Hi all,
I`ve started this project in ~2009, but since last year when I got a hold of LiDAR data the project took a more serious turn. At this point I`ve spent significant amount of work on research, reference materials and all the accessible public data I could get my hands on. During the development I published my progress in local forums and my YouTube channel and got feedback and help from race drivers, event organizers and fans of the circuit. There have been two closed Alpha releases both leading to the public Beta release today!
So, now I have enough confidence and project is mature enough to share it here in RD forums!
download link:
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/biķernieki-race-track.17186/
motivation
Biķernieki is my local race track, located in Riga, Latvia. In late 80s and early 90s my dad brought me there for race events so the race track has a special place in my heart. I remember watching "Dzintara Aplis" (races with Volgas and Ladas) and moto races. Sadly in 2000s the track lost popularity as a sports venue and it was in a very rough shape to a point it was unsuitable for racing events. At that moment I got my first ideas of digitizing it to either popularize it or conserve it in case it is lost forever. Luckily the Biķernieki Sports Complex was bough by state road and safety administration and it`s been Rennaissance since then. There`s been numerous of renovations to make it more fun, faster and meet FIA safety regulations. Just recently Latvia is hosting FIA World Rallycross Championship and a new RX configuration was built for it. It has multiple popular drifting configurations including the Witch Kettle.
me
I am a full time game developer and I have been working with virtual training simulators for around 10 years. My background is traditional arts, concept art, asset creation, but over time i`ve taught myself to code (C++, GLSL and python). I have close relationship with open source software, especially Blender, which I am using for 11 years and a part time developer for 4 years.
my favourite features and facts about Biķernieki
a brief history can be found HERE
- built in 1965
- used to be the most advanced racing complex in Soviet Union
- located in area of highest resident population density in Riga
- track is surrounded by a dense pine forest/park, which effectively dampens the noise
- lake and strawberry fields in a middle of race track
- Biķernieki Complex is used for recreational activities throughout the year (hiking, bike riding, skiing, camping, fishing and swimming)
aim
My ultimate goal would be to recreate whole Biķernieki Sports Complex as true to life as I can. Host the legendary Amber Volga and Lada and historic Formula virtual races. Let virtual drift racers smoke the heck out of it.
progress report
- started in around 2009, gathered reference images and plans
- 2012 - a first driveable version made from blueprints and a 2D topology map in a custom racing simulator that I programmed as an exercise.
- 2016, spring - got a public LiDAR data which was a turning point for the project. Unfortunately race track was undergoing a massive renovation at the time scanning took place.
- point cloud data cleaning, classification and exporting to surface data for further sculpting in Blender
- track surface re-topology using cleaned high-res data (this part is critical and took me 90% of overall spent time)
- assets (barriers, fences, kerbs) modelled using blueprints from publicly available receipts and project reports.
- garandstands modelled using reference photos and laser scan data.
- April 2017, first driving tests on new surface.
- adding placeholder assets, no textures.
- May 2017, first pre-Alpha release, given to few people for tests and initial feedback.
- June 2017 taking reference photos and textures. Plan to finish a demo (beta) version till september 2017.
- July 2017, modeling assets based on photos. Taking photos of pine trees for texture creation.
- August 2017, texture creation. UV mapping track surface and assets. Applying materials to objects.
- September 2017, finalizing High Speed Ring configuration, adding trees and foliage. detailing. Making AI spline, adding pits. first AI oponents, track cameras.
- 6. september - First local Beta release. Set up a 24/7 Server for multiplayer tests.
- 12. september, making a RD thread. Public Beta release.
- 10. october, 0.4 version
version history & roadmap
- v0517- may 2017, pre-alpha
- v0917 - september 2017, alpha
- v0917bugfix - september 2017, alpha - beta, bugfix version.
- v0.3 - september 2017, open beta, High Speed Ring Configuration
- v0.4 - october 2017, short "Oval" circuit layout, drift layout, various fixes
- v0.5 - january 2018, 4 new layouts, including a proper Drift configuration.
- v0.6 - may 2018, bugfix release, visual fixes, 3d grass.
- v0.7 - TBA, RX configuration + Kart track.
- v0.8 - TBA, new models and textures.
- v0.9 - TBA, optimizations! LoD models.
- v1.0 - TBA, Full race track sandbox configuration
screenshots and video from Assetto Corsa
recent test in September (not from a public beta version)
download link
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/biķernieki-race-track.17186/
supporting me
This is a one-man project (with support from community and racing fans) made in my spare time so if you like my project and would like to help me:
- feel free to leave a comment here - criticize or praise it, both are helpful
- consider making a donation for further development.
I will be embedding supporter names in racetrack (on barriers, road surface and buildings)
credits and thanks
BaTCC and Jānis Straupe
Simuliatoriu Akademija
Jānis Vanks
BMWpower.lv commuity
all of the early testers
RaceDepartment modding community
Latvijas Ģeotelpiskās informācijas aģentūra (http://www.lgia.gov.lv) for LiDAR data
I`ve started this project in ~2009, but since last year when I got a hold of LiDAR data the project took a more serious turn. At this point I`ve spent significant amount of work on research, reference materials and all the accessible public data I could get my hands on. During the development I published my progress in local forums and my YouTube channel and got feedback and help from race drivers, event organizers and fans of the circuit. There have been two closed Alpha releases both leading to the public Beta release today!
So, now I have enough confidence and project is mature enough to share it here in RD forums!
download link:
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/biķernieki-race-track.17186/
motivation
Biķernieki is my local race track, located in Riga, Latvia. In late 80s and early 90s my dad brought me there for race events so the race track has a special place in my heart. I remember watching "Dzintara Aplis" (races with Volgas and Ladas) and moto races. Sadly in 2000s the track lost popularity as a sports venue and it was in a very rough shape to a point it was unsuitable for racing events. At that moment I got my first ideas of digitizing it to either popularize it or conserve it in case it is lost forever. Luckily the Biķernieki Sports Complex was bough by state road and safety administration and it`s been Rennaissance since then. There`s been numerous of renovations to make it more fun, faster and meet FIA safety regulations. Just recently Latvia is hosting FIA World Rallycross Championship and a new RX configuration was built for it. It has multiple popular drifting configurations including the Witch Kettle.
me
I am a full time game developer and I have been working with virtual training simulators for around 10 years. My background is traditional arts, concept art, asset creation, but over time i`ve taught myself to code (C++, GLSL and python). I have close relationship with open source software, especially Blender, which I am using for 11 years and a part time developer for 4 years.
my favourite features and facts about Biķernieki
a brief history can be found HERE
- built in 1965
- used to be the most advanced racing complex in Soviet Union
- located in area of highest resident population density in Riga
- track is surrounded by a dense pine forest/park, which effectively dampens the noise
- lake and strawberry fields in a middle of race track
- Biķernieki Complex is used for recreational activities throughout the year (hiking, bike riding, skiing, camping, fishing and swimming)
aim
My ultimate goal would be to recreate whole Biķernieki Sports Complex as true to life as I can. Host the legendary Amber Volga and Lada and historic Formula virtual races. Let virtual drift racers smoke the heck out of it.
progress report
- started in around 2009, gathered reference images and plans
- 2012 - a first driveable version made from blueprints and a 2D topology map in a custom racing simulator that I programmed as an exercise.
- 2016, spring - got a public LiDAR data which was a turning point for the project. Unfortunately race track was undergoing a massive renovation at the time scanning took place.
- point cloud data cleaning, classification and exporting to surface data for further sculpting in Blender
- track surface re-topology using cleaned high-res data (this part is critical and took me 90% of overall spent time)
- assets (barriers, fences, kerbs) modelled using blueprints from publicly available receipts and project reports.
- garandstands modelled using reference photos and laser scan data.
- April 2017, first driving tests on new surface.
- adding placeholder assets, no textures.
- May 2017, first pre-Alpha release, given to few people for tests and initial feedback.
- June 2017 taking reference photos and textures. Plan to finish a demo (beta) version till september 2017.
- July 2017, modeling assets based on photos. Taking photos of pine trees for texture creation.
- August 2017, texture creation. UV mapping track surface and assets. Applying materials to objects.
- September 2017, finalizing High Speed Ring configuration, adding trees and foliage. detailing. Making AI spline, adding pits. first AI oponents, track cameras.
- 6. september - First local Beta release. Set up a 24/7 Server for multiplayer tests.
- 12. september, making a RD thread. Public Beta release.
- 10. october, 0.4 version
version history & roadmap
- v0517- may 2017, pre-alpha
- v0917 - september 2017, alpha
- v0917bugfix - september 2017, alpha - beta, bugfix version.
- v0.3 - september 2017, open beta, High Speed Ring Configuration
- v0.4 - october 2017, short "Oval" circuit layout, drift layout, various fixes
- v0.5 - january 2018, 4 new layouts, including a proper Drift configuration.
- v0.6 - may 2018, bugfix release, visual fixes, 3d grass.
- v0.7 - TBA, RX configuration + Kart track.
- v0.8 - TBA, new models and textures.
- v0.9 - TBA, optimizations! LoD models.
- v1.0 - TBA, Full race track sandbox configuration
screenshots and video from Assetto Corsa
recent test in September (not from a public beta version)
download link
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/biķernieki-race-track.17186/
supporting me
This is a one-man project (with support from community and racing fans) made in my spare time so if you like my project and would like to help me:
- feel free to leave a comment here - criticize or praise it, both are helpful
- consider making a donation for further development.
I will be embedding supporter names in racetrack (on barriers, road surface and buildings)
credits and thanks
BaTCC and Jānis Straupe
Simuliatoriu Akademija
Jānis Vanks
BMWpower.lv commuity
all of the early testers
RaceDepartment modding community
Latvijas Ģeotelpiskās informācijas aģentūra (http://www.lgia.gov.lv) for LiDAR data
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