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How are private companies implementing SDTS?
This section contains information provided by companies that are implementing SDTS. Companies are listed in alphabetic order. Hypertext links and references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.
Version 5.0 of 3D Nature's World Construction Set photorealistic terrain modeling, visualization, rendering, and animation software (http://www.3dnature.com) is capable of reading and using SDTS DEM files.
Advanced Topographic Development and Images (ATDI) provides the ICS Map
Server package that allows import and export of SDTS DEMs, re-projection,
tiling, and generic management and manipulation of cartographic data. ICS
Map Server is a software system designed to manufacture and manipulate
digital cartography. Import your SDTS data directly into ICS Map Server,
merge multiple files, overlay the DTM with an image (USGS Topo Quad or DOQQ
Orthophoto) and export a complete project in another format.
For additional information visit ATDI,
call, or email Katie Miller at 703-433-5450.
You may also call the cartography department directly and speak with
Emmanuel Grenier at 703-433-5453.
Applications Software Technologies, Inc.'s
GIS Solutions group has developed SDTS translators
for the TVP and TNP profiles. These translators are
part of the GeoMorph product. GeoMorph can preview and
translate GIS data between fifteen (15) different desktop mapping
formats, including MapInfo MIFF (MIF/MID), AutoCAD r12
DWG and DXF, Microstation IDGS(DGN), ESRI Shape(SHP),
and SDTS. The GeoMorph system will allow you to
view free government SDTS data and import it into
your favorite Windows mapping package, or to convert
your mapping files into SDTS format.
Companion products currently in development will allow
software developers to add file formats to the growing
list of formats GeoMorph supports, and to put GeoMorph's
Import/Export technology directly into their applications,
so they can support all of the supported file formats as if
they were the application's
native format.
For more information about GeoMorph or Applications
Software Technologies, Inc. Please visit their web
site at:
http://www.aztechcon.com/geomorph
or call them at (920)499-0533.
Avenza Software Marketing Inc. supports SDTS in its MAPublisher 2.0,
which imports popular GIS formats into high end graphics programs for
cartographic and graphics management, and final EPS output. At this time,
SDTS import is vector only. All other MAPublisher imports -- USGS DLG,
AutoCAD DXF, MapInfo mid.mif, ArcView shape, ARC/INFO generate, and
geo-referenced TIFF and JPEG -- are imported with all database attributes
intact and editable. Completed files can be saved as PDF for cross-platform or
Internet upload.
MAPublisher is available for Adobe Illustrator (Macintosh) and Macromedia
FreeHand (Windows 95/NT). Avenza is a third-party developer for Adobe and
Macromedia.
Visit http://www.avenza.com or email
info@avenza.com
Cad Easy Corporation's DTM programs for AutoCAD R14 or 2000 have been
upgraded to accept DEM files made using the SDTS2DEM.EXE and SDTS2DEM32.EXE
converters. Previous releases would only accept an original DEM file from
the USGS. Subsequent releases are expected to read the appropriate DDL file
directly without conversion. The converters, tar and gzip programs, and
directions for using them are included with all Cad Easy DTM programs.
EasySurf Release 5 (dated 3/7/2000) for AutoCAD R14 and 2000, is an
affordable full blown 2D & 3D DTM earthworks package with all the
capabilities of packages costing thousands more. Inputs can come from
virtually any source, survey data, DEM files, 2D or 3D contours and now
SDTS.
EasySite Release 2 (due for release July, 2000) is a revolutionary new
graphics presentation tool for Architects, Landscapers, Designers,
Contractors, Builders, Planners, Civil Engineers, Surveyors, anyone wishing
to create and render a 3D-site model. EasySite liberates your creativity,
allowing you to play with the terrain, test alternative designs, and create
rendered presentations in minutes. EasySite runs in AutoCAD Release 14 and
2000. EasySite accepts virtually any input imaginable to create the original
surface, and with the second release, will accept files converted from SDTS.
For more information about EasySite, EasySurf or our other programs, please
visit theirweb site at: http://www.cadeasy.com or call
(800)627-3279.
Collins Software has implemented an SDTS import into Maverick Professional 7.0. For more information visit their web site at http://www.CollinsSoftware.com.
DSpatial is an open-source software development project that is working towards providing a geospatial analysis toolkit for users of the Delphi programming environment. The first raster format to be supported by DSpatial was SDTS-RPE. The SRPE code was written from the ground up in Delphi, and consists on an ISO8211 parser, a generic SDTS module reader, and an RPE profile reader which provides the user-interface to the code. While the RPE profile is not completely implemented, it does successfully read the 1:24,000 DEMs released by the USGS.
DSpatial is released at no cost under the MPL 1.1 license and is
available at http://dspatial.sourceforge.net/ (source code only, no
binaries).
ERDAS has developed a prototype encoder and decoder for the Raster Profile and has
sample data sets available for review.
The availability
of the SDTS translators will make it possible to bring data from a number of raster formats,
such as DOQ or DEM, into the IMG format, and then produce SDTS datasets or vice versa. The
SDTS Raster encoder and decoder will be included with ERDAS Imagine Version 8.3, which is
expected to be released August 1996. ERDAS Imagine Version 8.2, which is available now,
contains a TVP translator. The following enviroments are supported:
- SUN OS - SUN Solaris
- HPUX - Dec Alpha
- Silicon Graphics SGI - IBM RS/6000
- Windows NT - Windows 95
For more information contact Larry Warnick, phone 404-248-9000, ext. 2257, or e-mail warnick@erdas.com
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) has included in Version 7 of the ARC/INFO product an SDTS translator. In addition to the SDTSIMPORT and SDTSEXPORT commands, there are two commands, SDTSINFO and SDTSLIST, to obtain general information about the transfer and list out individual modules within a transfer. Only Version 7.04 and later are capable of transferring multiple files in a single transfer. ESRI's white paper on SDTS is available via anonymous ftp at: ftp://ftp.esri.com/pub/marketing/white_papers (Download the free Adobe Reader)
This file is in .pdf format, and gives good step by step instructions on importing SDTS files.
SDTS Support
- ESRI's beta version of the SDTSIMPORT command for ARC/INFO 7.2.1 available
- ESRI ArcUser Online article by Mike Price about using SDTS formatted USGS DEMs in ArcView.
- Novice ARC/INFO user AML available for downloading.
- SDTS Grid Import extension to ArcView imports SDTS grid data (DEMs) directly into ArcView in one step, all within the ArcView interface. Written by Craig Goodwin and David Tarboton, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University.
Fortner Software developed an SDTS Raster Profile Translator for use with their Noesys Visualization Pro software package. Noesys runs on Windows NT/95-98 and Power Macintosh systems and and will let you read, visualize, and translate SDTS raster data. Current Noesys 1.3 users can download a beta SDTS Translator free.
With a menu-driven interface, Noesys easily opens technical data in a
spreadsheet-like window and performs a wide variety of analysis and
visualization of the data. Translate data from a selection of formats
including text, binary, TIFF, HDF, SDTS, DTED and more. Also available from
Fortner is the Noesys Software Development Kit (SDK) for creating custom
translators for proprietary formats.
To learn more about Fortner Software and SDTS, visit their web site at: http://www.fortner.com. You can e-mail them at info@fortner.com or call (703) 478-0181. All sales of Noesys are through their distributor, Research Systems, Inc. Research Systems can be reached at http://www.rsinc.com. You may also call (303) 786-9900 or email sales@rsinc.com.
Geomantics is a software development company, based in the Scottish Highlands, specializing in the application of graphical solutions to real world, particularly geographical, problems. Genesis II is landscape visualization software that, currently cannot directly import SDTS DEMs. Use of the sdts2dem.exe utility included with GenesisII allows conversion of SDTS DEMS into standard DEM format. Visit Geomantics for more information.
Golden Software, Inc., has implemented SDTS import
modules for the DLG (TVP) and DEM (RPE) profiles. DLG files are used by Golden Sofware's Surfer, MapViewer, and Didger programs to represent basemap data.
SDTS DEM data can be directly imported into Surfer for contouring,
vector fields, shaded relief, 3D visualization, volumetrics, and
extensive surface analysis.
In addition to SDTS data, Golden Software applications also import
USGS DEM and DLG files, ESRI Shape files, AutoCAD DXF, MapInfo MIF,
Windows WMF, and dozens of raster formats including TIFF, BMP, and JPG.
They support exporting to most of these formats as well.
To learn more about Golden Software or download a working demo, visit
Golden Software's website, e-mail info@goldensoftware.com, or call 800-972-1021 or 303-279-1021.
Infopipe Information Services, Inc. announces the release of the SDTS Topographic GRID to Geographix
Isomap Tool This tool converts readily available SDTS-Topographic Data to
Geographix Isomap Format. The data is ready for input and use in IsoMap
with no need for additional gridding. The tool is designed for any systems compatible with Windows Office 97 (Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95 and Windows 98). GeoGraphix®, WellBase, and LeaseMap are trade names of GeoGraphix®.
Visit http://www.infopipe.com or for more information contact Darrell Connelly, phone 303-986-6933, FAX 303-980-8744, or email darrell@infopipe.com
Intergraph supports SDTS/DEM data translation in GeoMedia 3.0 with the recent release of MFworks for GeoMedia. MFworks for GeoMedia will translate
SDTS/DEM to GeoTIFF format which maintains the geo-referencing of the data.
For more information, see:
http://www.intergraph.com/geomedia/mfworks
Intergraph supports two forms of SDTS data using the MGE product line. MGE
Terrain Analyst (MTA) supports USGS DEM data in SDTS format. This product
provides an SDTS to DEM translator. The converted DEM data can then be
output to standard grid file format and used in Intergraph products that
support DTM data. MTA is available for Windows NT and Windows 95. For more
information about the MTA SDTS/DEM Translator, see: http://www.intergraph.com/mge/mta.asp
Intergraph also supports SDTS vector profile data. The software translates
any valid SDTS data to and from the MGE environment on Windows NT and
Windows 95. The translator and a metadata editor are available free of
charge through Intergraph's ftp node, with MGE Nucleus license. For more
information about the MGE SDTS Translator, see:
http://www.intergraph.com/mge/sdts.asp
Or contact David Young at dvyoung@intergraph.com
Manifold System Release 5.00 Professional Edition is a general purpose GIS
package that fully supports SDTS format in all forms. Manifold works with
vector drawings, raster images, raster surfaces, terrain elevation data seen
in 2D (shaded relief, slope or aspect) or 3D views using SDTS data. Manifold
automatically reads all known forms and variations of SDTS, including SDTS
DEM data in "old" and "new" versions. Manifold will extract and use all
data in SDTS files, including metadata, and will automatically link tables
and maintain relations between tables and objects in vector drawings.
Please visit http://www.manifold.net for more information on Manifold System
GIS software.
MapInfo Professional V6 software adds support for SDTS vector data, along with
VPF, and AutoCAD 2000--fix for "Survey Feet" problem when importing.
MapInfo Professional V6 offers new internet support: hotLinks, HTML image maps,
metadata browser; 3D Viewing: rotate, pan, zoom, query, drape and print and good
news for database support: Oracle 8.1.6, MS Access 2000, MS Access multi-user.
Additional output controls have been added; improved object processing; advancements
in geocoding; enhanced cartographic legend; and better projections.
Version 6 accommodates new raster file formats: ECW from ER Mapper and VMGrid
from Northwood Technologies; and new and improved tools including new rotate
symbols and labels tools.
MapInfo Professional includes a built-in geocoder, more than 540 MB of data and
an extensive collection of pre-designed maps. MapInfo easily integrates with other
mapping applications.
For further information please visit MapInfo at:
http://www.mapinfo.com
You may also call 1-800-FASTMAP or email
techsupport@mapinfo.com
Research Systems, Inc. markets ENVI, the Environment for Visualizing Images,
which offers direct support for most common data types.
ENVI offers import of SDTS-format vector files and SDTS DEMs as well as
other industry-standards file formats including: ArcView Shape Files
(industry-standard .dbf format), ArcInfo Interchange (uncompressed), DXF,
USGS DLGs and others. It also provides support for common formats such as
NITF, CIB, DTED, HDF, and more.
Version 3.2 adds even more power to ENVI's display paradigms, refines many
of ENVI's existing functions, and introduces significant new capabilities.
This release enhances ENVI's powerful hyperspectral and spectral information
extraction technology. In addition, refinements to ENVI's integrated
raster/vector analysis environment allow users to easily extract information
from any type of remote sensing data, build GIS layers and attributes, use
simple queries to establish relations between image characteristics and
vector layers, and construct finished publication-quality image maps. ENVI
also supports real-time GPS inputs.
ENVI is "Powered by IDL", the Interactive Data Language, so you can expand
ENVI's features and create your own routines. ENVI works the same on PC,
Mac, UNIX and Linux operating environments.
Visit Research Systems for more
information and to download software and data. For additional information
visit Better Solutions Software . IDL is a
registered trademark of Research Systems, Inc. ENVI is a registered
trademark of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC.
Safe Software, Inc. has added reading support for
SDTS by offering the
FME® Universal Viewer.
This allows SDTS data to be read directly into any
application using FME® objects. Alternatively, SDTS data can be
translated into any of the over forty GIS, CAD and database formats
supported by Safe's stand-alone FME® spatial data translation products.
Using Safe's FME Objects technology, reading support for
SDTS can easily be added to any third party application.
This is accomplished by embedding FME Objects directly into
the application.
Support has been added for SDTS Topological Vector
Profile (TVP) and the SDTS Raster Profile for reading Digital
Elevation Model (DEM) data. SDTS support will also be
included in several of Safe's FME products including FME
Professional, FME for ESRI, FME for Smallworld and FME
Enterprise for Unix.
For more information, visit: Safe Software, Inc. or contact info@safe.com
2017 - 7445 132nd Street
Surrey, BC V3W 1J8 CANADA
Tel: 604-501-9985 x224
Fax: 604-501-9965
TatukGIS supports the reading of SDTS data in all of its software
products, including its free GIS Viewer, GIS Developer Kernel toolkit
(SDK), and GIS Internet Server products. The free GIS Viewer and trial
versions of the other products can be downloaded from the TatukGIS web
site at www.tatukgis.com.
TatukGIS products also support just about every important GIS/CAD vector
and raster image format.
UNISYS is developing SDTS translators using the TVP format. Unisys provides services to support or implement SDTS in the TVP. Also there are services available for project management which can help in defining feature classes which conform to the
metadata standards. The status of development is as follows:SDTS to SYSTEM 9 - Complete and available
SYSTEM 9 to SDTS - Complete and available
GINA to SDTS - Complete and available
OSNTF to SDTS - Complete and available
SDTS to SpatialWare - In development
Visit UNISYS
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