Creating DEM from contours without ArcGIS Spatial Analyst licence

Question

I'm trying to create a 3d DEM/DTM from a flat contour shapefile which has height data attached to each contour, but I'm not sure how to do this.

I've found Creating DEM from contours using ArcGIS Desktop?, on creating a dem from contours using the Topo to Raster tool, (using the ANUDEM technology,) which looks great but I don't have a Spatial Analyst licence, so is there another way to do this, using a standard ArcView/Basic level licence (version 9.2)?

I'm currently investigating QGIS as an alternative, via the process at Generating DEM from contour Shapefile using QGIS? though I've only just downloaded QGIS, so while I'm new to GIS I am SLIGHTLY more familiar with ArcMap!

Answer 1

Most likely out of luck with ArcGIS without (Spatial Analyst or 3D Analyst licenses) Licensing for ArcGIS can range from a few extra dollars to many thousands.

For Creating DEM using QGIS use the GRASS tools - more info is available from Generating DEM from contour Shapefile using QGIS?