DEM import, enahnced raster graphics support, and road intersections...

[Tristan M]

Hi all,

you know, at least in my case, it would be a real boon to be able to import DEM (USGS and SDTS) and actually register them to geographic space to aid in terrain analysis with VW Landmark. Also, having improved support for some raster graphics files, such as USGS DRG (digital raster graphics of topo quads)would be a tremendous help. Right now I can import these extremely high-res tiffs in VW, but the problem is they never display anywhere near as claerly as they are capable of. I open these files up in something much less complex and powerfull such as MS Office picture editor and the image can be zoomed in to about 200% before pixelation occurs.

Yet another improvement I would like to see is a slope analysis that runs in percentages and can hatch a terrain based on slope intervals, much like the traditional freehand slope analysis.

Lastly, I would like to see a 4-way intersection tool provided.

Thanks for hearing me out!

[Thom]

I agree with Tristan. This needs to be added to the wish list. As landscape architects are becoming more recognized for their unique abilities to create more sensitive, enviromental friendly, creative site plans, our software needs to allow us to do this easily. While site planning can be done in Landmark, the transition to construction dwgs. especially from working with dtm's is not user friendly.

The problem is an chicken and egg situation. VW needs more LA to buy the program, but without the improvements most LA's I talk to are reluctant to take the leap.

[ 01-17-2004, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: tvetter ]

[Tristan M]

Just remembered another change I would love to see...

I would like to be able to customize the line styles provided, not just the thickness of the stroke (as is currently available), but also the length/scale of the dashes and be able to create my own combinations such as is available in Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, when working digitally between different programs for presentation I still end up going back to Illustrator to adjust line styles and dash types.

Tvetter makes a good point about the DTM tools...if we could enhance the current set, make them more stable, and add the ability to import geographic referenced data such as DEMs and DTMs, VW could take a huge leap forward I think...however when my fellow classmates are seem interested in what Im doing in VW (many of them use AutoCAD in the labs) they are impressed until they start asking about the tools like slope analysis and such, and try to work them for themselves or I try to show them...and then invariably their response turns to one of dissapointment. Too bad there isn't a hugely wealthy, philanthropic LA who could donate large sums of money to VW for R&D

[matto]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tristan M:

Just remembered another change I would love to see...

I would like to be able to customize the line styles provided, not just the thickness of the stroke (as is currently available), but also the length/scale of the dashes and be able to create my own combinations such as is available in Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, when working digitally between different programs for presentation I still end up going back to Illustrator to adjust line styles and dash types.

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Have you had a look at the menu item "Dash Styles..."

it kind of buryed in multiple menus.

Page-->Set Attribute Defaults-->Dash Styles...

here you can make your own dash styles and set if they scale with lineweight as you seem to be requesting.

[ 01-18-2004, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: iboymatt ]