New User: GeoPDFs in ArcMap?

[geologywalrus]

I've downloaded topographic maps as GeoPDFs from the USGS, but I can't seem to upload them into ArcMap. Can you upload a GeoPDF into ArcMap? If not does anyone have any suggestions for other sources of topo/DEM data?

[geologywalrus]

I found DEMs as tar files at http://geogdata.csun.edu/az_index.html but also cannot get tar files to open in ArcMap. Does anyone know how to import tar files?

[jonah]

http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/58782-Import-GeoPDF-Files

[3dbu]

Google on geopdf to geotiff and you will find some useful information. I can't vouch for any of these.

From my brief review of the results Global Mapper is a paid option.

There is a military extension which is unavailable to the general public. Seehttp://proceedings.esri.com/library/...df_project.pdf

There is an inexpensive program to do the conversion called G-Raster which started out to make USGS topos available to Garmin GPS. See http://freegeographytools.com/2011/c...om-map-imagery.

GDAL 1.8 and later supposedly provides the ability to use geopdfs by rasterizing using the georeferencing information. See http://www.gdal.org/frmt_pdf.html. There are even plugins to make this easier.

Avenza extension for use in Illustrator; an expensive approach. See http://www.cartotalk.com/index.php?s...7286&hl=geopdf

TerraGo geopdf toolbar and extension for use in ArcGIS, another expensive approach.

I found the following interesting reading, coming from the USGS and specifically addressing the issue of using their geopdf topos as geotiffs in GIS programs:

Nevertheless, displaying a symbolized quadrangle map in a GIS environment can be useful for many things. Below are some partial solutions to the problem of importing a US Topo into GIS software. The USGS expects that more and better solutions will become available as the US Topo program grows and software developers see opportunities in the product. There are historical analogies to this situation in other USGS products. In 1994 the USGS decided to distribute digital raster graphics (DRGs) in GeoTIFF, even though it was a new and unimplemented format. When the first DRGs were created in 1995 hardly any consumer software, including the major commercial GISs, could take advantage of the geospatial tags. By creating over 50,000 public domain GeoTIFF maps, the USGS helped drive the acceptance and widespread implementation of the format.

[PROBERT]

Could you export to tiff or jpeg files and then georeferencing them if this is not a problem ?

[group5e]

Could you export to tiff or jpeg files and then georeferencing them if this is not a problem ?

 

Why should you have to? ESRI should support this format.

 

Sorry, being facetious! In truth though, you are right. This is what you will have to do.