SimuTerra Movies...
See for Yourself!

The name of the first movie, Overview, is self-explanatory. The second movie, Watch Me First, is a must-see before you begin to use the program. The next six match the tutorials in the built-in help system. After that come several How-To movies. The last six movies demonstrate some of the new features of SimuTerra version 1.1.

Each movie comes in two flavors: QuickTime and Flash. Choose one by clicking on the appropriate link to the left of the movie, just below its title. The movie will begin playing automatically. If you're viewing from a Macintosh, then QuickTime is usually the better choice; if you're on Windows, you might be better off with the Flash version. If you click on the QuickTime movie from a Windows computer, you may have to wait until the entire movie is downloaded before you see it play; there may not be any sign of life until then.Technical details.

Overview (QuickTime) (Flash (lower quality)) A tour of various uses of and techniques in SimuTerra. (17-1/2 minutes.) (back to top)
Watch Me First (QuickTime) (Flash (lower quality)) Avoid errors, improve results, make models which place less of a burden on other programs. (8-1/2 minutes.) (back to top)
Tutorial: Import and export DXF (QuickTime) (Flash) It takes just three steps to get from raw data to finished surface: 1) import points or polys from a DXF file; 2) create a DTM; 3) export the surface as a DXF file. You can import this new DXF file into programs such as SketchUp, VectorWorks, AutoCAD, DesignWorkshop, and BOA. (back to top)
Tutorial: SketchUp foam core models (QuickTime) (Flash) Export a foam core model from SketchUp. Import into SimuTerra, create a DTM, and export back to SketchUp. (back to top)
Tutorial: Create DTM from scratch (QuickTime) (Flash) Create data, then create a DTM from that data (back to top)
Tutorial: Manipulate views (QuickTime) (Flash) Use various camera tools to manipulate 2D and 3D views. (back to top)
Tutorial: Roads (QuickTime) (Flash) Create a DTM which includes a simple road. (back to top)
Tutorial: Entels (QuickTime) (Flash) Create an entel (entourage element), change its kind, have it hit the road. (back to top)
Building Pads (QuickTime) (Flash) Create a DTM, add and manipulate a building pad, place a house on it. (back to top)
Retaining Walls (QuickTime) (Flash) Create a DTM, add a retaining wall, create a Cut & Fill DTM, see earthwork. (back to top)
Join Polys (QuickTime) (Flash) Join continguous simpler polys into longer, more complex polys. (back to top)
Filter Polys (QuickTime) (Flash) Filter out extraneous vertices from polys. This often results in a reduction of 80% to 90% of the polygon count in the result, as well as in the time it takes to calculate the DTM. (back to top)
Edit Elevations by Clicking (QuickTime) (Flash) With the Raise Tool and the Shift and Option/Alt keys, you can click on objects to set or increment their elevations. This can be a quick way to assign elevations to imported scanned contour lines. (back to top)
Extrude Along Road (QuickTime) (Flash) Extrude any number of closed polys along any number of roads, even if there's no DTM. This can be used to create pavement and curbs, as well as objects totally unrelated to roads. (back to top)
Road Footprints (QuickTime) (Flash) Extrude any number of closed polys along any number of roads, even if there's no DTM. This can be used to create pavement and curbs, as well as objects totally unrelated to roads. (back to top)
Proposed Minus Existing (QuickTime) (Flash) Export the difference between the Existing DTM and the Proposed DTM. This might consist of a road, building pad, etc. (back to top)

Technical details
The movies were all recorded on a Macintosh, though the program is basically the same on both platforms. The Flash movies were created by converting the QuickTime movies.

QuickTime is normally pre-installed on all Macintoshes, and can be downloaded and installed for free if you don't already have it on a Windows computer (go to Apple). You can get QuickTime support from Apple, and you might find some useful support at the site of CBT Cafe.

To return from a movie, click on the Back button of your browser (if you were viewing Flash), or close the newly-opened window or move it to the side (if you were viewing QuickTime).

To pause, resume, or replay a movie, or return to a particular frame, use the controls at the bottom of the particular movie window. On the Macintosh you may be able to control a Flash movie by Control-clicking within it; on Windows, right-click within it.