3-D Automated Road Creator

With the included files, you can display GIS data in 3-d in the Alias Maya program.

Usage:1) Acquire GIS data: This program is designed specifically

for TIGER GIS data. ESRI offers this data for free for anywhere in the united states at this website: http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/index.html

2) Convert GIS data into readable format: Included is a C++ parser and converter that will read in the ESRI GIS data and output XML files corresponding to the segments, polygons, and intersections it finds in the data. To install & run:

a. Download tmrs folder onto hard drive or serverb. Put GIS data files into folders corresponding to their

layer in the tmrs/src/ESRI folderc. At command line or shell prompt type convert –d

directoryName

3) Load GIS data into Maya, perform desired operations. To run script:

a. Download shp_xmllib.mel to hard drive, anywhereb. In Alias Maya, open and execute script.c. Type “rM();” in script window. Window will pop up.

To create 3-d roads:1) Click “Load XML File” button, select a segments file from

desired layer.2) Roads are now loaded in as simple curve segments. To give

them width, click “Thicken all curves.” If width is too wide or narrow for you, you can manually adjust it in the script (currently set at .001).

To color layers:1) Reference the ESRI readme to find name of desired layer (i.e.

“wat” for water polygons).2) In textfields next to “Assign shader” button, first type in desired

shader name, then desired layer name. There are 3 preset shaders – blueSG, greySG, blackSG. To add more shaders, manually modify rM() function in script. Click button to assign the shader to that layer.

To find and select a street:1) Type in name of street in textfield next to “Search for name.”

Click button. It will select any segments that match that name (partially or completely). The more descriptive you can be, the better.

To load intersections:1) Click “Load XML File” button and select desired intersections

file.2) Intersections are visualized as small blue spheres, with relevant

attribute information. If you’d like to create a 3-d street sign for a particular sphere or set of spheres, select them and click “Make sign from selected.”