Mesh
It is known fact, Microsoft used SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data with resolution of 38 meters in development of terrain relief (mesh) for Flight Simulator X. Key word here is radar and its weaknesses. As we all know principle of radar detection is receipt of signals that bounced back from an object and in Shuttle mission variations in times the signal needed to travel to and fro, were reinterpreted as altitudes of terrain. While the principle works quite fine in flat areas and areas with low angled slopes, SRTM mission experienced a lot of problems in areas of the Earth where there are big mountainous areas, sent signals were deflected by a steeply sloped terrain and no returns were received. They called those results voids and values for voids were set as being 0 – zero.
Once back home, the whole data gathered in SRTM mission was put into a computer and voids were replaced with something a certain algorithm calculated, could have been a correct value for a void at a certain position, based on values of surrounding points. But even that doesn't work in certain areas and Slovenia is one of those. Our highest peak is Mt.Triglav and is 2864 meters high. In FS X it's altitude is around 2300 meters, almost 600 meters short of the real thing! I said around, since it's really next to impossible to define which point is it's summit if FS X's default mesh is observed and it's simulated shape can't be any farther away from reality. I guess it's no need to point out, Triglav's slopes are extremely steep, northern face is almost vertical. The same situation repeats with almost any of numerous beautiful hills and mountains, our country is so rich with, and all over impression of the terrain is as far away from reality as it can be – not even with the best of imagination, people who know every square meter of our country, both from the ground and from the air, are not able to recognize certain locations since they are so badly misshaped by the voids eliminating algorithm.
In order to avoid the situation, we developed mesh covering whole territory of Slovenia in 10 meters resolution from real, raw data without any interpolation, resulting in stunning improvement. All of our peaks popped up to their real altitudes and ridges became almost razor sharp, just like they really are. Improvement can be observed even in lowlands where we are now able to recognize even such small details as riverbeds of almost the tiniest streams and underpasses on highways and railroad lines. These facts encouraged us to offer this mesh also as a stand alone product, since it really greatly enhances the looks of Slovene territory and is almost a must to have for those, who purchased our scenery Slovenia for Microsoft's flight simulator X, Part 1- East.
You can see gallery of images and order this mesh exclusively at SimMarket
