Large scale terrain import to Max

[Brian Cassil]

I used to follow the procedure outlined in this tutorial http://www.gugila.com/gw_tutorial4.html for importing large scale terrain data (like mountain ranges) into Max. The USGS national map viewer has changed recently and although it is much easier to navigate I am having trouble two problems. One is when I select an area for download the area is broken up into 12-16 different files that I have to stitch manually. Before the switch I would just get one file of precisely the area I selected. the other is 3DEM, the program that I used to convert the geotiff to a dem, doesn't load the geotiff from the new server.

 

We have some civil engineers in our office who use civil3D and we have tried going that route too with no success. Google Earth and sketchup only allow you to download sections of terrain that are far too small and it would take an eternity to stitch everything together.

 

I'm wondering if anyone is aware of a process for downloading large scale terrian data and getting them into max? Thanks

[Brian Cassil]

Am I the only one who has any use for large scale terrain models?

[Tim Nelson]

Hey Brian, long time no talk! I'm actually trying to find a workflow for this right now too. The only format I can seem to get from the new map viewer http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ is a geoPDF format. So I think I need a way to convert that to a geotiff which I can then convert to a 3DEM file, which sounds like a pain, if even possible in the first place.

 

Have you found any other options that work?

[scottparris1]

Have you guys looked into this?

 

http://www.west-racing.com/mf/?page_id=2979

[danb4026]

Interesting plugin. Would like to hear if anyone has used it yet.

[abhaysingh]

Iam still using the old sketchup technique & recently i had to stitch 12 tiles of terrain data into one. Has anybody tested/used the above terrain plugin ?

[abhaysingh]

Nice plugin !! Just tested the demo version which is limited to Mt.Etna,Sicily.