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FSX New Terrain

wardorichie

wardorichie

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127
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us-colorado
I am 4 weeks into my project, becoming an FSDeveloper Gyru with FSX and Prepar3d.
Ive learned how to insert models built in 3ds max, instert them in correct georeference using MXConverter, convert to .bgls for PD3I
Ive learned how to repaint aircraft and converting mapping to .DDS using ImageTool.
Ive learned how to extract georeference imagery and DEM data from USGS and Global mapper, inserting them in PD3.
The pipleline is comming together!!! SO fired UP!

NOW, next challenge: I have 3dMesh, texturized, I can surly place this .bgl into the scenery files and view them without issue, "ontop" of native scenery in P3d.
I must now, "replace" existing and native terrain with my new and improved texture, which has new photo real imagery and elevation data.

Does anyone have any suggestions as where I can begin this journey? I have begun to learn of "shp2vec.exe and Sbuilder and AFCAD" all terms right now, are foreign to me.....I am not a programer, so i am praying there is a GUI way to make this happen.

THANK YOU SO much my FS Developer community!!!! To this point, no way could I be where I am with out your shares!!!
 
you have to resample your imagery and elevation mesh by the .inf file, take a look here if can be of help http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243130&highlight=resample+terrain
They talk about Aster data but the source is not relevant.
You should have your source files in the same folder that the resampler, the Sdk have good exemples for imagery and elevation data too.
Take care that the target projection should be WGS84, as that is what resample requires
you will need FWTools Shell too.
 
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Resample Terrain

Thank you so much for quick reply!! As since I posted....ive been banging my head.......I have been through some tutorials.....dropping the .inf file onto the resample.exe.
Its easy to do it with files already processed.
I do have geotiffs extracted out of USGS and reprojected with Global mapper, however there are no .inf files generated with them.
This is where I am struggling....how do I generate the appropriate .inf file to make this happen.

i will go through the link you provided.
Thank you! the world will know when I have success here....as for sure I will type up tutorials on this.
 
Image Format

Tejal,
Okay, I am close, the .inf file is created and it works.....it works with the images in the sample that have already been compiled....ready to be resampled.

What step am I missing......I am sure it has to do with running my geotiff through the imagetool. What format do I need to save this out as? If this is what I am missing.

Thanks again
 
In the case you have to edit your tif file you have to use Fwtools shell for save the georeference data, and add them later to resample. you need a couple of lines for this
listgeo filename.tif > filename.gtf .
filename.gtf will save the data

geotifcp –g filename.gtf filename.tif filename_W.tif
this will revert the data to the image. and resample
where the files and folder is important to work with this files.sorry but I am talking from memory.
Some tips, execute the Fwtools from right- click execute as administrator.
The mess is very easy just have to convert to geotiff elevation mesh.
 
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wardorichie said:
What step am I missing......I am sure it has to do with running my geotiff through the imagetool.
Click to expand...

Why... are you running a GeoTiff through Imagetool?

Or let me put it another way, where have you seen to run your GeoTiff through Imagetool?

What is it that you think it's going to achieve?
 
Hello:

Congratulations on your progress so far ! :cool:


Perhaps what Lance may be alluding to is the importance of reading the FSX SDK "documentation", as well as searching for answers here at FS Developer via the WIKI area and built-in Forum Search function (...possibly even more efficiently with 'multi-word' searches at Google, which links to threads at FSDeveloper).



Assuming you are wanting to make terrain mesh from GeoTIFFs already output from Global Mapper in Geographic Lat-Lon projection and WGS84 datum, the *.INF file structure required by FSX SDK Resample is simpler than would be required by other input source data file types such as *.BMP, *.BIL, etc.

There are numerous examples posted here in the FSDeveloper forums of *.INF files for use with GeoTIFFs to create terrain mesh, as well as to create 'custom photo-real land class' ground textures.



CAVEAT: FS 'works' best with terrain mesh BGLs made from 16-bit "Integer" input data source files. :alert:

Otherwise, when making higher-resolution (aka "higher LOD") BGLs, the internal calculation burden of millions of grid data points for fractional elevation units 'imposed' by extra (32-bit) bit depth can perceptibly impair run time performance of the triangle-generating terrain rendering engine; so, IMHO, don't bother downloading / using 32-bit GeoTIFFs for FS terrain mesh elevation source data.

But if one already has- (or otherwise only has access to-) 32-bit GeoTIFF (floating point) elevation source data files, IMHO, it would be better to pre-convert them to 16-bit Integer format (while retaining the "geo-tags" properly with a GIS utility) ...before processing with FSX SDK Resample to make higher-resolution terrain mesh BGLs.

Terrain elevation grid vertex data points are more efficiently (and IMHO, adequately for 'most' purposes) ...calculated 'on the fly' by the FS terrain rendering engine based on 16-bit elevation source data output into terrain mesh BGLs by Resample.



BTW: FSX SDK ImageTool is used to inter-convert certain types of graphic bitmap (aka "raster") files such as "aerial imagery".

I'm not certain though, whether ImageTool can process GeoTIFFs, but if it did, like other graphic utilities, it would not retain or process the embedded or accompanying Geo-referencing information, and would require that such info be first saved externally via a special 'geo-tag' utility (such as the one in FWTools), then re-written into the GeoTIFF and/or accompanying "World" file with that same utility after graphic editing.



FYI: The shape of terrain mesh output by Resample into BGLs can be further modified in FSX at run time by special types of terrain "CVX vector" BGLs containing 3D 'surface' data compiled by FSX SDK SHP2VEC to create ex: flat and/or sloped flattens.

SHP2VEC can also make terrain polygons textured with either default or special custom land class.


Please post back here with a bit more detail as to what you are wanting to create at this point in your development learning process, to enable more specific replies to your questions. ;)


Hope this helps ! :)

GaryGB
 
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Of course I am so greatful for all of you providing your feed back.
Yes, I am spending countless hours researching through FSDeveloper and P3d forums, and googling the terms...Yes, I am taking the efforts so I don't waste any of your valuable time, searching for information so I can put my work pipeline in place.

GeoTif, pushing it through Imagetool, my thought process is this (you have made it evident, that this is not necessary).
But, before you enlightened me...

I am running the .inf script to re sample my geotif, so I can, 1st step, re sample the image at the airport that I am currently working on. The native image in PD3 is not accurate to existing satellite imagery.

Once I understand re-sampling the image only, my next step will be to replace and modify terrain.

okay.....to my current challenge. I have learned through the P3d forum:
http://www.prepar3d.com/sdk/Environ...enery.html#Sample 1: Replacing Elevation Data
My source data, is contained in a folder with all georef data, acquired from usgs. As I run my .inf file, the compiler does not work with the image that I have...... I run the same .inf through resample.exe file with the sample image provided by the SDK, the compiler runs fine.
So, something is off with the .tif that I have provided from usgs.....
Any suggestions on what I need to do to my image to allow the resample.exe to run correctly?
thank you!!!
 
I have (I believe) followed the instructions without fault, with re sampling sat images.
The images provided out of the SDK/environment/terrainSDK/resample these images are compiling without any issues with the resample.exe.
The exact same .inf (yes, I am modifying int the .inf with my image information for the sourseFile and destDir)
This issue, must be in my image, metadata. I have projected my image with WSG84, the image size is under 10 mb, it is a square image, saved as .tif.

All the same, I know Im so close to this discovery.
Thank you FS Developers!!!
 
Just to clarify, you are working to make photo based scenery, right?

It's bounced between mesh and photo and is difficult to keep track of what is what.
 
just raster data.....the image.
Sorry for confusion. Vector data and DEM information, I will takle, right when I get this nailed in.

Thank you!
 
Hi Rich:

Please post the contents of your FSX SDK Resample *INF file here in a reply (the one with your image information for SourceFile and DestDir) etc. ;)


Also, do you still have the original GeoTIFF you downloaded from USGS ?


If so (...and if it has NOT been opened in- / saved back into- by ImageTool), when you open that original GeoTIFF in Global Mapper, do you see aerial imagery (aka photo-real imagery of the ground) ?


Or do you instead see a map of the terrain with elevations represented by different colors (hill shaders) ?


[EDITED]

Also, did you set your entire workspace configuration in Global Mapper to Geographic (Lat-Lon) Projection / WGS84 Datum / Arc Degrees ...before opening / displaying / gridding / exporting any imagery or elevation data source files ? :confused:


PS: The links to SDK "Sample Files" as posted within some of P3D's version of the FSX SDK documents are wrong; they can be found here:

http://www.prepar3d.com/sdk../Environment Kit/Terrain SDK/Sample Files/

[END_EDIT]


GaryGB
 
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It's difficult to say, it can be anything, usually the problem came from the source data, the image when exported from Global Mapper.
Have your image in "sourcedata" folder? to say something.
 
[Source]
Type = GeoTIFF
SourceDir = "SourceData"
SourceFile = "erau.tif"
Layer = imagery
SamplingMethod = Majority

[Destination]
DestDir = "Outputput"
DestBaseFileName = "erau_Image"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto
FractionBits = 3


Yes, I have original usgs image....in Global Mapper, only satellite image, no other layers are turned on.
Configuration is: Projection - State Plane Coordinate System, Zone - Arizona Central (FIPS 202), Datum - WGS84
 
Try with Projection: "Geographic (latitude/longitude)
"Fraction bits" is for mesh creation I think.

Like this are my .Inf files.
[Source]
Type = GeoTIFF
SourceDir = "SourceData"
SourceFile = "filename_w.Tif"
Layer = Imagery
Variation = Day
NullValue = 255,255,255

[Destination]
DestDir = "Output"
DestBaseFileName = "filename_Img"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto

But as you can see there are many variations.


Edit: and crossed this one too :D, problably it's answered in the post above.
 
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Tajal, you are definitely onto something!!! I changed out projection from stateplane to geographic (latitude/longitude)

This worked. Now, I must make sure it resamples in pd3 with correct rotation and scale.

Thank you!!!

I am getting closer!
 
Tejal
You were absolutely correct!!!
Projection setting was off.

The solution was found, this issue is not closed!!!

Thank YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!!!!

Stand by, I will post exact pipeline for this solution.
 
Hi Rich:

If you have the aerial imagery properly projected in Global Mapper before export as a Geographic (Lat-Lon) Projection / WGS84 Datum / Arc Degrees Geo-TIFF, you will NOT need to rotate or re-size your aerial imagery. ;)

GaryGB
 
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Gary....thank you SO much for your input. You did push me into my projection settings.
My background is Architecture and Engineering, we were use to using Stateplane Coordinate system for our projection...........whole different ball game here.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this P3D and FSX environments.

So, yes, my issue was exactly the settings, with exactly how you told me to set my GM settings then export. Voila.
Everything lines up and is blended perfectly!!T


Thank you!
Now, onto DEM and vecotr data, I am hoping this will be as simple to place in P3D
 
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