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FSXA Create small slope on terrain

Felipe Schieber

Felipe Schieber

Messages
75
Country
brazil
Hi guys,

I'm working on my new scenery, i want to create a slope near to the runway like in the real airport.

A image to explain better:
qEu1Asj.jpg


The airport is at 792 ft above sea level, and the city is about 5 meters below the airport area. Which is the better way to do this? I've searched but could not find an answer that worked for me.

Thank you
 
Thank you so much, Gary. I haven't found this thread, is exactly what i need. Now i need to understand what/how to do, but not seens very difficult(yes, it is). I'll read and work on that.
 
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Hi,
I created the slope near to the runway using Sbuilderx and polygon with variable altitude, works fine, but:
Only my polygon that have the drawing order set to 1 shows in Fsx. I need to create at least three diferents polygons on Sbuilder to fix the terrain of my scenery. If i change the drawing order of another poly to 1, he shows but the others not. Anyone knows how i can resolve this?
 
Hi Felipe:

I'm not certain as to the context in which you are describing use of CVX vector terrain polygons with assigned "drawing orders", as AFAIK, we are discussing creation of sloped flattens. :scratchch


Could you please post labeled screenshots that illustrate the problem ?


Also, could you please export a SBuilderX SBX file (not a SBP) file and attach it to this thread so that would-be helpers can see what you are working on with regard to the sloped flatten polygons ?


BTW: You may wish to search for and review examples of sloped flattens posted by George Davison (aka "Golf-Hotel Delta" / aka "GHD") cited in this post from a preceding page in the the thread I linked to above:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/flattens.425495/#post-632768


< George's "linked" images of example sloped flattens have gone missing ...again ! > :banghead:


FYI: The N-E-S-W or N-W-S-E "winding" direction of the succession of points placed for vertices in the sloped polygon must all be identical.

http://ptsim.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7126



Note also that the vertices of adjacent triangles share the exact same elevation where those contiguous sides overlap each other.

The resulting un-interrupted surface will be a Triangulated Irregular Network (aka "TIN") which extends like a 'skirt' off of the central airport flatten polygon which proceeds outward to meet the nearby terrain mesh surface.

http://scruffyduck.screenstepslive....8-how-do-i-create-a-sloped-background-polygon

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/airport-elevations.275017/page-2

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/adjuting-fsx-terrain.21714/


[EDITED]

PS: You may also wish to consider use of "Terrain Sculptor":

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forums/terrain-sculptor.146/



However, if you already have a 3D model of the airport "ground" used to make 'G-Polys' which you can copy and modify within your 3D modeling application so as to output a 1-piece continuous 3D TIN surface, ...you may wish to reduce your work load by:


1.) Importing a copy of that 3D terrain surface model into MCX

a.) Export from MCX as a "sloped flatten" CVX- SHP2VEC-type BGL


2.) Be certain to "place" that terrain mesh "sloped flatten" in its proper Geographic coordinates and Altitude within the FS 3D world scenery.

http://www.scenerydesign.org/2013/04/flattens-from-3d-objects/

[END_EDIT]


GaryGB
 
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Wow. Thank you so much again, Gary!

I'm a little out of time now, but i'll try again with what you posted, and i'll come back with more details about the situation.

About the drawing order, i'm creating polygons with Sbuilderx to flatten and slope the terrain. In Sbuilderx, each of my polygons have an assigned drawing order, but only the one that have drawing order set to "1" works when i test in the FSX, the others are ignored, like if they doesn't exists. Probably this method is incorrect for what i want, so i'll read all that you have posted to learn more and i'll post again to explain the new situation with more details.

Thanks
 
Hi,

I've tried again, but no successful. I uploaded two images and my .SBX file to explain better. In the real life, the airport is a bit higher than the city and have slopes near to both runways (my first image of this thread shows this).

What i'm doing: I'm creating polygons in SbuilderX and set my desired altitudes to they. Two of my polygons have slopes, and the others are flattens.
When i compile my polygons, i have a very confusing result, as showed in the images below.

*I'm having problems to attach the files, so i uploaded the both images in imgur and the .SBX in my MEGA account.

http://imgur.com/a/4hk7h

https://mega.nz/#!AcVESDoC!hEgmeyGKp4W19uIHglJatTBD6-z7NINmoLWGmytVbAo
 
Hi Felipe:

I'd like to ask a couple of questions first, which may help determine a less labor-intensive work-flow required to yield a better-looking result, considering that you will have buildings on the slopes of the "terrain skirt" (aka "Sloped Flatten") surrounding the central airport flatten area. ;)


* What FS terrain mesh do you intend to be used with this scenery ?

[EDITED]

FYI: There is a FreeMeshX "30 Meter" FS terrain mesh available for free that might be used, and which might reduce your workload.

IIRC, that terrain mesh (made from "30 Meter" / 1 arc-second source data) has 38.2 Meter intervals between elevation data points on the ground for South America, whereas FS default terrain mesh in South America has only 76.4 Meter intervals between elevation data points on the ground. :idea:

http://ninetwopro.com/

http://ninetwopro.com/freemeshx/

http://ninetwopro.com/freemeshx/download-links-direct/

[END_EDIT]

* Is this project for a payware product ...or only for a publicly distributed freeware ?

FYI: Regardless of whether you plan to fit the airport local ground shape to the FS default terrain mesh rather than to a add-on higher-resolution terrain mesh, if this project is only for a publicly distributed freeware, you may find that Terrain Sculptor will save some work for you at no charge.

If this is instead for a payware product, the author of Terrain Sculptor may have licensing terms which apply to files output via that utility program.


I have inspected the files you linked above, and shall await your reply to these questions, before I proceed with further suggestions on your work-flow options. :)

GaryGB
 
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Hi Gary,

I'm using a free mesh from Aurora Design Team for Brazil. It have LOD9. I may have to test with other.
The project will be freeware, it is only my second.

Thank you again, you're helping me a lot :)
 
Hi Felipe:

I just got a moment to check the FSX default terrain mesh file for your ICAO SNPA area in FSX SDK TMFViewer:

[FSX install path]\Scenery\0404\scenery\dem0404.bgl shows that it is a LOD-10 resolution terrain mesh that has 38.2 Meter intervals between elevation data points on the ground for that area in Brazil.


It is possible that one may see 'slightly' more detail in the FreeMeshX 38.2 Meter terrain mesh I cited above; however, it may not prove essential to utilize that data set for the purposes of modeling terrain at your SNPA airport.

Also, IMHO, it is less likely that you would find a visually satisfactory result from use of the 3 Arc-second freeware "Mesh Brazil" product by Aurora Design Team, when compared to the greater detail available from use of the 1 arc-second "FreeMeshX".

https://translate.google.com/transl...sh-brasil-aurora-design-team.html&prev=search


[EDITED]

However, I believe it may still be acceptable best to utilize the FSX default FreeMeshX '1 Arc-second' terrain mesh, but with FSX GUI terrain mesh slider settings of 100 % Complexity, and ex: 10 Meter Resolution ...at run time in FS to allow better resolution of terrain grid vertices for your CVX vector sloped flatten polygons. :idea:

[END_EDIT]


BTW: If you wish to visualize in FSX SDK TMFViewer, the default CVX vector data for that area overlaid upon the above dem0404.bgl terrain mesh file, you may also load:

[FSX install path]\Scenery\0404\scenery\cvx3639.bgl


You may also wish to load into TMFViewer, your custom photo-real aerial imagery BGL made with FS SDK Resample.


My available free time will be rather limited this weekend, but I will post more on how you might proceed with the sloped flatten at SNPA as time permits. :)

GaryGB
 
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Hi Gary,

I never thought in load my photo-real bgl with the default CVX file in TMFViewer. It gave me a great idea about where to change the elevations.

I'll check with the Mesh that you cited above. I changed the settings of my mesh complexity too.

Thanks!
 
Hi Felipe:

If you have limited space on your hard drive, it is possible to use the "Bit Torrent" download option for FreeMeshX to select only the local terrain mesh files for your project area from that BIG package of Central and South America. ;)

If you would like to explore this option using u-Torrent (aka "MicroTorrent"), I can post instructions on how to do that.

GaryGB
 
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Hi Felipe:

I have downloaded the FreeMeshX terrain mesh as well as the 1 Arc-second SRTMv3 GIS source data for that add-on product which covers your project area.


After a comparative inspection with the FS default terrain mesh cited above:

[FSX install path]\Scenery\0404\scenery\dem0404.bgl

...(which is also a LOD-10 resolution terrain mesh that has 38.2 Meter intervals between elevation data points on the ground for that area in Brazil), has much less detail than the FreeMeshX 38.2 Meter terrain mesh I cited above.


I am now compelled to state that it actually would prove essential to utilize that FreeMeshX 38.2 Meter terrain mesh for the purposes of both modeling your sloped flatten, and rendering the terrain at run time in FS, of your SNPA airport ...in keeping with your goals stated in the opening post of this thread. :pushpin:

< Note that I have edited my prior post above accordingly ;) >

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/create-small-slope-on-terrain.438028/#post-751946



FYI: When you have downloaded the FreeMeshX add-on terrain mesh for your project area, you may need to use it as a part of the work-flow I had planned to suggest to you for implementing the sloped flatten at SNPA.

I shall await your reply to confirm that you have downloaded the (IMHO, "required") FreeMeshX add-on terrain mesh for your project area, prior to posting 1 or more example methods of creating a detailed "sloped flatten" CVX vector BGL for your terrain surface at SNPA.


PS: There is also a substantial real-world difference in elevation between the SNPA RWY ends, and FS AI / ground vehicle traffic requires a flat surface all at the same elevation where such automated navigation will take place in FS at run time.

Have you decided to use a particular (single) elevation / Altitude for those airport surfaces, and if so, what will it be ?

Or do you instead intend to create the replacement add-on airport without FS AI / ground vehicle traffic ?


Additionally, do you plan to modify FS default "Approach" details in ADE to accommodate new info provided by your SNPA airport ?


GaryGB
 
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Hi Gary,

Sorry for the delay. I have downloaded the FreeMeshX to the Central and South America. Now, it is installed on my FSX. I'll follow you and use it in my project of SNPA.

I do not pretend to use AI Traffic in this project, just autogen in the photoreal area.
If i understood the last question: i needed to change the runway direction to match with the real world, i think that is the only one modification required.
 
Hi Felipe:

Now that you have the FreeMeshX for Central and South America installed (and set 'active' as a new Area layer in FSX Scenery Library GUI), you will be better able to implement the terrain configuration that you had stated to be your goal in your OP above. :pushpin:


IMHO, you may wish to first 'Exclude' the FSX default Airport Boundary / Background Polygon (aka "ABP")


1.) Download CVXExtractor by Patrick Germain and extract that ZIP file to a folder:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachments/cvxextractorgui_1_0_1_5-zip.24290/

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/cvxextractor-exporting-vector-data.432918/


2.) Right-Click [CVXExtractor install path]\CvxExtractorGui.exe and choose "Run As Administrator"


3.) In the CVXExtractor GUI:

A.) Verify that under "Vectors to Extract", all check-boxes are 'checked'


NOTE: At this point, you need not 'manually' fill in any values under "Bounding Box"


B.) Under "Input" > "Input BGL File", click the […] Button; browse, select, and [Open] this file:

[FSX install path]\Scenery\0404\scenery\cvx3639.bgl


C.) Under "Output" > "Output Format", 'tick' the "ESRI Shapes" Radio Button

D.) Under "Output" > "Output Folder", click the […] Button; browse, select, and [OK] this folder:

[SBuilderX314 install path]Tools\Shapes\


E.) 'Click' the [Extract] Button



Now, in the SBuilderX GUI:

1.) Menu > Edit > Preferences < 'SBuilderX - Preferences' dialog opens >

A.) In 'SBuilderX - Preferences' dialog:

(1) {Background} Tab > Available Tile Servers > choose "Google Satellite"; 'check' "Use Google Satellite"

(2) Click [INI file] button < SBuilderX.INI file opens in Windows Notepad >

(3) In Windows Notepad, Edit the following [Main] sub-section parameter values in "SBuilderX.INI" file to read:

[Main]
LonIniCenter= -44.598778
LatIniCenter= -19.8414728

(4) In Windows Notepad: Menu > File > Save As…

File name: "SBuilderX.INI"
Save as type: "All Files (*.*)"

(5) Click [Save] Button


B.) Back in the 'SBuilderX - Preferences' dialog: click [OK] Button < Windows focus now returns to SBuilderX GUI >


2.) Back in the SBuilderX GUI:

A.) Menu > File > Append > ESRI SHP ... < "SBuilderX: Append ShapeFile" 'Browse' dialog opens >

(1) In "SBuilderX: Append ShapeFile" 'Browse' dialog:

(a) Browse, select, and [Open] this file:

[SBuilderX314 install path]Tools\Shapes\FLX3639.shp


NOTE: This is the default FSX Airport Boundary / Background Polygon - CVX vector "flatten" for SNPA


B.) Enable display of this "flatten" ABP via: Menu > View > All Polygons

C.) Enable display of "Google Satellite" Background via: Menu > View > 'check' "Show Background_F1"


3.) Back in the SBuilderX GUI, (with 'Appended' FLX3639.shp displayed over Google Satellite Background):

A.) Icon Bar > Magnifying Glass > 'Zoom' to lower left-hand corner of 'Appended' FLX3639.shp:

B.) Icon Bar > Polygon Tool > 'Draw' a small triangle near lower left-hand corner of 'Appended' FLX3639.shp:


NOTE: Triangular exclude polygon must overlap edge of 'Appended' FLX3639.shp as seen in this image:

sbuilderx_snpa_default_abp_exclude_triangle-png.30214


(1) 'Double-click' the border poly-line of the triangular exclude polygon to 'select' it

(2) Right-click the 'selected' triangular exclude polygon, and choose "Properties" < 'SBuilderX Polygon Properties' dialog opens >

(3) In 'SBuilderX Polygon Properties' dialog:

(a) {Vector Polygons} Tab > choose: Type: 10 > GUID: Exclude All Airport Boundaries > click [OK] Button


4.) In 'SBuilderX - Save Project As' dialog:

(a) Enter project file name and type to be saved:

File name: "SNPA_Default_ABP_Exclude.SBP"

Save as type: "SBuilderX (*.SBP)"

(b) Click [Save] Button


5.) Back in the SBuilderX GUI, with the triangular "Exclude ABP" still 'selected':

(a) Menu > File > BGL Compile... < 'SBuilderX BGL- Compilation' dialog opens >

(b) In SBuilderX BGL- Compilation' dialog:

(1) Verify that the "Terrain Vector" checkbox is checked under "Select Type of Scenery"; click [Compile] Button



Next, in the Windows Explorer GUI:

1.) Browse, select, and Copy this file:

[SBuilderX314 install path]Tools\Shapes\cvx_[SBuilderX project name].BGL

2.) Browse to the 'active' \Scenery sub-folder containing your SNPA custom photo-real BGL made with SBuilderX

A.) Paste that cvx_[SBuilderX project name].BGL file into that same \Scenery sub-folder

B.) Re-name that cvx_[SBuilderX project name].BGL file within that \Scenery sub-folder to: "SNPA_Default_ABP_Exclude.BGL"



Finally, in FSX:

Start an inspection flight at SNPA; your 'FreeMeshX' terrain should now display properly with no ABP or flatten. :wizard:

fsx_snpa_default_abp_excluded_default_rwy_visible-jpg.30216


fsx_snpa_default_abp_excluded_op_image_match-jpg.30217


Hope this helps with the current phase of your project ! :)


FYI: More must be done at SNPA ...in Airport Design Editor (aka "ADE") and in SBuilderX; so, I'll post more steps ASAP ! :coffee:


PS: I will check back on this post shortly to correct any typos & editing errors. ;)


GaryGB
 

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Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial, Gary! It's very detailed.

I'll take a time to read again carefully and try to do what you said. I'll post soon my results.

Thank you.
 
Gary, you are awesome! :D

Finally i got my desired slope. I followed all of your steps, and then compiled my previous polygons to my scenery. Now it's a question of adjusting the polys to obtain a best result and match with the Mesh.

8rNj9ll.jpg


You helped me a lot. Thank you so much!
 
Hi Felipe:

Congratulations on your progress ! :)


FYI: I was preparing an another illustrated post on options for creating the sloped flatten at the airport surface boundary, which appears to be raised in (2) steps relative to the nearby city areas outside the ABP and outside the airport perimeter fence. :idea:

Pending further posts regarding your ongoing progress, I can offer more suggestions when you are inclined to inquire further. ;)


Keep up the good work ! :cool:

GaryGB
 
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