Mars Visualization in Java3D (original)

This video was produced with software I wrote for an independent study project during my freshman year at Wartburg College. The software is written in Java and uses the Java3D API and data collected by NASA's MOLA onboard the Mars Global Surveyor satellite. The software was also designed to be compatible with Wartburg's Stereoscopic visualization environment to enable users to take a tour of the planet's landscape in virtual reality. Please note that I'll be uploading a more recent and higher quality version soon.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mars
• virtual
• reality
• stereoscopic
• mola
• visualization
• java3d
• aviation
• space
• computer

[abkleo]

Hey how did u get the terrain details for mars?

Is it from a 3d model or a height map?

[jamesjuett]

It's from a height map. You can find the data by doing a google search for "mola megdr" (It should be about the first result)

Also, you should check out a better video from the same software called "A Journey to the Martian Surface" by doing a google search for "lohe56videos" or here on youtube.

[tubeviewer2007]

certainly impressive...i am a java programmer myself and after watching your video I want to look into java 3D api has to offer.

[jamesjuett]

Thanks for your comment. The Java3D API is a very easy to use and useful tool, athough it does have its downsides. For the most part, I used it because it seemed easier than JOGL or something along those lines, but in the end a lot of my work was on performance tuning, so there was definitely a trade-off in the process. Make sure to check out some of the other Mars videos I'll be posting soon. The quality has improved quite a bit.

[dosattack777]

hey nice how do i get into java 3d api is it just like another library part of the jdk or what i have been making simple little applet games that are lame and want to move on

[jamesjuett]

The two images were used to create a passive stereo effect (with two projectors passing through perpendicular polarizing filters and similarly filtered glasses for each viewer). The computer is set up so the left half of the screen goes to one projector and the right half to another projector. Hopefully, I should have a few better movies produced in the next couple weeks and will put them up here. Thanks for your comment!