Links Corner Forum

I've finally figured out how to import a DEM file to get a head start on the contouring. You have to use the defunct USGS 7.5 minute ASCII files that they retired about 2005. Now that I've got a DEM into APCD, it's impossible to tell where anything is on that almost blank green Top View. Does APCD allow you to underlay an aerial plan image of an existing course to line up the fairways with the terrain?

Wojo

wojo wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 12:23 am I've finally figured out how to import a DEM file to get a head start on the contouring. You have to use the defunct USGS 7.5 minute ASCII files that they retired about 2005. Now that I've got a DEM into APCD, it's impossible to tell where anything is on that almost blank green Top View. Does APCD allow you to underlay an aerial plan image of an existing course to line up the fairways with the terrain?

Wojo

Hi wojo...

We use overhead screen captures from Google Earth to create overlays. Here's a example of my overlay for Coeur d"Alene...
Some time back, I purchased an ultra-wide monitor that allows me to capture larger areas so it doesn't take as many captures to put together the entire course. I volunteered to create overlays for anyone wanting to start a new course, to help get them started. If you would like an overlay, I will capture it from GE (Google Earth), piece it together, and size it to match the actual course yardage. I will then send it to you as a CRZ file and all you have to do is open it in the APCD and begin setting the elevations. You can then trace around the overlay images to create the fairways, green, bunkers, tee boxes etc etc...

Would you be interested in me making one for you? Just be aware that there are certain conditions that will keep me from being able to make an overlay. I will have to take a look at the course on GE before I will be able to tell. If you want me to try, please give me the name and location of the course you are working on.

Best wishes,

Dan

Sounds good, Dan. Thanks, but I want to learn how to do it too. I already have a Google Earth image, but it isn't the same shape as the DEM I already imported... and I don't know how to scale it. Do I need to capture a Google Earth image approximately the same area as the DEM?

Dan, here's the pieces I already have... the DEM file and the Google Earth JPG of the course. The course is called Salishan Hills GC and it's located on the Oregon coast just south of Lincoln City, Oregon. You can email me at steve@retrosportsgames.com if you care to talk. I probably have some questions.

Thanks.
Wojo

wojo wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 5:21 am Sounds good, Dan. Thanks, but I want to learn how to do it too. I already have a Google Earth image, but it isn't the same shape as the DEM I already imported... and I don't know how to scale it. Do I need to capture a Google Earth image approximately the same area as the DEM?

I'll email you and we can discuss it.

Dan

Temporarily turn off "Terrain" in Google Earth while capturing the image, it creates a flat map to avoid skewed yardages (most noticeable in places with severe elevation differences).

Adelade wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 8:14 am Temporarily turn off "Terrain" in Google Earth while capturing the image, it creates a flat map to avoid skewed yardages (most noticeable in places with severe elevation differences).

I've looked all over GE and I don't see where to turn off "Terrain". Where is it? Thanks!

Pete

pmgolf wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 12:00 pm

Adelade wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 8:14 am Temporarily turn off "Terrain" in Google Earth while capturing the image, it creates a flat map to avoid skewed yardages (most noticeable in places with severe elevation differences).

I've looked all over GE and I don't see where to turn off "Terrain". Where is it? Thanks!

Pete

Hi Pete...

Open GE and at the top left menu, selects TOOLS. Next, remove the 2 check-marks under the TERRAIN heading, and hit APPLY.

Dan

No thats not the place I meant, I tried disabling those and there is still elevation data showing with those off. The one I meant is accessed in sidebar (View > Sidebar to show/hide), at the bottom in the "Layers" menu.

If on Google Maps instead of Google Earth, the same thing can be achieved by disabling "Globe" or "Globe view".

Remember to turn it back on afterwards

It does look like places with high quality elevation data access a different image when doing so, which I suppose in some cases can led to a less desirable image, then I suppose it comes down to a choice. Sometimes using the history tool can give better images (though look out for changes done to the real course), for courses on relatively flat terrain it may be unnecessary, but I know for my mountain course it actually made a very big difference in getting the image to fit yardages correctly everywhere.