Hello, We are currently studying on a simulation project for training the locomotive drivers. We are investigating the possible methods for 3D graphical modelling of the railway. Question is how to reflect the curvatures and tangents(slopes) we encounter in the railway to our 3D rail models. Definitions in the railway technical sheets are as follows : 1- A straight railway at about 1 km including some varying tangents (slopes) of %0.48 from 0 km to 0.212 km and tangent (slope) of %0 from 0.212 km to 0.557km. 2- Curvature block follows the first straight line. The curvature has a lenght of 766.67 meters with the radius of 780 meters.(Curvature may also have multiple different slopes between the two end) Again the question is how to reflect the real railway road data to our 3D railway models.The data modelled must be nearly perfect to original. P.S : Pls post your feedbacks if there are some points left unclear in the question. P.S 2: We prefer using Multigen Creator,please point out if you suggest us to use another tool to reach our goal P.S 3: Another problem is how to (meaning:which angle do we need to use)combine the railway blocks (for ex: railways stated above.railway 1 and 2).We dont have an angle information about railway blocks junction. Thank you for your concern [Edited by - micarus on April 14, 2008 2:05:28 AM]

I'm not quite sure I follow perfectly. Do you want some sort of algorithm that would raise and lower a railroad track, or just how to do it? Because it's pretty easy in any modelling program to just create a railroad and use the built-in measuring techniques to make it precise.

what i meant is shortly : How do i model a railway identical to original one?

I have information about the railway like i stated the very first post.But i dont know a way to model it identical to original road itself.I m using multigen Creator at the moment,but any other tool can be used if you say it helps more.The main thing is the railway must be perfectly identical to original.

No ideas about it ?

Do you have any data that gives the depth information of the terrain around the tracks? Like a contour map? With that you can make a heightmap that'll give you semi-accurate terrain height and falloff. Then you can have the tracks follow this same height information. And if possible, use an accurate map, or a skyview of the tracks to draw a spline that follows the path of the tracks (from a topdown view), then have your track model follow the spline path. When combined you'll have a pretty good replication of the tracks from the height of the tracks and their particular path.
But realistically you won't be able to get a 100% accurate result, but you can get close.

[Edited by - Jarrod1937 on April 24, 2008 5:50:02 PM]