TransDEM

TransDEM is a central pre-processing tool for route building based on geo data. TransDEM handles digital elevation models (DEM, height data), raster maps, plans and orthophotos and provides vector data conversion and basis editing features.

Additional information can be found in the TransDEM forum.

A typical TransDEM view, with DEM, raster map and a vector route.

Overview of TransDEM Functionality

TransDEM converts all data to the UTM map projection. This leads to a uniform Cartesian coordinate system, which via simple mathematical translation can be used directly in Zusi and railway simulators like Trainz. For route projects crossing UTM zone boundaries TransDEM offers conversion, to transform coordinates of the adjacent zone into the current zone.

Digital Elevation Data (DEM)

TransDEM spatial adjustments to a DEM or complete DEM generation from scratch. The technique behind this is the Triangulated Irregular Network – TIN. Missing DEM points can be complemented or existing DEM points can be erased, e.g. for cropping a DEM.

• Direct read support for orbital SRTM DEMs (hgt format), 3 arc sec and 1 arc sec, automatic conversion to UTM

• Direct read support for orbital ASTER DEMs (geotiff format), 1" GDEM and 30m UTM

• Direct read support for Canadian CDED DEMs, automatic conversion to UTM

• Direct read support for USGS NED DEMs, automatic conversion to UTM

• Direct read support for DEMs in ESRI grid format, automatic conversion to UTM

• Read and write support for MicroDEM dem format, version 1 and 2f elevation data in xyz format

• Merging of DEMs

• DEM editing (spatial adjusting) with a network or arbitrarily placeable control points, so-called Triangulated Irregular Network – TIN

• Creation of a DEM from scratch based on contour lines, using the TIN technique

• DEM hole filling with various options

• DEM cropping and resampling

• Transformation to adjacent UTM zone

• Elevations in metres or feet

More Information

Raster Maps, Plans and Orthophotos

Topographic raster maps with various international and national coordinate systems can be georeferenced and used as a background template for DEM or vector data editing.

• Support for common bitmap formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif

• Automatic georeferencing for GeoTIFF format

• Georeferencing (aligning with the UTM grid) via 3(+1) reference points (affine transformation)

• Simplified georeferencing for orthogonally aligned raster maps with known corner coordinates

• Various coordinate systems in addition to UTM: European, American and Australian / New Zealand grids

• Concurrent visualisation of multiple raster maps, with varying scale.

• Web Tile client (de-facto Web standard), e.g. Open Street Map, automatic georeferencing

• WMS client (Web Mapping Service), automatic georeferencing

• Semi-automatic georeferencing of Google Earth^TM Orthophotos using placemarks.

More Information

Vector Data

Route data can be created/edited as polylines, read and written in various file formats and can be visualised on top of a DEM and raster maps.

• Basic format for vector data is Zusi 2 .str. Can be used independently of Zusi

• (Limited) support for .ovl (Geogrid/Top50/AMap), dxf (AutoCAD), .xyz, .mkr (MSTS marker files) and gpx (GPS data exchange)

• Basic interactive editor for creating and editing polylines to trace/digitise lines shapes

• Distance measuring

More Information

Documentation

• in electronic form, .pdf format

• Contents of the manual: Introduction and overview, reference and tutorial sections, 180 pages

Platforms

• 32bit executable

• 64bit executable (x64)

Release Notes