CampusModel

Building a 3D model of the UAF campus. Could be based on the LUG Faculty Advisor PhD thesis campus model code and ideas. There was lots of interest in this very project back in 1999, but nothing ever became of it.

Possible uses for an accurate 3D campus model include:

• As a cool graphics demo:

  • Typical pre-rendered "flythrough" movies.

  • Interactive OpenGL program for exploring campus.

• As a navigation aid:

  • Pre-rendered images could be used on UAF maps and posted inside buildings.

  • Images could be rendered-on-demand by a CGI application, for a much more interactive and useful "Maps" section of the UAF website.

• As a research project:

  • The faculty advisor could write papers about this process.

  • Master's students could choose related topics.

• Multiplayer games using the UAF campus as a level. Some game engines require very low-polygon count models (thousands of polygons, not millions), and so don't work well with outdoor scenes.

Data sources for a model like this include:

• USGS Elevation images

• UAF campus master plan: building, road, and sidewalk outlines; elevations; utilities; etc. Usually in AutoCAD format, which can be read with the OpenDWG library.

• Aerial photos: Terraserver USGS Orthophotos, Borough GIS QuickBird.

• Prebuilt objects (e.g., sculptures) from Maya, Blender, etc.

Interested folks:

• Faculty Advisor OrionLawlor: Finding data sources, data translation, rendering architecture and code.

• um..Modeler Ilya Radchenko: modeling using blender? And maybe some programming? :P