Antarctic Terragen tests

Tests using Terragen 2 to create aerial views of the Antarctic.

Tests using Terragen 2 to create a unified CGI Earth model.

The clip shows 3 different views of the Antarctic region - one from space, one from 100,000 feet, and one from 60,000 feet. Real elevation data was used to create an accurate representation of topography.

Terragen2 artist Chris Hunt created a unified model that would allow separate Space Shuttle type drifts at fixed heights, or a continuous camera move from deep space down to ground level, maintaining accuracy and very high levels realism at all times.

Snow and ice cover was determined by calculating the varied slope angles and altitudes.
Hunt then fed these figures back in to the the textures and shaders in order to accurately simulate how snow drifts and settles. The process is then refined further by filling depressions and cracks on surfaces, to predetermined levels - freshly fallen or wind-cleared, providing another level of realism.

author: adc
2009-09-22