• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

Data Elevation

J

jgwynne87

Messages
9
Country
ca-ontario
Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Terrain SDK\Terrain and Scenery.html

Notes on Acquiring Raw Digital Elevation Data
A DEM provides a digital representation of a portion of the earth's elevation points over a two-dimensional surface. A DEM is generated by sampling an array of elevation values derived from topographic maps, aerial photographs, or satellite images.
There are a number of places to get digital elevation data. Most terrain data available for free over the Internet is typically stored in formats such as the USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model) ASCII, USGS TAR, or USGS Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) formats. All source data is expected to use WGS84 projection.

For example, this is a link to the USGS 100 meter DEM for the entire United States of America. Just click on the area of DEM you want:
http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/glis/hyper/guide/1_dgr_demfig/index1m.html

The raw data used when creating terrain for Flight Simulator must be in a binary file format, with each elevation point (measured in meters above mean sea level) being assigned a 16-bit integer. The resampler supports both LSB (least significant byte first) and MSB (most significant byte first) 16-bit integers.
The USGS DEM and SDTS formats are not compatible with the terrain tools included with this SDK, but there are converters available (free of charge) on websites that convert the data to a compatible binary form. For example, see the read_dem.exe tool that’s available for download at http://dbwww.essc.psu.edu/notes/utilities.html. After using this tool, you should be able to run the output DEM data through the Resample tool.

You may find that the source files you acquire come with a header file. This header file provides the information needed for some sections of the .inf file such as the bounding area.
Click to expand...

i have acquired a GeoBase. now what to do with these data and to convert compile it to fsx?
043a05_0200_deme.dem
043a05_0200_demw.dem

http://dbwww.essc.psu.edu/notes/utilities.html
my computer can't open read_dem.exe it gives me a message
"The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program. and then contact the software publisher.
 
yes, I had the same problem, that program is out of date, look for some free software that convert those Dem data, I think that this should convert to Bil or geotiff format which Fsx work with. I've seen Grass, but those programs are too complicated for what we want to do, just convert one format onto another.good luck
 
Last edited:
ok i converted DEM file to GEOTIFF
Are you exporting the data as Geotiff 16 bit elevation data? Make sure your projection is geographic and your datum is WGS84 or you will get a "file not found" when you attempt to run resample on it.

scott s.
Click to expand...

do i just drag the files to resample or make a inf file or setup txt file? if so can you show me an example
 
well, you are on the road, now the .inf file, in the Terrain sdk there is resample exemples, look for deathvalley.inf file, this is for elevations, just copy this file, open and change with your own data, or make a new one, is the same, good is you have all the files in this directory: Terrain sdk, the source file( elevations geotiff) in Sourcefile folder, get the new .inf flie and just drag and drop on resample tool, the output will go to the output folder (obvious:confused:), all this is the simplest method, sometime the .inf file must be fixed with other parameters, as to avoid terracing effect on the mesh (if this would happen) and things like that, look in the Sdk, search for "the geotiff file format", or "resample tool". hoping could be of help with this poor english. and good luck.
 
when i drag the inf file, it does nothing. it just shows me a quick black screen and nothing. i do have my UAc OFF.
 
that is because there is something wrong (could happen too much :()
[Source]
Type = GeoTIFF
Layer = Elevation
SourceDir = "SourceData"
SourceFile = "xxxxxxxxxx.Tif"

[Destination]
DestDir = "Output"
DestBaseFileName = "xxxxxxxxxx_Elevations"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto

... this is the .inf file, well, this could fail if any thing , a dot even, are missed, so put attention on the details, if you have the files in the directory terrain sdk and the geotiff in sourcedata folder, the names of the files etc, if after check out all this , fail, could be the source file (the geotiff is wrong), I don't know how to check if the file( geotiff) is good or bad.
 
good news, it worked! now i just need to know how to place water in the correct areas. default fsx is not that accurate. any pointers to download water class to convert to fsx with the mesh i compiled?
 
look in the forum, there are tools for rectify coastlines, terrain etc., like sbuilder , fsxkml , etc.that is another subject :rolleyes: anyway congratulations
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top