FLIGHT SIMULATOR ESSENTIALS 

“Terrain Mesh Improves The 3 Dimensionality Of Your Flight Simulator 2004 Scenery World” 

7 Terrain Mesh Titles - Read This Article To Understand The Terrain Mesh Conundrum

In this issue of our Flight Sim Essentials series, we explain Terrain Mesh. Terrain Mesh is a term that you've most likely been frequently hearing over the past couple of years when it comes to Microsoft Flight Simulator Scenery. If you're somewhat of a flight sim expert and already know what it is, then click through to the next section. If you're not 100% certain what terrain mesh is then read the next paragraph. After that we're going to quickly compare the 7 terrain mesh products on the market to help you in choosing the product to enhance the 3 dimensionality of your flight simulator world.

What is Terrain Mesh?
Terrain Mesh refers to Microsoft Flight Simulator's scenery Digital Elevation Model. Digital Elevation Model (D.E.M.) is basically a way of describing the elevation points of the earth's surface by geographical co-ordinates i.e. at geographical co-ordinate xx.xx N and xx.xx W the elevation is X meters or feet. The earth's elevation data is transposed into Microsoft Flight Simulator's world by this method and is what creates the elevation points or 3 dimensionality of the real world within flight simulator. This is why you see mountains and valleys within your Flight Simulator world.

The more frequently these DEM points are sampled and displayed the higher the resolution of your terrain mesh and subsequently the 3 Dimensionality of your world but alas this requires data – CD-ROM and hard disk space – and again Microsoft are limited by the economics of what they can provide you in the "out of the box" version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.

The default terrain mesh resolution in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 is 600 meters. This basically means that it is 600 meters between the Lat/Lon points at which the elevation data is displayed. The result is a 3 dimensional world - but a somewhat crude one. You get peaks and valleys in mountain ranges but you just don't see the small nooks and crevices and narrow peaks within mountains and hills as well as cliff edges and anywhere else where there are acute changes in elevation.

3rd Party Software To The Rescue (Again!)
This is another area where 3rd party add-ons come to the rescue to increase the realism of your world - this time to enhance the 3 dimensionality of your Flight Simulator world. These add-ons increase the resolution (3 dimensionality) of your default Flight Simulator world 20 fold to as little as 38 meters between data points, compared with 600 meters. The result - your Flight Simulator scenery world is much more 3 dimensional and you now see all the fine detail in mountain peaks, valleys, nooks, crevices and cliffs throughout your favorite flying areas depending upon the product you choose.

There are currently 7 commercially available terrain mesh products. They all cover various areas of the world and all have their advantages depending upon your needs. While it is not our intent to specifically endorse a specific title, the overall best value for money in terms of area provided is FS Global 2005 since it does give you the entire world. If you do only want localized coverage then see the area coverage for each title below. For the most part the end result is the same – increased 3 Dimensionality of your scenery world – although Realscene 2004 does also give you enhanced landclass textures to replace and improve upon the cross country appearance of your scenery world.

Hopefully, we will help you make a decision, on the product for you to choose to enhance the 3 dimensionality of your Flight Simulator world. With regard to the resolution or 38.2 or 76.4 meters, the lower the number the higher the resolution and better the 3 dimensionality of your world. The trade-off here is more disk space usage.

Terrain Mesh Recap

• Terrain Mesh Is Used To Create/Describe The 3 Dimensionality Of Your Flight Simulator World

• DEM (Digital Elevation Model) describes the elevation of the earth at a specific lat/lon co-ordinate

• The more frequent the sampling (the lower the number e.g. 38.2 meters) the higher the resolution and subsequently the better the 3 dimensionality of your scenery world

• Flight Simulator Default Terrain Mesh is low resolution

• 3rd party Terrain Mesh Add-Ons increase the resolution of your terrain mesh and the 3 Dimensionality of your Flight Simulator world – 20 FOLD.

• The higher the resolution the greater the hard disk space requirement.

• The bigger the area covered the greater the hard disk space requirement.

• If disk space isn't a problem - FSGlobal gives you the entire world

• If you want the highest resolution - Realscene 2004, VFR UK Terrain, Extreme Landscapes gives you highest resolution for US and UK. Unfortunately no product for Europe gives you 38.2 meters.

I trust that this "Flight Sim Essential" will further help you to enhance the realism of your flight simulation experience.

Remember.... it's all about realizing your dream to fly so... "Realize Your Dream To Fly!"

Regards

Robert Ferraro
President
PC Aviator - The Flight Simulation Company!
www.pcaviator.com
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