Adding contours to a new island created

[jparnold]

I have read another thread regarding this (http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/meshing-around-with-sbuilderx.77251/) and could not completely understand all the 'dialogue'.

I have created a few islands which work (setting the polygon as a hole) and the default scenery 'pokes' through nicely EXCEPT for one island so I assume there is NO mesh for this small island (it really exists and it is rocky and 45 feet high and with a lighthouse).
For this island it displays as completely flat at the same elevation as the ocean. I have tried adding other polygons with correct elevation 'inside' the polygon 'hole' but it remains flat at the same elevation as the ocean.

How easy or difficult would it be to add some elevation to this island?

 

[AzurePlanet]

The easiest way to get there would be to find out on the internet a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) of that island, and then convert it to a BGL file with the SDK Resample Tool.
If you can't find any ready-to-use DTM, you should make it yourself but this is another matter, because some GIS skills are needed.
If it can help, you could have a look at my post here: http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/making-fictional-islands-sceneries.440310/
That procedure either works for fictional and real sceneries as well.

By the way, I think that flattening polygons can not be used that way: they are mainly intended to flatten an airfield.

 

[GaryGB]

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/adding-contours-to-a-new-island-created.440835/

I have read another thread regarding this (http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/meshing-around-with-sbuilderx.77251/) and could not completely understand all the 'dialogue'.

I have created a few islands which work (setting the polygon as a hole) and the default scenery 'pokes' through nicely EXCEPT for one island so I assume there is NO mesh for this small island (it really exists and it is rocky and 45 feet high and with a lighthouse).
For this island it displays as completely flat at the same elevation as the ocean. I have tried adding other polygons with correct elevation 'inside' the polygon 'hole' but it remains flat at the same elevation as the ocean.

How easy or difficult would it be to add some elevation to this island?

Hi John:

If you post Geographic coordinates for the island, we could answer your questions as to whether the default terrain mesh contains data for the island, and what may be required to "add some elevation to this island".

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

Thanks Guys,

I have used a series of adjacent triangular 'flatten' polygons with varying altitudes at each vertice in ADE to change the altitude of the terrain successfully but polygon holes are probably a different matter.

Gary, it's probably not worth the effort as it is only an insignicant rocky outcrop off the coast some 550 feet long and 250 feet wide and I cannot find if it has a name but FYI its co-ordinates are -
49 25 05.37N (49.418158)
123 42 43.84W (-123.712177)

John

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

The White Islets are represented in The Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM).


Here is a LOD-11 / 19.2 Meter terrain mesh BGL of White Islets CDEM data for you to use / redistribute as you wish:

"White_Islets_CDEM_23M_GM_32-Bit_GeoTiff.bgl"

BTW: Some Links...

http://www.explorationguides.com/info/destination-apps/lighthouse-na/bc/ (see: #443)

https://books.google.com/books?id=YEH50xSJedQC&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=white+islets+bc+beacon&source=bl&ots=S2kH68HM4R&sig=PlgItEWhNwPVolne3M1Pq5M5iWs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVl_KwhunVAhVF64MKHSU2CX8Q6AEIWTAN#v=onepage&q=white islets bc beacon&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=JTJHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=white+islets+bc+beacon&source=bl&ots=MPgtE7MAkg&sig=NuQgMT5JvnHLlqZaWliPa7gFY78&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVl_KwhunVAhVF64MKHSU2CX8Q6AEIPjAH#v=onepage&q=white islets bc beacon&f=false

https://www.flickr.com/photos/birdonthemoon/5952620473/in/album-72157627104546881/

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27127042?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com#

PS: It would be interesting if you showed us a screenie with your new photoreal scenery displayed on top of this mesh !


Hope this helps !

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

Wow thanks Gary

I had found the name White Islets on Google Earth and then did a google search which found nothing. How did you find this info and how did you get the Paroramio picture link as all those links in Google Earth don't work anymore (I did read the reason why)?

And thanks for the attached file but what is it supposed to do? I thought that it was a mesh file for White Islets so added the folder to my Addon Scenery folder and enabled it in the Scenery Library but my 'island' is still flat.
Lastly are there any FSX lighthouse scenery objects which are animated ie flash at night?

John

 

[GaryGB]

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/adding-contours-to-a-new-island-created.440835/#post-779288

Wow thanks Gary

I had found the name White Islets on Google Earth and then did a google search which found nothing. How did you find this info and how did you get the Panoramio picture link as all those links in Google Earth don't work anymore (I did read the reason why)?

Hi John:

In Google Earth Desktop version (from my part of the world, at least), when I double-click the Panoramio picture icon on the aerial imagery view next to White Islets, it opens up a pop-up window with the picture; when that is further double-clicked, it opens up a Panoramio web page.

Not sure why some Panoramio picture icon links work ...and others don't.

And thanks for the attached file but what is it supposed to do? I thought that it was a mesh file for White Islets so added the folder to my Addon Scenery folder and enabled it in the Scenery Library but my 'island' is still flat.

Assuming that in SBuilderX, you have properly excluded and replaced the local LOD-9 / QMID-11 quad of the Strait of Georgia Hydro poly and/or made a "hole" over the White Islets, that should reveal the underlying terrain mesh, and IIUC, you also made a custom photo-real aerial imagery BGL to cover the local area, so the aerial imagery (or other super-imposed land class texture) ...would then drape onto that surface.

Lastly are there any FSX lighthouse scenery objects which are animated ie flash at night?

John

Indeed !

Almost done; it needs texturing and a custom timed beacon flash duration Effect (*.Fx) file, but it will be yours soon...

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

What a 'star' you are Gary.

I had briefly (very briefly) considered trying to create a lookalike lighthouse but discounted that idea when I remembered how long it took me to create a simple advertising type roadside sign using GMAX a couple of years ago.

Double clicking on the icon in Google Earth only opens a small window (as it always has) WITHOUT anything

Now something weird seems to have happened. At first I was getting the 'island' with NO elevation same as the ocean. I wondered if the canada19_092.bgl (a mesh file I downloaded and installed some time ago) may be conflicting and so removed it but it made no difference.
I then had a 'brainwave' and wondered if changing the scenery settings might be the reason. I then set Mesh from 38m to 19m and voila I now see elevation although that elevation (hill?) doesn't extend all over the islet but that wouldn't be 'seen' from the air. Also the very small islet is complete flat. I also tried 'full on' at 1m but it didn't improve it. Anyway it is HEAPS better and I am satisfied.
I used TMFVGRABBER to try and make some sense of the bgl mesh file but couldn't.
Where did the data come from for the mesh file you sent as it is not completely correct? but much better than nothing - thanks again).
You will notice that I used (texture) LC_DESERT_ROCK which is the closest texture to the real thing I could find. You might also notice there are no animated seals

Yes I do have some photo-real imagery but that is only for small areas such as the Sechelt golf course and the Sechelt quarry (Stockwell Sand and Gravel). It's not for the whole area. Most of the area for my scenery is within a scenery file I created using ADE. I started using ADE (to create water runway, water taxipaths, docks etc) before even knowing about SBX and then used SBX to create other larger islands when I learned that you can't make islands using ADE.

Just noticed you are in Illinois. Never been there. My wife and I toured major tourist spots/national parks on the west coast during May on a coach tour and loved it especially Yellowstone. Also drove parts of Route 66 from Los Angeles to Albuquerque and loved that too. We want to go back to the same areas and explore more in depth soon.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

I will compare Raimondo Taburet's terrain mesh with the Q&D example made with un-modified CDEM sometime soon.

https://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=canada19_092.zip&categoryId=&filename=Y

FSX Canada 19M Terrain Mesh Area -Vancouver & surrounding area. (Category: FSX > Terrain Mesh)
canada19_092.zip
Zip file preview
71.97Mb (2566 downloads)
FSX Canada 19MTerrain Mesh Area -Vancouver & surrounding area. CDED 20 m elevation models.
By Raimondo Taburet. 73.6MB

Posted Jun 26, 2009 07:08 by archive


In the mean time...

Here's an update on the White Islets Beacon 3D model (intended for use as a MDL-based scenery library object).

Here's an update on the White Islets Terrain 3D model (intended for use as a MDL-based scenery library object).

This still needs further edits for elevation, high tide water level perimeters, and enhanced texturing.

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

That (lighthouse) is looking great Gary,

Yes canada19_092.zip is what I have installed in addon scenery.

How did you display the White Islets terrain (the 3D model)?


John

 

[jparnold]

Is everything ok Gary?

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

All is well; I will reply with an explanation of the 3D terrain model and another update in a few hours.

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

Sorry I thought that perhaps you were ill.
BTW when I double click on an 'picture' icon in Google Earth and the 'blank' window opens (as mentioned above), if I then click on 'Panoramio' a page opens with a detailed explanation headed by
Panoramio no longer available after November 4, 2016

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

The 3D terrain model was derived via the CDEM 23 Meter elevation data previously cited above, triangulated as a elevation data point TIN, re-projected by- and exported from- a GIS application, then imported into Sketchup.


BTW: If you plan to look into making your own terrain mesh in the future, there are some areas of higher resolution elevation data for the Sechelt area that you may wish to consider using in conjunction with the above cited CDEM data for the surrounding region.


FYI: AFAIK, the above referenced canada19_092.zip Raimondo Taburet terrain mesh was based on the CDEM source data, but IIUC, his source data appears to have been pre-processed and submitted to FS SDK Resample using 16-Bit integer data values.

The example terrain mesh I attached above:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/adding-contours-to-a-new-island-created.440835/#post-779298

...was also based on the CDEM source data, but that source data was submitted to FS SDK Resample using 32-Bit floating point data values.


IMHO, you'd also want to use 32-Bit floating point data values for your Digital Elevation Map (DEM) or Digital Terrain Map (DTM) raster data, rather than "contour" vector data when preparing source data for FS SDK Resample.


Some more updates:

White_Islets_Beacon_v2017_Location_Terrain_Image

White_Islets_Beacon_v2017_High_Tide_Perimeters_Image


There is still more work to be done with this 3D model and its texture materials.

GaryGB

 

[jparnold]

Thanks Gary

Are you doing a 3D model for the White Islets or am I confusing that with the lighthouse?

Regards

John

 

[GaryGB]

I am indeed doing a 3D model for the White Islets ...as well as the beacon ('lighthouse') structure.

GaryGB