Key Earth Imagery Technology Developments

Product Innovations Lead to Real-World Mapping Solutions

"Technology developments in the last few years have vastly improved the Earth imaging marketplace."

"Computer hardware has reached the point at which capable visualization is now in the reach of almost all users."

"Visualization is available in a wide variety of quality and capability levels. Until recently, however, quality had to be traded for interactivity. High quality still images or AVIs could be generated in advance, but they restricted the viewer to a single location or pre-recorded path...But with the recent release of 3D Nature's NatureView Express viewer, quality and interactivity have converged."

"Visual Nature Studio, Scene Express and NatureView satisfy the need for stable 3-D landscape visualization solutions with a solid viewer. And because NatureView is freely redistributable, scenes can be published to as many users as required."

To view some images that relied on SRTMFill and VNS 2 visit Kevin Graham's Gallery Page.

Africa and SRTM: New Data, New Possibilities or the Same Story?

"Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) digital elevation data for Africa became available last week and can be downloaded freely on the Internet ftp://edcsgs9.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/srtm/."

"Those of you who work with DEM and DTM regularly will know that SRTM is plagued with ‘holes’ in the data. These are caused by anomalies during the data gathering process and or processing process. They are most evident in mountainous areas like the Andes, Alps and Rocky Mountains. You can correct for these holes or gaps using this tool – SRTM Fill http://3dnature.com/srtmfill.html)."

To view some images that relied on SRTMFill and VNS 2 visit Jeff Thurston's Gallery Page.

To read this article in its entirety, visit the GEOInformatics Magazine web site.

Visual Nature Studio

Quick Take Review

"With the first release of Visual Nature Studio (VNS) about two years ago, 3D Nature revolutionized the world of landscape visualization by creating a 3-D graphics package specifically designed for modeling GIS data."

"The DEM Merger tool allows users to seamlessly integrate datasets in different coordinate systems and resolutions."

"New options in the render engine offer greater processing speeds and improved product output for rendering operations. For example, the new pixel-fragment rendering method produces the same effects of multipass anti-aliasing, but in much less time. 3-D objects also look more realistic with improved object backlighting, shadows and 3-D shading effects."

"Among the many significant additions to the VNS package is the extensive library of video and online tutorials that train users on the important features in VNS 2. "

"Strengths: VNS 2 offers more inhouse operations like those found in GIS or animation specific packages, greater compatibility with other software packages, and several performance enhancements."

To read this article in its entirety, visit the GeoWorld web site.

More than Meets the Eye

GIS Visualizations Require Planning and Foresight

"Environmental professionals who work with spatial data are increasingly turning to an expanding array of computerized visualization methods to communicate with a wider audience. A growing drive to make environmental decision-making processes more transparent and participatory, coupled with an increasing availability of suitable GIS data, makes such techniques a real possibility for many."

" The intended audience influences the entire visualization process. Who will the visualizations be presented to, and how will they be shown?"

" For example, professional audiences could require technical detail as well as simple images, and non-local audiences may need more contextual and location information. Verbal and visual information should complement each other rather than competing for attention."

"If only one point were to be taken from the article, it should be that detail levels need extremely careful consideration due to dependence on underlying data, effects on production time, and potential (but at present largely unknown) effects on the final audience. This area is an important focus of ongoing visualization research, forming part of wider investigations into the usefulness of landscape visualization in environmental decision making."

To read this article in its entirety, visit the GeoWorld web site.

3D Visualization of Forest Coverage Change

Human Impact in Northeastern Kansas and Natural Disturbance in Yellowstone National Park

 

"After an exhaustive search, 3D Nature's Visual Nature Studio (VNS) was chosen as the most appropriate photo-realistic visualization package for exploring forest rendering techniques at a variety of scales. Along with its lifelike rendering ability, VNS was selected for a number of other specific qualifies:

• Integration with georeferenced GIS datasets
• Flexibility of land cover type development using "ecotypes"
• Use of raster or vector formats to drive rendered vegetation components
• Both motion and time-series animation ability."



"While GIS provides the means to catalog and display the spatial position of point features representing trees in the plot, only someone intimately familiar with both the forest ecology and GIS symboligy can comprehend what is physically on the ground. In contrast, the visualized representation of these plots clearly communicates the forest structure, including species/object type, location and size in a simple yet powerful manner. "

To see images and animation from this project please visit the People section of the KARS website.

Visual Nature Studio and Ultimate Earth from 3D Nature LLC

"What is unique about VNS aside from the ability to create excellent photo-realistic visualization is that this product is designed with GIS people in mind."

"Historically, there have been very few software programs that have attempted to link GIS functionality directly to high-end 3D visualization. More commonly, GIS data is exported to visualization software then the data is rendered- VNS maintains links to the GIS databases and files in native formats."

"You will not find many software packages that link GIS to visualization as well as VNS and Ultimate Earth. If you want professional rendering with GIS functionality, these programs rate very high."

World Construction Set 6

"World Construction Set (WCS) aims to fill a void by offering high-end modeling, surfacing and rendering tools in a package designed for landscape and environment rendering."

"What sets WCS apart is its ability to deal with very large terrains. WCS's unparalleled support of high-resolution DEM (Digital Elevation Model) files means that the OpenGL display is automatically down-sampled so that the view manipulation is fast. Yes, when rendering you get rich, detailed scenes."

"Digit Rating: Arguable the best landscaping program."

Software for Erosion Control Projects

Merle Ash of Land Technologies spoke with Mr. Rafter about how Visual Nature Studio has impacted one very large project they were working on:

• "Land Technologies planned to expand an existing wetland area, adding a series of both synthetic and natural erosion and sediment control devices to help control erosion in a planned residential housing subdivision."
  
  
• "Unfortunately the regulatory bodies that needed to approve the project voted against the company's plan."
  
  
• "We hadn't yet created our models or images with Visual Nature Studio. We just had our flat images, and it's hard for most people to see what something is supposed to look like when they're just looking at a flat image." Ash said.
  
  
• "But Ash and his fellow Land Technologies engineers did not give up. They approached the same regulatory bodies with modified plans. This time thought the engineers had created three-dimensional images and pictures [using Visual Nature Studio]. 'That worked,' Ash reports. 'Everyone approved the project just like that.'"
  
  
• "'Instead of creating a concrete bathtub surrounded by a chain-link fence, we ended up with a true recreational facility,' Ash says. He continued, 'It [VNS] really helps us to communicate with other people. There are some people who can imagine what a project is supposed to look like from a flat image. But most people can not.'"

Thinking Outside the Box

• The author of the article states "One of the most impressive things about him is his ability to address fundamental GIS issues but also "push the envelope" of technology and present new and dynamic thoughts on the subject of geo-technology."
  
  
• During the interview Jeff states "When I speak about visualization I am speaking about 3-D visualization. That means the vegetation looks photo-realistic and all objects on the landscape can be moved around and viewed from alternative perspectives. We use Visual Nature Studio from 3D Nature for this because links GIS to visualization well."
  
  

WCS 6

• "3D Nature's World Construction Set has long been a powerful tool for landscape animation. With the release of WCS6, new features have made it an even better addition to the Lightwave animator toolkit."
  
  
• "Pros: Excellent tutorials, manuals and company support."
  
  

World Construction Set 6

• "Strengths: Features amazingly realistic landscapes, strong integration with GIS data and enhanced integration with other animation software, and includes extensive video tutorials."
  
  
• "I was impressed with WCS back at version 3, and, with each new revision, the 3D Nature programming staff has the product. If you're a WCS 5 user, the upgrade is an excellent decision."
  
  

Where Worlds Recollide

• "Thus a single ecosystem was created in VNS for mixed forests and open woodlands
  
  
• "The USGS has been using VNS as an interpretation and communication tool for integrated science activities in Puget Sound and Colorado."

Visualization of Community Plan Aids Development Process

• James has written an overview of how to create a model using VNS as an aid to engage the public and allow them the ability to see the proposed developments ahead of time, helping break down the barriers of mistrust between the public and the developers. In it, he highlights VNS' interoperability with DXF and GIS data formats, compatibility with 3D Studio MAX(Discreet, Inc.) as well as the terrain visualization capabilities of VNS. He also touched on the ease of modification of the project from within VNS to achieve dramatic results in a short period of time.
  

Visual Nature Studio Featured in Quick-Take Reviews

• "WCS (has) always been a "way cool" software on its own, its value to geospatial users has been growing because of its ability to accept standard GIS data."
  
  
• "A key VNS feature and "differentiator" from WCS is the linkage to GIS data."
  
  
• "VNS now represents a strong visualization"engine" for geospatial applications... nothing else comes close that isn't orders of magnitude more in cost."
  
  
• Summing it up: "VNS creates amazingly realistic landscapes; strong integration with GIS data and excellent integration with other animation software; and features predefined landscapes, vegetation 3-D objects and atmospheric visual properties."

"World Construction Set 5"

• This article explains how to "Create the most accurate real-world 3D models ever seen with WCS 5".
  
  
• "WCS 5 is the most professional of all 3D terrain-generator programs."



• "WCS 5 is hugely comprehensive, offering just about every landscape feature you could imagine."



• "The program very much lives up to its title -it's undoubtedly a world construction set with features that any geologist or architect would appreciate."

• An article about how the cover was done, with thoughts on setting up idyllic 3D terrain and lighting, and translating Maxfield Parrish's style to digital art, is included in this issue.

"World Construction Set 5"

In this review WCS 5 scored 4 out of 5 possible stars.


• "For accurate rendering of real-world landscapes, one program reigns supreme..."



• "Programs like Bryce and Vue d'Esprit can generate beautiful landscapes with a minimal amount of fuss. However, neither is adept at recreating scenes using real-world 3D map data, which is exactly what World Construction Set 5 does extremely well."



• "The program was used to for the opening [and closing] hill shots in last year's Academy Award winner, The Cider House Rules, so its professional credentials are proven."



• At the end of the day, would you sooner learn a more difficult program and get more comprehensive functionality, or stick with the limited simplicity of a program like Bryce?"

"Tips & Tricks for WCS5"

• This article features a collection of texture tips, along with some other pointers to using WCS V5.

"Terraforming, Part One"

• Favorite Quote:

• "WCS is a very powerful application that creates realistic terrains which it then populates with planar-mapped polygons."

Favorite Quotes

• "First we're going to use Area Terraffectors to carve out a green and sand traps. WCS 5 makes this easy."

• We want to thank all of our customers for supporting us while we work to create the best landscape generation software available! Thank you to everyone at Animation Magazine for this honor.

"Beachcombing"

• In this article Scott walks the reader through creating a a bit of the Gulf Coast using WCS 5. He describes how to use the Texture Engine to create photorealistic beaches, water and cliffs. He adds an idyllic touch to the scene by placing a boat in the water using a foliage effect.

"Top 15 3D and 3D Related Software"

• World Construction Set Version 5 is the only landscape generation software listed in this year's Top 15 list.

• World Construction Set was honored with this same award the last time Animation Magazine issued these awards.

• We want to thank all of our customers for supporting us while we work to create the best landscape generation software available! Thank you to everyone at Animation Magazine for this honor.

"Put the "Fizz" into "Data Viz""

Favorite Quotes:

• "Today's 3D visualization techniques make it difficult to distinguish a computer-generated image from a photograph."

• "WCS provides extensive tools to create amazingly realistic images of landscapes covered by a wide range of vegetation, including grasses, shrubs and trees."

• "Users can access vegetation maps and digital elevation models to quickly create realistic 3-D representations."

• "Visualizations are full, live orchestras of information. Traditional maps are just tinny, inferior recordings."

"Quick Take Reviews: World Construction Set 5.0"

Favorite Quotes:

• "WCS Version 5.0 adds a new user interface and GIS data support to a system that creates stunningly real virtual landscapes."

• "In this brave new world, WCS may be the tool of choice for the new cartography."

• "WCS has several specific characteristics that make it a powerful component in a comprehensive geospatial arsenal. Unlike many 3D packages, WCS can work in real world coordinates."

• "In addition to the new GIS data formats and processes supported in WCS 5, there's a substantial list of new features. Developers didn't simply play the "feature-bloat" game, but actually rewrote code to improve performance, create a new user interface and add new features."

• "Features amazingly realistic landscapes; the ability to access standard GIS data; excellent integration with other animation software; and suites of predefined landscape, vegetation and atmospheric visual properties."

"World Construction Set V5"

Favorite Quotes:

• "With the Version 5 release, you can concentrate more on what you're creating and less on how you're creating it."

• "No other terrain rendering program I've seen can compare with the features, quality and realistic output of World Construction Set 5."

• "With the new interface and new features this program has become a real pleasure to use. If you used earlier versions of World Construction Set but were turned off by the interface, or if you have never used World Construction Set I would definitely recommend that you check outWorld Construction Set 5."

• ""The texture engine is [one] of the most powerful and prominent feature in World Construction Set 5."

"World Building"

The letters "HBO" appear in a variety of objects as the camera races through the landscape.
Copyright 1999 HBO.

Favorite Quotes:

• " If broadcast design may one day incorporate a more involving viewer experience, Pittard Sullivan's new HBO open is a good place to look for inspiration. Following a winding road, the 3D-CGI open takes the viewer on a first-person, fast-paced excursion through various landscapes-including a city, a farm, a desert, a mountain range, and a valley-before finally arriving at the HBO logo.

• Animation supervisor David Ebner of Santa Maria-based Computer CafÈ says the project, with its infinitesimal details, would have been impossible to create in a timely way had it not been for the 3D landscape program World Construction Set (from 3D Nature, Arvada, Colorado), used in conjunction with Lightwave."

• "World Construction Set has a lot of features that make it easy to fill up a whole scene with trees," Ebner says. "In a traditional 3D program, creating millions of trees would eat up all your memory and take an eternity to render. Each tree would have to be an individual model."

• ""You can have trees of many different types and determine how high they are and at what elevations they grow. It automatically fills your whole scene full," explains Ebner. ."

• "The software also allows users to import high-resolution elevation maps from the U.S. Geologic Survey and then add to them."

• "Artists created some of the HBO landscapes in World Construction Set and others in Lightwave. WCS programmers and Computer CafÈ's in-house programmer Jim Jones then integrated Lightwave-created elements with the WCS elements in a way that would maintain proper depth of field. "You can render out your frame and, at the same time, have it render out an image that defines the depth of the image," explains Ebner. "It's a way of compositing two items from two different packages and having them integrate with correct depth, so items can be in front or behind other items from another program. Only a few programs have that fairly new capability, called 3D ZBuffer compositing."

• "World Construction Set's road-building tools also allowed artists to lay out and change the course of roads without having to recreate the surrounding land. According to Ebner, the program automatically readjusts the landscape after a change, a feature that saved lots of time during previews."

Watch for World Construction Set and Visual Nature Studio in your favorite publications.