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Lake outline extent modification question

D

drdavid

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wales
I'd like to modify the outline extent of a lake. In the real word, the lake is dammed and there is a small lake downstream of the dam at a lower altitude. In FSX, the lake extends beyond the line of the dam position so I would like to exclude this and replace it with a smaller - and lower - lake.

After producing a KML file from Google Earth in the shape of the excluded area (larger than the lower lake itself), I have tried to build an Exclude_Hydro_Polygons_Default_Perennial for this lower lake area with FSX_XML. The Build results in a bgl in the Addon Scenery\scenery folder, which seems correct, but no exclusion takes place in FSX itself.

Now, this is my first attempt with FSX_KML so I'm not surprised - so, here are some questions:

1. Is it possible to exclude a section of an FSX lake or must I exclude the whole lake and subsequently build 2 lakes - one being the main body of water and the second, the smaller (lower) lake?

2. Is the "Exclude_Hydro_Polygons_Default_Perennial" tag correct for FSX lakes? Does the "Non_Perennial" tag make a difference?

3. Does the Altitude of the Exclude have any effect on the success of the exclusion? I have used zero (meters) - should I use the actual altitude (200 meters)?

If there's any tutorial that might help, I'd be very pleased to read it. If you can help directly, then that would be great. Thanks!

Cheers - Dai. :cool:
 
Hello:

If you tell us where the lakes and dam are located, we can look at the area in Google Earth, as well as in FSX and FSX SDK TMFViewer (to examine the default scenery BGLs which cover that area); we could then offer some appropriately informed suggestions. ;)

Also, do you plan to use a 3D modeled textured scenery object for the dam, or do you simply wish to drape a custom photoreal or other land class type texture polygon over the dam on the ground (ex: after it is somewhat more precisely "shaped into the terrain" using sloped flattens) ? :confused:

GaryGB
 
Hi Gary
Thanks for your reply - here's some more info:
I'm trying to model the Moehne reservoir and dam. Here's the FSX view:

Moehne_FSX_zps61934056.jpg


And here's my initial attempt at a gmax dam model being positioned using InstantScenery2:

Moehne_gmax_dam_zps42d25629.jpg


I'd like to make the reservoir (upper lake) fit in better with the dam model and, then, reduce the size of the lower lake (downstream of the dam) to reveal the base of the dam structure. As you can see,right now it's under the water level.

I have found a way of removing the complete Moehne reservoir by making a large rectangular exclusion kml from GE and building it using FSX_KML using the basic "Exclude_Waterpolys" tag. I'm not sure if I should now try to place an upper body of water (reservoir) and then a lower body of water (outflow) as separate lakes (with different altitudes). I guess I'll need shorelines?

Any guidance gratefully received - Thanks!

Cheers - Dai. :cool:
 
I created flattens for Mohne but they were to fit photo-scenery. I can let you have the SBX source file if you would like it.



 
Hi Dai:

IMHO, you're off to a good start by excluding the FSX default Hydro polygons in the area of interest, and preparing (a) replacement Hydro polygon(s).


Because I've observed that George does very nicely detailed work with FS vector water body polygons (aka "Hydro polys") and their derived or otherwise associated vector shoreline poly-lines, I'd suggest taking him up on his kind offer to share the SBX project file exported from SBuilderX. ;)



The *.SBX file can be imported into SBuilderX which is free to use for freeware projects, and either worked with on that platform (recommended), or a ESRI *.SHP shape file of the selected polygon could be exported from SBuilderX for use in FSX_KML.


The resulting exported *.SHP file can be converted to a Google Earth format *.KML file via the freeware "ESRI Shapefile to KML Converter" available at:

http://www.reimers.dk/files/esri-shapefile-to-kml

Download link: http://www.reimers.dk/Media/Default/File/Upload/Shp2Kml-1.zip



Depending on the *.KML file format version one is working with, such files may need to first be processed via "PreFSXKML" prior to use in FSX_KML:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showpost.php?p=235281&postcount=25




FYI: Some additional info on GIS source file inter-conversion utilities:


http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20474&highlight=PreFSXKML


http://freegeographytools.com/2007/another-way-to-convert-google-earth-kml-files-to-shapefiles


http://www.zonums.com/online/kml2x/


http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16937


[EDITED]

NOTE: One can make a copy of the Hydro polygon, and delete the duplicate vertex (which duplicates and overlies the Geographic coordinates of the point of origin of the polygon to form the 'polygon closure') in order to turn the polygon into a poly-line.

One can then reverse the order (aka "winding" direction) of the poly-line vertices and change its terrain object attributes for the purpose of making a textured shoreline.


BTW: FSX_KML and SBuilderX can each reverse the order of vertices, and SBuilderX can perform the 'convert polygon to poly-line' function via its GUI.

FSX_KML would require deleting the 'closure vertex' (which duplicates and overlies the Geographic coordinates of the vertex point at the origin of the polygon) ...via the Vertices tab in its GUI, to perform a 'convert polygon to poly-line' function.

[END_EDIT]



CAVEAT: Be aware that if you opt to use a custom (non-FSX-default) shoreline texture, one must provide a thoroughly-tested utility to add or remove the required entries for such a custom texture to the FSX Terrain.Cfg file without disrupting or altering entries made therein by FSX default or 3rd party sceneries ...if one's scenery is to be distributed to others. :alert:

Additionally, some of the expanded terrain feature types available for use in FSX_KML may be only available to end users via the Luis Feliz-Tirado / Richard Ludowise "Modified Terrain.Cfg" (which can optionally be copied into one's FSX configuration by SBuilderX during its installation process). :spushpin:


[EDITED]

Any custom shoreline texture implemented in one's scenery package would not only need to be first have to be defined as a new terrain object type and added to the FSX Terrain.Cfg file, it would also need to be added to the FSX_KML FSX_KML_Tags.xml and/or SBuilderX "Lines.txt" files ...in order to be available for use via those FSX scenery utilities.


But if you simply use one of the default shoreline textures, of course all that latter complexity would not be necessary. :teacher:

[END_EDIT]


PS: IIUC, since in your project the upper and lower Hydro polygons will be visibly separated by a 3D modeled dam, it would IMHO be more practical to use 2 separate replacement Hydro polys for the 'upper and lower lakes' at the area of interest. :idea:


Hope this info may be of some additional help ! :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
First off, Many Thanks, George - that's terrific, and, Yes Please, can you let me have the SBX source file. I'll try to sort out how to apply/modify them for the default FSX scenery. As I'm making a mission with the updated reservoir plus dam scenery, I can't at this time use the much better photo scenery (from Aerosoft, I guess?). But Thanks - now I wish I'd asked for the model of the dam as well!

And Thanks, Gary - I'll admit, you've given me a lot to chew over. There are terms in your post that I'm only slowly getting to grips with. I'll work on your advice and get back to you.

I have made some progress - after excluding the whole reservoir (and shorelines) I've used GE to make KML's for the upper and lower lakes. The gmax dam sits fairly well at the interface between the lakes, but I'm going to have to modify the base width to accommodate the bleed through terrain - unless I can make the lower lake interface a little tighter... Here's a shot:

Moehne_Lakes_Plus_Dam_zps42952dd4.jpg


Note the trees growing through the concrete - can't see that happening in real life!

And just to give you an idea of where this is all going, here's a short video trailer of the mission:

https://vimeo.com/64486817

I'm still hoping to complete it by May 17th - with luck?!?

Thanks again - Dai. :cool:
 
Hi Dai:

Looks like you're progressing rather well ! :cool:

If you are inclined to further modify the 3D model of the dam by widening the base to more realistically conceal the protrusion of the underlying slight terrain slope that all FS terrain mesh will have (even when using sloped flattens), you may wish to refer to the many available images of the Möhne dam via "Panoramio" photo links in Google Earth ...such as these:


http://www.panoramio.com/photo_expl..._photo_id=4103786&order=date_desc&user=781833

4103786.jpg




http://www.panoramio.com/photo_expl..._photo_id=3246110&order=date_desc&user=654102

3246110.jpg




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Möhne_Reservoir


As to the vegetation popping up through the 3D model, one can add 1 or more additional smaller local autogen exclude polygon(s) immediately beneath where the dam is to be placed (...if still needed after reviewing the following).

However, the default function in FS XML placement of 3D scenery library objects is to automatically exclude autogen objects (including trees) unless one specifically codes an additional attribute to add the "<NoAutogenSuppression>" XML tag to its placement code; so you probably had toggled that off via a check box in the GUI when you placed the dam using your installed version of Instant Scenery. ;)


FYI: Instant Scenery version-2 allows you to control this for an individual object placement as discussed here:

http://www.simforums.com/forums/instant-scenery-and-autogen-trees_topic34881.html


Hope this conveys a "little bit o' luck" to see you through ...to your May 17th completion date ! :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
Thanks again for your help - a you sugested, I increased the width of the top and bottom of the dam gmax components to get this:

Moehne_Dam_Final_zpsa40b4468.jpg


The lower lake is as the reservoir looks today (from Google) but there wasn't any water here until the raid in 1943. Also, there's a tiny amount of terrain bleed through on the downstream dam face, but I can live with that...

Next job is to work on the mission and possibly get a breach animation. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks again for your help and supporting comments.

Cheers - Dai. :cool:
 
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