The Most Amazing Adventure You'll Ever Download

squarejawhero · 05-29-2005, 01:03 PM

Hi guys,

Not strictly speaking an adventure, but it IS point and click. Nasa's WorldWind is simply the most amazing piece of freeware I've EVER used. I just zoomed into the virtual world from space to a friends house I stayed in at San Francisco.

There are different types of data for viewing on this program, including 3D visualisations of geographical formations. It's point and click, and totally stunning to boot!

IT'S FREAKIN' STUNNING! And more than a little scary!

Get it at -

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

Huz · 05-29-2005, 01:11 PM

It's awesome! I'm just a tiny bit disappointed you can't zoom in further - on Google Maps you can pretty much zoom right in to peek at individual houses. Imagine that in this thing!

Still, it's got a high enough resolution that I've been able to look at just about every city I've been to recently - and pick out more or less where I went. Seriously awesome!

squarejawhero · 05-29-2005, 01:27 PM

All major US cities allow you to zoom into individual houses. It's a shame you can't do it elsewhere, but I managed to zoom right into Turin (which I know well) to find that all major landmarks were there down to the Superga, with 3D data so the landscape was as I remembered it. From there I went down the coast to my old fave holiday spot, Levanto, and not only was it marked, the valley was rendered in 3D and the village in the right place, along with the Cinque Terre along the coast.

If only it had the same detail as the US cities! But you can't have everything (yet)!

samIamsad · 05-29-2005, 02:02 PM

Can you search for cities by typing in a name? Looks interesting, but I have to wait 'till I'm back at my apartment.

squarejawhero · 05-29-2005, 02:11 PM

I think you can.

BTW on the WW site you can also download add-ons and plugins in the forums. No UK Urban centres yet, but there are links to other "zoomable" maps too.

samIamsad · 05-29-2005, 02:14 PM

What about Germany then?

I'm currently at my parents' house (dial-up connection!) and feeling a bit home sick.

samIamsad · 05-31-2005, 04:39 PM

SJH, I've downloaded it and can't zoom into anything.... Does it constantly downlaod data?

squarejawhero · 06-01-2005, 12:11 AM

Yes, then it caches it so wait a second on zooming. Also make sure you've got one of the options selected at the top - urban only works in some areas of the US though! Landsat 7's first option is good.

samIamsad · 06-01-2005, 02:27 AM

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Doesn't work somehow. Perhaps my firewall's blockin'. Perhaps it's just me. He he.

I'm pressing the `+`key to zoom. I'm waiting. Nothing happens. Well, I've got to deal with a 2 GB traffic limit here at my student's apartment, so perhaps it's better not to play around with that program anyway.

Huz · 06-01-2005, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samIamsad

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Doesn't work somehow. Perhaps my firewall's blockin'. Perhaps it's just me. He he.

I'm pressing the `+`key to zoom. I'm waiting. Nothing happens. Well, I've got to deal with a 2 GB traffic limit here at my student's apartment, so perhaps it's better not to play around with that program anyway.

You might have to set up the web proxy for your university within World Wind - steal the settings from your browser if so. It downloads its data via the web, so if it isn't working I think this is the most probably cause.

The coverage of Europe isn't great unfortunately - I was looking at Hamburg (I spent some time there a month or two ago) and you could just about make out the big lake. Shame really. I'm sure it will improve in future though.

EDIT: BLOODY HELL! I hadn't realised the Urban option only works for the US - now I've finally seen what this program can do. This is incredible!

squarejawhero · 06-01-2005, 07:43 AM

Well, it is USGS data. United States Geographical Survey.

Legolas813 · 06-01-2005, 07:31 PM

Nice find. Toying around with it now.

05-29-2005, 01:03 PM	#1
squarejawhero Epinionated. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	The Most Amazing Adventure You'll Ever Download Hi guys, Not strictly speaking an adventure, but it IS point and click. Nasa's WorldWind is simply the most amazing piece of freeware I've EVER used. I just zoomed into the virtual world from space to a friends house I stayed in at San Francisco. There are different types of data for viewing on this program, including 3D visualisations of geographical formations. It's point and click, and totally stunning to boot! IT'S FREAKIN' STUNNING! And more than a little scary! Get it at - http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

05-29-2005, 01:11 PM	#2
Huz Kersal Massive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,430	It's awesome! I'm just a tiny bit disappointed you can't zoom in further - on Google Maps you can pretty much zoom right in to peek at individual houses. Imagine that in this thing! Still, it's got a high enough resolution that I've been able to look at just about every city I've been to recently - and pick out more or less where I went. Seriously awesome! Share Share this post on Twitter

05-29-2005, 01:27 PM	#3
squarejawhero Epinionated. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	All major US cities allow you to zoom into individual houses. It's a shame you can't do it elsewhere, but I managed to zoom right into Turin (which I know well) to find that all major landmarks were there down to the Superga, with 3D data so the landscape was as I remembered it. From there I went down the coast to my old fave holiday spot, Levanto, and not only was it marked, the valley was rendered in 3D and the village in the right place, along with the Cinque Terre along the coast. If only it had the same detail as the US cities! But you can't have everything (yet)! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

05-29-2005, 02:02 PM	#4
samIamsad capsized. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	Can you search for cities by typing in a name? Looks interesting, but I have to wait 'till I'm back at my apartment. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...!

05-29-2005, 02:11 PM	#5
squarejawhero Epinionated. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	I think you can. BTW on the WW site you can also download add-ons and plugins in the forums. No UK Urban centres yet, but there are links to other "zoomable" maps too. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

05-29-2005, 02:14 PM	#6
samIamsad capsized. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	What about Germany then? I'm currently at my parents' house (dial-up connection!) and feeling a bit home sick. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...!

05-31-2005, 04:39 PM	#7
samIamsad capsized. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	SJH, I've downloaded it and can't zoom into anything.... Does it constantly downlaod data? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...! Last edited by samIamsad; 05-31-2005 at 04:44 PM.

06-01-2005, 12:11 AM	#8
squarejawhero Epinionated. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	Yes, then it caches it so wait a second on zooming. Also make sure you've got one of the options selected at the top - urban only works in some areas of the US though! Landsat 7's first option is good. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

06-01-2005, 02:27 AM	#9
samIamsad capsized. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Doesn't work somehow. Perhaps my firewall's blockin'. Perhaps it's just me. He he. I'm pressing the `+`key to zoom. I'm waiting. Nothing happens. Well, I've got to deal with a 2 GB traffic limit here at my student's apartment, so perhaps it's better not to play around with that program anyway. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...!

06-01-2005, 07:43 AM	#11
squarejawhero Epinionated. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,841	Well, it is USGS data. United States Geographical Survey. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Starter of Thread Must Die.

06-01-2005, 07:31 PM	#12
Legolas813 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,783	Nice find. Toying around with it now. Share Share this post on Twitter

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