Hello all,
I am starting my Masters project which requires i build a motorway (freeway if your an American i believe 
) simulator that will eventually read traffic data and simulate it in a 3d environment. I completed my undergraduate degree in comp sci using Java, and also done some comp graphics modules and VRML so i have chosen java for my project. At first the choice seemed simple enough, java + java3d + vrml loader. Now i have started seriously looking into it, that doesnt seem such a good idea. These is also very limited documentation on vrml with java 3d is seems.
At first i need to be able to have a UI that i can click a button to add a car to the simulation, moving at a fixed speed. I will also need collision detection. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, more so functional and accurate. I was thinking of having a plane with a satellite picture on and then adding some kind of trrack/path/route onto of the image of the roads on the plane to determine where traffic flows.
The more i think about it and read on here the more i think using one of the API’s like LWJGL or jogl would be a better option. There is so many possible options I am confused as to what would be the best option to take ???.
What would you suggest would be the best way to tackle this project? Which apI would be best? Which environment? (i have only used plain text/blue j/net beans before).
My simulation has a lot of the characteristics of a game so i hope you don’t mind me posing on here.
Thanks,
Gareth.