FLAMES Advanced Correlated Terrain (FACT) Module
What is it?
The FLAMES®
Advanced Correlated Terrain (FACT) module 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 module.
What is included?
The
FACT module 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 module is the FLAMES Enhanced
3D module. This module adds high-fidelity, 3D scenario visualization
capability to FORGE, FLASH, and other FLAMES-based applications. The Enhanced
3D module imports OpenFlight®
data generated by Terra Vista that can be fully correlated with the data
used by the FACT module. Use these two modules together to get the full
benefit of three-dimensional, spatial databases in your scenarios.
How does it work?
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 module will use the FACT data.
