| 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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DirectX. Estierra
uses Microsoft's DirectX technology
to display the terrain models. As a result,
your terrain models can be saved as "X"
files and used to develop games, flight
simulators and other specialized applications.
Also, because of the DirectX
technology, Estierra takes maximum advantage of the hardware
capabilities of modern computers and video cards. This means
that fly-by and animations speeds will be extremely fast,
exceeding 2,000,000 polygons per second on moderately fast
Pentium computers. |
