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jsdesigns
03-13-2007, 10:20 PM
I have a contour line map that I would like to create a 3D terrain model from. What is the best way to aacomplish this? I tried using a quick and dirty way by using Google Sketchup and then exporting as an OBJ but the resulting mesh has harsh stepping in it and I would like it to flow smoothly from contour to contour. Anybody care to point me in the right direction?
mihkeltt
03-13-2007, 10:49 PM
create a spline for each hight level and then use loft nurbs.
Walli
03-13-2007, 11:01 PM
perhaps Patch it from Motion Gimmick could be the right tool:

http://www.motion-gimmick.com/english/
jsdesigns
03-14-2007, 12:50 AM
create a spline for each hight level and then use loft nurbs.

I tried this and it doesn't work very well as the splines have differing numbers of points of the and the resulting mesh does not look very good.
Quadart
03-14-2007, 01:52 AM
You might find some useful info in this c4d thread posted back in January.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=47&t=455934&highlight=elevation
Continuumx
03-14-2007, 03:35 AM
PatchIt is a great tool for this!
Continuumx
03-14-2007, 03:57 AM
See the patchit example #1 for how contours for a site model can be done:

http://www.motion-gimmick.com/english/index.htm
jsdesigns
03-14-2007, 06:20 AM
See the patchit example #1 for how contours for a site model can be done:

http://www.motion-gimmick.com/english/index.htm

Patchit does look good, but is there a trial version available? I'm unsure if I will use that method yet.
moka.studio
03-14-2007, 07:50 AM
you may also want to look at Sketchup for creating your terrain mesh.
It has a 'Sandbox' toolset, that can be used to creates topographical meshes from contour lines. There is a trial version.
Kokosing
03-14-2007, 10:04 AM
I tried this and it doesn't work very well as the splines have differing numbers of points of the and the resulting mesh does not look very good.


Well you could copy the most detailed spline and modify it to match the next contour.

Also, it's worth searching for a DEM of the area. If you know the geographical coordinates, you should be able to find a DEM at Nasa's Raster Roam website.

W
jsdesigns
03-14-2007, 12:21 PM
Also, it's worth searching for a DEM of the area. If you know the geographical coordinates, you should be able to find a DEM at Nasa's Raster Roam website.

W

Not in the USA so that site can't help, however I am contacting the local land department (Fiji) to see if they have DEM maps of the area.
Kokosing
03-14-2007, 12:52 PM
Not in the USA so that site can't help, however I am contacting the local land department (Fiji) to see if they have DEM maps of the area.

Actually, raster roam covers most of the planet.

W
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