Show HN: 3D Terrain simulation for hiking, skiing etc.

150 points · folli · 6 days ago

I'm working on a GPS track visualizer for quite some time. It shines in hilly and mountaineous terrain (where a 3D view makes more sense), but it also offers quite a lot of Strava-like features (statistics etc.).

You can upload your GPX and FIT files manually, or sync directly with Garmin, Coros and Polar.

See https://cubetrek.com for the live app and check out some examples there. It's free and opens source.

Also, anyone who likes to work with 3D visualizations (especially Babylon.js), let me know if you like to help polish this thing further.

62 comments

SteveVeilStream · 5 days ago

I love the examples on your site.

I tried it out but got this message: "Error Track does not contain Timing data."

It would be awesome if it could work on GPX files that don't contain timing data. I often want to visualize a planned route or verify if a GPX file I have downloaded from somewhere has any obvious problems.

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folli · 6 days ago

If anyone wants to tinker with the Babylon.js code for the 3D visualizations, I made a standalone, sandbox-like repo, which is much easier to set up:

https://github.com/r-follador/CubeTrek_Babylon

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nox101 · 5 days ago

Very cool.

I know this is not a related solution but just want to remind people that Google maps has a 3D mode. I do wonder if they are planning to get rid of it because they are burying it deep. you have to turn on "Globe View" and "Satellite"

https://i.postimg.cc/kMRMKvjc/Screenshot-2025-01-11-at-10-59...

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kbrackbill · 5 days ago

This is really cool, just tried it with a recent hike ( https://cubetrek.com/view/362602 ). Strava has a really basic 3d visualization but it's from a fixed angle which isn't very useful. Being able to move around and the replay mode are really neat. I was confused a little about the flame effect on the route before I realized it was matching my mouse on the other charts.

I second the request to be able to visualize routes without timing, it'd be awesome to take some route I have planned out in caltopo and view it here.

Also it seems like not quite what you're aiming for but I already have a few places I can (and sometimes do) upload these for the sharing/community/diary aspect (strava and peakery) and it would be cool to have some sort of integration where I could visualize activities from there without having to download/upload the GPX. Maybe I really need some kind of GPX multiplexer to upload stuff from my GPS to all the different places it could go :).

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btbuildem · 5 days ago

For actual hikes / backcountry tours though (not just reviewing a recorded track, but helping plan before and orient in the terrain during) -- I've found an app creatively called "Maps 3D" to work best. You can download maps for offline use (handy in those places with no cell reception) and those often include common trails in the area.