Combined Render: Full-Featured Example

The most comprehensive example demonstrating all terrain-maker features in one pipeline.

Overview

This example combines:

• Dual colormaps (sledding + XC skiing)

• Road rendering with glossy materials

• Print-quality output

• Advanced DEM smoothing

• Pipeline caching

Quick Start

# Fast preview
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py

# Print quality (14x10 inches @ 72 DPI)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py --print-quality

# With roads
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py --roads --smooth

Example Image Command

The example image shown above was generated with:

uv run python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --print-quality \
    --print-width 14 \
    --print-height 10 \
    --print-dpi 72 \
    --ortho-scale 0.9 \
    --height-scale 4.0 \
    --sun-energy 0.5 \
    --sky-intensity 0.9 \
    --air-density 0.1 \
    --camera-direction south \
    --camera-elevation 2.5 \
    --vertex-multiplier 1 \
    --roads \
    --road-color azurite \
    --output-dir docs/images/combined_render

Feature Categories

Dual Colormap System

Blend two score layers with proximity masking:

from src.terrain.core import Terrain
from src.terrain.color_mapping import elevation_colormap

# Base layer: sledding scores (everywhere)
# Overlay: XC skiing scores (near parks only)
terrain.set_blended_color_mapping(
    base_colormap=lambda s: elevation_colormap(s, cmap_name='mako'),
    base_source_layers=['sledding'],
    overlay_colormap=lambda s: elevation_colormap(s, cmap_name='rocket'),
    overlay_source_layers=['xc_skiing'],
    overlay_mask=park_proximity_mask
)

Key function: set_blended_color_mapping()

Road Rendering

python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --roads \
    --road-types motorway trunk primary \
    --road-color azurite \
    --road-width 3

Key functions:

• add_roads_layer() - Add roads as data layer

• smooth_road_vertices() - Smooth road elevations

• apply_terrain_with_obsidian_roads() - Glossy road material

DEM Smoothing

Multiple smoothing options can be combined:

# Wavelet denoising (best for sensor noise)
--wavelet-denoise --wavelet-type db4 --wavelet-levels 3

# Slope-adaptive (smooths flat areas, preserves hills)
--adaptive-smooth --adaptive-slope-threshold 2.0

# Bump removal (removes buildings/trees)
--remove-bumps 2 --remove-bumps-strength 0.7

Key functions:

• wavelet_denoise_dem()

• slope_adaptive_smooth()

• remove_bumps()

Camera & Lighting

--camera-direction south \
--sun-azimuth 225 \
--sun-elevation 30 \
--hdri-lighting

Key functions:

• position_camera_relative()

• setup_hdri_lighting()

• setup_two_point_lighting()

Print Quality

python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --print-quality \
    --print-dpi 300 \
    --print-width 18 \
    --print-height 12 \
    --format jpeg \
    --embed-profile

Key function: render_scene_to_file()

CLI Reference

Basic Options

Flag	Default	Description
--output-dir	docs/images/combined_render	Output directory
--mock-data	False	Use mock data
--no-render	False	Skip rendering

Quality Options

Flag	Default	Description
--print-quality	False	High-res mode
--print-dpi	300	Print resolution
--vertex-multiplier	auto	Mesh detail

Smoothing Options

Flag	Description
--smooth	Bilateral smoothing
--wavelet-denoise	Wavelet denoising
--adaptive-smooth	Slope-adaptive
--remove-bumps SIZE	Morphological
--despeckle-dem	Median filter

Road Options

Flag	Default	Description
--roads	False	Enable roads
--road-types	motorway trunk primary	OSM types
--road-color	azurite	Color preset
--road-width	3	Width in pixels

Advanced Mesh Features

Two-Tier Edge Extrusion

# Basic two-tier edge with clay base
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py --two-tier-edge

# Custom base material (obsidian, chrome, plastic, gold, ivory)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --edge-base-material gold

# Custom RGB base color (0-1 range)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --edge-base-material "0.6,0.55,0.5"

# Disable color blending for sharp transition
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --no-edge-blend-colors

Key functions:

• create_boundary_extension() - Create edge geometry

Boundary Smoothing

# Catmull-Rom curve smoothing (eliminates pixel staircase)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --use-catmull-rom

# Custom smoothness (higher = smoother, more vertices)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --use-catmull-rom \
    --catmull-rom-subdivisions 20

# Combine with morphological smoothing
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --use-catmull-rom \
    --smooth-boundary

Edge Detection Methods

# Rectangle-edge sampling (150x faster than morphological)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --use-rectangle-edges

# Fractional edges (preserve projection curvature)
python examples/detroit_combined_render.py \
    --two-tier-edge \
    --use-rectangle-edges \
    --use-fractional-edges

Edge methods:

• Morphological (default): Accurate but slower

• Rectangle (--use-rectangle-edges): Fast approximation

• Fractional (--use-fractional-edges): Smooth curved boundaries from UTM projection

Pipeline Architecture

Load DEM → Transform → Detect Water → Smooth → Add Layers → Color → Mesh → Render

1. Load: DEM + score grids + parks + roads

2. Transform: Reproject, flip, downsample

3. Water: Slope-based detection (before smoothing)

4. Smooth: Wavelet/adaptive/bilateral

5. Layers: Align scores and roads to DEM

6. Color: Dual colormap with proximity mask

7. Mesh: Create vertices with colors

8. Render: Camera, lights, background, output

See Also

• Great Lakes Elevation Visualization - Basic terrain

• Snow Integration: Sledding Location Analysis - Snow analysis

• PipelineCache() - Caching system