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The FLAMES® Advanced Correlated Terrain (FACT) option allows you to include a mathematical description of the terrain (the earth’s surface), bathymetry (the earth’s surface underwater), and features (such as roads, lakes, and buildings) as a part of the environment data in your FLAMES scenarios. This data can then be used by models to support their calculations, such as sensor models that consider the terrain, buildings, and other structures in their line-of-sight calculations and ground vehicle models that move a vehicle over the surface of the terrain or a road. The data can also be used by FORGE and FLASH to render 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional displays of the terrain.
The data used by FACT is imported from terrain databases created by Terra Vista™ from Presagis™ [formerly Terrain Experts™, Inc. (TERREX™)] with the Pro Builder option. Terra Vista provides a powerful user interface for building complex terrain databases and can import terrain source data in many different formats. Once a database has been created, output from Terra Vista can be imported into FACT datasets using the FACT Importer. FACT datasets can be used in any FLAMES-based application that incorporates the FACT option.
The FACT option includes:
The FACT Importer, which is an application that reads files generated by Terra Vista Pro Builder and from them creates FACT datasets.
Display software, which renders the terrain data in both two and three dimensions for FORGE and FLASH.
A set of functions available in any FLAMES-based application which can be used to query the terrain data for such things as elevation, slope, point of intersection, and attribute values. Additional functions can be used to query feature objects for geometry data and attribute values.
A close relative of the FACT option is the FLAMES Enhanced 3D option. This option adds high-fidelity, 3D scenario visualization capability to FORGE, FLASH, and other FLAMES-based applications. The Enhanced 3D option imports OpenFlight® data generated by Terra Vista that can be fully correlated with the data used by the FACT option. Use these two options together to get the full benefit of three-dimensional, spatial databases in your scenarios.
To create FACT datasets that can be used in a FLAMES scenario, a terrain database must first be created using Terra Vista Pro Builder. The terrain database must then be exported as a set of shapefiles, again using Terra Vista Pro Builder. Next, the FACT Importer can be used to read the geometry data and associated attribute data from the shapefiles and create FACT datasets.
When FACT datasets are loaded in FLAMES-based applications:
Two-dimensional displays can be rendered on an elevation contour terrain map which also displays the polygons associated with features (such as the polygons associated with roads, buildings, and lakes).
Two-dimensional maps can display feature vector data such as road lane centerlines and the perimeters of lakes and forested areas.
Three-dimensional displays can render the terrain and the polygons associated with features in three dimensions
Model calculations involving terrain data will use the FACT data. Models can query the FACT data for geometry and attribute data and request such calculations as line-of-sight, height-above-terrain, terrain intersection, and terrain slope. Calculations consider all FACT data, including terrain, bathymetry, and features.
FORGE tools, such as the Side View Profile tool and the Paste Highest Coordinate button, will use the FACT data.
Internal calculations for sensor models invoked by the FLAMES Sensor Coverage option will use the FACT data.
Runtime and development licenses are available for FACT. You need one runtime license for every concurrently executing application that loads a FACT dataset, including applications based on FORGE, FIRE, and FLASH. A development license is required to develop custom applications that can load FACT datasets.