NED data in GridFloat format

This is the same NED data except in Grid float format. These files are twice as big as the BIL format. They will run a bit slower for generating network backgrounds.

Downloading

The files are named by the North West corner having the following syntax:

 NXXWYYY.zip
  
 where XX = the latiude in degrees and YYY = longitude in degrees 

The files are available in two resolutions:

1" GridFloat files (covers North America):

ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/NED/1/GridFloat/

1/3" GridFloat files (covers the USA):

ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/NED/13/GridFloat/

Using with Pathloss 5

Once the files have been downloaded use the following procedure to set up with Pathloss 5

Step 1

Unzip the files to a common directory, in this case we will make a directory called NED_1_GRIDFLOAT. Each ZIP file will contain 22 files, a FLT file and 21 supplemental files. When unzipping multiple archives to the common directory, you may be prompted to overwrite some existing files, this is normal and you should select yes. Do not modify or delete any of the other files.

Once unzipped you should have a directory tree similar to the following:

NED_1_GRIDFLOAT
 |
 |-floatn45w101_1.flt
 |-floatn45w101_1.hdr
 |-floatn45w101_1.prj
 |-floatn45w101_1_thumb.jpg
 |-n45w101_1_meta.dbf
 |-n45w101_1_meta.html
 |-n45w101_1_meta.prj
 |-n45w101_1_meta.sbn
 |-n45w101_1_meta.sbx
 |-n45w101_1_meta.shp
 |-n45w101_1_meta.shp.xml
 |-n45w101_1_meta.shx
 |-n45w101_1_meta.txt
 |-n45w101_1_meta.xml
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.dbf
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.prj
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.sbn
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.sbx
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.shp
 |-ned_1arcsec_g.shx
 |-NED_DataDictionary.url
 |-readme.pdf

Step 2

Start Pathloss 5 and click Configure - Set GIS configuration

Select the Primary DEM tab, set the Digital elevation model to GridFloat (NAD83), and click Index

In the Index click Files - Import index - Create for folder-subfolders

Select the directory, in this case it is NED_1_GRIDFLOAT. Also set the Files of type to grid float - new and click OK

Once you click OK the program will scan for GridFloat files in this directory and all sub-directories and index all of them. You should now see the files in your index. They are ready to use. Click Files - Close or the red X in the upper right corner to exit the index. Once back in the Configure geographic system dialog box, click OK, you will be prompted to save your changes.

Using with Pathloss 4

To set up the NED files wiht Pathloss 4, first follow Step 1 from the Pathloss 5 setup and then:

Start Pathloss 4 and click Configure - Terrain Database