Mapping from photographical evidence

[Diamondback]

I was curious if anybody has done this in the past, or still does this to map? I mean, recreate an actual scene from historical snapshots of a place in a specific time frame.

BG42, EoD, FH or DC modders perhaps? I always thought doing something like this adds an extra touch of realism to your project, you're not just making a map for the sake of making a map, it actually has a reality factor to it.

[Senshi]

Most of the maps of the big mods are based on actual maps of the time, and they are usually very accurate, mostly in terms of roadlaying and general town layout. However, every map has to make a compromise between realism and playability, which is why many towns are "shrinked" or some large areas are shrinked entirely (large cities) to make them playable at all in terms of perfomance.

[GoodDayToDie!!]

Hey Classic Modder,

You reminded me of a map I wanted to make but never quite figured out how to do it.....Maybe a tutorial can emerge...But I had a similar idea:)

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1193&p=8403&hilit=G ... arth#p8403

[Senshi]

GDTD, you wanted something entirely different: You wanted an automated heightmap extraction from google maps.

If you want to use prefab heightmaps, that is easy: Just google for SRTM topographic data and you will find a heightmap that covers the entire globe. However, for most map projects this is only suitable as a rough base, as SRTM resolution is 90x90m for the entire world, except the US, which is covered in 30m resolution.

Getting steep cliffs or even roads out of SRTM is almost impossible, as the bad resolution means such small features appear smoothed over by other objects in the area. And in very mountaineous terrain (steep valleys) the SRTM sensor often failed to pick up data at all, which makes the actual resolution even worse.

Most higher-resolution datasets are only available to national research institutes (which can often work with 1-5m resolutions...).

[GoodDayToDie!!]

Good to know. Thanks Sen!!

If I decide to go forward with the idea I will just make it from scratch....

Cheers

[Grabbi]

taken from:
http://www.pixel-fighter.com/modules.ph ... opic&t=421

This tutorial is for mappers creating maps from authenticate geographic areas :

We need:

Battlecraft
Google Earth
Microdem Plugin
Microdem
( Gimp/Photoshop )
and 3dsmax


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2nd way

Save landscape as Model for import into 3dsmax ( small islands etc )

[Renwood]

Wow thats a great program! With this you could make awesome maps from just about anywhere, super accurately.

At some point I will use this myself! Thanks for the detailed post!
Cant wait to see what you do with this program in the BF series.

-Renwood

[Vilespring]

So I can go to Hawaii, in a TANK?