MoreSolid Terrain Modeling (STM), manufacturer of the world's most accurate 3D solid terrain models, has completed a 384 sq. ft. (16' x 24') model of the Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton, California. This project is the world's largest physical terrain model ever created from digital data sources.
The entire Camp Pendleton model will be on display in the Map Gallery at the ESRI User Conference in San Diego, CA from July 7-9. STM will also exhibit other models at its ESRI booth # 722/724.
The United States Marine Corps commissioned this model for use by the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).
To create the Camp Pendleton scene, STM used 10-meter elevation data from SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) and imagery from 2-foot colorized infrared data. The model consists of twelve 4' x 8' polyurethane panels which are tiled together to re-create the entire (16' x 24') Camp Pendleton region.
At the I MEF training site, nine of twelve panels at a time will be placed on a large table for tactical training sessions. Computer systems and lasers are used with the model to display different military scenarios based on the Camp Pendleton terrain.
"We continue to find new applications and new demands for our models," said Lawrence Faulkner, President and CEO of STM. "This model of Camp Pendleton is a significant milestone in the development of solid terrain models and it will be an important tool for refining the Marines' military training capabilities."
