Fly thru - Drive thru

[jimwest]

I am not an AutoCAD user, but I have a detailed map of WW2 Camp Atterbury, Indiana professionally redrawn in AutoCAD. Layers include streets, roads, and buildings, and a small amount of text. The AutoCAD map was prepared by a professional firm in Indianapolis a few years ago as a donation to the non-profit Association.
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> I also have dimensions of all buildings. There are slightly more than 1,500 buildings, but 99% of all buildings were built from perhaps 5-6 building plans. In other words, 500 +/- barracks buildings are identical. 100 Mess halls are identical. So the dimensions of each building do not have to be individually entered.
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> Would it be possible for an AutoCAD Expert to take those two pieces of info and create an "fly-through/drive-through" animated version of what the camp would have looked like in 1942 ?
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> I expect that would be a huge undertaking, but also figure it never hurts to ask.
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> The printed map hangs in the Camp Atterbury Museum and is 6 feet wide by 7 feet tall.
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> I assume that something like this is possible. In fact one engineer at the firm was thinking about doing this, but he left their employment before beginning and I have no idea where he went. He indicated it was a relatively easy task (for him).
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> My questions: Is it possible, and do you know of anyone that would be interested in such a project ?
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> The camp can be seen at www.IndianaMilitary.org I am the originator and webmaster. It is the official site and is hosted by the Military Department of Indiana and the INARNG, and is the largest private non-commercial site in Indiana.
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> Any help and advice you can offer will be appreciated.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Please note I've *moved* this thread from the Local User Groups (http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37) Forum to this one as I feel this particular Forum is a more appropriate place for such a topic.

Please also have a read through of the AUGI Forum Guidelines (http://forums.solidvapor.net/faq.php?faq=vb_augi).

Thanks, Mike

Forum Moderator

[jaberwok]

"what it would have looked like in 1942"

The basic modeling shouldn't be hard and a relatively quick, low-detail version would give an impression. BUT how much detail would be required?
You could start with low-detail Blocks inserted as required and use 3DStudio to output a movie to file or tape. Then create blocks with greater detail to replace the first ones.

[jimwest]

Sounds easy (to you maybe), but I don't know much about AutoCAD nor own the program. I'm really looking for a "volunteer" that might like to produce such a "movie" as a contribution to our Veterans. Never hurts to ask.

Detail would be roofs, doors and windows and perhaps street signs or names. Maybe a jeep scattered here and there. A few colors to show buildings, roofs, grass and roads.

But I was thinking more of something on a computer that the viewer could direct around the camp using the mouse. Go anywhere you wanted to go.

This may not even be possible. The problem is that returning Veterans to Camp Atterbury IN, are totally lost, as just about everything has changed. I have a 6 foot by 7 foot map (from the AutoCAD file) on the wall, but it is still tough for all to get orientation.

Thanks for replying.

Jim West
www.IndianaMilitary.org

[davidc.70843]

I would be willing to have a look, I make no promises, but let me see how much work there is to do.

regards

David

[jimwest]

Would you like to see a hand drawn map first to get an idea of the extent ? If so, let me have your email address and I will send one.

Jim West
jimwest@iquest.net

[jaberwok]

But I was thinking more of something on a computer that the viewer could direct around the camp using the mouse. Go anywhere you wanted to go.
AFAIK none of adesk's software will do this (ICBW). You're talking about a "virtual worlds" type of software and they do exist. AutoCAD could still be used to generate the geometry.