Tip for track editors wanting realism/accuracy

This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want to model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan only in detail for the moment). If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to get all the pics you want of most tracks. This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter resolution), down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing is that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by your client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let you zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly see the banking in 3D as I zoom in. The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, as you slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higher resolution as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you like, and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house just by typing in the address. Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good look at race tracks they've never been to before. The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. It only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo, Hawaii and bits of South Africa). Have fun, Tim p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some people are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was 4AM. I was stuffed the next day!

Tim, This is so cool. I havent been able to stop playin with it. Highly recommend this to all. Mitch "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want to > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan onlyin > detail for the moment). > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to getall

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> the pics you want of most tracks. > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter resolution), > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing is > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by your > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let

you > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly see > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, asyou > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higherresolution > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you like, > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house justby

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> typing in the address. > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. It > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo,

Hawaii

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> and bits of South Africa). > > Have fun, > Tim > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some people > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was 4AM.

I

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> was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > >

Thanks for the heads up on this, Tim. I will definitely give it a look. TP "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want to > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan onlyin > detail for the moment). > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to getall

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> the pics you want of most tracks. > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter resolution), > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing is > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by your > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let

you > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly see > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, asyou > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higherresolution > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you like, > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house justby

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> typing in the address. > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. It > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo,

Hawaii

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> and bits of South Africa). > > Have fun, > Tim > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some people > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was 4AM.

I

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> was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > >

Sorry, I completly forgot that the free version of this is for PCs with Nvidia GF2 or higher cards only. Its restricted to Nvidia because of some sort of co-marketing deal with earthviewer. "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want to > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan onlyin > detail for the moment). > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to getall

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> the pics you want of most tracks. > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter resolution), > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing is > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by your > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let

you > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly see > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, asyou > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higherresolution > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you like, > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house justby

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> typing in the address. > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. It > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo,

Hawaii

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> and bits of South Africa). > > Have fun, > Tim > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some people > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was 4AM.

I

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> was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > >

I warned you it was addictive! btw - The hi-res track I was referring to before was phoenix, not Atlanta. The Atlanta track is just outisde the hi-res area. Imagine this type of streaming being combined with the next version of Flight Simulator. You could fly along and see the real world beneath you! Pity the resolution isn't quite up to using this format for the ultimate road car simulator! I wonder if it might be possible in the near future though.. The technology for high speed streaming is there, or could be packed into a DVD-ROM for a Sim encompassing a city or maybe even state. It could work if you used aircraft (or blimps) for ultra high resolution photography, using both stereoscopic camera (mounted at wingtips or each end of blimp) and combined with highly accurate radar based terrain data. Your application could then convert this into real time streaming of the scenery, with generated textures for the actual roads, cars, and maybe close up scenery next to the roads. Imagine next generation GPS car navigation systems as well. You could do a virtual tour of your route before you started. Anyway, I'm getting OT here, so I'll stop. "Mitch_A" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:mwO99.250$[email hidden]...

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> Tim, > > This is so cool. I havent been able to stop playin with it. Highly > recommend this to all. > > Mitch > > > "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want

to > > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japanonly

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> in > > detail for the moment). > > > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to get > all > > the pics you want of most tracks. > > > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, > > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter

resolution), > > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thingis > > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data byyour > > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let > you > > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearlysee

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> > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, as > you > > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higher > resolution > > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you

like,

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> > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house just > by > > typing in the address. > > > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good > > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused.

It

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> > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo, > Hawaii > > and bits of South Africa). > > > > Have fun, > > Tim > > > > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some

people > > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was4AM.

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> I > > was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Only works with Nvidia cards, Seems like a bad standard to set IMO :) Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ZXO99.992$1b1.72230@newsfep2-gui...

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> I warned you it was addictive! > > btw - The hi-res track I was referring to before was phoenix, not Atlanta. > The Atlanta track is just outisde the hi-res area. > > Imagine this type of streaming being combined with the next version of > Flight Simulator. You could fly along and see the real world beneath you! > Pity the resolution isn't quite up to using this format for the ultimate > road car simulator! > > I wonder if it might be possible in the near future though.. The

technology > for high speed streaming is there, or could be packed into a DVD-ROM for a > Sim encompassing a city or maybe even state. It could work if you used > aircraft (or blimps) for ultra high resolution photography, using both > stereoscopic camera (mounted at wingtips or each end of blimp) andcombined > with highly accurate radar based terrain data. Your application could then > convert this into real time streaming of the scenery, with generated > textures for the actual roads, cars, and maybe close up scenery next tothe > roads. > > Imagine next generation GPS car navigation systems as well. You could do a > virtual tour of your route before you started. Anyway, I'm getting OThere,

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> so I'll stop. > > > > > > > > "Mitch_A" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:mwO99.250$[email hidden]... > > Tim, > > > > This is so cool. I havent been able to stop playin with it. Highly > > recommend this to all. > > > > Mitch > > > > > > "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > > > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > > > > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want > to > > > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan > only > > in > > > detail for the moment). > > > > > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > > > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to

get > > all > > > the pics you want of most tracks. > > > > > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entireearth,

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> > > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter > resolution), > > > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing > is > > > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by > your > > > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will

let

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> > you > > > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > > > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly > see > > > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > > > > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So,

as > > you > > > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higher > > resolution > > > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you > like, > > > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own housejust > > by > > > typing in the address. > > > > > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want agood

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> > > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > > > > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. > It > > > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo, > > Hawaii > > > and bits of South Africa). > > > > > > Have fun, > > > Tim > > > > > > > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some > people > > > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was > 4AM. > > I > > > was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Is there software that doesn't require an Nvidia card? =) Jason On Sat, 24 Aug 2002 10:48:17 -0700, "DB" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Only works with Nvidia cards, Seems like a bad standard >to set IMO :) > > >Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:ZXO99.992$1b1.72230@newsfep2-gui... >> I warned you it was addictive! >> >> btw - The hi-res track I was referring to before was phoenix, not Atlanta. >> The Atlanta track is just outisde the hi-res area. >> >> Imagine this type of streaming being combined with the next version of >> Flight Simulator. You could fly along and see the real world beneath you! >> Pity the resolution isn't quite up to using this format for the ultimate >> road car simulator! >> >> I wonder if it might be possible in the near future though.. The >technology >> for high speed streaming is there, or could be packed into a DVD-ROM for a >> Sim encompassing a city or maybe even state. It could work if you used >> aircraft (or blimps) for ultra high resolution photography, using both >> stereoscopic camera (mounted at wingtips or each end of blimp) and >combined >> with highly accurate radar based terrain data. Your application could then >> convert this into real time streaming of the scenery, with generated >> textures for the actual roads, cars, and maybe close up scenery next to >the >> roads. >> >> Imagine next generation GPS car navigation systems as well. You could do a >> virtual tour of your route before you started. Anyway, I'm getting OT >here, >> so I'll stop. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> "Mitch_A" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >> news:mwO99.250$[email hidden]... >> > Tim, >> > >> > This is so cool. I havent been able to stop playin with it. Highly >> > recommend this to all. >> > >> > Mitch >> > >> > >> > "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >> > news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... >> > > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. >> > > >> > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want >> to >> > > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan >> only >> > in >> > > detail for the moment). >> > > >> > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at >> > > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to >get >> > all >> > > the pics you want of most tracks. >> > > >> > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire >earth, >> > > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter >> resolution), >> > > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thing >> is >> > > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data by >> your >> > > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will >let >> > you >> > > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For >> > > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearly >> see >> > > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. >> > > >> > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, >as >> > you >> > > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higher >> > resolution >> > > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you >> like, >> > > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house >just >> > by >> > > typing in the address. >> > > >> > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a >good >> > > look at race tracks they've never been to before. >> > > >> > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused. >> It >> > > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo, >> > Hawaii >> > > and bits of South Africa). >> > > >> > > Have fun, >> > > Tim >> > > >> > > >> > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some >> people >> > > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was >> 4AM. >> > I >> > > was stuffed the next day! >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> >> > >

----- GPLRank 24.50 N2002Rank -12.995

>"Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want to > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japan onlyin > detail for the moment). While Earthviewer is pretty good in terms of large-scale positioning, it's still far inaccurate for any kind of serious track modeling (F1RC or AMA Superbike). It can still give an amazingly good representation of where the major objects are, and how the track "feels". I'll say that tracks now need to be at least accurate for half a meter in terms of the track itself, and 1 meter for the objects. I'm not including here the graphical quality of those objects.

Is it still the 30 day trial? I registered for this way back in the spring (it worked with my ATi), but after 30 days it was done...which I knew where it put all its files and registry entries. :-) Another piece of software that is nice is Terraexplorer, not as complete for satelite pics, but actually gives u rough elevation data is at: www.skylinesoft.com Like Frank says this stuff isn't really great if u r going out there to be the perfect traqck creator, but honestly it's the best stuff we got unless you have surveying instruments. As well as if u wanna make a street circuit they are very nice tools when coupled with satelite photos from MSN Homeadvisor's terraexplorer. Jon "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9GO99.59634$[email hidden]...

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> Sorry, I completly forgot that the free version of this is for PCs with > Nvidia GF2 or higher cards only. Its restricted to Nvidia because of some > sort of co-marketing deal with earthviewer. > > > > > "Tim Epstein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:1vK99.1183$[email hidden]... > > This was originally a reply to Tom Pabst's thread about Bristol. > > > > I'm sure you've probably seen good photos of real tracks that you want

to > > model, but how about being able to walk them all 3D? ( USA and Japanonly

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> in > > detail for the moment). > > > > If you have broadband, try dowloading the 3D earth viewer at > > www.earthviewer.com You get a 30 day trial, but should be enough to get > all > > the pics you want of most tracks. > > > > This product is really awesome. Its a 3D rendering of the entire earth, > > based on high resolution color satellite photos (10 & 2 meter

resolution), > > down to 1 meter resolution in major urban areas. The really neat thingis > > that the 2D photos are combined with highly accurate terrain data byyour > > client, which then draws everything in correct 3D relief. This will let > you > > zoom around in 3D - down to horizontal perspective if you wish. For > > instance, I'm looking at the speedway at Altanta now, and can clearlysee

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> > the banking in 3D as I zoom in. > > > > The map data is streamed over the Internet, then cached locally. So, as > you > > slowly zoom in, the image builds up and becomes higher and higher > resolution > > as you zoom. There is also full overlay of streets and roads if you

like,

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> > and full search by address/zip code. You can look at your own house just > by > > typing in the address. > > > > Anyway - try it out - I think its a fantastic for people who want a good > > look at race tracks they've never been to before. > > > > The downside for Europeans is that the product is rather U.S. focused.

It

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> > only has high res images of a few European cities, (as well as Tokyo, > Hawaii > > and bits of South Africa). > > > > Have fun, > > Tim > > > > > > p.s. When I first downloaded this, I found it as addictive as some

people > > are finding LFS. I downloaded it at 8PM, and next thing I knew it was4AM.

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> I > > was stuffed the next day! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

If it were possible (and I'm not sure it is) I would say that the track surface needs to be within a few inches of the proper elevation everywhere, or it is not going to drive correctly. Crown, little bumps and dips, and so forth are all features of real tracks that real drivers have to contend with. If people really want to drive the tracks like the real drivers, then those features have to be there. It only takes a little bit of camber to make a huge difference in how you have to drive the track. Imagine how much different the line at the Glen would be if the surface were flat across the middle instead of crowned. "ymenard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:pTR99.73460$[email hidden]... > > > While Earthviewer is pretty good in terms of large-scale positioning,it's > still far inaccurate for any kind of serious track modeling (F1RC orAMA > Superbike). It can still give an amazingly good representation ofwhere the > major objects are, and how the track "feels". > > > I'll say that tracks now need to be at least accurate for half a meterin > terms of the track itself, and 1 meter for the objects. I'm notincluding > here the graphical quality of those objects. > >