DspaceOgreTerrain is an extension to the DspaceOgre 3D visualization tool that supports real-time visualization of various terrain types, including digital elevation maps, planets, and meshes. DspaceOgreTerrain supports creating 3D representations of terrains and placing them in a scene graph. The 3D representations allow for a continuous level of detail, GPU-based rendering, and overlaying graphics like wheel tracks and shadows. It supports reading data from the SimScape terrain-modeling library.
DspaceOgreTerrain solves the problem of displaying the results of simulations that involve very large terrains. In the past, it has been used to visualize simulations of vehicle traverses on Lunar and Martian terrains. These terrains were made up of billions of vertices and would not have been renderable in real-time without using a continuous level of detail rendering technique.
This work was done by Steven Myint, Abhinandan Jain, and Marc I. Pomerantz of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Daniel Broderick of the California Institute of Technology at
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
DspaceOgreTerrain 3D Terrain Visualization Tool
(reference NPO-47976) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the DspaceOgreTerrain 3D Terrain Visualization Tool, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is part of NASA Tech Briefs, specifically referenced as NPO-47976, and aims to disseminate aerospace-related developments with broader technological, scientific, or commercial applications.
DspaceOgreTerrain is designed to provide reusable, multi-mission 3D visualization capabilities, leveraging game engine technology for real-time performance. The tool is capable of production-quality rendering from simulation data, making it suitable for various applications in aerospace and beyond. It supports a C++ and Python API, allowing for flexible integration and customization.
Key features of the DspaceOgreTerrain tool include:
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Real-Time Performance: The tool utilizes advanced game engine technology to deliver real-time visualization, which is crucial for applications requiring immediate feedback and interaction.
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High-Quality Rendering: It offers production-quality rendering, enabling users to visualize complex data sets with high fidelity. This includes capabilities for ray-traced rendering workflows, which enhance the realism of the visual output.
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Synthetic Imagery and Camera Simulation: The tool supports synthetic imagery for real-time camera simulation, which is essential for machine vision software and other applications that require accurate visual representation.
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GPU Acceleration: The tool employs GPU acceleration for terrain rendering, allowing it to handle large data sets efficiently. For instance, it can render a three billion triangle MOLA (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter) data set in real time using a continuous level of detail algorithm.
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Versatile Visualization: DspaceOgreTerrain can visualize a broad range of mission domain simulations, accommodating multiple runtime scenes and points of view. This versatility makes it applicable to various missions and research projects.
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Engineering Analysis: The tool also supports GPU-based engineering analysis, which can enhance the understanding of complex systems and improve decision-making processes.
The document emphasizes the importance of compliance with U.S. export regulations and notes that the information may contain proprietary content. It encourages users to reach out to the Innovative Technology Assets Management at JPL for further assistance and information regarding research and technology in this area.
Overall, the DspaceOgreTerrain 3D Terrain Visualization Tool represents a significant advancement in the visualization of aerospace data, providing researchers and engineers with powerful tools to analyze and present complex information effectively.
