I've recently been doing some civil visualization using a 3ds Max plugin called called Dynamite VSP. Produced by 3am Solutions, this plug-in truly lives up to its name. It solves a number of problems confronting the civil 3d visualizer.
As all good 3ds Max users know, our favorite program uses "floating-point" mathematics which allows for very fast viewport rendering. Unfortunately, it also means that the further you are from the origin, the more problematic your work becomes. While this is not very evident in architectural visualization, it hits you where it hurts when doing civil work. Most files coming from Civil 3D and other similar programs are geographically located, meaning they can be miles from the origin. If you try to import those files directly, they can become corrupted instantly upon import. Dynamite VSP dynamically moves the file to the origin as it imports the file, this avoids any corruption in the geometry. Very nice.
But wait there's more. There is a free exporter for Civil3D, so the CAD operator can write out a specialized .VSP3d file. This file goes way beyond the abilities for DWG or XML. If you import a VSP3D file, the civil surfaces will automatically have materials and mapping assigned. They must be using Spline Mapping, because the road texture and shoulder textures are following the geometry, just the way I need.
The alighments and road centerlines come in as single splines which can easily be used for camera paths, or as spacing paths for street furniture (street signs, guard rails, vegetation, etc). Dynamite VSP comes with customized libraries called "country kits" specifically for your location. You can place automobiles on the roads and animate them by simply giving them a speed. If you want them to go in the opposite direction, a negative speed will accomplish that. Brilliant.
If you're not a regular 3ds Max user, Dynamite VSP has customized the user interface just for you. The command panel is hidden and many of the standard 3ds Max techniques have been streamlined and parameterized. If you don't know how to loft or use the sweep modifier, no problem, Dynamite has it all set up for you to create bridges or railroad rails and ties without really knowing all the ins and outs of using Max. Best of all, it's all a file-link system, so if the Civil3D file is updated, so is your max file.
Dynamite VSP has a nice online community site with a good selection of video tutorials to get you up to speed quickly. And so far they've been pretty responsive to my constant stream of questions and comments. It's a pricey plugin, costing $2995 USD, but it's well worth the investment.. There's a trial version, check it out, I know you're going to like it. Works with the current versions and most earlier versions of 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design. And look for a version 4 of Dynamite VSP coming out soon!
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