[Gdal-dev] DGN format and projection support

[Brent Fraser]

Jeff,

  It looks like GeoMedia ships with a GUI tool (Windows Start > Programs >
GeoMedia > Define Coordinate Systems) for you to create .csf files manually.
The format is an un-documented binary format, so we're out of luck for
gdal/ogr to support it...

Brent


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>
To: <bfraser at geoanalytic.com>; <warmerdam at pobox.com>
Cc: <gdal-dev at lists.maptools.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Gdal-dev] DGN format and projection support


> Brent,
>
> I was looking into converting mapinfo files so I can open them in Geomedia
> (Intergraph product).
> As Gemoedia does not read mapinfo projections, it's asked about a .csf
> (coordinate system file) to be existent with the mapinfo files in order to
> process the data correctly. Geomedia does support .dgn projected files to
> create a .csf file, so I was thinking if a I can produce dgn (through
> gdal/ogr) i can then load my mapinfo files to Geomedia.
>
> It's a bit indirect way but the only way I found so far to get mapinfo
data
> into geomedia (with their coordinate system). The more direct question is
> how to get GIS vector data into Geomedia knowing that Geomedia asks about
> the coordinate system of the data (.csf file) ?
>
> Jeff
>
>
> >From: "Brent Fraser" <bfraser at geoanalytic.com>
> >To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>,<warmerdam at pobox.com>
> >CC: <gdal-dev at lists.maptools.org>
> >Subject: Re: [Gdal-dev] DGN format and projection support
> >Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 12:43:54 -0600
> >
> >Jeff, Frank,
> >
> >   Last I heard (8 years ago!), Intergraph had no plans to publish format
> >or
> >provide an open/free API to the coordinate system definition MGE/GeoMedia
> >apps store in the type 56 element of the DGN file.  But times change;
maybe
> >they're open to the idea these days...
> >
> >   And I doubt if the type 56 element is read by any Bentley Systems
> >products
> >(including Microstation).
> >
> >   Jeff, which application are you planning to use with the DGN files?
> >
> >Brent Fraser
> >GeoAnalytic Inc.
> >Calgary, Alberta
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>
> >To: <warmerdam at pobox.com>
> >Cc: <gdal-dev at lists.maptools.org>
> >Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 12:05 PM
> >Subject: Re: [Gdal-dev] DGN format and projection support
> >
> >
> > > Hi Frank,
> > >
> > > Thank you for your response. DGN can store projection according to
this
> > > document:
> > > http://support.intergraph.com/TechNotes/MicroStation_Define_CSF.pdf
> > >
> > > The paragraph of the document that mention the projection is:
> > >
> > > "The design file has its projection/coordinate system and mapping
> >working
> > > units stored in a format that can be easily read by Intergraph mapping
> > > software applications such as GeoMedia and MGE. The assigned
projection
> > > information is stored in the header of the design file as a
Microstation
> > > element type 56."
> > >
> > > Any work around to produce DGN with coordinate system ?
> > >
> > > Jeff
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: Frank Warmerdam <warmerdam at pobox.com>
> > > >To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>
> > > >CC: gdal-dev at lists.maptools.org
> > > >Subject: Re: [Gdal-dev] DGN format and projection support
> > > >Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:46:47 -0400
> > > >
> > > >On 10/18/05, Jeff L. <nf10 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > > I downloaded GDAL source code and tried out the DGN as an output
> >format
> > > >but
> > > > > it seems that the DGN ogr driver does not support coordinate
system.
> >Is
> > > >this
> > > > > correct ? if yes, I'm wondering if there is any work around this
to
> > > >generate
> > > > > DGN with coordinate system ? (scenario: convert mapInfo files to
> >dgn)
> > > >
> > > >Jeff,
> > > >
> > > >Your analysis is correct.  I don't know how Microstation stores
> > > >coordinate system information in DGNs, and I suspect that in
> > > >most geographic maps they don't even bother.
> > > >
> > > >Best regards,
> > > >--
> > >
> >
>---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
> >---
> > > >I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
> > > >warmerdam at pobox.com
> > > >light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
> > > >and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Programmer for
Rent
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Gdal-dev mailing list
> > > Gdal-dev at lists.maptools.org
> > > http://lists.maptools.org/mailman/listinfo/gdal-dev
> >
>
>