CompuServe Thread

James: I use a software package (GDS) which creates engineering topology from spotheights gathered in the field. Only problem is that this software runs on RISC processor workstations 🙁 However, there may be several PC solutions for you including AutoSurf and ProE. You will get a bunch of responses if you post a similar querry in the CADVENA forum and probably the ACAD forum. Bob

James: VistaPro will render to whatever detail the data has. Most USGS data which is used with VistaPro is 30 meters between data points (7.5 minute data) or 90 meters between data points (1 degree data). This is fine for looking at mountain scenes but you can lose a baseball infield between data points. If you have finer resolution data in a binary array of elevations, VistaPro will handle it, you will just need to select the appropriate vertical scale factor. VistaPro can handle arrays up to 2050×2050 data points. As to admissability, I would guess that it would deal more with the data's accuracy, as most landscape programs will display at least what you give them. VistaPro ascetically (sp?) fills in the area between data points which is often just a flat plane with normal polygon rendering. Either way is not a true representation of the missing data. VistaPro guesses fractally while others use interpolation. Clint <VRLI>

James, I work for a civil/surveyor using 3ds for court cases. You should be very careful about the data you use for topo. If its the basis of the case, I would recommend that you have the data field collected and have a mesh built from it. This is how we are specializing. No one can give accurate topo data except a surveyor. We just got done with a case regarding grading contractors. Without accurate topo data you can't get reliable cut/fill quanities or build a nice model showing that the defendant actually filled where he was supposed to be cutting. <g> So if you need an acurate topo mesh, get it done right. If you just need a plane to sit on …. I wouldn't want your work to be bounced because of it. We are in the forensic listing in one of the libs if you would like to talk more. Todd Bruno C.W. Cook Co

James – Are you 1) – attempting to recreate landscapes of actual sites, or 2) – are you creating imaginary landscapes for pure background effect? 3) – are you doing this in-house, or are you using an outside engineering consultant to provide you with the necessary models? 4) – if you are doing this in-house, what kind of hardware/software are you using? What is your level of expertise in computer modeling/animation? I'm sorry to respond to your question with more questions, but this information is necessary to determine which set of solutions to recommend (there are so many ways of doing things in this business!).

James I have used Autocad with Softdesk Civil to create accepted landscape from survey data. TedB -Ted Boardman !^NavFont01F0007MGHHG5382F3

James: Take also a look at 3Dsurf IPAS from Schreiber. It takes coordinates of an ASCII file or you can produce such a list in ACAD if you have just given 'points in space'. The topographic output can be a regular mesh or irregular according to the feeded coordinates. Hope that helps. – Alex.

Try BRYCE from KAY'S POWERTOOLS This is an easy to use PHOTOSHOP plugin It's GREAT

There is something coming out in a few weeks (I think), but I'm not sure if it's anounced yet so I can't go into detail. If you don't need it right away, wait to see what happens at SIGGRAPH. – Ron