3.

4 Extraction of elevation contours

For all computerised terrestrial radio system planning, it is necessary to have a digital terrain
model which represents the area of study. Often, it is possible to get such data from existing
sources, but sometimes the data is simply not available. In that case, one option is to generate
the data yourself. This can be done using the ICS Map Server system, as long as an accurate
paper map of a suitably high resolution can be obtained, because the map will contain certain
types of data which are important. These are elevation contours, spot heights and coastal
contours.

An elevation contour, which is the representation of the relief, represents a constant altitude,
this altitude is shown on the map, or it must be calculated from adjacent elevation contours or

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

from the altitude of a close high point. The height difference (in elevation) between two
elevation contours is generally shown in the maps legend.
In order to extract the elevation information from paper map, we need to redraw elevation
contours and high points with the tools provided by ICS Map Server.

There are two methods of accomplishing this, automatic and manual extraction.

3.4.1 Automatic Extraction

This method is used if the paper map is very precise.

Procedures

1/ Load an Image file .ic1 or .img (Disc Options / Open 8 bit File)
2/ Geocode the Image file .ic1 or .img (See Use - Image section of this manual)
3/ Convert the 8 bit Image file (.ic1 or .img) into a 16 bit Image file (.ic2 or .geo) by
selecting the tool.
4/ Designate the path and the name of the resulting 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) in the following
File loading box
5/ Validate and run the operation by clicking over the Save button.
Once the operation completed, the following message box appears :

6/ Close the box by clicking over the OK button.

7/ Open the 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) previously created (Disc Options / Open 16 bit File).
The 0 values in the 8 bit file .ic1 or .img are converted into -1 values in the 16 bit file .ic2
or .geo.
8/ Remove the file anomalies by selecting the tool.
The following Transform box appears :

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 34

9/ Attribute to the Isolated Points the value -1 by clicking in the Isolated Points checkbox,
and then by clicking in the To checkbox and by entering -1 in the Value field.

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

Validate by clicking over the OK button.
10/ Select the tool and enter the Flag value to attribute to the contour line to fill
11/ Select the tool by clicking (8 left button) directly on its icon. The pointer takes the
A form.
12/ Click over the contour line to fill. A line is automatically drawn over it. It is instantaneously
assigned with the Flag value previously attributed
13/ Carry out the same operation for all the contour lines.

3.4.2 Manual Extraction

When the nature of the paper map does not allow automatic extraction, it is still possible to
extract the contours with the manual extraction.

Procedures

1/ Load the Image file .ic1 or .img (Disc Options / Open 8 bit File)
2/ Geocode the Image file .ic1 or .img (See Use - Image section of this manual)
3/ Create a 16 bit (.ic2 or .geo) matrix corresponding exactly to the Image file .ic1 or .img :
a. Select Disc Options / Create Blank Matrix / From Existing Matrix
b. Designate the Image file from which the blank matrix has to be created inside the
following File loading box
c. The Input Value box appears allowing the user to modify the step size of the matrix

Keep the same step size as the Image file step by clicking over the OK button.
d. Designate the path, the type of file (16 bit file : .ic2 or .geo) and the name of the
matrix to be saved (the same as the Image file) inside the following File loading box.
Validate by pressing the Enter key.
A dialog box opens :

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 35

 This box gathers the information concerning the matrix :
- the number of points in X : Nbpt X

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

(X-coordinate of the lower right corner - X-coordinate of the higher left corner / step)
- the number of points in Y : Nbpt Y
(Y-coordinate of the upper left corner - Y-coordinate of the lower right corner / step)
- the step : Step X (m) and Step Y (m)
- the co-ordinates of the higher left corner : ulc X and ulc Y
You can inform the Info field (text comment various) and the Grid field (projection
code).
e. Run the creation of the matrix .ic2 or .geo by clicking over the Create button
A message box indicates the end of the process :

f. Close the message box by clicking over the OK button.

The blank matrix is created.
4/ Open the DTM .ic2 or .geo and its associated Image file .ic1 or .img (Contour Treatment
/ Open Disk Session)
5/ To extract from the large file a smaller area to work on :
a. Select the tool by clicking (8 left button) directly over its icon. The cursor
changes for a rectangle.
b. To cut to a desired size, first position the cursor over the file, click (8 left button)
over the upper left corner of the area required and then, without releasing the button,
drag the cursor down to the lower right corner of the area required and release.
If the error message "Illegal File Format" is displayed, it means that the selected area is
too small (less than 0,3 Mb)
c. Once the operation completed, the following message box opens :

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 36

 Confirm by clicking over the Yes button.
The upper left part of the block is shown on the screen by default.
6/ Configurate the contour lines by selecting the tool .
The following Parameters box appears :

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

Fill the parameters of the contour line to be captured :
- Flag Value : altitude of an elevation curve.
- Line : thickness of the contour line (2)
- Color Index : colour of the contour line. Any of 19 colours can be used to show the layout
of the flag line (use a good contrast colour which is not used in the map image).
- Step : height difference (in elevation) between contours.
- Autoclick : speed of the automatic click (50 ms)
Click in the 8 Colours checkbox to provide a different colour for the contours when you
refresh the screen using the Space bar.
Validate the configuration via the OK button.
7/ Generate the contour line by selecting the tool.
Set the cursor on the beginning of the line to trace and click left. Follow the line with the
cursor (8 left button). When finished a particular section, click (8 right button) in order to
close the drawing and valid the operation.
8/ Parameter and generate each contour line as previously described.

More tools :
to indicate the high points of the map (see The High Point Tool Section)

to draw a full rectangle with the current flag value (see The Rectangle Tool Section)

to change the flag value of a point or a group of points with the same value
(see The Fill Tool Section)
to save the file (see The Save Tool Section).
We recommend a save operation every 20 minutes.

Correcting mistakes :
The value of -1 is used to correct mistakes. You must set this value for , or
tools.

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 37

1/ Press on the Backspace key to obtain -1 value.
2/ Select the tool you are going to use, then set the value.
3/ Press on the Space bar in order to redraw the screen.
4/ Press on the Backspace key to turn back to the Flag value you were using before the
correction.

Shortcut keys :
F1 to select the tool

F2 to select the tool

F3 to select the tool

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

F4 to select the tool

F5 to select the tool

F11 to select the tool

F12 to select the tool

- to increase the value of the Flag of the step value
+ to decrease the value of the Flag of the step value
Space bar to redraw the screen
Esc to stop a filling command or a screen redraw.

Once the contour lines extracted, the DTM can be created.

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 38

3.5 Creating a DTM file
For all computerized terrestrial radio system planning, it is necessary to have a digital terrain
model which represents the area of study.

To create a DTM file in ICS Map Server, you have to :

- cut the area of interest
- create a blank matrix
- interpolate the file
- update the file

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

3.5.1 Cut the area of interest
To create a DTM, the first stage is to cut a zone of interest in order to generate a file with a
more easily exploitable size.

Procedures

1/ Open the 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) from which the DTM will be created (Disc Options /
Open 16 bit File)
2/ Select the tool by clicking (8 left button) directly over its icon.
The cursor changes for a rectangle.
3/ To cut an area, first position the cursor over the file, click (8 left button) over the upper
left corner of the area required and then, without releasing the button, drag the cursor down
to the lower right corner of the area required and release.
If the error message "Illegal File Format" is displayed, it means that the selected area is too
small (less than 0,3 Mb)
4/ Designate the path and the name of the new cutted 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) in the following
File loading box.
Validate by clicking over the Save button.
5/ Once the operation completed, the following message box opens :

6/ Close the message box via the OK button.

The file containing the interest area is saved.

Note : Cut the area bigger than the area of interest as you will loose some of the outer regions
of the DTM in the later stages of conversion.

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 39

3.5.2 Creation of a blank matrix
Once the zone of interest is cutted, you have to create a blank matrix in order to put the DTM.

Procedures

1/ Select the Disc Options / Create Blank Matrix / From Matrix to convert option (8 left
button)
2/ Designate the source 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) to convert from inside the following File
loading box
3/ Define the step and the area code to apply to the matrix in the following Calculate Matrix
box :

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

4/ Validate and close the box by clicking over the OK button.
5/ Designate the path, the type of file (16 bit : .ic2 or .geo) and the name of the matrix to be
saved inside the following File loading box. Validate by pressing the Enter key.
6/ A dialog box opens :

This box confirms the coordinates of the higher left corner (ulc X and ulc Y) of the matrix
which has been automatically converted and the step in X and step in Y (Step X (m) and Step
Y (m)).
You can inform the Info field (text comment various) if necessary.
7/ Run the creation of the matrix by clicking over the Create button. To cancel the operation,
click over the Cancel button.
8/ A message box indicates the end of the process :

9/ Close the message box by clicking over the OK button.

The blank matrix is created.
ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 40
3.5.3 Interpolation of the DTM file
The creation of a DTM is made by the interpolation of the contour lines extracted of the
topographic map. The program scans through the file until an elevation value of -1 is
discovered. This is a flag telling the program that the value is unknown, and therefore requires
to be interpolated. The program then looks at the nearest values which are filled and it then
evaluates the interpolated value.

Procedures

1/ Select the Contour Treatment / Open Memory Session function

The following File loading box appears :

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

2/ Click over the Cancel button and select the 16 bit file (.ic2 or .geo) to open in the
following File loading box .
The 16 bit file appears on the screen.
3/ Select the tool by clicking (8 left button) directly over its icon.
The following Interpolation Param. box appears :

4/ Run the automatic or manual interpolation :

a. Click in the Black Box checkbox to run several automatic interpolations.
The Black Box interpolation can be used only for small DTM because a temporary
memory block of twice the size of the loaded block is attributed.
b. Click in the Standard 8 dir checkbox to run a standard manual interpolation :
- Start Dist fixes the distance of research of the points which value is unknown (in
pixel). Value 5 recommanded for a first interpolation.
- Step fixes the step of research of the points which value is unknown (in meters).
Value 5 recommanded for a first interpolation.
- Directions fixes the number of directions of research of the points which value is
unknown. Value 3 recommanded for a first interpolation.
ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 41
5/ Validate the configuration via the OK button.
To cancel the operation, click over the Cancel button.
The interpolation process is run. The status bar indicates the status process.
6/ A message box indicates the end of the process :

7/ Close the box by clicking over the OK button.

8/ In the case of a standard manual interpolation (Standard 8 dir), several interpolations

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

are necessary with the following parameters :
For a second interpolation, Start Dist should be 5, Step should be 5 and Directions should be
2. For a third interpolation, Start Dist should be 5, Step should be 5 and Directions should be
1.
9/ Click over the tool to record the interpolated .ic2 or .geo file
A message box opens :

10/ Confirm via the Yes button.

11/ Designate the path and the name of the interpolated .ic2 or .geo file in the following
File loading box.
12/ Close the current file.

3.5.4 Update of the DTM file

Once the interpolation process done, the values of the interpolated file have to be updated
because the pixels to which values have been attributed dont have values. This update
redistribuates the colours according to the maximal and minimal value of the file.

Procedures

1/ Open the file you have just created (Disc Options / Open 16 bit File)
2/ Select the tool by clicking (8 left button) directly over its icon.
The following dialogue box appears :

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 42

3/ Update the values in the current file via the button

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

The following message box opens :

4/ Confirm via the Yes button.

A second message box confirms the minimal and the maximal value of the DTM :

5/ Confirm via the OK button

6/ Close the dialogue box via the OK button
The file is correctly displayed and the DTM is created.

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 43

3.6 Mosaic of DTM files
Once files have been generated, it is often desirable to add DTM files together to make a
larger file. DTM are inserted one after others in a blank matrix.

Procedures

1/ Select the Disc Options / Create Blank Matrix / From File List option (8 left button)
2/ Select the files from which the matrix will be created (press the Shift and Ctrl keys at the
same time to select several files) inside the following File loading box.
Validate by clicking over the OK button or cancel via the Cancel button.
3/ Designate the path, the type of file (16 bit : .ic2 or .geo) and the name of the matrix to be

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

saved inside the following File loading box.
Validate by pressing the Enter key.
A dialog box opens :

This box gathers the information concerning the matrix :

- the number of points in X : Nbpt X
(X-coordinate of the lower right corner - X-coordinate of the higher left corner / step)
- the number of points in Y : Nbpt Y
(Y-coordinate of the upper left corner - Y-coordinate of the lower right corner / step)
- the step in X and step in Y : Step X (m) and Step Y (m)
- the co-ordinates of the higher left corner : ulc X and ulc Y
You can inform the Info field (text comment various) and the Grid field (projection code).
4/ Run the creation of the matrix by clicking over the Create button.
To cancel the operation, click over the Cancel button.
A message box indicates the end of the process :

5/ Close the message box by clicking over the OK button.

The blank matrix is created and allows to gather several files
6/ Select the Disc Options / Insert files function (8 left button)
7/ Designate the matrix which has to receive the 16 bit files (.ic2 or .geo) inside the following
File loading box.
An insertion box displays the global matrix :
ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 44
 DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS
Desactivate the Insert all function by checking the box.
8/ Click over the button (8 left button)
The button allows to accede directly to a directory.
Designate inside the following File loading box the 16 bit files (.ic2 or .geo) to insert in the
matrix (press the Shift and Ctrl keys at the same time to select several files)
Red lines represent the contours of the file to insert inside the matrix :

9/ Run the insertion via the button.

The 16 bit files (.ic2 or .geo) are progressively inserted inside the matrix.
10/ Once the operation completed, close the box by clicking over the button.
The DTM files are combined.

ICS Map Server5.x - Use - Section 5 page 45