Mt. Everest from SRTM data

thingiverse

Create a model of Mount Everest using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 90m topographic data, fulfilling a long-overdue promise (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8763). Find the instructions and files at Github (https://github.com/bld/Mt-Everest-from-SRTM-Data). To generate the model, follow these steps: 1. Download SRTM data from http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/dem3h.html. Note that Mount Everest lies near longitude E086 and spans latitude N28. Download both N27E086 and N28E086 to capture the entire area. 2. Convert SRTM HGT data to a format usable by OpenSCAD's surface() function using GDAL command "gdal_translate". Extract a 150x150 pixel square centered on Mount Everest in two parts for each data file, with the specific locations depending on trial and error. 3. Join the AAIGrid data into one file named "everest.dat" by inserting N28E086.dat followed by N27E086.dat, deleting the header information. 4. Render as a surface in OpenSCAD using the "surface()" function with the file="everest.dat" option. Apply "mirror([0,1,0])" to flip the model and scale factors accordingly. The SRTM data has 90m per pixel and vertical data in meters. 5. For simplification, use Meshlab's "Filters -> Remeshing, simplification, and reconstruction -> Quadric Edge Collapse Decimation" to reduce the polygon count and file size. Remember, this model is yet to be printed. The base may appear too tall due to scaling from sea level.