October 19, 2001
Pittsburgh, PA - TerraSim, Inc. announced today the release of TerraTools® 1.4, the latest and most comprehensive version of its premier geospatial database construction product.
TerraTools 1.4 adds new and exciting capabilities in a number of areas including data and model import/export, enhanced SEDRIS support, and a focus on urban geospatial visualization. The most significant additions within TerraTools 1.4 include:
Increased Functionality
- Support for automated bridge construction. TerraTools now provides the ability to create a wide range of bridge models for linear features, including suspension wires, bridge towers, and arbitrary bridge decks specified as 2D profiles. A variety of parametric bridge templates are included for easy specification of bridge structure and appearance.
- OrthoCam. TerraTools can now take orthographic snapshots of the databases it constructs, which can be used for texturing low-resolution LODs for added realism, as well as synoptic overviews of databases. An additional integrated feature tool (Extract Tile Boundaries) is provided to simplify the use of OrthoCam for LOD generation.
- Tree canopy generation. TerraTools now provides new methods for fast tree canopy generation in addition to our advanced canopy simplification process. The user is provided with improved control over canopy generation time and canopy quality.
New data importers
- Bathymetric data import. TerraTools now provides importers for four different varieties of bathymetric data (CHRTR (DBDB-V export format), TDF2.0, CDBW (California Department of Boating and Waterways), and YXZ headerless ASCII) as well as new processing tools for seamlessly merging bathymetric elevation data and terrain elevation data for integrated TINS in coastal areas.
- Feature data importers. TerraTools includes new feature data importers: DXF, for importing cartographic data compiled in AutoCAD, SDTS, for importing spatial data from the USGS, and XML, for ingesting any cartographic source data that can be readily transformed using the XML DTD used by TerraTools.
- Bentley MicroStation plug-in for V7.0 & V8.0. Included as part of TerraTools 1.4 is a plug-in export module developed for Bentley MicroStation® for flexible and robust export of DGN layers into the vector format used by TerraTools. This enables the use of a wide range of site-specific and cartographic data compiled by urban planners and developers using MicroStation in TerraTools.
New export formats
- Export TIFF.TerraTools now provides TIFF export capabilities, which can be used on any images generated by a TerraTools node, including the new OrthoCam node.
- Export TSG and Textures. A new Export TSG and Textures node also provides an easy-to-use mechanism for simplified packaging of TSG databases. TerraTools customers can freely distribute their databases in native TSG format whe packaged with the TerraTools' TSGFly database viewer.
- SEDRIS 3.0.x. TerraTools continues to provide full export capabilities for SEDRIS in 1.4, producing fully-compliant SEDRIS 3.0.x transmittals for all databases constructed in TerraTools.
TerraTools 1.4 is fully supported on both SGI IRIX workstations and Windows NT/2000 workstations with OpenGL graphics cards. TerraTools projects are now fully cross-platform compatible between IRIX and Windows workstations. As with previous versions, TerraTools 1.4 includes an extensive and detailed on-line help system.
As the fifth major release in the TerraTools product line, TerraSim demonstrates its commitment to continuing technology enhancements that add value, functionality, and ease of use to its user community. Copies of TerraTools 1.4 have been delivered to customers under standard maintenance contracts. To learn more about how TerraTools can fulfill your geospatial visualization requirements, contact us at sales@terrasim.com
About TerraSim
TerraSim is a high-technology company that provides software solutions and services for advanced visual simulation database construction using cartographic data. TerraTools®, their primary product, is available for both Windows NT/2000/XP and SGI IRIX workstations. TerraTools is used in the automated construction of dense urban environments for regional planning as well as simulation databases for military exercises covering hundreds of one degree geocells. TerraSim also provides database construction services and advanced technology development for both civilian and military customers.
TerraSim®, TerraTools®, and TerraTours® are registered trademarks of TerraSim, Inc.
Copyright© 2007 by TerraSim, Inc. All rights reserved.
