MSFS20 I can't mask satellite imagery 'ghosts' in one area

[jgarnold]

I have developed over the years a number of water airports and some have Asobo water textures showing 'ghosts' of docks, floatplanes etc. from what I suspect is satellite imagery.

Usually I can mask them out adding an APRON and set coloration and match the color of the water.

An APRON will not mask/cover the 'ghosts' in the Coal Bay area of Vancouver where there is a large complex set of floating docks and I wonder if there could be another way to mask/cover the ghosts.

The first image below is my water airport at CAM9 (Vancouver International Water airport at the Harbour Air terminal and where an APRON completely covers ghosting of docks and parked float planes.

The second image is at Coal Bay Vancouver Water airport and even though I had added an APRON to cover the 'ghosting' it remains displayed.

Any ideas?

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

Would-be helpers may recall, this location (and its developmental challenges) is the same one discussed originally in this thread:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/how-to-get-rid-of-satellite-imagery.453269/


If non-aerial imagery methods are not working, it is possible this may be fixed via other methods discussed in this thread:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/removing-docks-from-lakes-and-bays.456518/#post-911378


Note as well that Dick has updated some of his "tools" for aerial imagery in this recent release:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/resources/aerialworkshop-for-msfs.313/


It may assist would-be helpers ID this location if the actual IRL name, and ICAO are used as cited on this web page URL:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Harbour_Flight_Centre


It may also assist one to ID this location via MSFS DevMode Menu > Tools > 'Teleport', if decimal Geographic coordinates are used:

Decimal	49.294444, -123.111389

...from this web page, which has links to various imagery:

https://geohack.toolforge.org/geoha...17_40_N_123_06_41_W_region:CA-BC_type:airport


Of particular note is a link to BING (used as MSFS 'Base' aerial imagery) ...at this URL:

https://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=49.294444~-123.111389&style=h&lvl=14&sp=Point.49.294444_-123.111389_Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre___


NOTE: the location in the OP is not to be confused with Coal Harbour Water Aerodrome in Coal Harbour, (NW) Vancouver Island.

https://geohack.toolforge.org/geoha...gion:CA-BC&title=Coal+Harbour+Water+Aerodrome


GaryGB

 

[jgarnold]

Thanks Gary,

I remembered that it was mamu (Federico) who previously suggested using an APRON but had forgotten his other suggestion.

Yes I too had forgotten rumbaflappy's (Dick's) suggestion of 'painting out' the area using a CGL.

I now have to question myself as to if it is worth the trouble to try them as how many people will even notice the ghosting?

I guess I forgot them as the APRON, by itself, works perfectly at CAM9.

Asobo obviously has used a different method for terrain at that location as a polygon with remove TIN is required to remove lots of weird 'structures' which protrude from the surface and the elevation of the adjacent International Airport (CYHC) is incorrect at water level (Wikipedia has it as 13 feel AMSL and if it was 0 feet as the MSFS terrain indicates there would be flooding from the river) and terraforming falloff doesn't work correctly in that area.
I note that Wikipedia has the 'Flight Center' at 0 feet (as per your link) HOWEVER Wikipedia has Vancouver International Airport ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport) at 13 feet which I feel is correct as if the area was at 0 feet the river and ocean would flood it. The west side of CYHC adjoins the ocean

Thanks for your research and alerting me.

 

[seattledec]

You might try using the 'fake water' material; and than cover up again with a water polygon. It is a last resort; do not have water waves effects but it is ok to cover defects such as in this case.
Draw a polygon over the ghost artifacts; on the material editor type 'water' scroll down the low end you will see 'water test' is the last at the bottom.

assign the fake water material to the polygon and play with color to match the area you work on; after again a new water polygon to cover it. It can work in case like this.

 

[jgarnold]

Thanks. I have remembered that such areas can be covered with a CGL which I did 2 or 3 years ago but can't get Debug Tile to lock in. I have messaged rhumablappy, who described the method 2 or 3 years ago and waiting for him to reply.

I will have a look at the method you described. The area I want to fix is not subject to waves much as it is protected a little plus no 'pilot' would probably ever go to and notice no waves.

 

[jgarnold]

[later] I noticed that when using Tile Debug and selecting an area and AerialOnlyDependanciesRefs is 'opened' (see image below), Available on CPU is false whereas other areas (of the world) when selected display Available on CPU true.
The MSFS Earth is made up of 'tiles' AFAIK and so why would one area be different from another?

 

[GaryGB]

Hi John:

I saw something odd as I ran tests on my MSFS 2020 installation for a potential solution to your troubleshooting scenario.

Please note the scenery displayed in 'my' MSFS 2020 installation updated today with an entirely empty \Community folder:


MSFS 2020 - Photogrammetry OFF (and no 3rd party add-ons installed)

Your screenshot in the OP above:

Current BING Aerial imagery at this location:

IIUC, the satellite imagery 'ghosts' in the area do not match between my MSFS 2020 installation and yours, as well as BING.


Also, the satellite imagery 'ghosts' in the area do not match between BING and 'your' MSFS 2020.


FYI: the satellite imagery 'ghosts' in the area DO match between Google Earth (multiple dates) and your MSFS 2020 screenshot.


I am doubtful that Asobo is distributing differing versions of aerial imagery for MSFS 2020 from Azure servers ...to you ...versus me.


Is it possible you overlooked a loaded aerial imagery add-on layer (now rendered 'ghosted' as is MSFS' 2020 aerial imagery) ?


Did you test MSFS 2020 after re-naming \Community folder to \Community-BAK, then making a new empty \Community folder ?

GaryGB

 

[jgarnold]

This is what I see after renaming the Community folder. Looks exactly the same as my screenshot without my scenery.

Do I have a rogue satellite image in my MSFS2020? Surely not.

 

[GaryGB]

I notice the "ghosted" areas are a "ghastly" white, rather than a shade of translucent gray as seen in your OP screenshot above.

That suggests PG may be turned on.

We certainly may see what is in your OP screenshot again, but could you also check that photogrammetry is turned OFF, then post a screenshot of the area in question with your empty \Community folder ?

Thanks.

BTW: I just found some info on the Internet Archive which IIUC was deleted by MSFS' "official" forum, that raises questions as to whether a secondary aerial image CGL will even be allowed to display if there is PG in the area ...even if PG is turned OFF.

I'll review this further and follow up.

GaryGB

 

[jgarnold]

Maybe I have my monitor or nvidia settings different from you. Or mayve its because I had Photogrammetry set ON
Anyway -----
It's ok now thanks.
I have at last found it eg

Note how Aerial is now Available.

I can now create paint out the docks and make a CGL aerial image.