Terrain Modeling from Contour Map

[Shrubman]

Hi Folks:

I have found some tutorials on how to create terrain from scratch, but
would like to know how to take a scanned 2D contour map, and convert
it to a 3D model in lightwave. Any thoughts?

Is it better to do the conversion in another program, like Autocad if
one is to have various detail elements like roads, parking areas,
etc.?

Finally, what is the best way to scatter a variety of trees one has
created to various points on the surface of the model?

Thanks,

Evan

[riki]

Use Point Clone Plus for the trees. I'm not sure if this tut can help with the other prob?? Might give you some ideas.

http://newtek.com/products/lightwave/tutorials/games/quick_terrain/index.html

[John Fornasar]

Determine the number of unique levels in your contour map, divide this number into 256. Assign gray scale colors from black (0,0,0) as the lowest elevation, to white (256,256,256) as the highest. Color in the bands of the map with these colors.

Create a subdivided plane the same dimensions as the contour map and apply the map as a Displacement Map. Use the Texture Amplitude to get the proper "height".

Depending on the terrain, you will probably want to apply some blurs between levels on your map for soft elevation changes.

You can save transformed when you are happy.

If the parking lots are level, you can either boolean them in, or use Set Value on the points in that area.
For the roads, check out the tutorial above. If you need to be exact, trace the roads on the contour map in PS, use them to create polys, then use those polys to stencil a new surface name on your displaced (and now frozen) polys. Hope this helps.