Anyhow, this week is back to 3d rendering in
microdem and getting these GEOTIFF files to cooperate... also learning the joys and aches of white_dune - the open source
VRML editor ps for some really sweet Virtual Reality Markup Language (.wrl) files on the natch check out Peter Guth's (Microdem's Author) directory tree.
http://www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/microdem/target3D/Buildings/VRML Bridges, powerlines, buildings, tanks, aircraft, helicopters etc... totally badass - all in VRML 1.0 specification.
To convert these guys for white_dune (VRML 2 (some folks call it VRML97) you can use a nifty piece of software called
Crossroads 3D if that's not doing it for you (it can drop out occasionally on large files) the
vrml1 to vrml2 converter is a nice commandline utility that whoops.
Once you've got everything in VRML 2 (VRML 97) you can begin working in white_dune - the biggest challenge their is the preview window and moving objects around in there - if you've got a 3d mouse / joystick you may have more success and simplify your life - otherwise it's not bad.