Let's see your Ctrl+V

[Sniper296 83]

%appdata%\..\Local\Google\Chrome\Application

The location of Google Chrome's launcher, I had that for Dreamweaver I think.

[joshriddle 29]

Pre-owned items are just that. Because they have been worn and laundered, they may show slight washer wear and minimal fading. Anything more than this (such as any stains, rips, or major fading/washer wear) will not be listed for auction or will be stated with the condition as such. Thank you

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

M

[Duke87 1,070]

→

Yup, an arrow.

[joshriddle 29]

THIS TUTORIAL HAS BEEN EDITED, TO INCLUDE THE USE OF FantastiCoast. A VBScript THAT WAS USED HAS BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED BY FantastiCoast.

---

 

Hello all!

I've developed a way to get real world data from Google Earth (actually the data is provided by CGIAR-CSI and appears on Google Earth with the use of a kmz plugin) and create a map.

It involves the use of FantastiCoast, an application I've made, that creates an image file to use in SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper or SC4 itself (not recommended).

The results are quite good. Check out a screenshot from the greater Athens area, just as it came out from my process and not terraformed at all!

 

 

 

Software you will need:

• Google Earth
• The SRTM Digital Elevation Data from srtm.csi.cgiar.org There is a download link in that page, named "Google Link" that downloads a file named srtm41.kmz
• FantastiCoast, attached at the end of this post
• SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper
• SimCity 4

 

Steps to make your map:

 

1. Open Google Earth by booting SRTM Data

After you download srtm41.kmz (41 means version 4.1, it will probably be updated sometime...), save it in a folder and double click it. It will open Google Earth, with SRTM data loaded.

Enable the place in the sidebar

and you will see the results on the map

 

2. Locate the area you want and download the data you need

I will use the area of Athens that you see in the beginning of this tutorial.

So, click on the green icon of the tile you are interested in. If you need data from more tiles, read further.

 

Then, click on the link

and watch the results

 

Next, enable the Data checkbox in the sidebar, inside elevation preview --> Global legend

 

and you will see the links for the data of the subtiles enabled

 

By clicking on the square icon next to the the "Data" label, you can download the precious data!

It is an .asc file.

For my example, I used the data from 4 subtiles, because the area I wanted was in the middle of them.

So, I downloaded

srtm_41_05_4_3.asc, srtm_41_05_4_4.asc, srtm_41_05_5_3.asc and srtm_41_05_5_4.asc

 

*** As I mentioned earlier, if you need data from subtiles of 2 different tiles, go get them! Now you know how.

 

You can now close Google Earth.

 

---

There is one extra optional step which is not covered by this tutorial: Using DEM data in a GIS application (ie Global Mapper) to get a correct scale. Look at the end of this post for further details. 

 

---

 

 

3. Use FantastiCoast to create the bitmaps

Go to the end of this post, download and install FantastiCoast. * You need Microsoft's .NET Framework 4 to run FantastiCoast

... 

You can read usage instruction for FantastiCoast here

In short, open the .asc file and click "Launch". Then save the file as bmp or png or 16bit png. It is ready for SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper!

If you downloaded more than one file, repeat for the rest.

You can see a downsized sample (originals are 4,11MB, 1200x1200 pixels):

 

*** Do not forget: SC4Terraformer and SC4Mapper, just like SC4, need bitmaps of a specific size (64 pixels per km + 1 pixel, ie 1025x1025 for 16x16 km). You will get better results if you crop and stitch them instead of resizing them before using them in SC4T/SC4M/SC4. Do not let SC4T/SC4M resize the picture because the terrain will look very spikey.

 

Ok, I guess experienced map makers know what to do next...

However, I continue the tutorial, just in case you need more help. 

 

4. [optional] Stitch the bitmaps, in case you need data from more than one

Using a picture editor, you can stitch the pictures made by the script. For those who wonder, NO, they are not distorted, you can stitch them just by placing them one next to another.

Here is an example of a 2400x2400 picture

 

5. Crop the final picture

Now we have a bigger picture which contains the area we wanted. After we stitch the pictures, we have to crop the final picture to the size we need (1025x1025 pixels is the standard for a 16x16 map). The rule is

64 pixels * mapsize + 1

so for a mapsize of 16x16 km we need a 1025x1025 picture and for a mapsize of 16x32 we need a 1025x2049 etc.

Of course you can also resize instead of cropping but remember: Resizing always results in some kind of distortion, so you would better avoid it as much as possible. If you have to do it, do it only once and remember that you will probably have to Equalize the map in SC4T, in order to reduce some spikes you will get from the distortion.

 

So, after cropping my final picture to a 1025x1025 bitmap (I don't thing you need a screenshot for this), I am ready to go with SC4T.

 

6. Use SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper  

I have only used SC4T because I have some installation problem with SC4M. However, there is no big difference.

Open SC4T, choose a Region you have created in the game for your new map, and click "Import image" under "Global tools". Pick your final image, click OK and them RGB and... voila! You have your new map, ready to play!

 

...well, almost!

Sometimes you might need to use "Equalize" just once, because the map will look a bit spikey. Judge by your own.

 

After saving, you can open the tiles one by one in the game (DO NOT USE RECONCILE!) and "save and exit to region", to render the map correctly.

 

7. Some finishing you have to do

The satellite data does not distinguish water masses such as rivers and lakes. You will have to create them on your own. Usually, they are visible as flat areas (lakes) and banks (rivers).

 

--- The scaling problem ---

- SRTM Digital Elevation Data has 90m precision. It is not bad, but it is much less data than the supposed size of the maps you create. Actually, your final map is downscaled by 16:90, meaning it is about 5 times shrinked. In my map, an area of approx 90x90 km, was turned into a map of 16x16.

There are solutions, one of which is approached by MallowTheCloud in his "Making Accurate-Scale Real-World Maps" tutorial. I will try to write a complete tutorial on the whole process soon.

Another solution of course, would be to resize the picture, regardless of the reduced precision. Try it, it might not be too bad... 

 

 

 

 

I hope you find this tutorial useful and you enjoy your new maps!

 

xentrix 

 

 

PS: I'd love to see some screenshots of any map you might create by this method, especially if you find anything weird with FantastiCoast. Thanks in advance!

 

(This was a mapping tutorial from the mapping section on ST that I wanted to paste on an html doc)

[Larks2242 251]

Kyuji Fujikawa

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Love Hina

[joshriddle 29]

http://www.freeonlinephotoeditor.com/temp/twJXSyNkOe.png?s=642205

[Larks2242 251]

Na dann, auf gehts! Die zeit rennt!

Don't ask

[Duke87 1,070]

Benedict 2662 04/24/2003 5268

Moving things around in my list...

[astronelson 339]

http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/abc4

24-hour news channel.

[joshriddle 29]

http://blog.nileguide.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/photo-friday-227.jpg

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

ME among As.

// ME between Bs and Cs.

// ME between As and Cs.

// Priority to As.

Part of a programming homework problem.

[jakehh 52]

^ Where i live.

[joshriddle 29]

https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=37691&enterthread=y

[Candunc 3]

9510

[un1 41]

[Vahr 341]

444

[astronelson 339]

Which is this:

[pona12 3]

Courtney Love

(so typically me eh?)

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

'

... That's it? Just an apostrophe?

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

I'd take off my clothes and dance around my room naked!

---

Hah!  That was a comment of Duke's that I copied from the "If I was a moderator" thread!

[Vahr 341]

(Dish with Solid - Dish):

Lab report...

[Sniper296 83]

Selection.material = undefined

Maxscript to clear assigned material

[Larks2242 251]

Catchers on the free agent market:

.Josh Bard

.Gerald Laird

.Bengie Molina

.Gregg Zaun

.Henry Blanco, Russell Martin and Matt Treanor are all free agents, but are reportedly nearing deals.

[Slashback 136]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\Downloads

[Duke87 1,070]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKHzIXZBF74

Nonny's bogus Trixie.

[Samness 104]

2x3 New York City Hall

Copied it for some reason on an NAM discussion with CaptCity about an issue I'm having with NAM.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Everyone who's posted on this page so far has the same hats...

When Tristan got off his dropship and walked off the landing pad toward the hospital, he witnessed the groups of people in one area or another. They were panicked. And it was his fault. There must have been something he hadn't done, something he overlooked that allowed this dastardly attack to happen. Will his country ever see lasting peace, he thought to himself as he made his way inside and to the nearest nurse's desk.

Putting his hands down on the desk, he got the distracted nurse's attention.quote>

Lyhoko: There's too much interconnectivity, it shouldn't be possible to shut down the entire city's power short of blowing up all the power plants or power lines.

Chancellor Tristan: Miss, this is urgent. What wing and room is Tessa Liara Archean in?

The nurse glanced up at him and, recognizing his face was shocked to see him here, alive and well! Almost everyone in the city had surely believed their Chancellor died in the attack. But here he was, demanding a room number.

Nurse: U-uhh, I-I believe room one-oh-f-four, Urgent Care.quote>

Lyhoko: Good thing for transporters.

When the elevator doors opened, he walked out into the corridor to find it surprisingly quiet and lacking of human presence. He cautiously walked down it, looking at each closed door before coming up on an all to familiar sight to him. Infront of a certain door, one of Tristan's personal bodyguards, who was one of Trellian's men, was laying slumped on the tiled floor, a stab wound in his neck. Tristan instantly turned soldier as he quickly closed the gap between him and the door, and after kneeling, grabbed the man's sidearm and held a second before bursting into the room, gun raised, only to find an empty bed. He scanned the room before noticing the bed sheets were strewn all over, dipicting some sort of struggle. That's when he heard a loud slam, from a metal door clasp, which is when he turned and bolted out of the room. down the hallway, he saw a staircase door and bolted for it. When he reached it, he looked down and then up, and saw a figure quickly scaling the steps.quote>

Lyhoko: You need armored guards...

Chancellor Tristan: Stop!

The figure then glanced down, and immediately fired two rounds down at him. Tristan ducked behind the wall before quickly giving chase, knowing this man had his daughter! He chased him up the staircase all the way to the maintenance level right below the roof. The figure opened a hatch to the roof and pushed a smaller person through it before following.quote>

Lyhoko: Telekinetic powers would also come in handy...

Tristan ran to the hatch and carefully looked through it onto the roof, not wanting to get hit by a bullet. As he climbed the ladder, the two figures stood near the edge of the roof, with a Helicopter getting a bit too close to the building.quote>

Lyhoko: Shoot down the helicopter?

As the Helicopter slowed to a hover near the end of the roof, Tristan got within twenty feet and pointed the gun at the armed man, who turned with the other figure trapped in his arm, the gun pressed to her head. Tristan widened his eyes to see Tessa, his daughter with a gun to her head. She looked barely conscious, her legs wobbling and eyes half open. Was she drugged?quote>

Lyhoko: "Asakura->Freeze Target" would come in handy... but no one there has that ability...

Chancellor Tristan: Don't you dare! Release her! Now!

The figure slowly backed up toward the awaiting helicopter and laughed, keeping his head right behind Tessa's.

Armed Man: Not this day Chancellor! She's coming with me.quote>

Lyhoko: What's the point of all this anyway? What will you do if Myon gets involved?

The groggy Tessa moaned and tried to focus on Tristan, and slowly raised a hand to him.

Tessa:  D-daddy? Why....what's going, on?

Armed Man: Don't worry sweetheart, you're coming with me for now.

Chancellor Tristan: You son of a...you let her go, NOW!

The figure just smirked and kept backing up toward the helicopter. Tessa's head remained right infront of her captor's, so all Tristan could do was point his gun with hsi finger off the trigger. He couldn't risk it. He wasn't familiar enough with a weapon to fire through a hostage to hit the hostage taker without fatally wounding the innocent. He just couldn't risk his only child.quote>

Lyhoko: Yes, that's not going to work too well.

As the Helicopter left, Two officers finally arrived at the scene behind Tristan as he just stared on, helpless, infuriated. After a minute, Tristan let out a yell and fired the rest of his magazine into the air, catching the police officers off guard, making them raise their guns at the Chancellor. Tristan turned around, furious and pointed at the helicopter now quite a ways away.

Chancellor Tristan: Dont you point those things at me! Get a chopper in the air and FOLLOW THAT HELICOPTER!quote>

Lyhoko: Ah, yes, there's that line... a bit different than usual, though.

Well, what do you know. A mega reply.

[Schulmanator 5,787]