From: Samuel A. Hallam To: Frank Lenahrd ; 3DS-Max List <3DSMAX@engramdigital.com>; YLECOYOTE7@aol.com Subject: Re: WG: Topography Maps Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 1:51 PM Steve, There are many options for you to choose from Steve ... ranging from (free) low-resolution USGS DEM models which cover most of the United States -- to one-meter resolution custom satellite flyby's starting at $1000 a pop. If you're doing flyby down gorges -- or rendering a scene which requires specific topography ... you will probably want to start with mesh datasets. The USGS maps come in the .DEM format (Digital Elevation Model) ... You're probably using 3DStudio MAX to model these maps - no? You'll need the .DEM import plugin which makes short business of these .DEMs ... DEM2MAX : is used to import Digital Elevation Maps to 3DStudio MAX. It creates an elevation object, which allows you to define the detailing. You can also set materials depending on the elevation. This version allows you to read 7.5 min USGS DEm files and (some/many) VistaPro DEM files. It's free ... and you can find it at : http://www.habware.at/duck.htm The USGS mapping department can be found at http://mapping.usgs.gov Listed under downloadable data is the US Geodata archive ... straight off you've got TWO resolutions to work with 1:250,000 and 1:24,000. These numbers denote the scale -- for every 'pixel' of data in the DEM representing x number of feet. These datasets ignore all artificial and natural features above the soil level. These datasets are numerous and diced up in pretty small pieces so you may be downloading and sewing pieces together for a while to build out the states. Datasets are available for continents - but they're "CUSTOM" and thusly - cost moocho $'s. Another site I would suggest is digitalmaps.com ... they have a LOT of 2D maps - peppered with 3D imaging services that you can use to displace meshes with ... I don't know what you're project is calling for - but this site may help you out. Expect to pay at least a couple hundred dollars per image at thsi site -- or over $500 US for a compendium of CD's ... lots of options on this site ... European DEM datasets can be found at http://www.netgis.co.uk/ Didn't do business with these people, but they seem to have a pretty comprehensive database that may prove useful to you. Hope this helps Steve ... Cheers, Samuel A. Hallam rhibit@mediaboutique.com --- > From: "Frank Lenahrd" > Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 09:59:20 +0100 > To: "3DS-Max List" <3DSMAX@EngramDigital.com> > Subject: WG: Topography Maps > > > Try at > > http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/landdaac/gtopo30/gtopo30.html > > Frank Lenhard > > -----Ursprungliche Nachricht----- > Von: YLECOYOTE7@aol.com [mailto:YLECOYOTE7@aol.com] > Gesendet: Montag, 13. Marz 2000 04:47 > An: 3DSMAX@engram.net > Betreff: Topography Maps > > > Hi All, > > Does anyone know where I can get some topography maps or any other types of > maps of the North America,South America and Europe as well as the rest of > the > world? I am working on a project which requires these maps. Thanks for all > your help. > > Steve > -- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe at: > http://mail.engram.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/3DSTUDIOMAX > List courtesy of http://www.Engram.net > > -- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe at: > http://mail.engram.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/3DSTUDIOMAX > List courtesy of http://www.Engram.net > -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe at: http://mail.engram.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/3DSTUDIOMAX List courtesy of http://www.Engram.net