California Rapid Assessment Method

CRAM

Downloading CRAM Imagery

CRAM software users with high-speed internet connections have the option of downloading CRAM imagery from the State of California's spatial information library (CaSIL), rather than ordering imagery DVDs. This method of obtaining imagery is not generally recommended because the size of the files involved may make downloading them difficult, and because the formats available for download are not always as space-efficient as the formats provided on the CRAM DVDs.

There are two steps to downloading and using standard CRAM imagery without ordering CRAM DVDs:

  1. Using the CaSIL website, choose and download the appropriate imagery files
  2. Move the downloaded files into the correct subdirectory on your CRAM computer.

The CRAM software will automatically recognize certain imagery. At the time of publication, the CRAM software will recognize the following imagery from the CaSIL website:

These images will be recognized when placed in the correct subdirectory. While the filenames used on the CaSIL site are not anticipated to change, any deviation from their current names will prevent the imagery from loading.

Downloading and using Topographic Maps

Note: The topographic map images (also known as DRGs) available for download from CaSIL are in TIFF format, which uses much more hard disk space than the JPEG format available on the CRAM DVDs.

Topographic map images are available in three scales: 1:250k (1x2 degrees), 1:100k (30 x 60 minute), and 1:24k (7.5 minute). You will only need the 1:250k and 1:100k scale topographic maps for your area.

  1. Go to the CaSIL site and download the 1:250k DRG(s) for your area by clicking on the appropriate area on the map. You may need to right-click on the map and choose "Download..." or "Save target as..."
  2. Go to the CaSIL site and download the 1:100k DRG(s) for your area by clicking on the appropriate area on the map. You may need to right-click on the map and choose "Download..." or "Save target as..."
  3. Move the downloaded 1:250k files into c:\ms4w\apps\data\drg250
  4. Move the downloaded 1:100k files into c:\ms4w\apps\data\drg100

Downloading NAIP Imagery

Full color NAIP imagery is provided by county.

  1. Download the counties you need using the following table as a guide.

    2. Note: The links provided will lead you to a directory with several files. You only need to download the file ending with “.sid”. In most cases, one .sid file contains imagery for the entire county. A few large counties are broken into multiple sid files; check any subdirectories present and download all sid files found.

  2. Move the downloaded “.sid” files into c:\ms4w\apps\data\naip2005
County Size County Size
Alameda1.04 GBOrange1.01 GB
Alpine916 MBPlacer2.02 GB
Amador1.14 GBPlumas2.55 GB
Butte1.91 GBRiverside4.95 GB
Calaveras1.57 GBSacramento1.40 GB
Colusa2.20 GBSan Benito1.98 GB
Contra Costa844 MBSan Bernardino14.66 GB
Del Norte1.06 GBSan Diego3.35 GB
El Dorado1.78 GBSan Francisco275 MB
Fresno6.74 GBSan Joaquin1.32 GB
Glenn1.21 GBSan Luis Obispo3.52 GB
Humbolt2.96 GBSan Mateo809 MB
Imperial3.27 GBSanta Barbara2.75 GB
Inyo9.38 GBSanta Clara1.45 GB
Kern5.99 GBSanta Cruz969 MB
Kings1.47 GBShasta3.36 GB
Lake1.47 GBSierra1.03 GB
Lassen3.95 GBSiskiyou4.28 GB
Los Angeles3.75 GBSolano940 MB
Madera3.58 GBSonoma2.09 GB
Marin959 MBStanislaus2.46 GB
Mariposa1.83 GBSutter815 MB
Mendocino3.38 GBTehama2.45 GB
Merced2.46 GBTrinity3.46 GB
Modoc2.41 GBTulare3.38 GB
Mono3.98 GBTuolumne2.74 GB
Monterey3.57 GBVentura5.40 GB
Napa1.33 GBYolo1.46 GB
Nevada1.51 GBYuba1.11 GB
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