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 server
b. Put GIS data files into folders corresponding to their
layer in the tmrs/src/ESRI folder
c. 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, anywhere
b. 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.”