			
		   ********************************
		   *        LANDFORM v.Alaska     *
		   *        Aug. 12, 1996         *
		   *     Instructions for use     *
		   ********************************

Description:

LANDFORM-Alaska extracts data from United States
Geological Survey (USGS) 1-degree digital elevation model
(DEM) files and converts the data to Flight Sim Toolkit
format.  This version of LANDFORM will process and convert data
for the state of Alaska only, up to and including 63 degrees
latitude. (Note: As a reference point, Mount McKinley is located at
63 degrees North latitude)
This version of LANDFORM is freeware, so enjoy.  However, if
you are going to distribute it, it must be in its original form,
without adding or subtracting files.

***IMPORTANT****************************************************
If you want to convert 100 km x 100 km square regions in the
continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, then see the
BUY.TXT file for LANDFORM v1.00 purchase information.
****************************************************************

For a ready example of the results obtained by using this
program, try flying the example simulation "Kodiak Solo Flight"
included in this package.  The terrain in the simulation was created
from 2 USGS DEM files and represents the kind of finished product
you can expect from LANDFORM. The only modification to the terrain
was to level out some 500 m squares with the FST world editor to put
down the runways and surface objects.

USAGE:
I.  SCANNING 2 DEM FILES: A 2 x 2 tile FST world

Creating a 2 X 2 tile FST world requires 2 adjacent DEM files.  
The USGS organizes most of the DEM files into East and West 
segments, each segment covers a 1-degree geographical area. 
This procedure focuses on scanning East and West named DEMs, 
but it can be used for any 2 adjacent DEMs--such as a Central 
DEM file and a West DEM file, or a Central and an East, etc.
This method extracts a 100 km x 100 km area centered 
within the 2 adjacent 1-degree geographical areas.  
Note that this method extracts only enough of the central area of 
the DEM files to complete the 100 km square area (4 tiles), and 
not the full geographic area covered by the DEM files.

Procedure:
1. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard disk for 
   processing.  The DEM files are large because they have much more
   data then you actually need.  You will need about 40 Megabytes of
   empty drive space for processing.  Don't be alarmed, you can delete
   the large DEM files when you are finished processing.
2. Create a directory structure for the files you are about to
   download.  Create the directories c:\East and c:\West.  (The
   drive designation c:\ is assumed to be your hard disk drive)
3. DEM data files for Alaska are available at:

   http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/glis/hyper/guide/1_dgr_demfig/states/AK.html

   The online data is provided without charge.  However, it is recommended
   that you verify how much internet time you have remaining with your 
   service so that you do not incur additional fees for exceeding the  
   maximum time limit of your plan.
4. Select the Eastern region you would like to download. (Ex: Kodiak-e.gz)
   Downloading the gzip compressed version is strongly recommended.
   Mosaic users must first turn on the "load to disk" option from their
   menu bar and then select a file.  Time estimate:  30 minutes for a
   compressed DEM at 14,400 baud (may vary by +/- 15 minutes).
5. Select the Western region you would like to download. (Ex: Kodiak-w.gz)
   Time estimate: 30 minutes.  When complete, Mosaic users turn off "load to
   disk" option.
6. Log off service.
7. Decompress the gzipped DEM files with WinZip.  Unzip the Eastern DEM
   into the EAST directory.  If WinZip prompts you to enter an extension
   for the file name, use "DEM".  If you do not have WinZip, the gzip
   utility is available at:

   prep.ai.mit.edu:/pub/gnu/gzip-1.2.4.tar

8. Unzip the Western DEM into the WEST directory.
9. Verify the names of both ".DEM" files in your directories by 
   refreshing the listing.  Write down the path and file names so that you 
   type them in correctly later on.
10. From Windows or DOS, load LFALASKA.EXE
11. Select "SCAN A DEM FILE" from opening menu.
12. Enter the path name and file name of the EASTERN DEM file.
    The program will recognize that the file is a USGS data file and 
    prompt you to approve a reformat.  Proceed with the data format.
    (LANDFORM does this operation only when it detects an unformatted 
    USGS data file)
13. Select "AREA 1" to extract.  
14. When complete, the program will prompt you to enter a sea
    level adjustment value.  Accept the default value of 00000.
15. Next the program prompts you for a file name.
    Edit the path to put the files in your FST simulation
    directory.  Accept the default file name.
16. When prompted by the program if you would like to scan
    another file, reply "Yes" to extract another 50 km area.
17. Select "SCAN A DEM FILE".
18. Enter the path name and file name of the WESTERN DEM.
    LANDFORM will detect the USGS DEM, then you must approve reformat.
19. Select "AREA 2" to extract.
10. When complete, the program will prompt you to enter a sea
    level adjustment value.  Accept the default value
    of 00000.
11. At the next prompt, edit the path to put the file in your
    FST directory.  Accept the default file name.
12. Reply "Yes" to scan another DEM and select "SCAN A DEM
    FILE"
13. Enter the path name and file name of the EASTERN DEM.
14. Select "AREA 3" to extract.
15. The program will prompt you to enter a sea level
    adjustment value.  Accept the default value of 00000.
16. Edit the path if necessary and accept the default file
    name.
17. When prompted, reply "Yes" to extract another.
18. Select "SCAN A DEM FILE".
19. Enter the path name and file name of the WESTERN DEM.
20. Select "AREA 4" to extract.
21. The program prompts you to enter a sea level adjust-
    ment value.  Accept the default value of 00000.
22. Edit the path if necessary and accept the default file name.
23. Reply "NO" to scan another file.
24. Check your work using FST's world editor.  Congratulations! You
    have just created your first landscape.
    You can now place objects in the world.  For a quick tour over
    the new terrain, you can place a "player" object with the
    "Brick" property set.  You will probably need to adjust the
    world colors at some point later on.
25. You can delete the East and West ".old" files, and the East and
    West ".dem" files now.  It is recommended that you save the 
    compressed ".gz" versions if you can afford the space.  The
    maximum size of a compressed DEM is about 2 Megabytes.
26. Wouldn't it be nice to scan landscape from your own home state?
    Fill out the BUY.TXT form, enclose $14.99 and you will receive
    LANDFORM v1.00 on 3.5" floppy!


II.      SCANNING 1 DEM FILE:  A 1 x 2 tile FST world

Use the method described above, but instead of scanning all
four available areas, do this:

1. Scan area 1, then scan area 3.  Accept default file names.

     OR

2. Scan area 2, then scan area 4.  When the program prompts
   you to confirm path and file name, make sure you
   change the file names.
   For area 2: t000000.ftd
   For area 4: t000_01.ftd

There is a small difference between the 2 options.
Option 1 covers an area slightly more to the Western side of the 
1-degree area.  Option 2 covers an area more to the Eastern side of 
the 1-degree area.

ACCOUNTING FOR BODIES OF WATER ABOVE SEA LEVEL
The standard sea level used by USGS DEM files is mean sea
level recorded in Hawaii.

The SEA LEVEL ADJUSTMENT value raises the sea level from standard
in order to correct for large bodies of water above sea level.
For example, if you extract from a DEM that lies near the shore of Lake
Michigan (using LANDFORM v1.00 of course), the lake will not appear when
viewed in the FST World viewer.  That is because the lake is actually
176 to 177 meters above sea level.
To get this body of water to appear, re-run LANDFORM and enter 
a sea level adjustment value of 176 (or 177).  This will reduce
all elevations in the 50 km tile by that amount.

In some areas, waterways very near sea level that are normally water
covered may appear as land because they are slightly above
the defined sea level.  The best way to correct for this is
to "clean up" the waterway using the FST terrain editor,
placing 0 elevations where water is normally present.

COLOR BLENDING:
FST blends colors for each 50 km tile independently.  Therefore,
when you view the FST map (FLY.EXE v1.45), it may look somewhat mis-
matched because of a wide variation in elevations between the 
50 km tiles.  However, the elevations within the tiles are accurate.
Getting the right blend of colors for the terrain is important.
Be prepared to spend extra time experimenting with the FST color
editor to get the right combination for the region you are working on.

ISLANDS:
Some island DEMs are divided into small terrain sections.  If you
process an island DEM file and only see zero elevations in the FST world
be sure to check the entire area thoroughly.  Chances are that you
only retrieved a small portion of the island.

Correspondence:  74511.3347@compuserve.com

Credits: 
	The United States Geological Survey
	Raymond W. Marron, Mesa Arizona                  
	Staff and resources of Allen County Public Library
		Fort Wayne, IN

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