Converting Lidar SDF file to surface

**JerryG** · 22nd Oct 2008 05:13 pm

Hi all!
Using Data Connect I have added a SDF connection
to Lidar data and created contours of the site.
It looks great and all but can I turn this data into a surface?
I know I can create a surface from the contours but
I'm looking for something more accurate.

Thank you!

**BOB'27T** · 22nd Oct 2008 05:17 pm

I just use the lidar contours and make them into a surface. I've had really good success thus far.

**JerryG** · 22nd Oct 2008 05:24 pm

Thanks bob - but is it accurate enough?
I can see surface imperfections that the contours dont seam to pick up. I set to Major Contours at 4' - am I possibly missing a setting?

Thank you for the help!

**BOB'27T** · 22nd Oct 2008 05:27 pm

I set mine to 5', maybe that will make a difference.

**rustysilo** · 22nd Oct 2008 05:52 pm

You might need to mess with your weeding/supplementing factors as well as performing surface edits after adding the contour data to your surface such as swapping edges. When you add the contours I think you can set it to "minimize flat areas by..." and check the options you want to include.

What is in the lidar data? Is it points? Could you perhaps upload the sdf file? I've never had a chance to play with one of those as our topo is always conventional survey data.

**JerryG** · 22nd Oct 2008 06:37 pm

Not points but more of a GIS based system like metadata.
Sorry it wont let me load an ADF file. (orginal format).
Unfortunatly I dont have the option to minimize flat areas since it
is not a surface I'm creating contour data from.
Its more of a image with Z values. (I think - still trying to grasp it all)

The forum wont let me upload the file.
Sorry.

**rustysilo** · 22nd Oct 2008 07:10 pm

Email it to me.

**JerryG** · 22nd Oct 2008 07:15 pm

I just started from sctratch again and noticed that the orginale file is actually a adf file (sorry for the confusion)
It dosn't create a SDf file until you create contour data from the image.

**rustysilo** · 22nd Oct 2008 07:24 pm

Ah I see. Maybe a small tutorial on creating contours from this data. Some of us have never used such file formats and created contours this way.

**JerryG** · 22nd Oct 2008 07:29 pm

You bet...as soon as I figure it out more completly I'll write something up. This is really new to me also. Its something our GIS expert recomended so I thought I would give it a shot. My orginal idea was have hime convert it to a point file
(from Lidar data) then just delete areas i didn't need. But by doing it this way you can clearly see your site and its
a much more managable Dwg. (no crashes or slowdowns)
BTW - tried emailing you file but dont see anywhere to attach file
under Send Email or Send PM ?? I must be missing something simple?

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