3D Japanese Archipelago [Flash 3D Virtual Tour of the Japanese Archipelago]
This is a fully three dimensional virtual sight-seeing flight browser-based web-application that enables you to freely travel and look around over the Japanese Archipelago with very easy intuitive mouse actions.
*This application is provided on an "as is" basis without express or implied warranty of any kind.
*The application requires the latest version of Adobe® Flash® Player.
*Adobe and Flash are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Instruction
Click on the title to start application. (1)Going forward: Press mouse button to go forward, and simply release it to slow down and stop. (2)Turning: Move mouse cursor horizontally off the center of the view to turn toward the way in the direction. (3)Ascent/descent: Move mouse cursor vertically off the center of the view to change altitude. The tilt angle of view will vary with altutide automatically.
A compass (red arrow points the north) and latitude/longitude/altitude meters placed on the top-right corner of the window give you some information about current view-point.
Model Features
A spherically mapped 3D model is used in this application; Therefore, the conditions of right distances and right directions are met on arbitrary view-points.
Terrain elevations are not drawn in 3D perspective projection but in pixel colors; Mapped texture is computationally generated bitmap by using specious vegetation which depends only on terrain elevation of the point. Since it's not real aerial photograph, the colors of the ground are a bit different from that of real plant distribution in the Japanese Archipelago.