Anybody Using CAD or Surveying Type Software?

I need the state of Pennsylvania rendered into a .3DS model. I don't need an extraordinary amount of detail. As long as the model can produce a image about 1600x1200 that will be good enough. I' don't need to be able to see every ripple in the land when you zoom in.

You can get the data sets here bit I guess if you have this software you might know of other source. : http://seamless.usgs.gov/index.php

Basically what I need is this but as true 3d model. Mine is only using an image as reflection so if you turn it sideways it's still flat.

Hmmmm.... Microsoft Virtual Earth might do what you need. I can zoom in on our property and tilt it, to view it from the side, so I can see the valley and peaks.

I need the model itself so I can do what that does.

In any event screw it I'll just use texture, the more I look into it.. the more it looks like it's not going to be easy with the software I'll have so I'll stick with texture.

Yeah, heres Coaldale from the side. Not sure if this is what you want...

'Basically what I need is this but as true 3d model. Mine is only using an image as reflection so if you turn it sideways it's still flat." Say it's not so, you mean the world isn't flat after all? Seriously, I often check out this web site for free software http://www.nonags.com Here is one I found, not sure if it would do what you are looking for though.
VIZup 1.8
Category Misc. Graphics Tools
Compatible Win9x/NT4/ME/Win2k/XP
Rated by Nonags Rating 6
Description

Nonags Certified and Listed


Many of the models that you create with the help of 3D modeling tools, as well as some models converted from CAD software can be very complex. These models may consist of hundreds of thousands, even millions of polygons and are practically useless for processing in real-time visualization systems.

VIZup is an easy-to-use tool for reducing and optimizing 3D models. With the help of VIZup, you can reach the optimal balance between the necessary details level and the size of 3D models. You can also use this software to reduce the number of polygons for your 3D models used in virtual reality and real-time visualization systems. Decreasing the size of 3D models stored on the Web lets your users and customers download them much faster. Besides, this product can also be effectively used for Level-of-Details (LOD) generation.

DVC I believe you're missing the concept here. I need the model, it's a wireframe that give dimensions. For example I created the model for PA but it's simplistic as the surface is flat, it's nothing more than oultline, I want countours on the land. The "coutours" you see ais just texture that works somewhat but not really true.

A model looks like this:
Mozz, thanks for the link but if I was going to learn a new piece of software I'd be looking at something different.

Richard S. wrote:DVC I believe you're missing the concept here. I need the model, it's a wireframe that give dimensions.

Yep, I took Autocad 20 years ago. Haven't used it since.
How about these guys....
**Broken Link(s) Removed**

Hmmm odd concept you have there paying for something.

The data is available for download from the USGS site from the link I provided, it's just a matter of having software that can open it and export it into a format I can use that my computer is not going to choke on. Like I said I'll just use what I have and maybe look into it some other time. I've been meaning to learn a new 3-D software app anyway as the one I'm using is pretty limited. Be a good reason to start but I don't have the time right now.

Richard,
I could model this in 3d but the surface texture would be VERY tricky. Just doing the outside shape and extruding it would be a joke. Let me know if that would help. Id be glad to do it for you.
Thanks,
Steve

mr1precision wrote:I could model this in 3d but the surface texture would be VERY tricky

That's the problem I'm having, I'm getting a bunch of spaghetti and trying to render it is taking forever for anything with a lot of detail. beside they will all be the same height which kind of negates the point. The USGS map data has the elevation in it though. I was hoping someone had some software to convert that to a model albeit a much smaller one without a gazillion polygons in it. Obviously I don't need map quality elevations but instead enough to make it look reasonable. What I have now will work as what I'm using it for now is quite small so even with the elevations it's not going to look much different.

Thanks for the offer though.