The visual landscapes developed for all NADS simulation platforms contain detailed representations of road networks and geographic features, as well as creating a realistic sense of place within the simulator. NADS staff construct generic geo-typical environments, or geo-specific environments designed to accurately depict a particular real-world location. NADS databases support both off-road and on-road simulation environments.

Geo-typical databases are developed using an extendable library of visual databases called tiles that include commercial, highway, residential, and industrial landscapes. Tiles are reusable templates that connect to each other to build a larger simulation environment using the Tile Mosaic Tool (TMT).





Geo-specific databases recreate real-world locations. NADS utilizes multiple source data types, including GIS data in the form of satellite imagery, ARC coverages, GPS survey data, digital imagery and digital elevation data to ensure accuracy. Geo-specific databases are validated by expert drivers familiar with the real-world locale driving the simulation environment, comparison of instrumented vehicles with simulator data, or comparison of video or site imagery with the constructed environment. Geo-specific databases typically require higher feature density, higher resolution geometry and significantly more texture memory than geo-typical databases.

Areas of research under this effort include:

  • Development of the Tile Mosaic Tool (TMT)
  • Rapid geo-typical databse creation using a library of 60+ tiles
  • Roadway construction based on AASHTO standards or to project-related specifications, including the definition of surface material, lane width, roadway markings, shoulder width, and shoulder material
  • Tiles are constructed to permit control of various elements such as street signs, traffic lights and features as needed
  • Once tested and integrated or updated, a tile's functionality is ensured for all instances of that tile
  • On-road and off-road visual databases

 

 

Selected references:
Development of realistic microscopic terrain surfaces and features for driving simulation environments,
Allen, S., Bruse, C., Driving Simulation Conference-Europe, 2001

Dynamic terrain for real-time driving simulation,
Cremer, J., Papelis, Y.E., He, Y., paper presented at IMAGE Conference, 2000

Real-time extendible-resolution display of on-line dynamic terrain,
He, Y., Cremer, J., Papelis, Y.E., Proceedings of Graphics Interface, 2002