I believe I have successfully worked out a reliable method for transforming online map information into physical 3D printed terrain models. For this demonstration, I selected the area around Northern Virginia Community College because it has varied topography and I am familiar with that region.
The process involves extracting elevation data from mapping services and converting it into a format suitable for 3D printing. I can provide more specific steps if anyone is interested in learning about this technique.
Has anyone else experimented with creating physical maps from digital sources? I would love to hear about your experiences or any improvements you might suggest for this workflow.
Congrats on getting this working! I got into terrain printing by accident - was making physical models for hiking trips. Material choice matters way more than I expected. PLA’s fine for display, but PETG handles being passed around much better. Layer orientation is huge for durability too. My first Blue Ridge Mountains print cracked right along the ridgeline because I printed it flat - learned that lesson the hard way. Now I orient prints so layers run perpendicular to major elevation changes. What software are you using for mesh generation? I’ve had mixed results with different tools and I’m curious what’s working for others.
I’ve been working with this for a couple of years, and I can share that the biggest challenge is not in acquiring the data but rather in refining the mesh afterward. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) often contain many artifacts, particularly in areas with water and steep elevations, which can ruin prints. I’ve found success by implementing a smoothing algorithm prior to creating the STL files; it significantly improved layer adhesion by eliminating slight variations that don’t represent true terrain. Additionally, achieving the correct vertical scale is essential for successful prints. What resolution are you using for your elevation data? Anything below 10-meters generally doesn’t yield good results on standard desktop printers.