Howto:Make an airport: Difference between revisions
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This article will guide you through the process of '''creating an airport''' and link you to related articles. | |||
== A note about licenses == | |||
Official FlightGear scenery is, as the rest of the program and data, licensed under the [[GNU General Public License]] v2. In order to have your work included in the official scenery, it must comply with this license. | |||
In short this means that you can only use images that: | |||
* you created yourself, entirely from scratch. This is the case when you draw something, or take a photograph of a building. | |||
* you received permission for to release under the GNU GPL v2. | |||
* are licensed under a [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Quick-guide-gplv3-compatibility.svg GNU GPL v2 compatible license] (eg. Public Domain). | |||
Google Earth imagery is per definition '''not''' compatible. For the USA you can download the High Resolution Orthoimagery jpeg from http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ and use that to trace airports or buildings. | |||
Alternatively you can estimate the lengths and widths of the buildings by looking at pictures. | |||
== What you need | == Runways, taxiways and aprons == | ||
=== What you need === | |||
* [[WorldEditor]] | * [[WorldEditor]] | ||
* [[TerraGear]] | * [[TerraGear]] | ||
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* Shapefiles for the area around your airport - http://mapserver.flightgear.org/download.psp | * Shapefiles for the area around your airport - http://mapserver.flightgear.org/download.psp | ||
* Heightmaps - http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/ | * Heightmaps - http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/ | ||
Ubuntu users, can use the script in [[Ubuntu fg tools]]. | |||
== Airport layout == | === Airport layout === | ||
The very first step before creating a new airport layout is to check if the airport already exists in the airport database. Latest data is available at http://data.x-plane.com/get_data.html | The very first step before creating a new airport layout is to check if the airport already exists in the airport database. Latest data is available at http://data.x-plane.com/get_data.html | ||
If we find our airport there, we can improve it, if not, we start a new layout. This is all done in [[WorldEditor]]. | If we find our airport there, we can improve it, if not, we start a new layout. This is all done in [[WorldEditor]]. | ||
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So if we have done the airport in WED, we save it as "ICAO.dat" (replacing ICAO with the ICAO code of your airport). That's the X-Plane fileformat, which is used by FlightGear too. | So if we have done the airport in WED, we save it as "ICAO.dat" (replacing ICAO with the ICAO code of your airport). That's the X-Plane fileformat, which is used by FlightGear too. | ||
== Turning the airport into FlightGear scenery == | === Turning the airport into FlightGear scenery === | ||
There are two possibilities, both require [[TerraGear]]: | There are two possibilities, both require [[TerraGear]]: | ||
* [[Howto: Test your airport layout: quick and easy]], for a quick look at your airport. This will place your airport in the middle of an ocean. | * [[Howto: Test your airport layout: quick and easy]], for a quick look at your airport. This will place your airport in the middle of an ocean. | ||
* [[Using TerraGear]], you can create an entire scenery, including the surrounding terrain. | * [[Using TerraGear]], you can create an entire scenery, including the surrounding terrain. | ||
== Share your | === Share your layout with the world! === | ||
Don't forget to send your new "airport.dat" [http://data.x-plane.com/contact.html to Robin], so we all will benefit from, with the next scenery release! | Don't forget to send your new "airport.dat" [http://data.x-plane.com/contact.html to Robin], so we all will benefit from, with the next scenery release! | ||
[[Category:Howto | == Terminals, towers and hangars == | ||
[[Category:Scenery enhancement | === What you need === | ||
* 3D modeling software, like [[Blender]] or [[SketchUp]], as long as it can export to the .ac file type. | |||
* Lots of pictures of the buildings at the airport. | |||
=== Making a 3D model === | |||
One meter in FlightGear is one meter in the real world. If you use aerial or satellite imagery to measure out the buildings you'll be fine. | |||
=== Placing objects === | |||
{{Main article|Howto:Add details to your airport}} | |||
You can either place the model manually using the [[UFO]], or if you are developing an actual building, it's usually good to get the co-ordinates of one of the corners of the building so you can place it extremely accurately. You also need the elevation and the rotation of the model, but those are easy to estimate. | |||
=== Share your models with the world! === | |||
after finishing a building, send your model to the [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/ scenery database], as that is the best way for them to be distributed. Everyone who downloads the airport from then on will be able to see your building! | |||
== Related content == | |||
* [[Howto:Make a helipad]] | |||
[[Category:Howto]] | |||
[[Category:Scenery enhancement]] | |||
Revision as of 12:05, 19 August 2012
This article will guide you through the process of creating an airport and link you to related articles.
A note about licenses
Official FlightGear scenery is, as the rest of the program and data, licensed under the GNU General Public License v2. In order to have your work included in the official scenery, it must comply with this license.
In short this means that you can only use images that:
- you created yourself, entirely from scratch. This is the case when you draw something, or take a photograph of a building.
- you received permission for to release under the GNU GPL v2.
- are licensed under a GNU GPL v2 compatible license (eg. Public Domain).
Google Earth imagery is per definition not compatible. For the USA you can download the High Resolution Orthoimagery jpeg from http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ and use that to trace airports or buildings.
Alternatively you can estimate the lengths and widths of the buildings by looking at pictures.
Runways, taxiways and aprons
What you need
- WorldEditor
- TerraGear
- Runway layout data - either from the USA Airport & Scenery Database or from other free imagery
- Other data (approach lighting systems, frequencies etc.) about the airport you want to make
- Shapefiles for the area around your airport - http://mapserver.flightgear.org/download.psp
- Heightmaps - http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/
Ubuntu users, can use the script in Ubuntu fg tools.
Airport layout
The very first step before creating a new airport layout is to check if the airport already exists in the airport database. Latest data is available at http://data.x-plane.com/get_data.html If we find our airport there, we can improve it, if not, we start a new layout. This is all done in WorldEditor.
So if we have done the airport in WED, we save it as "ICAO.dat" (replacing ICAO with the ICAO code of your airport). That's the X-Plane fileformat, which is used by FlightGear too.
Turning the airport into FlightGear scenery
There are two possibilities, both require TerraGear:
- Howto: Test your airport layout: quick and easy, for a quick look at your airport. This will place your airport in the middle of an ocean.
- Using TerraGear, you can create an entire scenery, including the surrounding terrain.
Don't forget to send your new "airport.dat" to Robin, so we all will benefit from, with the next scenery release!
Terminals, towers and hangars
What you need
- 3D modeling software, like Blender or SketchUp, as long as it can export to the .ac file type.
- Lots of pictures of the buildings at the airport.
Making a 3D model
One meter in FlightGear is one meter in the real world. If you use aerial or satellite imagery to measure out the buildings you'll be fine.
Placing objects
|
|
You can either place the model manually using the UFO, or if you are developing an actual building, it's usually good to get the co-ordinates of one of the corners of the building so you can place it extremely accurately. You also need the elevation and the rotation of the model, but those are easy to estimate.
after finishing a building, send your model to the scenery database, as that is the best way for them to be distributed. Everyone who downloads the airport from then on will be able to see your building!