KATOOMBA AERIAL ROPEWAY PROJECT

Overcoming the above limitations was very challenging for the Aerial Ropeway team.  In order to meet the client’s needs there were a lot of short cuts and tricks that were utilised.

 

• Software/hardware limitations

We found that due to the nature of Unreal Engine and the amount of time to complete the project and learn the engine, there were issues with file sharing between computers and most of the team’s computers had issues running the level.

 

As a result the team decided to use only one laptop to create the level, which was shared amongst the team for modelling.

 

• High-definition geometry

High definition geometry like trees and organic material that has a large amount of polylines, edges and so on, slowed down and reduced the overall quality of the level.  To achieve a ‘Forest’ look, the team had to use scaled up low-poly grass to create the distant look of trees.

 

Unfortunately the tree packages downloaded were large geometries so the team was unable to put a lot of actual trees adjacent to the ropeway for the video.

 

• Lighting and fog rendering

Lighting and fog rendering took a very long time to do.   Along with having no experience in the engine and using its lighting settings, the trial and error approach taken took a considerable amount of time.

 

• 3Ds Max Modelling issues  (Sagging of the two cable)

After obtaining the 3DS MAX models off the previous year, we noticed that there were a lot of issues and the models were incorrect.  It was very difficult to fix the MAX models as there is not a great deal of accurate information around the structure of each individual tower, therefore we had to estimate changes.

 

Another issue that the group could not overcome was modelling and animating in UE4 the correct sag and tension experience in both cables as a bucket travels along the line.   Unfortunately we had to leave the second cable.

 

• Video uploading time & compressed Video quality

As WIX is a free website we were unable to upload the animation directly onto the webpage.  Instead we uploaded the video to YouTube.  The 9 minute video took over an hour to upload and drastically decreased the video quality.