I'd be interested hearing peoples thoughts on this. I stumbled across a couple of YT vids showing some work done with Assetto Corsa - and it looks v promising. If suitable cameras could be mounted on trains then maybe this could work in train sims. Might become a thing in the next 5 years? Anything to help ease the pain (well the pain of how long it takes) of route building!
The use of photogrammetry in Microsoft Flight Simulator has shown some of the downsides e.g. dreadful close in views if the resolution is not good enough together with possible high processor usage. My guess is that it's probably better for distant(ish) scenery rather than nearby scenery so it probably still needs a lot of hard work by the route developer.
Scenery in MSFS is epic when your not close to it Not very confident it would work with train sim. I like the idea of the team getting photos and going out onto the routes to then handcraft it out.
... and the chances of getting enough access to be able to do that on any given route are extremely slim So any investment in improving route building tools needs to be based on NOT having this data because otherwise it won't help the majority of what is being made. It's a cool system though, I like it and Flight Sim uses it really well.
I know Slightly Mad Studios use it for track building in the Project CARS series on a number of tracks. But yeah, I agree with the general consensus that it won't work well in this context. Where photogrammetry excels is when you can literally stitch together an entire area from all possible angles, I believe SMS used drones for a lot of their work, something which is completely inappropriate near an active train line, especially with OHLE involved.
I remember seeing someone who flew a plane in MSFS past Union Pacifics Cheyenne yards, shop, and roundhouse. Which, while looks good for a flight sim, it would look awful for a train sim. EDIT: I found it
I agree, it's a fascinating field, and, given the pace of digital photography and the relevant computer software, I wouldn't dismiss the idea for future route building. It could lead to highly accurate, detailed landscapes and environments, with huge savings of time and handcrafting. I never discount technology, these days. A relatively few years ago, mobile phones weighed several pounds and the notion of using them for highly detailed photography was a laughable pipe dream, if it was dreamed of at all.
I’m just wondering whether laser scanning would offer a different dynamic. I guess not. Would I be right in thinking we’d need force feedback for it benefit
