Accessing USGS 3DEP data on OpenTopography:
Learn how to access the USGS 3DEP dataset on OpenTopography. Currently, this service is limited to US academics but others can indicate interest in accessing this dataset after creating a free OpenTopography account.
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Using the Potree point cloud viewer:
We demonstrate how to use the Potree point cloud viewer as part of our treasure hunt activity. Use the Potree viewer to visualize datasets by attribute such as classification, intensity or color, and to make measurements on the point cloud.
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Vertical differencing:
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to perform vertical change detection on OpenTopography's web interface. As of late 2020, vertical differencing is enabled on over 60 dataset pairs that capture a number of processes including urban growth, vegetation change, river processes, earthquakes and landslides.
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3D differencing:
Learn how to perform 3D differencing on OpenTopography's web interface. The 3D differencing tool uses the Iterative Closest Point algorithm to compute the best rigid deformation to register point clouds. This algorithm is best applied when the landscape shifts laterally such as in earthquakes, creeping landslides, and sand dune migration.
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3D printing:
We discuss how to make a 3D print from topography data using free and open source software including the DEMto3D plugin in QGIS and MeshLab. We demonstrate how to select the size and resolution, apply a vertical exaggeration and add a base to the 3D model. We demonstrate these tools on the B4 lidar dataset along the San Andreas Fault.
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Accessing global topography data:
In this video, we show how to access global data from OpenTopography including ALOS World 3D, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), and Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) datasets.
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Creating a topographic hillshade:
We show how to make a hillshade using the TIN algorithm, remove vegetation by selecting only ground-classified points, and create a KMZ to display the hillshade on Google Earth or other GIS programs.
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Accessing high resolution topography:
Here we show how to produce a digital terrain model (DTM) and digital surface model (DSM) for topography data hosted by OpenTopography and how to produce a KMZ to visualize the topography datasets in Google Earth.
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