[Visualpython-users] Raytracing VPython

[K. -M. A. <mic...@sp...>]

Dear VPython folks,

I was wondering if one can use VPython to do the following:

* take a digital elevation map (DEM) and load it into a numpy array
* place a light source at some coordinate
* check for each point on the DEM if they can see the light source or if they are being shadowed by other points of the DEM?

As some kind of lightning calculations are done in the beautiful sceneries of VPython, I wondered if I can 'abuse' it this way somehow?

In case it can be done, I would need to know though, how accurate this would be, as I would like to calculate solar irradiation times on the DEM coordinates (just to make you interested! ;)

Any suggestions welcome!

Best regards,
Michael