Spherical Solid Continents (Earth Globe)

[miguelguillermo]

3D Experts,

 

I am trying to build a spherical, solid, earth map.

 

I have built one before by extruding a flat projection of the earth map through a hollow solid sphere shell, and using subtract. (I had to do it in sections, and projecting in different angles until I completed the world map). There was an intermediate step of subtracting the extruded map from a solid block and creating a void shape of the map within the block, then subtracting the block from the hollow sphere).

 

The problem I had is that the edges of the map where not cut off in an angle towards the center of the globe, and I need all the edges be sliced towards the center of the globe.

 

I am trying now to use the LOFT command and create a solid map that tapers down towards the center of the globe. I have bought these special map projections (2D) called "gnomonic projections". They were originated by projecting from the center of an earth globe the contour of the continents over projeccion plains outside the globe. (this was done using a map cartography software and converted to .dwgs).

 

These projections are made of thousands (or millions) of polylines joined together, and the probelm is that AutoCAD gets stuck when trying to use LOFT. I was able to LOFT just a little island, but it gave me surfaces instead of a solid. If I use this method I will have to do hundreds (or thousands) of little sections with LOFT to achieve the entire map.

 

My question to you guys is, do you guys know of a better way to build this solid spherical map?. Or do you know where I can buy this spherical solid of the world continents from? I have seen these solids sometimes in the background of television news programs, I just need a little better contour definition than what the show.

 

I will appreciate any suggestions.

 

Miguel Ochoa.

[scj]

Hallo,

here is a sample of Africa in AutoCAD 2008. I know, that my earth-model has some mistakes :-)

The way to to is a little bit time-consuming, so I only did Africa.

In case of interest please contact me via

http://www.black-cad.de

Regards from good - hot - Germany

Jochen

Africax31.dwg

[miguelguillermo]

Jochen,

 

Thanks for your reply and help.

I just e-mailed you back at the e-mail address you show in your website.

 

Miguel Ochoa.