Convert ArcGrid Data to XYZ with GDAL Translate

These directions assume that gdal_translate.exe is in the system path or C:\Program Files\GDAL\. GDAL installation instructions can be found here: gdal-installation-and-setup-guide.html.

Step

Description

Screenshot

Obtain ArcGrid Data: Step 1

The primary method for downloading The National Map (TNM) raster ArcGrid (3D Elevation Program (3DEP) 1- or 1/3-arc-second only) type of staged products is by using the new TNM download client (http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/). Zoom to the area of interest. Select "Elevation Products (3DEP)" from the Datasets section on the left (1), then a subcategory (2) and ArcGrid file format (3). Finally, click on the "Find Products" button (4) to bring up the available products.

Obtain ArcGrid Data: Step 2

When the Available Products window appears, click on "Download" to download the ArcGrid data in a zip file. Once downloaded, unzip the file locally, making note of the location.

Run the GDAL Translate Tool from the Command Line

The gdal_translate command requires two parameters to convert an ArcGrid file. The first is the location and name of the ArcGrid file to be converted. This tool will not recursively scan the sub-directories to find the data, so the path must point to the actual ArcGrid file. The second parameter is the desired name and location of the XYZ output file.

Directions for using this script are presented below:

USAGE: gdal_translate -of XYZ <ArcGrid Input File> <Output File Name>

<ArcGrid Input File> (REQUIRED) This is the full or relative path to the ArcGrid file that contains the source data.

<Output File Name> (REQUIRED) This is the full or relative path to the XYZ output file that will be created.