Model Builder provides a convenient interface between the Model Builder radio modeling environment and a host terrain server. This interface allows implementation of additional radio signal degradation effects due to terrain occulting, environment, etc. which may already be calculated using established or "approved" terrain databases or propagation models.

In addition, because individual terrain database interfaces as well as level of sophistication may vary from training device to training device, the Terrain Occulting feature provides a single, well defined interface structure. Communications format between the server and the Model Builder radio environment platform (DACS) is a network-based, PDU structure, particularly convenient for those devices already containing a DIS PDU interface.

Operation is straightforward. The Model Builder radio continuously determines which receivers and transmitters are in range and in tune based on the standard WGS84 smooth ellipsoid earth model and other radio environment factors such as modulation type, signal encoding type, antennae gain etc. A user-specified server is, in turn, interrogated regularly by the Model Builder Terrain software for additional signal degradation information on each in range, in tune pair. The server provides the requested degradation information which is incorporated into the Model Builder-generated propagation effects.

Features include:

• Extension of terrain occulting and other propagation effects to standard radio environment modeling
• Useful where previously established or "approved" terrain database servers or propagation effects models are already in place
• Convenient PDU-based data structure for easy, network-based implementation
• User-configurable communications interface for flexible and efficient performance

See the links in the right-hand sidebar for more information about Model Builder's capabilities.