diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
index 3964653b..09e09edf 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
@@ -866,6 +866,11 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
   void Image::fillRect(const SGRect<int>& rect, const osg::Vec4& color)
   {
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = _texture->getImage();
+    if (!image) {
+      allocateImage();
+      image = _texture->getImage();
+    }
+      
     const auto format = image->getInternalTextureFormat();
     
     auto clippedRect = intersectRect(rect, SGRect<int>(0, 0, image->s(), image->t()));
@@ -881,6 +886,7 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
     
     switch (format) {
     case GL_RGBA8:
+    case GL_RGBA:
         rowByteSize = pixelWidth * 4;
         rowData = static_cast<GLubyte*>(alloca(rowByteSize));
         
@@ -892,6 +898,7 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
         break;
     
     case GL_RGB8:
+    case GL_RGB:
         rowByteSize = pixelWidth * 3;
         rowData = static_cast<GLubyte*>(alloca(rowByteSize));
         pixel = color.asABGR();
@@ -908,8 +915,8 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
       GLubyte* imageData = image->data(clippedRect.l(), row);
       memcpy(imageData, rowData, rowByteSize);
     }
-    
-    setImage(image);
+      
+    image->dirty();
   }
 
   void Image::setPixel(int x, int y, const std::string& c)
@@ -924,12 +931,30 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
   void Image::setPixel(int x, int y, const osg::Vec4& color)
   {
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = _texture->getImage();
+    if (!image) {
+        allocateImage();
+        image = _texture->getImage();
+    }
+      
     image->setColor(color, x, y);
-    
-    // is this needed, or does OSG track modifications to the data
-    // automatically?
-    setImage(image);
   }
 
+  void Image::allocateImage()
+  {
+    osg::Image* image = new osg::Image;
+    // default to RGBA
+    image->allocateImage(_node->getIntValue("size[0]"), _node->getIntValue("size[1]"), 1, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE);
+    image->setInternalTextureFormat(GL_RGBA);
+    _texture->setImage(image);
+  }
+
+
+osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> Image::getImage() const
+{
+    if (!_texture)
+        return {};
+    return _texture->getImage();
+}
+
 } // namespace canvas
 } // namespace simgear
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
index dedcaf01..a1aeed2f 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ namespace canvas
       
       void setPixel(int x, int y, const osg::Vec4& color);
 
+      osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> getImage() const;
       
     //  void setRow(int row, int offset, )
     protected:
@@ -141,6 +142,8 @@ namespace canvas
                       HTTP::Request& request,
                       const std::string& type );
 
+      void allocateImage();
+      
       osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> _texture;
       // TODO optionally forward events to canvas
       CanvasWeakPtr _src_canvas;
diff --git a/simgear/debug/logstream.cxx b/simgear/debug/logstream.cxx
index d99b0dc2..c06f5c5f 100644
--- a/simgear/debug/logstream.cxx
+++ b/simgear/debug/logstream.cxx
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ public:
         }
 
         if (in == SG_DEV_ALERT) {
-            return m_developerMode ? SG_POPUP : SG_WARN;
+            return m_developerMode ? SG_ALERT : SG_WARN;
         }
 
         return in;
diff --git a/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.cxx b/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.cxx
index a05481bd..f918c3f7 100644
--- a/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.cxx
+++ b/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.cxx
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 
 // Constructor
-SGEphemeris::SGEphemeris( const std::string &path ) {
+SGEphemeris::SGEphemeris( const SGPath& path ) {
     our_sun = new Star;
     moon = new MoonPos;
     mercury = new Mercury;
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ SGEphemeris::SGEphemeris( const std::string &path ) {
     nplanets = 7;
     for ( int i = 0; i < nplanets; ++i )
       planets[i] = SGVec3d::zeros();
-    stars = new SGStarData( SGPath(path) );
+    stars = new SGStarData(path);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.hxx b/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.hxx
index 398eb3ef..abe5a8a0 100644
--- a/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.hxx
+++ b/simgear/ephemeris/ephemeris.hxx
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public:
      * calling the constructor you need to provide a path pointing to
      * your star database file.
      * @param path path to your star database */
-    SGEphemeris( const std::string &path );
+    SGEphemeris( const SGPath &path );
 
     /** Destructor */
     ~SGEphemeris( void );
diff --git a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
index c60650a8..d5dd4afd 100644
--- a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
+++ b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ static const uint32_t EndianMagic = 0x11223344;
  * gzContainerWriter
  **************************************************************************/
 
-gzContainerWriter::gzContainerWriter(const std::string& name,
+gzContainerWriter::gzContainerWriter(const SGPath& name,
                                      const std::string& fileMagic) :
         sg_gzofstream(name, ios_out | ios_binary),
-        filename(name)
+        filename(name.utf8Str())
 {
     /* write byte-order marker **************************************/
     write((char*)&EndianMagic, sizeof(EndianMagic));
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ gzContainerWriter::writeContainer(ContainerType Type, SGPropertyNode* root)
  * gzContainerReader
  **************************************************************************/
 
-gzContainerReader::gzContainerReader(const std::string& name,
+gzContainerReader::gzContainerReader(const SGPath& name,
                                      const std::string& fileMagic) :
         sg_gzifstream(SGPath(name), ios_in | ios_binary),
-        filename(name)
+        filename(name.utf8Str())
 {
     bool ok = (good() && !eof());
 
diff --git a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
index 79c5563a..40af7a13 100644
--- a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
+++ b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ typedef int ContainerType;
 class gzContainerReader : public sg_gzifstream
 {
 public:
-    gzContainerReader( const std::string& name,
+    gzContainerReader( const SGPath& name,
                        const std::string& fileMagic);
 
     bool readContainerHeader(ContainerType* pType, size_t* pSize);
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ private:
 class gzContainerWriter : public sg_gzofstream
 {
 public:
-    gzContainerWriter( const std::string& name,
+    gzContainerWriter( const SGPath& name,
                        const std::string& fileMagic);
 
     bool writeContainerHeader(ContainerType Type, size_t Size);
diff --git a/simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.cxx b/simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.cxx
index 77c30f1f..fc20e73a 100644
--- a/simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.cxx
+++ b/simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.cxx
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ sg_ifstream::sg_ifstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode)
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
 	std::wstring ps = path.wstr();
 #else
-    std::string ps = path.local8BitStr();
+    std::string ps = path.utf8Str();
 #endif
 	std::ifstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
 }
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void sg_ifstream::open( const SGPath& name, ios_openmode io_mode )
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
 	std::wstring ps = name.wstr();
 #else
-	std::string ps = name.local8BitStr();
+	std::string ps = name.utf8Str();
 #endif
     std::ifstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
 }
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ sg_ofstream::sg_ofstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode)
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
 	std::wstring ps = path.wstr();
 #else
-	std::string ps = path.local8BitStr();
+	std::string ps = path.utf8Str();
 #endif
     std::ofstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
 }
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void sg_ofstream::open( const SGPath& name, ios_openmode io_mode )
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
 	std::wstring ps = name.wstr();
 #else
-	std::string ps = name.local8BitStr();
+	std::string ps = name.utf8Str();
 #endif
     std::ofstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
 }
diff --git a/simgear/misc/path_test.cxx b/simgear/misc/path_test.cxx
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index dac7c0d2..9ae36245
--- a/simgear/misc/path_test.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/path_test.cxx
@@ -333,6 +333,12 @@ void test_hash_function()
   SG_CHECK_NE(std::hash<SGPath>{}(p), std::hash<SGPath>{}(p / "foobar"));
 }
 
+void test_null_path()
+{
+	const SGPath nullPath;
+	SG_VERIFY(!nullPath.exists());
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     SGPath pa;
@@ -441,6 +447,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     test_update_dir();
     test_comparisons();
     test_hash_function();
+	test_null_path();
 
     cout << "all tests passed OK" << endl;
     return 0; // passed
diff --git a/simgear/misc/sg_dir.cxx b/simgear/misc/sg_dir.cxx
index 9430e1b2..0836a49b 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/sg_dir.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/sg_dir.cxx
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Dir Dir::tempDir(const std::string& templ)
     // Mac OS-X / BSD manual says any number of 'X's, but GLibc manual
     // says exactly six, so that's what I'm going with
     p.concat("-XXXXXX");
-    std::string s = p.local8BitStr();
+    std::string s = p.utf8Str();
     ::snprintf(buf, 1024, "%s", s.c_str());
     if (!mkdtemp(buf)) {
         SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN,
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ PathList Dir::children(int types, const std::string& nameFilter) const
 
   FindClose(find);
 #else
-    std::string ps = _path.local8BitStr();
+    std::string ps = _path.utf8Str();
   DIR* dp = opendir(ps.c_str());
   if (!dp) {
     SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_WARN, "Dir::children: opendir failed:" << _path);
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ bool Dir::isEmpty() const
   std::wstring ps = _path.wstr();
   return PathIsDirectoryEmptyW( ps.c_str() );
 #else
-  std::string ps = _path.local8BitStr();
+  std::string ps = _path.utf8Str();
   DIR* dp = opendir( ps.c_str() );
   if (!dp) return true;
 
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ bool Dir::create(mode_t mode)
 	std::wstring ps = _path.wstr();
 	int err = _wmkdir(ps.c_str());
 #else
-    std::string ps = _path.local8BitStr();
+    std::string ps = _path.utf8Str();
     int err = mkdir(ps.c_str(), mode);
 #endif
     if (err) {
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ bool Dir::remove(bool recursive)
 	std::wstring ps = _path.wstr();
     int err = _wrmdir(ps.c_str());
 #else
-	std::string ps = _path.local8BitStr();
+	std::string ps = _path.utf8Str();
     int err = rmdir(ps.c_str());
 #endif
     if (err) {
diff --git a/simgear/misc/sg_path.cxx b/simgear/misc/sg_path.cxx
index 3d0e41b1..a252480f 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/sg_path.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/sg_path.cxx
@@ -786,8 +786,8 @@ bool SGPath::rename(const SGPath& newName)
 	std::wstring np = newName.wstr();
 	if (_wrename(p.c_str(), np.c_str()) != 0)
 #else
-    std::string p = local8BitStr();
-    std::string np = newName.local8BitStr();
+    std::string p = utf8Str();
+    std::string np = newName.utf8Str();
     if( ::rename(p.c_str(), np.c_str()) != 0 )
 #endif
 
diff --git a/simgear/misc/strutils.cxx b/simgear/misc/strutils.cxx
index 5062e242..208f422c 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/strutils.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/strutils.cxx
@@ -672,8 +672,7 @@ static std::string convertWStringToMultiByte(DWORD encoding, const std::wstring&
 std::wstring convertUtf8ToWString(const std::string& a)
 {
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
-    std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8<wchar_t>, wchar_t> ucs2conv;
-    return ucs2conv.from_bytes(a);
+    return convertMultiByteToWString(CP_UTF8, a);
 #else
     assert(sizeof(wchar_t) == 4);
     std::wstring result;
@@ -723,8 +722,7 @@ std::wstring convertUtf8ToWString(const std::string& a)
 std::string convertWStringToUtf8(const std::wstring& w)
 {
 #if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
-    std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8<wchar_t>, wchar_t> ucs2conv;
-    return ucs2conv.to_bytes(w);
+    return convertWStringToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, w);
 #else
     assert(sizeof(wchar_t) == 4);
     std::string result;
diff --git a/simgear/misc/strutils_test.cxx b/simgear/misc/strutils_test.cxx
index b78b9a63..cb371c47 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/strutils_test.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/strutils_test.cxx
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ void test_escape()
                  " ab\\nc \\\\def\\t\\r \\\\ ghi\\\\");
   // U+0152 is LATIN CAPITAL LIGATURE OE. The last word is Egg translated in
   // French and encoded in UTF-8 ('Œuf' if you can read UTF-8).
-  SG_CHECK_EQUAL(strutils::escape("Un \"Bel\" '\u0152uf'"),
+  SG_CHECK_EQUAL(strutils::escape(u8"Un \"Bel\" '\u0152uf'"),
                  "Un \\\"Bel\\\" '\\305\\222uf'");
   SG_CHECK_EQUAL(strutils::escape("\a\b\f\n\r\t\v"),
                  "\\a\\b\\f\\n\\r\\t\\v");
@@ -628,6 +628,11 @@ void test_utf8Convert()
     
     std::wstring aRoundTrip = strutils::convertUtf8ToWString(utf8A);
     SG_VERIFY(a == aRoundTrip);
+
+
+    const auto wide2(L"\U0001f6eb\u2708\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f");
+    std::string utf8_2 = strutils::convertWStringToUtf8(wide2);
+    SG_VERIFY(utf8_2 == std::string("\xf0\x9f\x9b\xab\xe2\x9c\x88\xef\xb8\x8f\xe2\x9d\xa4\xef\xb8\x8f"));
 }
 
 void test_parseGeod()
diff --git a/simgear/scene/material/Effect.cxx b/simgear/scene/material/Effect.cxx
index 44f15a7f..57f6ac29 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/material/Effect.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/material/Effect.cxx
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@
 #include <simgear/props/props_io.hxx>
 #include <simgear/props/vectorPropTemplates.hxx>
 
+#include <simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.hxx>
+
 namespace simgear
 {
 using namespace std;
@@ -97,6 +99,25 @@ void UniformFactoryImpl::reset()
   uniformCache.clear();
 }
 
+// work around the fact osg::Shader::loadShaderFromSourceFile does not
+// respect UTF8 paths, even when OSG_USE_UTF8_FILENAME is set :(
+bool loadShaderFromUTF8File(osg::Shader* shader, const std::string& fileName)
+{
+    sg_ifstream inStream(SGPath::fromUtf8(fileName), std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
+    if (!inStream.is_open())
+        return false;
+    
+    string shaderSource;
+    while (!inStream.eof()) {
+        char bytes[8192];
+        inStream.read(bytes, 8192);
+        shaderSource.append(bytes, inStream.gcount());
+    }
+    inStream.close();
+    shader->setShaderSource(shaderSource);
+    return true;
+}
+
 ref_ptr<Uniform> UniformFactoryImpl::getUniform( Effect * effect,
                                  const string & name,
                                  Uniform::Type uniformType,
@@ -829,7 +850,7 @@ void reload_shaders()
         Shader *shader = sitr->second.get();
         string fileName = SGModelLib::findDataFile(sitr->first.first);
         if (!fileName.empty()) {
-            shader->loadShaderSourceFromFile(fileName);
+            loadShaderFromUTF8File(shader, fileName);
         }
         else
             SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Could not locate shader: " << fileName);
@@ -953,7 +974,7 @@ void ShaderProgramBuilder::buildAttribute(Effect* effect, Pass* pass,
         } else {
             ref_ptr<Shader> shader = new Shader(stype);
 			shader->setName(fileName);
-            if (shader->loadShaderSourceFromFile(fileName)) {
+            if (loadShaderFromUTF8File(shader, fileName)) {
                 program->addShader(shader.get());
                 shaderMap.insert(ShaderMap::value_type(skey, shader));
             }
diff --git a/simgear/scene/material/mat.cxx b/simgear/scene/material/mat.cxx
index 1ebb86b1..6bedbdcd 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/material/mat.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/material/mat.cxx
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ SGMaterial::read_properties(const SGReaderWriterOptions* options,
 
         SGPath tpath("Textures");
         tpath.append(tname);
-        std::string fullTexPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(tpath.local8BitStr(), options);
+        std::string fullTexPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(tpath, options);
         if (fullTexPath.empty()) {
             SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Cannot find texture \""
                     << tname << "\" in Textures folders.");
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ SGMaterial::read_properties(const SGReaderWriterOptions* options,
 
             SGPath tpath("Textures");
             tpath.append(tname);
-            std::string fullTexPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(tpath.local8BitStr(), options);
+            std::string fullTexPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(tpath, options);
             if (fullTexPath.empty()) {
                 SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Cannot find texture \""
                         << tname << "\" in Textures folders.");
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ SGMaterial::read_properties(const SGReaderWriterOptions* options,
         SGPath tpath("Textures");
         tpath.append("Terrain");
         tpath.append("unknown.rgb");
-        _internal_state st( NULL, tpath.local8BitStr(), true, options );
+        _internal_state st( NULL, tpath.utf8Str(), true, options );
         _status.push_back( st );
     }
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ SGMaterial::read_properties(const SGReaderWriterOptions* options,
         if (! omname.empty()) {
             SGPath ompath("Textures");
             ompath.append(omname);
-            std::string fullMaskPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(ompath.local8BitStr(), options);
+            std::string fullMaskPath = SGModelLib::findDataFile(ompath, options);
 
             if (fullMaskPath.empty()) {
                 SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Cannot find texture \""
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ SGMaterial::read_properties(const SGReaderWriterOptions* options,
         if (! treeTexPath.empty()) {
             SGPath treePath("Textures");
             treePath.append(treeTexPath);
-            tree_texture = SGModelLib::findDataFile(treePath.local8BitStr(), options);
+            tree_texture = SGModelLib::findDataFile(treePath, options);
 
             if (tree_texture.empty()) {
                 SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Cannot find texture \""
diff --git a/simgear/scene/material/matlib.cxx b/simgear/scene/material/matlib.cxx
index 0b40869d..3459d7e0 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/material/matlib.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/material/matlib.cxx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ SGMaterialLib::SGMaterialLib ( void ) :
 }
 
 // Load a library of material properties
-bool SGMaterialLib::load( const string &fg_root, const string& mpath,
+bool SGMaterialLib::load( const SGPath &fg_root, const SGPath& mpath,
         SGPropertyNode *prop_root )
 {
     SGPropertyNode materialblocks;
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ bool SGMaterialLib::load( const string &fg_root, const string& mpath,
     osg::ref_ptr<osgDB::Options> options
         = new osgDB::Options;
     options->setObjectCacheHint(osgDB::Options::CACHE_ALL);
-    options->setDatabasePath(fg_root);
+    options->setDatabasePath(fg_root.utf8Str());
 
     simgear::PropertyList blocks = materialblocks.getChildren("region");
     simgear::PropertyList::const_iterator block_iter = blocks.begin();
diff --git a/simgear/scene/material/matlib.hxx b/simgear/scene/material/matlib.hxx
index 90fb273c..ff80d795 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/material/matlib.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/material/matlib.hxx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 class SGMaterial;
 class SGPropertyNode;
+class SGPath;
 
 namespace simgear { class Effect; }
 namespace osg { class Geode; }
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ public:
     SGMaterialLib ( void );
 
     // Load a library of material properties
-    bool load( const std::string &fg_root, const std::string& mpath,
+    bool load( const SGPath &fg_root, const SGPath& mpath,
             SGPropertyNode *prop_root );
     // find a material record by material name
     SGMaterial *find( const std::string& material, SGVec2f center ) const;
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/ModelRegistry.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/ModelRegistry.cxx
index a1e6d32b..3178d206 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/ModelRegistry.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/ModelRegistry.cxx
@@ -285,16 +285,17 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
     string absFileName = SGModelLib::findDataFile(fileName, opt);
     string originalFileName = absFileName;
     if (!fileExists(absFileName)) {
-        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_ALERT, "Cannot find image file \""
+        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Cannot find image file \""
             << fileName << "\"");
         return ReaderWriter::ReadResult::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
     }
     Registry* registry = Registry::instance();
     ReaderWriter::ReadResult res;
 
-    if (cache_active) {
+    const SGReaderWriterOptions* sgoptC = dynamic_cast<const SGReaderWriterOptions*>(opt);
+
+    if (cache_active && (!sgoptC || sgoptC->getLoadOriginHint() != SGReaderWriterOptions::LoadOriginHint::ORIGIN_SPLASH_SCREEN)) {
         if (fileExtension != "dds" && fileExtension != "gz") {
-            const SGReaderWriterOptions* sgoptC = dynamic_cast<const SGReaderWriterOptions*>(opt);
 
             std::string root = getPathRoot(absFileName);
             std::string prr = getPathRelative(root, absFileName);
@@ -328,7 +329,7 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
                         hash = f.computeHash();
                     }
                     catch (sg_io_exception &e) {
-                        SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Modelregistry::failed to compute filehash '" << absFileName << "' " << e.getFormattedMessage());
+                        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Modelregistry::failed to compute filehash '" << absFileName << "' " << e.getFormattedMessage());
                         hash = std::string();
                     }
                 }
@@ -406,12 +407,12 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
                         }
 
                         if (pot_message.size())
-                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, pot_message << " " << absFileName);
+                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, pot_message << " " << absFileName);
 
                         // unlikely that after resizing in height the width will still be outside of the max texture size.
                         if (height > max_texture_size)
                         {
-                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "Image texture too high (max " << max_texture_size << ") " << width << "," << height << " " << absFileName);
+                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "Image texture too high (max " << max_texture_size << ") " << width << "," << height << " " << absFileName);
                             int factor = height / max_texture_size;
                             height /= factor;
                             width /= factor;
@@ -419,7 +420,7 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
                         }
                         if (width > max_texture_size)
                         {
-                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "Image texture too wide (max " << max_texture_size << ") " << width << "," << height << " " << absFileName);
+                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "Image texture too wide (max " << max_texture_size << ") " << width << "," << height << " " << absFileName);
                             int factor = width / max_texture_size;
                             height /= factor;
                             width /= factor;
@@ -487,7 +488,7 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
 
                                     if (processor)
                                     {
-                                        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_ALERT, "Creating " << targetFormat << " for " + absFileName);
+                                        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Creating " << targetFormat << " for " + absFileName);
                                         // normal maps:
                                         // nvdxt.exe - quality_highest - rescaleKaiser - Kaiser - dxt5nm - norm
                                         processor->compress(*srcImage, targetFormat, true, true, osgDB::ImageProcessor::USE_CPU, osgDB::ImageProcessor::PRODUCTION);
@@ -527,11 +528,11 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
                                 absFileName = newName;
                             }
                             catch (...) {
-                                SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_ALERT, "Exception processing " << absFileName << " may be corrupted");
+                                SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Exception processing " << absFileName << " may be corrupted");
                             }
                         }
                         else
-                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, absFileName + " too small " << width << "," << height);
+                            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, absFileName + " too small " << width << "," << height);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -545,7 +546,7 @@ ModelRegistry::readImage(const string& fileName,
     res = registry->readImageImplementation(absFileName, opt);
 
     if (!res.success()) {
-        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "Image loading failed:" << res.message());
+        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "Image loading failed:" << res.message());
         return res;
     }
 
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/SGMaterialAnimation.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/SGMaterialAnimation.cxx
index 065631e2..c380d9e6 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/SGMaterialAnimation.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/SGMaterialAnimation.cxx
@@ -381,9 +381,9 @@ public:
                                        osg::StateAttribute::ON);
             }
           } else {
-              SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "texture animation: requested texture : " << textureName << " not found. Searched paths:" );
+              SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "texture animation: requested texture : " << textureName << " not found. Searched paths:" );
               for( osgDB::FilePathList::iterator it = _texturePathList.begin(); it != _texturePathList.end(); ++it ) {
-                SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, " - " << *it );
+                SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, " - " << *it );
               }
           }
         }
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ SGMaterialAnimation::SGMaterialAnimation(simgear::SGTransientModelData &modelDat
     SGAnimation(modelData), texturePathList(modelData.getOptions()->getDatabasePathList())
 {
   if (modelData.getConfigNode()->hasChild("global"))
-    SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_ALERT, modelData.getPath() <<
+    SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, modelData.getPath() <<
            ": Use of <global> in material animation is "
            "no longer supported.");
 }
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/SGPickAnimation.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/SGPickAnimation.cxx
index 9f2a9eac..943c021a 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/SGPickAnimation.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/SGPickAnimation.cxx
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ osg::Vec2d eventToWindowCoords(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea)
      osg::NodeVisitor(osg::NodeVisitor::TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN),
      _texX(x), _texY(y), _mask(mask), _done(false)
    {
-     SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "VncVisitor constructor "
+     SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "VncVisitor constructor "
        << x << "," << y << " mask " << mask);
    }
 
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ osg::Vec2d eventToWindowCoords(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea)
        int pixX = _texX * img->s();
        int pixY = _texY * img->t();
        _done = img->sendPointerEvent(pixX, pixY, _mask);
-       SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "VncVisitor image said " << _done
+       SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "VncVisitor image said " << _done
          << " to coord " << pixX << "," << pixY);
      }
    }
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public:
      : _condition(condition)
      , _node(node)
  {
-   SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "Configuring VNC callback");
+   SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "Configuring VNC callback");
    const char *cornernames[3] = {"top-left", "top-right", "bottom-left"};
    SGVec3d *cornercoords[3] = {&_topLeft, &_toRight, &_toDown};
    for (int c =0; c < 3; c++) {
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ public:
  {
      if (!_condition || _condition->test()) {
          SGVec3d loc(info.local);
-         SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "VNC pressed " << button << ": " << loc);
+         SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "VNC pressed " << button << ": " << loc);
          loc -= _topLeft;
          _x = dot(loc, _toRight) / _squaredRight;
          _y = dot(loc, _toDown) / _squaredDown;
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public:
  {
      if (!_condition || _condition->test()) {
          SG_UNUSED(keyModState);
-         SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "VNC release");
+         SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "VNC release");
          VncVisitor vv(_x, _y, 0);
          _node->accept(vv);
      }
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/SGReaderWriterXML.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/SGReaderWriterXML.cxx
index b6fc37e9..7084c3a3 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/SGReaderWriterXML.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/SGReaderWriterXML.cxx
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ SGReaderWriterXML::readNode(const std::string& name,
         int num_anims;
         std::tie(num_anims, result) = sgLoad3DModel_internal(p, options);
     } catch (const sg_exception &t) {
-        SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load model: " << t.getFormattedMessage()
+        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Failed to load model: " << t.getFormattedMessage()
           << "\n\tfrom:" << fileName);
         result=new osg::Node;
     }
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
                        SGPropertyNode *overlay)
 {
     if (!path.exists()) {
-      SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load file: \"" << path << "\"");
+      SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Failed to load file: \"" << path << "\"");
       return std::make_tuple(0, (osg::Node *) NULL);
     }
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
        try {
             readProperties(modelpath, props);
         } catch (const sg_exception &t) {
-            SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load xml: "
+            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Failed to load xml: "
                    << t.getFormattedMessage());
             throw;
         }
@@ -338,12 +338,12 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
         if (!texturepath.extension().empty())
             texturepath = texturepath.dir();
 
-        options->setDatabasePath(texturepath.local8BitStr());
+        options->setDatabasePath(texturepath.utf8Str());
         osgDB::ReaderWriter::ReadResult modelResult;
 #if OSG_VERSION_LESS_THAN(3,4,1)
-        modelResult = osgDB::readNodeFile(modelpath.local8BitStr(), options.get());
+        modelResult = osgDB::readNodeFile(modelpath.utf8Str(), options.get());
 #else
-        modelResult = osgDB::readRefNodeFile(modelpath.local8BitStr(), options.get());
+        modelResult = osgDB::readRefNodeFile(modelpath.utf8Str(), options.get());
 #endif
         if (!modelResult.validNode())
             throw sg_io_exception("Failed to load 3D model:" + modelResult.message(),
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
           NULL, modelDir);
 
         if (submodelPath.isNull()) {
-          SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load file: \"" << subPathStr << "\"");
+          SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Failed to load file: \"" << subPathStr << "\"");
           continue;
         }
 
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
                                               sub_props->getNode("overlay"));
             animationcount += num_anims;
         } catch (const sg_exception &t) {
-            SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load submodel: " << t.getFormattedMessage()
+            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Failed to load submodel: " << t.getFormattedMessage()
               << "\n\tfrom:" << t.getOrigin());
             continue;
         }
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
         // Load panels
         vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> panel_nodes = props->getChildren("panel");
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < panel_nodes.size(); i++) {
-            SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "Loading a panel");
+            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEBUG, "Loading a panel");
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> panel = load_panel(panel_nodes[i]);
             if (panel_nodes[i]->hasValue("name"))
                 panel->setName(panel_nodes[i]->getStringValue("name"));
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
                 if (!texturepath.extension().empty())
                     texturepath = texturepath.dir();
 
-                options2->setDatabasePath(texturepath.local8BitStr());
+                options2->setDatabasePath(texturepath.utf8Str());
             }
             group->addChild(Particles::appendParticles(particle_nodes[i],
                                                        prop_root,
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ sgLoad3DModel_internal(const SGPath& path,
         group = static_cast<Group*>(modelWithEffects.get());
     }
 
-    simgear::SGTransientModelData modelData(group.get(), prop_root, options.get(), path.local8BitStr());
+    simgear::SGTransientModelData modelData(group.get(), prop_root, options.get(), path.utf8Str());
 
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < animation_nodes.size(); ++i) {
         if (previewMode && animation_nodes[i]->hasChild("nopreview")) {
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/SGText.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/SGText.cxx
index 62081f13..d47b5337 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/SGText.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/SGText.cxx
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ osg::Node * SGText::appendText(const SGPropertyNode* configNode,
 
   SGPath path("Fonts" );
   path.append( configNode->getStringValue( "font", "Helvetica" ));
-  text->setFont( path.local8BitStr() );
+  text->setFont( path.utf8Str() );
 
   text->setCharacterSize(configNode->getDoubleValue("character-size", 1.0 ), 
                          configNode->getDoubleValue("character-aspect-ratio", 1.0 ));
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/SGTrackToAnimation.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/SGTrackToAnimation.cxx
index 2705a566..e4f4e47b 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/SGTrackToAnimation.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/SGTrackToAnimation.cxx
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class FindGroupVisitor:
         _group(0)
     {
       if( name.empty() )
-        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "FindGroupVisitor: empty name provided");
+        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "FindGroupVisitor: empty name provided");
     }
 
     osg::Group* getGroup() const
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class FindGroupVisitor:
         SG_LOG
         (
           SG_IO,
-          SG_WARN,
+          SG_DEV_WARN,
           "FindGroupVisitor: name not unique '" << _name << "'"
         );
     }
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class SGTrackToAnimation::UpdateCallback:
 
       if( _lock_axis.normalize() == 0.0 )
       {
-        anim->log(SG_WARN, "invalid lock-axis");
+        anim->log(SG_DEV_WARN, "invalid lock-axis");
         _lock_axis.set(0, 1, 0);
       }
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class SGTrackToAnimation::UpdateCallback:
           if( _slave_dof < 2 )
             // Without slave_dof >= 2, can not rotate out of plane normal to
             // lock axis.
-            anim->log(SG_WARN, "track-axis not perpendicular to lock-axis");
+            anim->log(SG_DEV_WARN, "track-axis not perpendicular to lock-axis");
 
           // Make tracking axis perpendicular to locked axis
           _track_axis -= _lock_axis * proj;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class SGTrackToAnimation::UpdateCallback:
 
         if( _track_axis.normalize() == 0.0 )
         {
-          anim->log(SG_WARN, "invalid track-axis");
+          anim->log(SG_DEV_WARN, "invalid track-axis");
           if( std::fabs(_lock_axis.x()) < 0.1 )
             _track_axis.set(1, 0, 0);
           else
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ SGTrackToAnimation::SGTrackToAnimation(simgear::SGTransientModelData &modelData)
   modelData.getNode()->accept(target_finder);
 
   if( !(_target_group = target_finder.getGroup()) )
-    log(SG_ALERT, "target not found: '" + target + '\'');
+    log(SG_DEV_ALERT, "target not found: '" + target + '\'');
 
   std::string slave = modelData.getConfigNode()->getStringValue("slave-name");
   if( !slave.empty() )
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/animation.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/animation.cxx
index ebe38ca6..e1d8ba70 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/animation.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/animation.cxx
@@ -426,6 +426,7 @@ struct DoDrawArraysVisitor : public osg::NodeVisitor {
 
 SGAnimation::SGAnimation(simgear::SGTransientModelData &modelData) :
   osg::NodeVisitor(osg::NodeVisitor::TRAVERSE_ALL_CHILDREN),
+  _modelData(modelData),
   _found(false),
   _configNode(modelData.getConfigNode()),
   _modelRoot(modelData.getModelRoot())
@@ -454,8 +455,8 @@ SGAnimation::~SGAnimation()
       }
       if (!info.empty())
       {
-          SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_ALERT, "Could not find at least one of the following"
-                  " objects for animation: " << info);
+          SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Could not find at least one of the following"
+                  " objects for animation: " << info << " in file: " << _modelData.getPath());
       }
   }
 }
@@ -671,7 +672,7 @@ public:
         _group(0)
     {
         if (name.empty())
-            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_WARN, "FindGroupVisitor: empty name provided");
+            SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_WARN, "FindGroupVisitor: empty name provided");
     }
 
     osg::Group* getGroup() const
@@ -693,7 +694,7 @@ public:
             SG_LOG
             (
                 SG_IO,
-                SG_WARN,
+                SG_DEV_WARN,
                 "FindGroupVisitor: name not unique '" << _name << "'"
             );
     }
@@ -771,11 +772,13 @@ bool SGAnimation::setCenterAndAxisFromObject(osg::Node *rootNode, SGVec3d& cente
                      */
                     object_group->setNodeMask(0);
                 }
-                else
-                    SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Could not find a valid line segment for animation:  " << axis_object_name);
+                else {
+                    SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Could not find a valid line segment for animation:  " << axis_object_name << " in file: " << _modelData.getPath());
+                }
+            }
+            else if (can_warn) {
+                SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Could not find at least one of the following objects for axis animation: " << axis_object_name << " in file: " << _modelData.getPath());
             }
-            else if (can_warn)
-                SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Could not find at least one of the following objects for axis animation: " << axis_object_name);
         }
         if (axisSegment)
         {
@@ -2391,12 +2394,13 @@ SGTexTransformAnimation::createAnimationGroup(osg::Group& parent)
         appendTexRotate(*transformConfigs[i], updateCallback);
       else if (subtype == "textrapezoid")
         appendTexTrapezoid(*transformConfigs[i], updateCallback);
-      else
-        SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT,
-               "Ignoring unknown texture transform subtype");
+      else {
+        SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT,
+               "Ignoring unknown texture transform subtype in file: " << _modelData.getPath());
+      }
     }
   } else {
-    SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_ALERT, "Ignoring unknown texture transform type");
+    SG_LOG(SG_IO, SG_DEV_ALERT, "Ignoring unknown texture transform type in file: " << _modelData.getPath());
   }
 
   texMat->setUpdateCallback(updateCallback);
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx b/simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx
index e00db1ad..2a4897ab 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ protected:
 
   const SGCondition* getCondition() const;
 
+  simgear::SGTransientModelData &_modelData;
   std::list<std::string> _objectNames;
 private:
   void installInGroup(const std::string& name, osg::Group& group,
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/model.hxx b/simgear/scene/model/model.hxx
index 956d329b..4e719527 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/model.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/model.hxx
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ SGLoadTexture2D(const SGPath& path,
                 bool wrapu = true, bool wrapv = true,
                 int mipmaplevels = -1)
 {
-    return SGLoadTexture2D(true, path.local8BitStr(), options, wrapu, wrapv,
+    return SGLoadTexture2D(true, path.utf8Str(), options, wrapu, wrapv,
                            mipmaplevels);
 }
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ SGLoadTexture2D(bool staticTexture, const SGPath& path,
                 bool wrapu = true, bool wrapv = true,
                 int mipmaplevels = -1)
 {
-    return SGLoadTexture2D(staticTexture, path.local8BitStr(), options, wrapu, wrapv,
+    return SGLoadTexture2D(staticTexture, path.utf8Str(), options, wrapu, wrapv,
                            mipmaplevels);
 }
 
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/modellib.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/modellib.cxx
index 92b19196..1dd32459 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/modellib.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/modellib.cxx
@@ -77,13 +77,27 @@ std::string SGModelLib::findDataFile(const std::string& file,
     return file;
   SGPath p = ResourceManager::instance()->findPath(file, currentPath);
   if (p.exists()) {
-    return p.local8BitStr();
+    return p.utf8Str();
   }
 
   // finally hand on to standard OSG behaviour
   return osgDB::findDataFile(file, opts);
 }
 
+std::string SGModelLib::findDataFile(const SGPath& file,
+  const osgDB::Options* opts,
+  SGPath currentPath)
+{
+  SGPath p = ResourceManager::instance()->findPath(file.utf8Str(), currentPath);
+  if (p.exists()) {
+    return p.utf8Str();
+  }
+
+  // finally hand on to standard OSG behaviour
+  return osgDB::findDataFile(file.utf8Str(), opts);
+}
+
+
 SGModelLib::SGModelLib()
 {
 }
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/modellib.hxx b/simgear/scene/model/modellib.hxx
index b9be0311..6032bb1e 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/modellib.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/modellib.hxx
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ public:
                                     SGModelData *data=0);
 
     static std::string findDataFile(const std::string& file,
-      const osgDB::Options* opts = NULL,
+      const osgDB::Options* opts = nullptr,
+      SGPath currentDir = SGPath());
+
+    static std::string findDataFile(const SGPath& file,
+      const osgDB::Options* opts = nullptr,
       SGPath currentDir = SGPath());
 protected:
     SGModelLib();
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
index 89a964b7..08649e1e 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ SGMakeState(const SGPath &path, const char* colorTexture,
     osg::StateSet *stateSet = new osg::StateSet;
 
     osg::ref_ptr<SGReaderWriterOptions> options;
-    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path.local8BitStr());
+    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path);
     stateSet->setTextureAttribute(0, SGLoadTexture2D(colorTexture,
                                                      options.get()));
     stateSet->setTextureMode(0, GL_TEXTURE_2D, osg::StateAttribute::ON);
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ SGMakeState(const SGPath &path, const char* colorTexture,
 }
 
 // Constructor
-SGCloudLayer::SGCloudLayer( const string &tex_path ) :
+SGCloudLayer::SGCloudLayer( const SGPath &tex_path ) :
     cloud_root(new osg::Switch),
     layer_root(new osg::Switch),
     group_top(new osg::Group),
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
index fb4cf3c5..65b525fa 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include <osg/Switch>
 
 class SGCloudField;
+class SGPath;
 
 /**
  * A class layer to model a single cloud layer
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ public:
      * Constructor
      * @param tex_path the path to the set of cloud textures
      */
-    SGCloudLayer( const std::string &tex_path );
+    SGCloudLayer( const SGPath &tex_path );
 
     /**
      * Destructor
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/moon.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/moon.cxx
index 7f7412d1..d9a1e39c 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/moon.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/moon.cxx
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ SGMoon::build( SGPath path, double moon_size ) {
 
     // set up the orb state
     osg::ref_ptr<SGReaderWriterOptions> options;
-    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path.local8BitStr());
+    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path);
 
     osg::Texture2D* texture = SGLoadTexture2D("moon.png", options.get());
     stateSet->setTextureAttributeAndModes(0, texture, osg::StateAttribute::ON);
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/newcloud.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/newcloud.cxx
index 8e9eb714..96437427 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/newcloud.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/newcloud.cxx
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ SGNewCloud::SGNewCloud(const SGPath &texture_root, const SGPropertyNode *cld_def
                            "image"),
                  texture);
         ref_ptr<SGReaderWriterOptions> options;
-        options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(texture_root.local8BitStr());
+        options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(texture_root);
         effect = makeEffect(pcloudEffect, true, options.get());
         if (effect.valid())
         {
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/oursun.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/oursun.cxx
index 1e856f64..43d3e3b2 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/oursun.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/oursun.cxx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ SGSun::build( SGPath path, double sun_size, SGPropertyNode *property_tree_Node )
     env_node = property_tree_Node;
 
     osg::ref_ptr<SGReaderWriterOptions> options;
-    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path.local8BitStr());
+    options = SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(path);
     // build the ssg scene graph sub tree for the sky and connected
     // into the provide scene graph branch
     sun_transform = new osg::MatrixTransform;
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
index 25df35d7..796b1522 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
@@ -296,8 +296,9 @@ void SGSky::set_3dCloudUseImpostors(bool imp)
     SGCloudField::setUseImpostors(imp);
 }
 
-void SGSky::texture_path( const std::string& path ) {
-	tex_path = SGPath( path );
+void SGSky::set_texture_path( const SGPath& path ) 
+{
+	tex_path = path;
 }
 
 // modify the current visibility based on cloud layers, thickness,
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
index a824b74a..a07d9d0c 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ public:
      *
      * @param path Base path to texture locations
      */
-    void texture_path( const std::string& path );
+    void set_texture_path( const SGPath& path );
 
     /**
      * Get the current sun color
diff --git a/simgear/scene/tgdb/ReaderWriterSTG.cxx b/simgear/scene/tgdb/ReaderWriterSTG.cxx
index 73fc9da0..9aff6737 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/tgdb/ReaderWriterSTG.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/tgdb/ReaderWriterSTG.cxx
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ struct ReaderWriterSTG::_ModelBin {
 
         SGPath path = filePath;
         path.append(".."); path.append(".."); path.append("..");
-        sharedOptions->getDatabasePathList().push_back(path.local8BitStr());
+        sharedOptions->getDatabasePathList().push_back(path.utf8Str());
 
         // ensure Models directory synced via TerraSync is searched before the copy in
         // FG_ROOT, so that updated models can be used.
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ struct ReaderWriterSTG::_ModelBin {
 
         SG_LOG(SG_TERRAIN, SG_INFO, "Loading stg file " << absoluteFileName);
 
-        std::string filePath = osgDB::getFilePath(absoluteFileName.local8BitStr());
+        std::string filePath = osgDB::getFilePath(absoluteFileName.utf8Str());
 
         // Bucket provides a consistent seed
         // so we have consistent set of pseudo-random numbers for each STG file
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ struct ReaderWriterSTG::_ModelBin {
                     _Object obj;
                     obj._errorLocation = absoluteFileName;
                     obj._token = token;
-                    obj._name = path.local8BitStr();
+                    obj._name = path.utf8Str();
                     obj._options = staticOptions(filePath, options);
                     _objectList.push_back(obj);
                 }
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ struct ReaderWriterSTG::_ModelBin {
                     _Object obj;
                     obj._errorLocation = absoluteFileName;
                     obj._token = token;
-                    obj._name = path.local8BitStr();
+                    obj._name = path.utf8Str();
                     obj._options = staticOptions(filePath, options);
                     _objectList.push_back(obj);
                 }
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ struct ReaderWriterSTG::_ModelBin {
                     _objectStaticList.push_back(obj);
                 } else if (token == BUILDING_LIST) {
                   _BuildingList buildinglist;
-                  buildinglist._filename = path.local8BitStr();
+                  buildinglist._filename = path.utf8Str();
                   in >> buildinglist._material_name >> buildinglist._lon >> buildinglist._lat >> buildinglist._elev;
                   checkInsideBucket(absoluteFileName, buildinglist._lon, buildinglist._lat);
                   _buildingListList.push_back(buildinglist);
diff --git a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.cxx b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.cxx
index 12e32128..8937bd42 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.cxx
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ SGReaderWriterOptions::copyOrCreate(const osgDB::Options* options)
 }
 
 SGReaderWriterOptions*
-SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(const std::string& path)
+SGReaderWriterOptions::fromPath(const SGPath& path)
 {
-    SGReaderWriterOptions* options = copyOrCreate(0);
-    options->setDatabasePath(path);
+    SGReaderWriterOptions* options = copyOrCreate(nullptr);
+    options->setDatabasePath(path.utf8Str());
     return options;
 }
 
diff --git a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
index 17183944..e22648f0 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #endif
 
 class SGPropertyNode;
+class SGPath;
+
 typedef std::vector < std::string > string_list;
 
 namespace simgear
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ public:
         ORIGIN_MODEL,
         ORIGIN_EFFECTS,
         ORIGIN_EFFECTS_NORMALIZED,
+        ORIGIN_SPLASH_SCREEN,
     };
 
     //SGReaderWriterOptions* cloneOptions(const osg::CopyOp& copyop = osg::CopyOp::SHALLOW_COPY) const { return static_cast<SGReaderWriterOptions*>(clone(copyop)); }
@@ -50,7 +53,6 @@ public:
     SGReaderWriterOptions() :
         _materialLib(0),
         _load_panel(0),
-        _model_data(0),
         _instantiateEffects(false),
         _instantiateMaterialEffects(false),
         _LoadOriginHint(ORIGIN_MODEL)
@@ -59,7 +61,6 @@ public:
         osgDB::Options(str),
         _materialLib(0),
         _load_panel(0),
-        _model_data(0),
         _instantiateEffects(false),
         _instantiateMaterialEffects(false),
         _LoadOriginHint(ORIGIN_MODEL)
@@ -69,7 +70,6 @@ public:
         osgDB::Options(options, copyop),
         _materialLib(0),
         _load_panel(0),
-        _model_data(0),
         _instantiateEffects(false),
         _instantiateMaterialEffects(false),
         _LoadOriginHint(ORIGIN_MODEL)
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ public:
     { _sceneryPathSuffixes = suffixes; }
 
     static SGReaderWriterOptions* copyOrCreate(const osgDB::Options* options);
-    static SGReaderWriterOptions* fromPath(const std::string& path);
+    static SGReaderWriterOptions* fromPath(const SGPath& path);
 
     void setLocation(double lon, double lat)
     { _geod = SGGeod::fromDeg(lon, lat); }
diff --git a/simgear/timing/lowleveltime.cxx b/simgear/timing/lowleveltime.cxx
index ae994f31..903877c4 100644
--- a/simgear/timing/lowleveltime.cxx
+++ b/simgear/timing/lowleveltime.cxx
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include <simgear/structure/exception.hxx>
+#include <simgear/misc/strutils.hxx>
 
 #include "lowleveltime.h"
 
@@ -857,7 +858,12 @@ void fgtzfile_read (const char *file)
 //       file = _new;
 //     }
 
-  f = fopen (file, "rb");
+#if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
+  const std::wstring wfile = simgear::strutils::convertUtf8ToWString(file);
+  f = _wfopen(wfile.c_str(), L"rb");
+#else
+  f = fopen(file, "rb");
+#endif
 
   if (f == NULL) {
       perror( "fgtzfile_read(): " );
diff --git a/simgear/timing/sg_time.cxx b/simgear/timing/sg_time.cxx
index 83b22aec..bbabd1a4 100644
--- a/simgear/timing/sg_time.cxx
+++ b/simgear/timing/sg_time.cxx
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void SGTime::init( const SGGeod& location, const SGPath& root, time_t init_time
             SGPath zone( root );
             zone.append( "zone.tab" );
             SG_LOG( SG_EVENT, SG_INFO, "Reading timezone info from: " << zone );
-            std::string zs = zone.local8BitStr();
+            std::string zs = zone.utf8Str();
             static_tzContainer.reset(new SGTimeZoneContainer( zs.c_str() ));
         }
 
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void SGTime::update( const SGGeod& location, time_t ct, long int warp )
 
 
 // Given lon/lat, update timezone information and local_offset
-void SGTime::updateLocal( const SGGeod& aLocation, const string& root ) {
+void SGTime::updateLocal( const SGGeod& aLocation, const SGPath& root ) {
   SGGeod location(aLocation);
     if (!aLocation.isValid()) {
         location = SGGeod();
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ void SGTime::updateLocal( const SGGeod& aLocation, const string& root ) {
     }
 
     currGMT = sgTimeGetGMT( gmtime(&cur_time) );
-    std::string zs = zone.local8BitStr();
+    std::string zs = zone.utf8Str();
     aircraftLocalTime = sgTimeGetGMT( (fgLocaltime(&cur_time, zs.c_str())) );
     local_offset = aircraftLocalTime - currGMT;
     // cout << "Using " << local_offset << " as local time offset Timezone is " 
diff --git a/simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx b/simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx
index 00c058af..0990d0e2 100644
--- a/simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx
+++ b/simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public:
      * @param location  Current geodetic location
      * @param root      Bbase path containing time zone directory
      */
-    void updateLocal( const SGGeod& location, const std::string& root );
+    void updateLocal( const SGGeod& location, const SGPath& root );
 
     /** @return current system/unix time in seconds */
     inline time_t get_cur_time() const { return cur_time; };
diff --git a/simgear/timing/timezone.cxx b/simgear/timing/timezone.cxx
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 4fa6746c..b1fc6344
--- a/simgear/timing/timezone.cxx
+++ b/simgear/timing/timezone.cxx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <simgear/structure/exception.hxx>
+#include <simgear/misc/strutils.hxx>
 
 #include "timezone.h"
 
@@ -134,7 +135,12 @@ SGTimeZone::SGTimeZone(const SGTimeZone& other)
 SGTimeZoneContainer::SGTimeZoneContainer(const char *filename)
 {
     char buffer[256];
-    FILE* infile = fopen(filename, "rb");
+#if defined(SG_WINDOWS)
+  const std::wstring wfile = simgear::strutils::convertUtf8ToWString(filename);
+  FILE* infile = _wfopen(wfile.c_str(), L"rb");
+#else
+  FILE* infile = fopen(filename, "rb");
+#endif
     if (!(infile)) {
         std::string e = "Unable to open time zone file '";
         throw sg_exception(e + filename + '\'');