WMS:Creating a TIN from a Scanned Image

One of the easiest ways to create a TIN for a small area where a paper contour map exists is to use this tools and follow the steps outlined below:

1. Scan the paper map and save it as a TIFF (*.tif) image.
2. Register the image (you may want to mark the map with your register points prior to scanning it).
3. Set the vertex options to digitizing mode in the TIN Options dialog.
4. In the z edit box of the edit window set the z value to the desired contour value.
5. Using the Create Vertex tool, digitize or create vertices along the specified contour value (the spacing of points along the contour lines should be approximately the same distance as the spacing between adjacent contours).
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each contour line. Spot elevations can be entered by setting the z value to the value of the spot elevation and then creating a vertex at that location.
7. Triangulate the vertices once you are done.

Of course, this method is awfully tedious for larger areas, but is ideally suited for smaller areas where there are not many contours to be digitized.

Related Topics

• Creating TINs from Feature Objects
• TIN Options
• Registering Images
• Creating Vertices