Using LIDAR DEM for Real Courses

[epsilonindi]

Can I clarify: Is Linkster’s DEM method giving you precise contour lines, or is it actually adding the verts for you?

Edit: Nevermind, I read the original post and figured it out. That sounds amazing! Let me see if I can make it work.

[linkster]

The answer to both questions would be yes.

I can make a .dem file in QGIS that can be imported into the APCD. This provides a square grid of verts (but doesn't have to be square) usually at 2m (6.5ft) or 3m (10ft) spacing that covers the course area. I also add hi-resolution satellite imagery usually from Google Earth to overlay the plot.

A 2m grid plot is detailed enough for decent capture of the green contours. At 3m or more vert spacing I recommend making contour line textures that can be mapped to align with the verts of the DEM. With the contour textures more verts can be manually added to get more terrain detail where it counts; on the greens.

epsilonindi; have you used QGIS and the APCD much? There are likely other ways that both could be integrated to some degree but I think I have explored most of the options I can think of.

[epsilonindi]

That sounds amazing, I'd love to know how to do it. I have no experience with QGIS other than walking through the .pdf tutorial last week on green contours that you posted.

As far as APCD goes, I had started working on Friar's Head a few years ago, basing large-scale elevations off of Google Earth, but I kind of gave up after becoming disappointed in how little micro-elevation info was available on Google Earth, because I wasn't successful at elevating from photos. With a course like that, the way I was doing it just wasn't good enough.

With more precise elevations I might be able to tackle FH again... or perhaps I'd be better off attempting a course less challenging to start with (the sand wastes at FH look nasty to elevate).

[linkster]

I can certainly help you with the elevations. It looks like you started with a google earth image and "painted" the course textures over the image. I'll generated some contour lines for the entire course and you should be able to map the contours texture to your work. I'll also generate the full DEM import for you to consider. It doesn't take long to do once the course data is in the QGIS project. You'll face a tough decision on if to elevate your current work or "paint" the course textures on the DEM import. I'm not sure which would be easier to do.

[AorGuy]

Was there a tutorial for this, I can't seem to find it.

[ponkey]

Hi AorGuy

I dont think so. I'm keen to find out how to do it as well.
I suspect Linkster is just too busy

Peter

[pmgolf]

I'm currently working on a LIDAR course. I can assure you two things: 1. Knowledge of the APCD is required. 2. It's not easy! Here is where you can go to get a tutorial of the APCD:

viewtopic.php?t=49

Pete

[ponkey]

Hi Pete.
AorGuy and myself are talking about a tutorial to get lidar data in a suitable format for importing into APCD.
Peter

[pmgolf]

Hi Pete.
AorGuy and myself are talking about a tutorial to get lidar data in a suitable format for importing into APCD.
Peter

I don't understand. The LIDAR data that we import into the APCD isn't suitable? It's certainly accurate. I have no expertise in this area. What am I missing here?

Pete

[ponkey]

The LIDAR data from USGS or uk lidar sites comes in a form the APCD does not recognise. Linkster has found a way of manipulating the data in a prog like QGIS to get the data into a format that APCD accepts. That's the process we are talking about.
I think that's right.

Peter