Hello, Well this is a question reguarding Vue 5 Infinite's ability to import a USGS map similar to what VistaPro Renderer 4.2 uses. I would like to be able to import a real-world map into Vue 5 Infinite. Would this be possible? I do not own VistaPro Renderer 4.2 because I prefer Vue, yet I like the way that VistaPro can use real-world maps. It would save alot of time since all I want to do is to create is a realistic 3D mapping of Australia

Not sure what you mean with "real world maps" but what IS possible is to use DEM files. Simply load them to a terrain, as you would use a grayscale bitmap for that.

Do you know of any DEM files of Australia or of any site that might have other DEMs for me to try out?

You can use DEms in Infinite, but not the same DEMs that VistaPro uses. VistaPro DEMs are a VistaPro file format which is different from USGS format, but I know this has been worked around by some Terragen artists, so you may want to check the Terragen forum.

I think what is meant by "Real World Maps" is that unit relationships of the real world relate to the units in Vue. For example - if you have a real world terrain that is 1000m by 1000m (or one square kilometer) or for the non-metric types, 9000 square feet (3000ft by 3000ft - OK, OK - 3280.84ft by 3280.84ft to be accurate), then 1 unit in real world measurement would be one unit in VUE. I've been doing this for a while, but I've used AutoCAD to set up my models and then imported the model into VUE for rendering. It would be realy nice to be able to insert objects into VUE to specific coordinates, but...there's always workarounds.

To answer your question about DEM's for Australia, probably not likely, not in anything useable anyway. International DEM data has always been really hard to come by to begin with, and the only global data I've seen is only detailed enough to show that "yes, theres a range of mountains in this location" and I believe are 90 meter resolution (as opposed to 10 meter resolution for the U.S. and 3 meter resolution for some small parts of U.S. You might try doing a search for "global DEM data" or something to that effect, I can't remember where I found it as it was a few years back.

Attached Link: ftp://edcsgs9.cr.usgs.gov/

If you want a DEM converter try these:

http://www.visualizationsoftware.com/3dem.html
http://www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/website/microdem.htm

They will allow you to convert DEMs into a format Vue can accept.

As Nano says, 90m is quite course, it might be suitable for distant mountains, but don't expect to pick out many details. You really need 10m or lower, but other than the US, it's not usually freely available.

Message edited on: 07/15/2005 16:01

Try a search on this forum, using DEM...this has been discussed before, and there are resources listed here somewhere.

Thank you to everyone, I will do some more research on this matter and check out the links you provided.

Here is a reply that I posted on CGTalk a couple of days back on the question of DEM files:

DEM files are a standard for geological data files, and I have imported them directly into V5I without too many problems.

As for where they may be found, here is a selection of sites to get you going ... ...

Go here:

http://www.visualizationsoftware.co.../downloads.html

for an extremely useful & free utility for converting files to dem format. The site also contains links to sites where dem files may be found.

Go here:

http://members.fortunecity.com/eco4/giseco/id8.html

for a site containing links to other dem sites.

Go here for the USGS dems:

http://edc.usgs.gov/geodata/

Go here:

http://duff.geology.washington.edu/data/index.html

for the University of Washington digital file library.

Go here:

http://www.reo.gov/dem/

for dem files covering Oregon & Washington state. Note that the files are listed by goegraphical co-ordinates, not name, so it may take a bit of work if you're looking for something specific!!

As has already been mentioned, the only high resolution data that is freely availble is for the USA - mostly 10 metre resolution with some areas such as parts of Washington State available at 3 metre resolution. I have successfully imported a 3 metre DEM of Mount St. Helens (8.5 meg) into V5I without problem, other than the usual wall around the edges.

NASA has SRTM data freely available for the whole planet, but it is 90 metre data, and full of holes due to cloud cover etc.

Here in the UK the Ordnance Survey do have UK data files for sale, but they are so expensive that they are well out of the reach of mere hobbyists.

I have a link for an Australian Government site that used to have DEM files of Australia, but the link is now broken.

If you are looking for specific areas, then I suggest that you go to the Terragen Yahoo forum and ask there. If they don't know about it, then it probably doesn't exists!!

Regards,

Bernie

http://desktopdownload.org/dem.html There is quite alot of them here,but only of the United States and they work quite well with Vue as far as i am conserned.And there no where near as large as standard DEM files tend to be. -S74

Samhain, those are all 8bit/channel images, meaning there are only 256 possible different levels of height. This makes for large potential inaccuracies and possible "stairstepping" in your terrains. They have also been .jpg compressed, which adds artifacts and destroys some fine details that are much more important in a heightfield than in a regular image. That resource is alright for casual use, I suppose, but if you really want to depict an actual place, I strongly recommend against it, as the results will have a high potential for inaccuracy. - Oshyan

does anyone know of anything available for the middle east? Paul