Re: Google Earth terrain model

Is there a way to (easily) extract terrain model data from Google Earth in a format that can be used by Therion / Loch?

 

 

Bruce

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Or possibly more practical, extract terrain data from the new NASA
public domain earth terrain model which I heard was being published on
the news last week?

Footleg

2009/7/8 Bruce Mutton <bruce.mutton@...>: _______________________________________________
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Here is a link:
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/


2009/7/8 Footleg <drfootleg@...>: _______________________________________________
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On 8.7.2009, at 10:53, Bruce Mutton wrote:

> Is there a way to (easily) extract terrain model data from Google  
> Earth

Google Earth is scriptable so with help of Applescript or JavaScript  
one may shot-down the maps or altitude grids. There are several  
tricks there, but I may send you examples.

Martin S.
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On 8.7.2009, at 11:07, Footleg wrote:

> Or possibly more practical, extract terrain data from the new NASA
> public domain earth terrain model which I heard was being published on
> the news last week?

It looks promissing,

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jun/ 
HQ_09-150_ASTER_Topographic_Map.html

but one must generate the grid for therion from such data.

Google Earth has advantage one may shot-down the map data and  
altitude data from the same source. And altitude data directly as grid.

m.s.
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Thanks all for the suggestions.

Looking at those I see there is potential for me to be out of my depth, even
though I can sort of see what is going on, and that the publically available
data is getting better all the time.

Perhaps you have a google earth script example Martin?
Bruce


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On 8.7.2009, at 12:03, Bruce Mutton wrote:

> Perhaps you have a google earth script example Martin?

This one is for AppleScript and for map data.

There is a trick - you must mimic the human interaction to save the  
image. If by script it will be only grey.

GoogleEarth:

1. change the units to UTM
2. switch off the terrain, and all features which occupy the screen  
and which is possibly to take off.
2. put in the corners of area placemarks the best are white crosses.  
You may go very near - several meters from surface, so you may put  
the cross exactly.
3. change the units to degrees and take a note the coordinates of  
upper left and lower right crosses. Reason is the script doesn't  
recognize the UTM coordinates.
4. modify script according your coordinates - the coordinates of  
start point for row and for column, the step for row and for column  
(don't forget the overlay), the end point fot row and for collumn.  
The altitude of camera 2000 m is quite enough.
5. manually save one image to forder you want to all images will be  
saved. Delete it.
6. start the script.
7. you should receive the full folder of images numbered according  
rows/collumns.

Photoshop (CS3 and more):

1. record the action to crop of first image to remove all rests of  
logos from image.
2. make the dropplet from that action.
3. drag all uncropped images to this dropplet.
4. make a panorama from first row in Brigde application - just to  
change place, no any deformations. No blending!. Save it with  
suitable name.
5. do the same with another rows.
6. open the middle row and row just below it. Change the size of  
camvas of middle row to assumed size of map.
7. move the second row to canvas (it will create new layer and resize  
the second row so it is exactly wide as first one.
8. set the behaviour of second layer to "Difference" and manualy move  
so as the overlay will be as black as possible :). switch the  
behaviour to Normal,
9. Do the same with all rows bellow and with all rows above the  
middle row. You may flat the layers time from time to decrease the  
size of final map and save it after each row added.
10. resize the image unproportionaly so the distance of crosses  
horizontally and vertically is in scale you want.
11. crop the map in crosses.
12. you may add white lines after each km/mile and coordinates too.

Altitude:

as in first case, but with Tterrain on and the script will read the  
altitude of placemark in the middle of screen. You should use the  
same trick with UTM and degrees.

m.s.

Map script for Applescript:

-- coordinates of left upper corner of area (degrees)
property beginning_lat : 41.764341
property beginning_long : 21.321398 (*41.764341 21.321398*)

-- parameters for GoogleEarth
set myAltitude to 2000
set myTilt to 0
set myAzimuth to 0

-- parameters for file names
property N : 0
property M : 0

-- parameters for end of script (degrees)

property mySouth : 41.72
property myEast : 21.4
property long_step : 0.0062
property lat_step : 0.0025

-- GE screenshot
-- by  franz@...
-- modofication by martinsluka@...
-- use at your own risk
--
-- Start Google Earth first and allow to connect to server before  
starting the script, set the Terrain feature of GE off

set myLat to beginning_lat
set myLong to beginning_long

repeat while myLat ≥ mySouth -- last row, where script stops
       
        set N to N + 1
       
        repeat while myLong ≤ myEast -- end of row and beginning of next one
               
                set M to M + 1
               
                set picfile to "test-" & N & "-" & M -- & ".jpg" -- filename for  
screenshot
                -- -- the file will be saved in the folder last used for saving
                set Overwrite to false -- -whether to overwrite an existing pic.
                activate
               
                tell application "Google Earth"
                        SetViewInfo {latitude:myLat, longitude:myLong,  
distance:myAltitude, tilt:myTilt, azimuth:myAzimuth}
                        repeat while (GetStreamingProgress) < 100 -- test for 100%  
received data
                        end repeat
                end tell
               
-- mimic the human way to save image

                tell application "System Events"
                        if UI elements enabled then -- test if GUI-scriptimg is enabled
                                tell process "Google Earth"
                                        set frontmost to true
                                end tell
                                -- call dialog for screenshot
                                keystroke "s" using {command down, option down}
                                delay 1
                                -- set the name of the image file
                                keystroke picfile
                                delay 1
                                -- do it
                                keystroke return
                               
                                if Overwrite then
                                        delay 1
                                        keystroke return
                                end if
                               
                        else -- GUI-scripting is not enabled. Tell user how to enable it
                                tell application "System Preferences"
                                        activate
                                        set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
                                        display dialog "UI element scripting is not enabled. Check  
\"Enable access for assistive devices\""
                                end tell
                        end if
                end tell
                set myLong to (myLong + long_step) -- long step - it depends on  
size of screen. There  should be  10-15% overlap of images
               
        end repeat
        set myLong to beginning_long -- return to beginning of row
        set M to 0
        set myLat to (myLat - lat_step) -- lat step there should be 10-15%  
overlap
end repeat




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2 cents from Greece:

What I do is take the SRTM dats from NASA, pass them through vtopo's
"gensur" stand-alone programme which makes a text file with height
data for whichever part of the inputted SRTM file interests you.

Then I take this to Therion and convert the header text of the .sur
file into the Therion format:

#Surface   231.836    235.996     0.080   53    3909.144    3915.084
   0.090   67

grid       231836     3909144    80    90    53    67

Above, the header of the .sur file is placed above the grid line of
the Therion file.


The first 2 numbers are the UTM beginning and end of the data in Km
on the X-axis. Only the first number needs to be turned into m
(multiply by 1000) and put as the first figure on the Therion line.

The third number is the spacing of the info: 0.080 (Km) meaning that
the points are 80m apart on the x axis. This becomes the third figure
in the Therion format.

The fourth number is the number of entries, or the size of the grid
on the X axis. This number is placed as the fifth figure in the
Therion format.

The fifth and sixth are the limits of the data on the Y axis - again,
only the beginning is interesting to us and it is multiplied by 1000
and placed as the second figure in the Therion format.

The seventh number is the spacing of the info: 0.090 (Km) meaning
that the points are 90m apart on the Y axis. This becomes the fourth
figure in the Therion format.

The eighth number is the number of entries, or the size of the grid
on the Y axis. This number is placed as the sixth figure in the Therion format.



To do this is just as complex as it sounds, and you need to keep your
wits about you when selecting the limits of the gensur export from
the SRTM data. I usually keep the gensur header in the Therion file
with a hash for reality-checks as necessary.

Cheers,
Stelios


At 11:53 08/07/2009, you wrote:
>Is there a way to (easily) extract terrain model data from Google
>Earth in a format that can be used by Therion / Loch?
>
>
>Bruce
>_______________________________________________
>Therion mailing list
>Therion@...
>http://mailman.speleo.sk/mailman/listinfo/therion

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On 8.7.2009, at 12:03, Bruce Mutton wrote:

> google earth script example

routine for reading the altitude value:

tell application "Google Earth"
        set a to {}
        set a to GetPointOnTerrain {0, 0} -- center of screen
        set b to third item of a -- b is the altitude
end tell
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Thanks for all those replies.

That looks like a 'shiny thing' and my mind just wants to explore and get it
working.

However I have more pressing priorities just now, so I'll park the terrain
model extraction for now.

Bruce

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Hello
Does anyone with a Windows machine? Did someone perhaps the Google Earth script by Martin reprogrammed? Or what other
options there are? Unfortunately I have no idea about the program.

Best regards
Thomas



On 8.7.2009, at 12:03, Bruce Mutton wrote:

> Perhaps you have a google earth script example Martin?

This one is for AppleScript and for map data.

There is a trick - you must mimic the human interaction to save the  
image. If by script it will be only grey.

GoogleEarth:

1. change the units to UTM
2. switch off the terrain, and all features which occupy the screen  
and which is possibly to take off.
2. put in the corners of area placemarks the best are white crosses.  
You may go very near - several meters from surface, so you may put  
the cross exactly.
3. change the units to degrees and take a note the coordinates of  
upper left and lower right crosses. Reason is the script doesn't  
recognize the UTM coordinates.
4. modify script according your coordinates - the coordinates of  
start point for row and for column, the step for row and for column  
(don't forget the overlay), the end point fot row and for collumn.  
The altitude of camera 2000 m is quite enough.
5. manually save one image to forder you want to all images will be  
saved. Delete it.
6. start the script.
7. you should receive the full folder of images numbered according  
rows/collumns.

Photoshop (CS3 and more):

1. record the action to crop of first image to remove all rests of  
logos from image.
2. make the dropplet from that action.
3. drag all uncropped images to this dropplet.
4. make a panorama from first row in Brigde application - just to  
change place, no any deformations. No blending!. Save it with  
suitable name.
5. do the same with another rows.
6. open the middle row and row just below it. Change the size of  
camvas of middle row to assumed size of map.
7. move the second row to canvas (it will create new layer and resize  
the second row so it is exactly wide as first one.
8. set the behaviour of second layer to "Difference" and manualy move  
so as the overlay will be as black as possible :). switch the  
behaviour to Normal,
9. Do the same with all rows bellow and with all rows above the  
middle row. You may flat the layers time from time to decrease the  
size of final map and save it after each row added.
10. resize the image unproportionaly so the distance of crosses  
horizontally and vertically is in scale you want.
11. crop the map in crosses.
12. you may add white lines after each km/mile and coordinates too.

Altitude:

as in first case, but with Tterrain on and the script will read the  
altitude of placemark in the middle of screen. You should use the  
same trick with UTM and degrees.

m.s.

Map script for Applescript:

-- coordinates of left upper corner of area (degrees)
property beginning_lat : 41.764341
property beginning_long : 21.321398 (*41.764341 21.321398*)

-- parameters for GoogleEarth
set myAltitude to 2000
set myTilt to 0
set myAzimuth to 0

-- parameters for file names
property N : 0
property M : 0

-- parameters for end of script (degrees)

property mySouth : 41.72
property myEast : 21.4
property long_step : 0.0062
property lat_step : 0.0025

-- GE screenshot
-- by  franz@...
-- modofication by martinsluka@...
-- use at your own risk
--
-- Start Google Earth first and allow to connect to server before  
starting the script, set the Terrain feature of GE off

set myLat to beginning_lat
set myLong to beginning_long

repeat while myLat ≥ mySouth -- last row, where script stops
       
        set N to N + 1
       
        repeat while myLong ≤ myEast -- end of row and beginning of next one
               
                set M to M + 1
               
                set picfile to "test-" & N & "-" & M -- & ".jpg" -- filename for  
screenshot
                -- -- the file will be saved in the folder last used for saving
                set Overwrite to false -- -whether to overwrite an existing pic.
                activate
               
                tell application "Google Earth"
                        SetViewInfo {latitude:myLat, longitude:myLong,  
distance:myAltitude, tilt:myTilt, azimuth:myAzimuth}
                        repeat while (GetStreamingProgress) < 100 -- test for 100%  
received data
                        end repeat
                end tell
               
-- mimic the human way to save image

                tell application "System Events"
                        if UI elements enabled then -- test if GUI-scriptimg is enabled
                                tell process "Google Earth"
                                        set frontmost to true
                                end tell
                                -- call dialog for screenshot
                                keystroke "s" using {command down, option down}
                                delay 1
                                -- set the name of the image file
                                keystroke picfile
                                delay 1
                                -- do it
                                keystroke return
                               
                                if Overwrite then
                                        delay 1
                                        keystroke return
                                end if
                               
                        else -- GUI-scripting is not enabled. Tell user how to enable it
                                tell application "System Preferences"
                                        activate
                                        set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
                                        display dialog "UI element scripting is not enabled. Check  
\"Enable access for assistive devices\""
                                end tell
                        end if
                end tell
                set myLong to (myLong + long_step) -- long step - it depends on  
size of screen. There  should be  10-15% overlap of images
               
        end repeat
        set myLong to beginning_long -- return to beginning of row
        set M to 0
        set myLat to (myLat - lat_step) -- lat step there should be 10-15%  
overlap
end repeat

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Thomas
As far as I can tell there is no Windows interpreter that will run
applescript.  One would need to write an equivalent script in a Windows
compatible language I think.

Stelios' approach seems to be more straight forward, except that I have not
being able to decipher vtopo and gensur.  I stumbled my way through the
French language to install it and eventually view vtopo in English, but
gensur is always it French it seems.  That stopped me.

Wolfgang has posted a reasonably comprehensive means to get a terrain model.
I will try it eventually. http://therion.speleo.sk/wiki/doku.php?id=ifl 

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: therion-bounces@... [mailto:therion-bounces@...] On Behalf
Of thomasschilter@...
Sent: Saturday, 11 July 2009 5:14 a.m.
To: therion@...
Subject: Re: [Therion] Google Earth terrain model

Hello
Does anyone with a Windows machine? Did someone perhaps the Google Earth
script by Martin reprogrammed? Or what other
options there are? Unfortunately I have no idea about the program.

Best regards
Thomas


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You could use Visual Basic or JavaScript.

The reason of a bit complicated way is If one try to download the files directly from Google server they will cut off him.

check: http://www.smiletime.org/GeGmGuiv2.html

m.

 
On Sunday, 12 July, 2009, at 10:09AM, "Bruce Mutton" <bruce.mutton@...> wrote: _______________________________________________
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For Windows to mimic human interaction with GE you may try QuicKeys.  
Probably all my script is possible to do with QuicKeys.

http://startly.com/products/quickeys/windows/3/

Just an idea.

m.
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