download successfully.

In these cases, a web browser download prompt dialog should only be closed after a file is download successfully.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828304

Hi Gary,

Yes that's the file I downloaded from EarthExplorer ... there is also a 2015 file (with a winter time green), however it's not of sufficient area ... I need a few more tiles which is puzzling since I selected a larger area?

Cheers, Rob.

I'll respond first to this inquiry to get more Hi-Res downloads started, before I address a suggested work-flow query.


There are indeed more Hi-Res tiles that you will wish to download (sorry, I have not ID'd the files in a list yet for KCCR)

The tile sets to look for are as cited above:

The High Resolution Orthoimagery > Results > Groups 2 and 3 (out of 10 Groups) ...areas of interest may include:

• Entity ID: xxxxxxx_F10xxx and xxxxxxx_G10xxx ...series of imagery tiles
• Acquisition Date: 12-JUN-14
• State: CA

IIRC, there are 10 items per result group, and you may only need to view Footprint / Metadata for tiles in Groups 2 + 3


NOTE: A selected Map area search 'may' yield numerous tiles which are outside- but 'nearby'- your specified area


BTW: Open the entire *.ZIP (not just a *.TIF) into a fully functional GM trial version so *.SHP files also are displayed.

There is no need to un-ZIP the *.ZIP file, as GM reads ZIP files directly.


You can then use GM's "Feature Info Tool" ( i ) on the Icon bar to display file data for imagery tile areas of interest.

That may help identify Entity tile numbers for which to verify Footprint extent / Metatadata ...before downloading a *.ZIP.


Hope this helps reduce the search complexity at EarthExplorer for Hi-Res KCCR imagery.


More to follow later; I shall endeavor to focus my reply on the original subject for this thread:

A rationale and work-flow for re-projection of one's source data GIS format into:

* A 'warped' WGS84 GIS Datum for terrain scenery

...versus:

* A non-warped GIS Datum (such as EPSG:3857) for 3D modeling and/or 'airport' BGLComp-type scenery


Alternatively, we may wish to decide on which portions of our latter sequence of posts to 'snip' out from this (now somewhat 'hijacked') thread, to create a separate thread with a new subject title ...in ex: this same sub-forum.

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Rob:

Since you'll probably be eager to do some initial work with the downloaded Hi-Res tiles in your GM Trial version, Ill post this initial reply to part of your work-flow query above.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828301

Hi Gary,

Here is what I think my workflow is now (feel free to correct):

1. Hi Res Ortho from https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ as GeoTIFF (.TIF) ... (which BTW, USGS had system maintenance and it looks like they updated their web front end ... slightly different now, can select an area (polygon) on the map rather than just a rectangle --> GM-20.1

See my posts above:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828300

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828311

In EarthExplorer GUI:

* Rectangles and Polygons are accepted, but AFAIK, search results are not 'precise' to only a selected area; I [Use Map].

* Downloaded *.ZIPs contain both *.SHP and GeoTIFF (*.TIF) files.


In Global Mapper GUI:

* 'Open' the entire *.ZIP in GM ...so both *.SHP and GeoTIFF (*.TIF) file types are loaded into GM work-space


NOTE: To see a list of loaded GIS file contents as 'layers' in GM:

GM Menu > Tools > Control Center...

* Use Control Center > Metadata Icon / Button to view / copy Metadata for individual GIS data layers

* Use Control Center > Options Icon / Button to configure display for individual GIS data layers

* Use GM's "Feature Info Tool" ( i ) on the Icon bar to display file data for imagery tile areas of interest.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828301


2. GM-20.1 re-project GeoTIFF to "flat earth" (non-warped) for use in 3DSMax as reference plane and for use in ADE

Re-project GeoTIFF to (EPSG:3857) (aka "flat earth" / "non-warped") for use in 3DSMax as reference plane and in ADE

GM Menu > Tools > Configure... > Projection > Search By EPSG Code > type: 3857 > click: [OK] button

You should now see:

Projection: Mercator

Datum: GOOGLE MAPS (SPHERE RADIUS 6378137)

Planar Units: Meters

Parameters:

SCALE FACTOR: 1
CENTRAL MERIDIAN: 0
TRUE SCALE LATITUDE: 0
FALSE EASTING: (m): 0
FALSE NORTHING (m): 0

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828301

(not sure what you mean by ADE tile sizes? KCCR area I selected is relatively small)

ADE task sessions have only ~100 MB of USERVAS to load background images, so slice Hi-Res into multiple smaller tile segments to be loaded / used one-at-a-time and/or output as Low-Res lossy-compressed 8 / 16 / 24 (but not 32)-Bit JPGs

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828301

3. ADE work (just started digging into this with alignment, runway sizes, blast area, papi, taxiways, etc. etc.)
4. GM-20.1 re-project GeoTIFF to WGS84 format suitable for P3D resample
5. Create .INF (per SDK spec) for resample.exe --L .BGL
6. TMFViewer to verify .BGL
7. 3DSMax work for buildings/objects and export as .X files
8. P3D XToMDL.exe /XMLSAMPLE .X --> .MDL and .XML
9. Edit .XML remove comments
10. ImageTool.exe to convert texture assets to .DDS (DTX5) --> ...\texture
11. BGLCOMP.exe using .XML (input) --> .BGL ...\scenery
12. Create add-on package (add-on.xml) for deployment/testing

Sound about right? Steps 2,3,4 are my weak spots that most likely will take some educated guess work and trial and error.

Cheers, Rob.

EDIT: add some steps ... I'm trying to workout my "flow" as I'm likely going to create a UWP store app to automate some of this process as my goal is to get airport completely as efficiently as possible and hopefully looking good.

IMHO, these latter aspects of an overall work-flow are best discussed in another thread elsewhere (perhaps tomorrow ?).


Feel free to inquire further tonight on any issues downloading a KCCR 'Hi-Res' tile set to re-format for 3DSMAX / ADE.

GaryGB

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Hi Gary,

14 day license installed. Drag and drop zip file into GM and I get prompted:

Hmmm ... no idea how to answer this one, can't find any info in the download nor from EarthExplorer.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[GaryGB]

Wasn't it U.S. Senator Bob Dole who coined the phrase: "Just Say No" ?

[No]- or [No to All]- would be the answer, since the 4th Band (aka "Channel") contains Near Infra-Red (aka "nIR") imagery, and you only need the (3) 8-Bit RGB Bands @ (3 Bands x 8-Bits each = a "24-Bit" image).


FYI: If you included the 4th Band of imagery: (3) 8-Bit RGB Bands + (1) nIR @ (4 Bands x 8-Bits each = a "32-Bit" image).


CAVEAT: ADE reportedly cannot utilize 32-Bit background images, so one must use 8 / 16 / 24 (but not 32)-Bit images.


BTW: A 32-Bit GeoTiff (which includes the 4th nIR band) output by GM could be used by Arno's ScenProc to semi-automatically detect and generate vegetation for Autogen with enhanced accuracy.


Hope this helps.

GaryGB

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Selected NO to the dialog above (would I select Yes if there was some water areas involved)?

I have my set of tiles (4 X 6 =24) from KCCR Jun 2014. Feb 2015 is not as high a resolution .3 m so going with 2014 but will probably use 2015 for seasonal adjustments.

In GM-20.1, re-projected to 3857 (per your steps above). Under File Export (looking back at your GM-13 information but could not see any info) there is a rather lengthy selection of output options:

For 3DSMax I'm assuming Raster/Image or should it be GeoPackage?

Here is the Raster/Image options:

BMP

This process looks like it's going to take over 1 hour to complete ... hmmm

Here are the GeoPackage options:

Select 1024 x 1024

Have not tried this export yet.

Thoughts?

Yes, I agree this thread needs to perhaps be broken up and/or consolidated ... I was planning to do a summary once I've actually got all this working ... just in case others could learn from my trial and error and your wealth of information.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Rob:

I only have a moment here at the end of the day to reply.


If you list the *.ZIP file names for the above data set of tiles "(4 X 6 =24) from KCCR Jun 2014", I will look at this, and do a test output via GM to review the options, so I can explain / advise further.

I assume you initially want a Hi-Res background image for 3D modeling in 3DSMAX, thus, based on your knowledge (and/or 3DSMAX documentation) I'd first need to verify:

* What is your version of 3DSMAX (ex: 2019 64-Bit ?)

* What background image file formats can your version of 3DSMAX ( ex: 2019 64-Bit ) accept ?

* What background image size can your 3DSMAX version "tolerate" within the USERVAS of its Windows task session?


That would define whether Hi-Res tiling will be required in 3DSMAX, and if so, what the tile sizes need to be.

This is essentially the same info we must consider when using GM to output a background image intended for ADE.


NOTE: Although we may be tempted to think of ex: Photoshop as the de facto standard for graphic (Raster / Bitmap-type) image resampling by various algorithms, GM has implemented a significant number of such resampling algorithms specifically pertinent to work with GIS imagery.

IMHO, we 'should' make an informed decision as to which resampling algorithms to select when re-projecting and/or interconverting image graphic file formats during export of Raster GIS source data .


BTW: Are you already familiar with how to add a background / reference image into 3DSMAX for 3D modeling ?


I may be able to proceed (pending your reply with requested info above) by tomorrow mid-morning Chicago time.

GaryGB

 

[Deleted member 12505]

HI Gary,

I tried the BMP export with the options I selected above and left it overnight to run ... I eventually decided to cancel the process this morning as when it started to actually write the BMP from it's temp files process was at 2% with an estimated complete time of August 27th (I kid you not). Soooooo, I'm going to explore other export options as I obviously made the wrong choices.

To answer your questions:
* 3DSMax 2019 64bit
* For standard P3D Materials:

* 32GB RAM, 12GB VRAM ... not sure I "tolerated" USER VAS ... it's 64bit so once VRAM is consumed it'll use RAM and then start paging to M.2 ... ADE is 32bit process so wouldn't that be the governing factor on output?

Adding a reference image to 3DSMax ... create a plane, use a P3D Material, add Bitmap and link to P3D Material "texDetailMap" ... to get coordinates I was going to use this process.

I'm going to continue with experimenting Exports in GM-20.1 and see what I can come up with.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Still experimenting with GM 20.1 exports using just one smaller tile and the projection is still wrong?

Next attempt, exported to BMP and used that BMP and still same projection issue. So I fired up Photoshop and loaded the BMP and it's projected correctly? So it seems I must be doing something wrong on the 3DSMax side. Gone thru LM's documentation and nothing and most reference are to very old versions of 3DSMax. This has been one hell of a process for what I thought would be a simple task ... maybe I should just stick to coding.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[Deleted member 12505]

This is how the GM-20.1 BMP looks in photoshop:

This is how I expected it to look like in 3DSMax from Top view, but it doesn't ... the very same BMP file.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[GaryGB]

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828369

Hi Gary,

I tried the BMP export with the options I selected above and left it overnight to run ... I eventually decided to cancel the process this morning as when it started to actually write the BMP from it's temp files process was at 2% with an estimated complete time of August 27th (I kid you not). Soooooo, I'm going to explore other export options as I obviously made the wrong choices.

Hi Rob:

Indeed, re-projecting (aka "resampling") the above data set of tiles "(4 X 6 =24) from KCCR Jun 2014" is a huge task for GM.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828369

To answer your questions:

* 3DSMax 2019 64bit

* For standard P3D Materials: (image not included in quote)

* 32GB RAM, 12GB VRAM


Not sure I "tolerated" USER VAS ... it's 64-bit so once VRAM is consumed it'll use RAM and then start paging to M.2

Thanks for clarifying your system hardware configuration, and your OS and 3DSMAX version being 64-Bit; that would certainly obviate concerns which might otherwise have applied with a 32-Bit 3DSMAX regarding USERVAS for a large background image in a 3DSMAX task session.

Even with the above data set of tiles "(4 X 6 =24) from KCCR Jun 2014" at 24 x ~216 MB each = ~6.264 GB total size for a background image in a 3DSMAX task session, 64-Bit 3DSMAX should easily find adequate contiguous private memory address space for that data load.

HI Gary,
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828369

ADE is 32bit process so wouldn't that be the governing factor on output?

ADE task sessions have only ~100 MB of USERVAS to load background images, so slice Hi-Res into multiple smaller tile segments to be loaded / used one-at-a-time and/or output as Low-Res lossy-compressed 8 / 16 / 24 (but not 32)-Bit JPGs.

However, one typically will encounter this status message when ADE attempts to load background images > 7.5 MB:

Also, ADE reportedly cannot utilize 32-Bit background images, so one must use 8 / 16 / 24 (but not 32)-Bit images, so one typically will encounter this status message when ADE attempts to load large or incompatible format background images:

So, GM must export a ADE image using only (3)-of-(4) Bands @ (3 RGB Bands x 8-Bits each = a "24-Bit" image).

HI Gary,
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828369

Adding a reference image to 3DSMax ... create a plane, use a P3D Material, add Bitmap and link to P3D Material "texDetailMap" ... to get coordinates I was going to use this process.

I'm going to continue with experimenting Exports in GM-20.1 and see what I can come up with.

Cheers, Rob.

The above linked process "to get coordinates" may be in question, considering your subsequent posts I shall reply to next.

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828382

Still experimenting with GM 20.1 exports using just one smaller tile and the projection is still wrong? <in 3DSMAX...GGB>

{Image not included in quote)

Next attempt, exported to BMP and used that BMP and still same projection issue. So I fired up Photoshop and loaded the BMP and it's projected correctly? So it seems I must be doing something wrong on the 3DSMax side. Gone thru LM's documentation and nothing and most reference are to very old versions of 3DSMax. This has been one hell of a process for what I thought would be a simple task ... maybe I should just stick to coding.

Cheers, Rob.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828383

This is how the GM-20.1 BMP looks in photoshop:

(Image not included in quote)

This is how I expected it to look like in 3DSMax from Top view, but it doesn't ... the very same BMP file.

Cheers, Rob.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/about-wgs84-images.445708/post-828321

In Global Mapper GUI:

NOTE: To see a list of loaded GIS file contents as 'layers' in GM:

GM Menu > Tools > Control Center...

* Use Control Center > Metadata Icon / Button to view / copy Metadata for individual GIS data layers


Re-project GeoTIFF to (EPSG:3857) (aka "flat earth" / "non-warped") for use in 3DSMax as reference plane and in ADE

GM Menu > Tools > Configure... > Projection > Search By EPSG Code > type: 3857 > click: [OK] button

You should now see:

Projection: Mercator

Datum: GOOGLE MAPS (SPHERE RADIUS 6378137)

Planar Units: Meters

Parameters:

SCALE FACTOR: 1
CENTRAL MERIDIAN: 0
TRUE SCALE LATITUDE: 0
FALSE EASTING: (m): 0
FALSE NORTHING (m): 0

If GM Menu > Tools > Configure > Configuration dialog > Projection was set to (EPSG:3857) before Export to *.BMP:

* GM Metadata is the correct Geo-referencing values to use; those from MCX' Coordinate Converter may NOT be.

NOTE: The above cited MCX Coordinate Converter method requires (EPSG:4326) GIS format coordinates (aka Geographic Projection / WGS84 Datum) as input for that work-flow, so (EPSG:3857) GIS format coordinates are not compatible with that method.


Let me know how the GM Metadata (EPSG:3857) Geo-referencing values work for you.

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Rob:

Here is a "worked example" using the KCCR source file seen in your latter posts above.


In Global Mapper GUI:

1.) GM Menu > File > Open Data Files... > browse / select (ONLY): 3653632_f10c2_4.TIF > click: [Open] button

a.) Say "NO" at Prompt dialog to indicate that the 4th Band is ( nIR ) imagery data


2.) GM Menu > Tools > Configure... > Projection > Search By EPSG Code > type: 3857 > click: [OK] button

a.) Verify re-projection values:

Projection: Mercator

Datum: GOOGLE MAPS (SPHERE RADIUS 6378137)

Planar Units: Meters

Parameters:

SCALE FACTOR: 1
CENTRAL MERIDIAN: 0
TRUE SCALE LATITUDE: 0
FALSE EASTING: (m): 0
FALSE NORTHING (m): 0

b.) click: [OK] button


2.) GM Menu > File > Export > Export Raster / Image Format... > GeoTIFF > (GeoTIFF Options dialog opens)

a.) In GeoTIFF Options dialog > {GeoTIFF Options} tab:

(1) File Type > tick: Multi-Band: ( [8] bits per Band ) [3] Bands

(2) Resampling: [Bicubic Interpolation]

(3) Sampling Spacing/Scale: (Do NOT edit X,Y-axis values)

(4) Check: "Always Generate Square Pixels"check-box

(5) Do NOT click: [Click Here To Calculate Spacing In Other Units] button

(6) Do NOT check: "Export At The Fixed Scale 1: [0]" check-box: (Do NOT edit value)

(7) TIFF Format Options: "DPI Value To Save In Image (0 for None) [0]" (Do NOT edit value)

(8) Compression > choose: [ Default (LZW Compression) ]

(9) Check: ONLY the remaining check-boxes below:

(a) Interpolate to Fill Small Gaps In Data

(b) Generate TFW (World) File

(c) Generate PRJ (Projection) File


2.) b.) In GeoTIFF Options dialog > {Tiling} tab:

(1) Check: ONLY the remaining check-boxes below:

(a) No Tiling - Just One Export File


2.) c.) In GeoTIFF Options dialog > {Export Bounds} tab:

(1) Tick: ONLY the following options below:

(a) All Loaded Data

(2) click: [OK] Button (Set Up Bands For Export dialog opens)

In Set Up Bands For Export dialog: > Verify Band values:

(3) Select Input Band: Band 1 (Red Color Channel), Band 2 (Green Color Channel), Band 3 (Blue Color Channel)

(4) Select Input Layer: (refers to 'Layer' in GM Control Center) > check: 3653632_f10c2_4.TIF check-box

(5) click: [OK] button ('Save As' dialog opens)

(6) In Save As dialog > browse target path > File name ex: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF > click: [Save] button


Back in main GM work-space GUI:

3.) GM Menu > File > Unload All... > (Save Workspace prompt opens) > click [Yes] button to save GM Workspace file

a.) In Save As dialog > browse target path > type: File name ex: KCCR_3653632_f10c2_4_GTF.GMW > click: [Save] button


NOTE: GM work-space GUI is now empty of any loaded data


In the next posted step, one loads (ONLY) 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF projected as (EPSG:3857) into GM.


GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

...Continued...

In Global Mapper GUI: (GM work-space is now empty of any loaded data)

1.) GM Menu > File > Open Data Files > browse / select (ONLY): 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF > click: [Open] button

a.) GM Menu > Tools > Control Center... > select: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer

b.) Right-click: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer >choose: Metadata > click: [Copy To Clipboard] button

c.) Paste Clipboard into ex: Windows NotePad to view Metadata for 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer


2.) In NotePad: Metadata for 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer shows:

EPSG_CODE=EPSG:3857 <--- Image is projected in a non-warped "local" projection
COVERED AREA=0.579 sq km <--- Image extents projected in non-warped "local" projection is > 1-km x 1-km
LOAD TIME=0.02 s
NUM COLUMNS=9109 <--- Horizontal Pixel COLUMNS; multiplied by PIXEL WIDTH = Horizontal Image Size
NUM ROWS=6182 <--- Vertical Pixel ROWS ; multiplied by PIXEL HEIGHT = Vertical Image Size
NUM BANDS=3 <--- Image has ONLY (3) Bands @ RGB
COLOR BANDS=0,1,2 <--- "Layers" aka "Channels" used for ONLY (3) Bands @ RGB
PIXEL WIDTH=0.1286 meters <--- Image resolution: 0.1286 meters (10.2 cm) per PIXEL draped onto ground)
PIXEL HEIGHT=0.1286 meters <--- Image resolution: 0.1286 meters (10.2 cm) per PIXEL draped onto ground)
BIT DEPTH=24 <--- Image is a 24-Bit GeoTIFF with ONLY (3) Bands @ RGB, 8 Bits each
SAMPLE TYPE=Unsigned 8-bit Integer <--- Image is a 24-Bit GeoTIFF with ONLY (3) Bands @ RGB, 8 Bits each

a) In Save As dialog > browse target path > File name ex: KCCR_3653632_f10c2_4_GTF _Metadata.TXT > click: [Save] button

In the next posted step, one calculates the Horizontal Image Size and Vertical Image Size ...for use in ex: 3DSMAX

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

...Continued...

< In NotePad with Metadata for 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer shown >:

2.) b.) In NotePad > Select / Copy: 0.1286 (PIXEL WIDTH and HEIGHT value)


3.) In Windows Calculator:

a.) Calculator Menu > View > tick: Scientific + History + Basic

b.) Calculator Menu > Edit > Paste > click: [ M+] button > click: [ * ] button


4.) In NotePad > Select / Copy: 9109 (NUM COLUMNS 'Horizontal Pixel' value)

5.) In Calculator:

a.) Calculator Menu > Edit > Paste (9109) > click: [ = ] button > Result: 1171.4174 (Meters)

NOTE: Above result: 1171.4174 = Horizontal Image Size in Meters

b.) Calculator Menu > Edit > Copy (1171.4174) to Clipboard


6.) In separate (new/empty) task session of NotePad:

a.) NotePad Menu > Edit > Paste (1171.4174) > type a label: Horizontal Image Size in Meters

b.) NotePad Menu > File > Save As:

(1) In Save As dialog > browse target path > File name ex: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF_Sizes.TXT > click: [Save] button

6.) In original task session of NotePad with Metadata for 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF layer shown:

a.) Select / Copy: 6182 (NUM ROWS 'Vertical Pixel' value)


7.) In Windows Calculator:

a.) click: [ C ] button (Clears displayed value)

b.) Calculator Menu > Edit > Paste (6182)

c.) Click: [ * ] button > click: [ MR ] button > click: [ = ] button > Result: 795.0052 (Meters)

NOTE: Above result: 795.0052 = Vertical Image Size in Meters


8.) In separate (new) task session of NotePad with 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF_Sizes.TXT loaded / displayed:

a.) NotePad Menu > Edit > Paste (795.0052) > type a label: Vertical Image Size in Meters

b.) NotePad Menu > File > Save To: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF_Sizes.TXT


9.) In 3DSMAX:

CAVEAT: Meters are to be used in 3DSMAX as FS SDK default 3D modeling 'Units'


a.) Draw a rectangular Face on the 'base' aka "ground" plane of the 3D work-space, with these dimensions:

1171.4174 Meters Wide x 795.0052 Meters


b.) Center the geometry of that Face at the 3D work-space 'Origin of Axes' (0,0,0 - X,Y,Z coordinates)


10.) UVW Map: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF onto that Face as a Material


One should now see: 3653632_f10c2_4_GM_LZW_GTF.TIF ...displayed in its assigned (EPSG:3857) projection.


I hope this may supplement your own insight on the work-flow for this task in your KCCR project.

Perhaps this info may help others as well.

Please excuse- (...and post a 'heads-up' on-) any procedural / editing errors / omissions; it's still a 'work-in-progress'.


Let me know how this works for you.

GaryGB

 

[Deleted member 12505]

Hi Gary,

Early morning 1:25am ... think I finally got it working correctly in 3DSMax ... a few oddities like I have to use a UVW Map modifier in order to "see" the texture on the plane (editable mesh). Using one large BMP (4GB) and had to max out the viewport texture map pixels to 8192 in order to get reasonable enough quality so I can proceed with object placement.

I'll provide details on the process I used later (it's a little different from what you outlined), off to get some kip right now.

But must thank you for all your help and patience and for going above and beyond.

Cheers, Rob.