Using Google Earth Information for Terrain with Vehicle Simulator

[[abstract]]當前Google Earth於使用者介面上所呈現的地形僅為單純的貼圖視效，而非擁有實際的高度起伏與坡度陡緩，且嵌入的物件(建築物、地標等)也無物理碰撞等力回饋處理。 本篇藉由使用者即時點選地點，再利用Google Earth取得該地點的海拔高度、經緯度、地面影像等各項地形資訊，並使用Unity 3D視效引擎呈現華麗擬真的視效表現，且內嵌的PhysX物理模擬引擎技術更能重建出原地形特徵。 另外輔以地形平滑(Smooth)技術處理之後，將可嵌入物件(車輛)於重建的地形中，並完成移動、碰撞、加速、旋轉等各項物理行為動作。最後再搭配羅技(Logitech)的駕車搖桿，提供使用者仿如駕車於指定地點。[[abstract]]Nowadays the terrain of Google Earth just only specially efficacy with texture maps but do not have any 3D physical model and the embedded objects(buildings landmarks and so on) and also do not have any physical collision Hence in our research based on the Google Earth terrain information such as elevation above sea level longitude altitude and texture maps with terrain in any location of the World Then the Phyx physical engine and OpenGL were employed for rebuilding terrain with physical collision Otherwise the Smooth technique was used for smoothing surface of terrain Finally the real-time 3D physical model vehicle embedded on virtual environment for drivin