Basically, you 'feed' VP with specialized files called digital elevation models (DEMs), which you can think of as a digitized topographical map. Essentially, it lets you take a long, hard look at, for example, that high lakes basin you want to traverse on your next trip to the Sierras, or that canyon system you need to cross next month. Simply put, VP generates accurate 3-dimensional images of land forms. Vistapro is a truly amazing piece of software which should be at least of passing interest to anyone who owns a computer and likes to hike or backpack.

But don't get me wrong: I really enjoy the 2D profiling capabilities of modern topographic mapping software. He said, 'Why not try something better: Vistapro will actually draw a picture of your view.' To say that a VP image of the terrain is better than getting a two dimensional rendering of your route is like saying that driving the Going-to-the-Sun highway through Glacier National Park is better than driving on the expresswayon Manhattan's Lower East Side.

I was expressing longing for a software program which would let me highlight a trail on a topo map, and draw a vertical profile of the route. I was in a meeting with a fellow from the US Geological Survey (USGS).

I was first introduced to Vistapro(VP) in the early 90's. The entire 'flight' had taken place in the confines of our multipurpose room, at a time of year when the Wrangells are covered with snow. The approach flight to a great backpack courtesy of McCarthy's best bush pilot? No, just a 50 second animation produced by Vistapro, a powerful piece of software. We touched down seconds later, landing to the northwest, taking advantage of the local winds. The bunched lines on the topo map translated into a steep wall, which we would have to climb to access the remainder of our trip. A glance to the left confirmed our dread. We broke out over the Russell Glacier and the Skolai plain. A couple of banking turns took us over the jagged peaks of Alaska's Wrangell Mtns. It was clear that the gorge was narrowing quickly, and that a huge waterfall loomed ahead. Retrieved 31 July 2021.Īs we headed up the braided river, it seemed that the plane's wheels were skimming the surface of the water. ^ The Snows of Olympus - A garden on Mars, Gollancz, 1994.Vistapro Renderer Download Windows 7 Notes and references

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