I would like to create a 3d model of a real existing terrain so that I can move about the terrain model at eye level.

At one time there were 3d terrain maps of everywhere, government maps I believe, that could be converted into 3d models. Certainly they were extracted from GPS data. But I have lost the source.

If you know of sources of these GPS terrain maps (free is good) and also the necessary software to convert them into 3d models in a format that can be used in Electric Image on a Mac, I would appreciate hearing from you.

sphaera

3d Illustration
http://web.mac.com/sphaera/illustration/one.html

Video director editor
http://web.mac.com/sphaera/video/video.html

HI try the new forum at http://www.eias3d.com/forums/
Tomas and Igors now own EIAS and have new forum.

I don’t know where you would get the height maps but once you have the DEMs, you can convert them to EXR files and use EXR2Mesh in EIAS (for free) to get a model from it.

Best,
Ian

You will find nice links here:
http://www.terrainmap.com/rm39.html

I’ve been out of touch but now I’ve found:
http://www.eias3d.com/forums

EXR2Mesh sounds like the right tool:
I dont know where you would get the height maps but once you have the DEMs, you can convert them to EXR files and use EXR2Mesh in EIAS (for free) to get a model from it.

This site looks very promising also:
http://www.terrainmap.com/rm39.html

Thanks, guys. Very helpful.

When I get things worked out I’ll post at http://www.eias3d.com

sphaera

Where does EXR2Mesh come from?

Thanks!

Richard

Hello Richard,
You will find it here:
http://www.eias3d.com:80/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=19

Got the plugin installed Richard…

I would be VERY interested in figuring out how to get DEM data turned into a model that I can use.

This was very difficult in FormZ.  I had to go get a U. Ariz. translator which only worked on PC which turned
file into a .cdo

How does this work in EIAS? 

I thought .exr was HDR file? 

Thank you!

Richard

Hey Richard,

(And any one else who can give me a few words of advice...)

I brought in two types of HDR into Photoshop (LP and LL) and “saved-as” into the .EXR
format.

I navigated to these from EIAS and tried the EXR2Mesh.  With the Lightprobe I did get a mesh
but it was not exactly a landform.  It was just a mesh model of the Lightprobe (circular)

I’m a little confused, as you can tell.. but would love to know how to get real-life landform models
into EIAS from DEM, CDO, EXR or whatever…

Thanks !

Richard

I was able to draw my own topography in black and white in CS4, then change mode to 32 bit and export it as a
.EXR.  EIAS turned this black-white map into a mesh elevation model.

Now to find black-white elevation models of the real landforms…

Richard

Trying to locate my links about DEM files… Changing computer create a mess…
Maybe try this out? Didn’t test it so…
http://www.jizoh.jp/english.html

chenarch - 23 March 2010 04:12 AM

I’m a little confused, as you can tell.. but would love to know how to get real-life landform models
into EIAS from DEM, CDO, EXR or whatever…

Thanks !

Richard

Hello Richard,

you could try the following: load your DEM file into the free Vers. of SketchUp and save it as Collada file. I believe EIAS 8 does not support Collada yet. So you could bring the Collada file into EIAS via the free FBX Converter from Autodesk and save from there as .fbx.

Maybe worth a try and hopefully it helps.

Regards
Stefan

Hi me again…

another option would maybe to use the free Version of Bryce 5, if you have it and use the DEM´s in Bryce and then export them from Bryce…

http://upallnitestudios.com/html/tutorial3.html

http://www.thebest3d.com/pdp/tutorials/bryce101/terrains/

Regards
Stefan

Hey Stefan,

Thank you!  So the goal is to aim for getting an .fbx ...  this is very helpful, thank you, I’ll give it a try.

Best regards,

Richard