Convert a USGS TIFF File to a GCV Land Use File Using QGIS

EDX Wireless allows users to use different types of mapping files, however certain formats must be converted before they can be used inside of SignalPro

This particular article will take you through the steps of converting USGS TIFF files to be compatible in SignalPro.

Step 1

To covert a TIFF file QGIS will be required. This can be downloaded from this link https://download.qgis.org/ or from this URL https://qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html

Step 2

From within QGIS open the raster as shown below

Step 3

Navigate to the Raster tab select → Conversion → Translate

Step 4

Next select Project CRS:…

Ensure it is projected to WGS84 with the correct UTM zone if applicable.

Step 5

The file needs to be saved in the ASC format, select save to file under the converted section

Step 6

Ensure a name is given to the saved file and ASC files is selected for the file type

Step 7

Once saved you will return the Translate window, It is now ready for conversion. At this point select “Run”

Step 8

QGIS can be closed.

Go to C:\Program Files\EDX\SignalPro\bin and open EDXCV.

This can also be opened from within SignalPro under the Utilities tab

Step 8

Run the program from the bin to launch

Once it is open go to File → New

Step 9

Open the Conversion tab and select the Land Use (Clutter) file conversion

Step 10

Select the ASC file that was created in QGIS as the source and a new clutter.gcv file as the destination.

Select the conversion type to ArcView ASCII Grid to EDX .GCV format

Step 11

Select the “Set Geographic parameters” button. Set the parameters to the source data to be converted.

Set the reference longitude & Reference Latitude

To note, When the data uses the UTM coordinate system the Reference Longitude is determined by the “Zone Number”.

The longitude is calculated as follows: Ref_longitude = Zone_number * 6.0 - 180.0 - 3.0

The format of the source data should be defined x,y meters, Decimal Degrees or lat/long and seconds. This can be determined by viewing the .DAT file associated with the data

Step 12

Once all of the geographic parameters have been configured,

Select Ok and then Start Conversion

The conversion at this point will start. A successful conversion will display a sample image in EDXCV.

Please note once the conversion is complete the display can take a few second to minutes to display.

This is now ready for use in SignalPro

The same process is also used to convert Terrain Data

For additional questions, please contact the EDX Wireless, Inc. Support Team.