Emery's Public LiDAR Database

Discussion in 'Track Modding' started by Emery, Dec 13, 2014.

  1. Woodee

    Woodee Registered

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    Convert ASC with LAS TOOLS.... you can then use Cloud Convert to create a mesh to import into MAX.

    I thought that tutorial link I gave went through some of those steps. I had to take away some of the cloud resolution to enable me to import into max, I've not found a happy balance yet.
     
  2. lasercutter

    lasercutter Registered

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    never managed to convert them with lastools, must have done something wrong

    I just split the cloud up in cloud compare and imported the mesh into max in pieces
     
  3. adamfarmer

    adamfarmer Registered

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    It took me a few weeks to figure out how to get asc LiDAR files into Blender, but I figured it out and I've used it a lot over the last year or so:

    1. open Blender
    2. download and install the CSV Mesh Importer add-on from here: http://blenderartists.org/forum/sho...and-Create-Meshes-(for-Blender-2-5x-or-later)
    3. open the asc file for the area you want in notepad or similar.
    4. delete:
    “ncols 500nrows 500xllcorner650000yllcorner 306000cellsize 2 NODATA_value -9999”
    5. select all.
    6. open excel and click Paste > Use Text Import Wizard > Finish.
    7. probably the first row will be offset so cut and paste it to line up with the rows below and delete the now empty first column.
    8. save as csv comma delimited.

    9. in blender go to the scene tab, click Metric and scroll down to the CSV Mesh Importer.
    10. Change to Point XY 2D table (matrix), comma, create vertices and faces and set the cell size for X and Y to the resolution of the LiDAR file – 1 for 1m, 0.5 for 0.5m etc. Leave the Z scale at 1.
    11. choose your csv under .csv File Path: and click IMPORT, and wait
    12. Once it has imported, select the object, press CONTROL & M, and then press Y and ENTER. It imports mirrored incorrectly so the above puts it right.
    13. And that’s it!

    It seems a lot to do but it’s actually quick once you’ve done it a few times. Hope that helps.
     
  4. Woodee

    Woodee Registered

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    I shall give that a try, thanks!
     
  5. Emery

    Emery Registered

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    Added Des Moines Grand Prix (historic TransAm street circuit 1989-1994).
     
  6. Spears

    Spears Registered

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    How do I import this data in 3DS Max 2010? I cant find anything online.
     
  7. Emery

    Emery Registered

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  8. Alex Sawczuk

    Alex Sawczuk Administrator Staff Member

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    With the UK data Silverstone, Brands and Cadwell are not covered. There are areas close that are but they are not.

    If you click on the '?' next to the data you can see it on a map preview.

    Brands for example, is frustratingly close ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Woodee

    Woodee Registered

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    What's that website?
     
  10. Alex Sawczuk

    Alex Sawczuk Administrator Staff Member

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    The website linked in the doc, when you click on the '?' next to the data as I explained, then there is an option to preview the data.
     
  11. Emery

    Emery Registered

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    USA Lidar sources have moved as of September 30, 2018 (sigh). Links pointing to coast.noaa.gov are still intact, but references to USGS EarthExplorer can now be found The National Map. (https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/#startUp)

    You can also check the United States Interagency Elevation Inventory for coverage and links to source data. (https://coast.noaa.gov/inventory/)


    I'll try and update my database links, but it will take time. Also, I haven't yet looked at how the downloading from The National Map works.
     
  12. AMillward

    AMillward Registered

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    We can still have an A20 drag strip though :D
     

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