Since it uses the GDAL library, it can convert all raster types supported by GDAL. by calling python gdal_rastertotrn.py crater_lake.tif crater_y, and opening the resulting crater_y in Meshlab: Converting a raster DTM of Crater Lake called crater_lake.tif. Save the script as gdal_rastertotrn.py, then call it using python gdal_rastertotrn.py. Here's a Python script that uses the GDAL library to read a raster DTM, and then writes out a binary PLY mesh. Roll your own solution: Implementing it isn't particularly hard. VTBuilder can read all raster formats that GDAL supports, and exports the TRN to OBJ, PLY, GMS, DXF, DAE or WRL formats. Then you select the newly generated layer in the Layer overview and select 'Elevation | Export To.'. VTBuilder, which is part of the Virtual Terrain Project: load the DTM raster using 'Layer | Import Layer' and then convert it to a TRN using 'Elevation | Convert grid to TIN'.SAGA GIS: Grid to TIN (Surface Specific Points) function, followed by Export TIN to Stereo Lithography File (STL) function to export the TIN to a mesh format readable by Meshlab.ArcGIS: Raster to TIN function from the 3D Analyst toolbox.However, creating TINs from rasters isn't straightforward, since there are many different triangulations that approximate a grid with the same error, but using different vertex sets.

In most applications, if you need to deal with elevation meshes, you'd go with a TIN since throwing out redundant or nearly redundant information allows for more efficient computations. This typically results in much smaller files, since plane or nearly plane areas can be represented using only a couple of vertices. The vertices and the triangulation are chosen in such a way that the resulting surface approximates the original DTM raster up to a specified error. a triangulated irregular network ( TIN), in which there are fewer vertices than raster pixels and the triangles have different shapes and sizes.All the original information of the DTM raster is present in the TRN, but the memory required for storing the mesh is typically quite high. a triangulated regular network ( TRN), in which every pixel of the raster is represented by a vertex, and all triangles have the same size and shape.There are two different types of triangle meshes that can be used for this purpose: A DTM raster can be represented by triangle meshes by finding a set of non-overlapping triangles that covers the entire mesh and approximates the elevation field.

Convert mesh to geometry meshlab