Lite Mode for Public Projects
TerraExplorer Fusion now supports a Lite mode, designed for accessing public projects without consuming a site’s concurrent user license. When a user opens a public TerraExplorer project, SkylineGlobe Server automatically switches Fusion into Lite mode. In Lite mode, users can access:
- Basic navigation and viewing functionality
- Distance and Area tools
- The Query tool
Visibility Dome
A powerful new analysis tool, Visibility Dome, has been added to TerraExplorer Fusion Plus. This tool allows users to analyze and visualize line-of-sight coverage from a specified viewpoint, with multiple visualization modes:
- Dome – A 3D dome volume representing visible areas within a specified radius and angle.
- Dome Base – A circular ground projection separating visible and non-visible zones.
- Skyline – A silhouette of terrain and 3D obstructions defining the horizon from the viewpoint.
- Skyline Base – Radial lines from the observer to the skyline, visualizing visibility limits.
A profile graph can be displayed to show the height of the dome or the Skyline ring. It includes tools for identifying waypoints, elevation extremes, and slope changes.
Enhanced Support for BIM Layers
TerraExplorer Fusion 8.5 introduces advanced capabilities for working with Building Information Modeling (BIM) layers, enabling users to query and edit individual features within a BIM dataset. This enhancement allows for more dynamic interaction with complex 3D building models, including retrieving attribute data, updating properties, and integrating BIM elements into broader geospatial workflows.
Improved Layer Loading from SGS
TerraExplorer Fusion users can now search for layers more efficiently when loading content from SkylineGlobe Server’s spatial catalog. By clicking Search on Map, users can select a specific geographic region to limit the search area. The Layers list is then filtered based on the selected region and any additional criteria, making it easier to locate relevant data.
GUI Improvements
- New display options:
- Bright – A light interface with semi-transparent windows, similar to previous versions but updated for clarity and depth.
- Dark – A dark-themed interface optimized for low-light environments, with high-contrast text and inverted background colors. Dark mode is applied dynamically via a new UI setting and is supported across integrated tools.
- Resizable Side Panel: Users can now manually resize the side toolbar panel to better fit their screen or workflow.
Gaussian Splatting Model Support
TerraExplorer Fusion 8.5 introduces initial support for Gaussian Splatting models, enabling users to visualize this emerging 3D representation technique within their projects. This feature allows integration of highly detailed point-based models for improved realism and flexibility in rendering.
Current Limitations
- Performance and capabilities are still limited in this version.
- Not all analysis tools are compatible with Gaussian Splatting models. For example, Shadow and Viewshed analysis are currently not supported.
These limitations will be addressed in future releases, with planned improvements to performance, broader tool compatibility, and enhanced visualization options.
Performance Improvements
This release focuses on optimizing speed and responsiveness to deliver a smoother user experience. Key improvements include faster application startup and enhanced project loading efficiency.
- Improved application loading time for faster startup.
- Improved loading time of projects with a high number of point cloud layers.
- Resolved project load issues with large Project Trees.
- Accelerate feature layer loading process