Export Profile Data?

[WolfTD]

I have used Topo USA for many years (now working with Topo 9.0 USA. I also just bought XMap 7 GIS Editor.

My work is in automobile collision reconstruction. Many incidents relate to line-of-sight distance over vertical crest curves in the road.

I know how to use the Profile tool for both programs to produce elevation plots and I know how to interpret those plots for my analyses. But, in some cases (one that I'm working on right now, in particular) would benefit from being able to export the elevation data as a function of horizontal distance to other software packages. I'd like to be able to do the export in the highway frame of reference (elevation as a function of distance along the road). But, if the data is in the format of LAT, LON & ELEVATION, that would work, too.

Can such an export be done from either or both Topo USA and XMap GIS Editor? If it can be done, then how does one go about accomplishing that?

Jim Sobek
Wolf Technical Services, Inc.
9855 Crosspoint Blvd, Suite 126
Indianapolis, IN 46256
(317) 842-6075

[John Moran_2]

A little caution may be in order here. Topo9 contours are roughly based on available rough data for terrain contours before human intervention is applied. Cuts and fills in highways, as well as bridge elevations on highways are ignored. In short, Topo9 should probably only be used as a guide at best, and not for critical analysis of lines of sight or of road grades.

Having said that, don't overlook the Sun/Moon feature under the GPS tab for historical sunrise/sunset times at "Current Position" of cursor.

[HorseTrailRider]

One approach is using the Track Tool.

- From the Draw Tab, select the Track Tool and create a track that overlays the section of road in question, remembering that the resulting file will only have elevation data for each track point that you create.
-From the Draw Tab, select "Files...", make sure the track layer is selected, then "Export..." button.
-Change "Save as Type" to "Track Data Text File (*.txt)".
-Give your file a name and press "Save".

The resulting file will be as shown below:

Code: Select all

BEGIN TRACK trk001
Latitude,Longitude,Time,GPS Status,Heading (°T),Track Elevation (feet),Speed (MPH)
45.668449,-118.802676,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,0.00,1055.63952637,4.97096968
45.668707,-118.803706,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,289.68,1052.97497559,4.97096968
45.669136,-118.804865,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,297.92,1053.14428711,4.97096968
45.670623,-118.808413,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,300.96,1049.31201172,4.97096968
45.671282,-118.809972,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,301.15,1036.87951660,4.97096968
45.671968,-118.811560,08/29/2011 10:55:49,3-D,301.75,1051.86694336,4.97096968
END


[WolfTD]

I will try this. It is far better than I have found up until now.

I am aware of the limitations in the data. My intention here is to create a graphic presentation showing the fact that the world at this location is NOT FLAT, but does have some vertical crests over which one cannot see. I've been at the site and taken approach photos to show the actual sight line limits over the relevant times and distances. The XMap data comports with my on-site investigation. But, I needed to set up the graphic over a longer distance. This should help.

Thank you.

[HorseTrailRider]

And don't forget about using the 3-D tab