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Estierra
is a program for modeling the terrain of the earth. It reads
standard USGS Digital Elevation Model files (DEMs) and converts
them into three-dimensional models of the earth's surface. These
models can be colored, shaded, highlighted and overlaid with
topographic maps or aerial photographs. This creates extremely
realistic 3D images of the terrain. In addition,
Estierra
uses Microsoft's Direct-X technology that gives it the ability
to do high-speed animations of the terrains. This means the
terrains can be zoomed, panned and rotated in real-time. You can
even fly over and through the terrain using a joystick or mouse. |
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DEM Files. Estierra is a software package
designed to create 3D models of the earth's surface. It reads
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) files which are readily available
from the USGS for all of the United States. DEM files are
available in 7.5 minute and one degree versions that correspond
to standard topographic maps.
Building
Terrains - step-by-step. |
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3D Models. Information in the DEM files are converted to
smooth models of the surface that show every detail of the
terrain . You have complete control over the appears of the
model surface including color, texture, smoothness, highlight,
shadows, and background color. You can even control the position
of the sun and its angle in the sky.
Building Terrains - step-by-step.
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Real-time Fly-Over. The terrain models can be moved, rotated
and manipulated in real-time. Because of the high animation
speed, you can turn move, tilt, spin, and zoom the terrain
instantly using the mouse. You can also fly over the terrain as
if you were in an airplane using the mouse or a joystick. In
other words, you can fly down canyons, over peaks and along
rivers, instantly changing direction to get a better view of a
particular aspect of the terrain. Click
here for more information about animations. |
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Photographic Overlays. The terrains can overlaid with bitmap
images of topo maps, geological, and aerial photographs.
Overlaying with an aerial photograph creates an extremely
realistic image of the terrain. Flying over this kind of terrain
is so realistic that it seems like you are actually seeing the
earth from an airplane. Click here for
some examples of overlaid Terrains. |
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High Resolution Photo Overlays. On of the big
advantages of Estierra is that you can overlay
scanned images of photographs that are normally not available in
digital format. Here is an image created from a low level aerial
photograph of the White River Plateau in western Colorado. Click here to see a larger image. |
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Map Overlays. Terrain models can also be overlaid with
topographic and geologic maps. This makes it very easy to find
locations and landmarks. It is also much easier to
visualize subtle features in the terrain. If you are working
with geologic maps, it very easy to see where the various
formations intersect the surface and how the effect the terrain.
Since all overlays are bitmaps, you can easily draw labels,
routes, paths or notations on the terrain surface. Click here for
some examples of overlaid Terrains. |
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Editing Tools. Estierra allows you to edit and cut the
terrain models down to smaller size pieces so you can focus on
your particular area of interest. Also, smaller images are
faster and the smaller files size means that the images can be
more easily manipulated over the internet. Estierra
has special editing tools that allow you easily overlay and
align nonstandard maps and images on top of the terrain models.
This means that with a scanner you can overlay virtually any
type of map or photograph. Step-by-step images of building terrain models.
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Special Color Options. Estierra has special coloring tools
that allow you to color by depth using predefined palletes of
colors or colors of your own choosing. The colors can be set to
irregular or nonlinear spacings. The program will also color
according to the slope of the terrain, placing light rocky
colors on the cliffs and steep mountains sides and greens and
yellows on more level terrain where there is more vegitation. Click here to see images of the color
options.
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Special Effects. In addition to all the other features,
Estierra supports a number of special effects that add extra
realism to the terrain models. For example, you can add
fog
to the scene which fills the canyons and gets thicker as you
look at object further away. This increases the realism and 3D
effect of the terrain. Click here to see images of special
effects options.
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