To:
COL Gary K. “Doc” Rogers, PE, PhD
From:
Mia Cunicelli
Course:
CE 208X – Introduction to GIS
Subject:
Two and Three-Dimensional USGS Topographic Maps (50 States) via Delorme’s XMap6 GIS
Editor
T:\Civil Engineering\3 Non-Text Assignments\7 2-D & 3-D Topo Maps\2-D & 3-D Topo Maps
(02 27 14).doc
Text:
Delorme XMapGIS Editor Software
Goals:
Introduction to a 50-state database of USGS Digital Elevation Model (DEM) topographic map
information for the purpose of map resource utilization, analysis, modeling in both two and three
dimensions.
Key Words: Modeling, analysis, design, demographics, map resources, topographic maps, writing skills,
instruction following ability, analysis, 2-D versus 3-D conceptualization, JPEG versus BITMAP
files, file size considerations, critical thinking, resolution, map symbols, bench mark, contour,
latitude, longitude, elevation, coordinates, contour interval, degrees, minutes, seconds, meta data,
digital raster graphics, pixel, digital elevation model, area, distance measuring, profiles, vertical
exaggeration, view angle, and sources of error.
Assigned:
03/04/14 Tuesday
Date Due:
03/18/14 Tuesday
HR:
HG:
.
Assignment:
 After re-booting your computer (good practice if you don’t want to lose data), start the
following software (from your desktop icon or from the Start/Programs/Delorme route):
XMap6 GIS Editor (from Delorme) Note: You may have to again add “base data” by
linking to the “S” drive.
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 Note: Insert images after the question & answer in this word document. That way, the
“artifact” will make a bit more sense to you and others.
 Zoom in or out so that you see the entire US in your 2-D right hand map screen. Draw a line
from the Pacific Ocean off the shore of San Francisco to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of
Virginia, so that the line runs through the approximate location of Lexington, VA. Create a
profile of this line. Insert your map results here. Describe what you see in this cross country
profile. Anything surprise you? Explain. [Hint: Draw Tab w/ line tool, then use Profile Tab]
Figure 1: Elevation across the United States (Delorme, 2014)
Nothing really surprised me in this map. I noticed there was a lot higher elevations in the west than
in the east. This is because of the Rocky Mountains in the east and the Appalachian Mountains in the
west. Since the Rocky Mountains are younger than the Appalachian, they are much higher in
elevation.
 Find the Hoover Dam, which is northeast of Las Vegas (a.k.a. Lost Wages), Nevada. Center the
cross hairs on the right screen on top of the dam and try out the 3-D capabilities, in terms of
rotation, angular perspective, etc. Can you actually use this software to look over the edge of
the dam? Try it. Insert a 2-D and 3-D image of the dam here.
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Figure 2: Hoover Dam in 2D (Delorme, 2014)
Figure 3: Overlooking Hoover Dam in 3D (Delorme, 2014)
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Figure 4: 3D View of Hoover Dam (Delorme, 2014)
 Did you realize that to mitigate the terrorist threat on the dam itself, a new bridge was built
south of the dam? How far (ft) does this bridge have to span (e.g. edge of canyon to edge of
canyon) in feet? Use the software to measure. Research the current status of this bridge and
describe here. Any conceptual images available? Insert here.
This bridge has to span 1,928.8 ft to cross the entire canyon. This new bridge is called the Mike
O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. It is an arch bridge and is positioned about 1,500 ft
downstream of the Hoover Dam.
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Figure 5: The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge over the Hoover Dam
http://highestbridges.com/wiki/images/thumb/6/6e/HooverDamCompletionShot.jpg/750pxHooverDamCompletionShot.jpg
 Now, let’s travel to the Pacific and visit the big island of Hawaii. What is the shoreline
circumference (miles), of this island? Use the measure tool. What is the area in square miles
and also in acres? Insert a 2-D plan view of the map here, along with a 3-D view of just this
island. Can you make a 3-D view of all the islands? Insert here as well. Did you realize that
these islands are created via a “hot spot” in the center of the Pacific Plate, which is slowly
moving in a westerly direction, thereby continuing to create new islands, with the older ones
being gradually eroded?
The shoreline circumference of the island is 287.27 mi.
Figure 6: 2D of all the Hawaiian Islands (Delorme, 2014)
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Figure 7: 3D view of the Big Island of Hawaii (Delorme, 2014)
Figure 8: 3D view of all the Hawaiian Islands (Delorme, 2014)
How many miles of levees are required to channel the Mississippi through urban New Orleans
and the surrounding cities? Discuss. Insert a map here. Insert a profile that will help define
the levees in this low lying area. [Hint: Think about drawing a profile line through the urban
area, crisscrossing the river. Remember the river has levees are on both sides of the river.]
Did you know that the first levee was built in New Orleans in 1714 and was only 3’ tall?
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Figure 9: Mississippi River Through New Orleans (Delorme, 2014)
Figure 10: Elevation of the Levees and Mississippi River (Delorme, 2014)
 Can you find the famous climbing wall at Yosemite National Park and determine the height?
[Hint: El Capitan]. Insert 2-D and 3-D maps here. Be careful that you found the right spot in
California, and that you give the actual height (e.g. top elevation minus bottom elevation).
The height of El Capitan is 3,589.26 ft.
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Figure 11: 2D map of El Capitan Mountain and Yosemite National Park (Delorme, 2014)
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Figure 12: 3D view of El Capitan Mountain in Yosemite National Park (Delorme, 2014)
 You’ve escaped from Alcatraz (an island in San Francisco Bay, CA, USA). What direction
should you swim, and how far of a swim will you have? Insert a map here showing various
swimming options that you have to make your getaway and the distances thereon. Of course,
with the strong currents, cold temperatures, and presence of great white sharks, your
likelihood of survival is not great.
 Locate your home or that of a relative, and identify with a map tool under the draw tab. Tell
me something about this area that you learned from this map that perhaps you did not know
before. Can you insert this 2-D map here, with the tag? Exaggerate the vertical and insert a
3-D image here as well.
 Locate another significant (to you) site within the 50 states and illustrate here. Perhaps you
can think of a site that shows well in 3-D? Perhaps it is a summer home, or a home of a
relative. Maybe you went on vacation someplace neat. Perhaps you have no imagination at all
and want to show the Bonneville Salt Flats (e.g. which is actually a pretty neat place but doesn’t
do much with 3-D unless you show the surrounding mountains). Insert the 2-D and 3-D map and
description here. [Ideas: Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole, Mt. St. Helens, Mt.
McKinley, Mt. Rushmore, Bingham Copper Mine, Panama Canal (just kidding … not within the 50
states, or did you think it was?]
 Discuss what value a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) software package such as this may have in
terms of GIS and GPS utilization for you and you’re career.
This type of DEM wouldn’t really help me too much in my career path, because I plan on
becoming a genetic engineer. I think it might be able to help if I was making graphs and/or
trying to locate and area in the United States where a certain type of plant would grow best or
where the least amount of water in the United States is. I think I would be able to use a
program like this and it would be very helpful. I definitely think that taking this class will help
me in the future with developing these GIS mapping skills.
 For each of the above figures that are inserted, add a Figure #, Title, and Reference at the
bottom of the figure. [Example: Figure 1. Grandmother Smith’s House. (Delorme, 2014) ]
Be sure and size the figures to work with the page in terms of uniform spacing, size, and
format.
 Add this as an artifact to your ePortfolio Database.
Designed by:
Last Modified:
COL Gary K. Rogers, PE, PhD
COL Gary K. Rogers, PE, PhD
01/29/04
02/27/14
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