Using Airborne Laserscanning Data for Orienteering Base Map Generation

This tutorial shows a possible way to proceed LiDAR data in OCAD and how to use them when drawing orienteering maps. You find more detailed information about the DEM Wizward here.

Open New File

Open OCAD

Go to File -> New -> Orienteering map: Choose a symbol set for orienteering maps and choose the scale (e.g Orienteering Map ISOM 2017 10000.ocd)

Save the newly created file under File -> Save

DEM Wizard

Open the DEM Wizard

Open the DEM Import Wizard in the DEM Menu.

Choose DEM Import File

Choose one or several importable files.

DEM Settings

In this tutorial, we have a look at all possible outputs. However, not all of them make sense for mapping. We will have a look at it in the Result section. So, enter the DEM Settings as follows.

Here you can choose your favourite folder where all files should be stored.

LAS Settings

Select the LAS Settings as follows.

Create Contour Lines

Activate both boxes Create custom contours (no smoothing) and Create smoothed contours using TPI.

Choose as contour intervall 1m/5m/25m.

Click on Load symbols from template to get 12 line symbols at the bottom of your symbol box. The boxes will be filled automatically.

Choose Use different symbols for depression to distinguish depressions from hills.

Create Hypsometric Map

Select the settings for Create Hypsometric Map as follows.

Create Hill Shading

Select the settings for Create Hill Shading as follows.

Create Slope Gradient

Select the settings for Calculate Slope Gradient as follows.

Classify Vegetation Height

Select the settings for Classify Vegetation Height as follows.

Extract Features

Summary

This dialog is only visible in DEM Import Wizard. It shows the progress of the different functions. During the calculation, a message concerning georeferncing the map will pop up (unless the map is already georefernced). Do not change anything and click on Ok. After finishing the process the dialog closes automatically.

How to use the output?

After finishing the DEM Wizard the dialog closes automatically and the results are shown.

All raster maps are loaded as background maps.

Contour lines, cliff features and extracted features are assigned to the corresponing symbols in the Symbol box.

All files are stored in the folder you specify in the DEM Settings.

File:DEMReadyForMapping.png

Import the Additional Symbol for the Contour Lines from ALS Data

• Press the Shift key and click File -> Import: OCAD opens the file chooser in Templates folder. Choose the file 'Template DEM Contour Lines.ocd'.
• In Import OCAD Map dialog choose the options Import all Symbols and colors and Import colors at the top of the color table. Click OK.

OCAD added 3 new symbols for the contour lines (1m, 5m, 25m) at the end of the symbol table.

Import ALS Data

• Click DEM -> Import. The DEM Import Wizard appears.
• Click Add and choose the four ALS tiles in rar file format.

• Click Next. OCAD reads the ALS data. This takes some seconds.

Create Base Maps

• Click Next 2 times.
• Change the 3 line symbols to the imported symbols.

• Click Next 5 times until OCAD starts with the generation process.
• Click OK when OCAD ask to georeference the map. This takes some minutes.

Generated Base Maps

• OCAD changes to the Entire View.

• Zoom in to see the calculated 1m contour lines and the vegetation map.

• Click Background Maps -> Manage to hide the hide the calculated raster background maps.

For more information about the different background maps see the DEM Import Wizard page .