Topic: Terrain Map

[ivanilmatto]

Hi Guys,
about the terrain map, I found this interesting stuff.
I was working to finish a demo of Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler, and needed some data to build the DTM. I found Aster:

http://gdex.cr.usgs.gov/gdex/

you can download the whole world! with a resolution of 15 to 90 meters, it's really amazing.
I tried to import the maps I downloaded in Lumion, well...it works!!!!

following some images showing the Monte Bianco and the valley toward Italy.

Bye,
Paolo

[ivanilmatto]

I've just tried importing an fbx file generated by Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler, in which I drafted some roads, a bridge and a tunnel...great tool to sketch roads and railways...
the model is really huge, more or less a square with an edge of 40 km... imported in Lumion without any problem. every material has been recognized properly... really satisfied.

below some images.
bye,
.pau

[BABE™]

hi  ivanilmatto

i would love a mini tutorial on how you can import terrain into lumion via GDEX please

[RAD]

hi  ivanilmatto

i would love a mini tutorial on how you can import terrain into lumion via GDEX please

[Zdenek Fajfrlik]

, more or less a square with an edge of 40 km... imported in Lumion without any problem. every material has been recognized properly...
[/quote]

hi, please explain edge of 40 km, lumion does 2 x 2 only...i think
thanx stan

[ivanilmatto]

Hello, I importer an fbx file with that size... and  flying across the terrain it seems to be completely modeled... I don't know why, I told you wath I saw.

[peterm]

Hi ivanilmatto,

Thanks for the info and link on USGS.  Last time (many moons ago) I visited them for terrain DEMs trying to get any sort of info was a bit of a mission in itself.  Seems the data is much more accessible now and thats made it easy to use.  Importantly, all the data is now corrected data so there's no need to fix wholes etc.

I also had a look at Earth Explorer where you can get DEMs as well.  They all need level/brightness adjusting way up to be useful.

The GeoTIFF or other greyscale image provided by Global Data Explorer using ASTER data is directly useable in Lumion via import terrain bitmap, so thats good.  Some images may need cropping and other adjustment depending on area required in Lumion and area defined in the GDE, but will of course only be used for the 2x2km terrain area in Lumion.

To create larger terrains, Lumion requires importing of the area as a mesh.  Importing the bitmap into a DCC that converts to a mesh such as Infrastructure, Max, Carrara, and SkUp will do it too with the terrain plugin (yet to test), and then exporting/importing to Lumion will create a mesh based terrain in Lumion, pre-scale or use the default pixel to meter that the DCC uses to convert to mesh.

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[st_george]

Wow this is amazing information !!!
Thank you for posting this Ivanilmatto !

Would you be so kind to post some sort of tutorial, explaining how did you do this?

Thank you.

[Derekw]

Wow this is amazing information !!!
Thank you for posting this Ivanilmatto !

Would you be so kind to post some sort of tutorial, explaining how did you do this?

Thank you.

I agree with St George. Some sort of tutorial would be fantastic. I was able to download a terrain map, but I wasn't quite sure how to get that into Lumion to create a 3D landform. Can a 3D landform / terrain model then be exported into Sketchup from Lumion? Without a manual this is all trial and error. I'm sure Aaron can do this blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back!

[peterm]

It's sort of quite easy, just download the image and import it into Lumion in the terrain tools using load terrain map.  You need in most cases though to edit the image first or scale your request are to limit it to max of 2km square so it matches Lumions terrain area.

If you want something greater than the 2km square, then first you import into a DCC, get the DCC to convert and create a mesh then expport and import into Lumion. If your using SkUp I understand there's a terrain tool that handle large mesh objects so presume it can create from a heightmap, but can take a look.

Lumion can export a heightmap made from its terrain for use in DCC's that can use heightmaps to create meshes.  This way the terrain can be further editied or used for the terran for placement of ojects in the scene.  This only provide though for 2km square, the resolution of the Lumion terrain.

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[RAD]

"Lumion can export a heightmap made from its terrain for use in DCC's that can use heightmaps to create meshes."  - Nice, did not realize that.

any software out there that will create a height-field map from a 3dmesh in modeling software?

[peterm]

I know that DAZ Carrara can.  Works both ways, import and export heightmaps to or from meshes, plus mesh from hmap.  Amazing terrain tool, considering.

Can't recall off hand if Max does that it that way, certainly hmap to mesh, so if not then there will be a script somewhere.

If have the Pro version then of course that pathway is now not necessary as can import the mesh and now apply a Terrain material and paint on the mesh as if terrain, but earlier versions still allowed for mesh with a terrain material so just depends if need to paint for edging etc.

Eon Vue does/used to.  Also DAZ Bryce will export hmap and not too bad making terrains in it.  Plus you can/have been able to get a free or v. cheap price for it. 

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[Zdenek Fajfrlik]

hi there,

so if we import a landscape as a mesh, how will the trees react? will they "stay" on the mesh or fall down to the lumion terrain to be moved up manually?
as far, as i can see, there is no shortcut for that, and no collision detection, anyway.....

any experience with that?

thanx stan

[peterm]

Well, if the landscape based mesh is imported before placing the plants, then you are going to be able to pick and place against the mesh as with any other placement to an object. 

Of course if later on, the terrain is moved up or down, then the plants behave 'badly' and move to the terrain; not desirable and so would need height adjusting to correct.

However, you can lock the position of all plants so that they are not affected by a change in the terrain. 

Given that the imported mesh is supposed to be a terrain replacement, then the terrain should never be raised or lowered using the terrain height tool, and any correction required to a terrain should be done as part of workflow in the source ie adjust the source terrain and re-import as mesh.

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[adelaacosta16]

hi, i tried to use global data explorer but i have no idea what i have to download to used in lumion or do i have to use another program?