VBS3Terrain Generation

Syllabus
Course Description
The Terrain Generation Course is the baseline course for those wishing to utilize
Visitor 4 as a terrain generation tool. This course is 32 hours in length and runs
Monday Thursday.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course. As this is a comprehensive course, students are not expected or
required to have any previous VBS3 or Visitor 4 training. Familiarity with VBS3 is helpful but not
required. Familiarity with Windows Operating System (e.g. folders, folder structure) is helpful but not
required.

Educational Objectives
The primary goals of this course are to:

Introduce students to Visitor 4

Prepare students for creating terrain for use in VBS3
Help students successfully utilize Visitor 4 to create their own terrain

Required Texts and Resources

Terrain Generation Student Manual

Developers Reference
Offline or Online VBS3 Wiki

Instructional Methods
This course will use the following methods of instruction: Lecture, Presentation, Demonstration,
Discussion, Step-by-Step Activities, Like This, Do This Instruction, Hands-on Practical Application,
and Testing.

Course Policies and Requirements

Attendance and Participation:
It is required that you attend at least 32 hours in order to receive the Course Certificate. Punctuality is
necessary to achieve success in this course. Participation in activities and discussion is required.

Grading:
This is a Pass / Fail course. If you are unable to complete at least 90% of the lessons successfully, the
instructor will meet with you and determine if it is appropriate for you to receive a Course Certificate.

Professionalism Policy:
In order to maintain the optimal learning environment, mobile phones, pages, tablets must be silenced
during all classroom activities. Those individuals that do not comply with this policy will be asked to
leave the classroom so as not to interfere with other students learning. Please arrive on time for all class
sessions. Students who habitually disturb the class by talking, arriving late, leaving early, etc. and have
been warned by the instructor, may not receive a Course Certificate, and may be asked to leave.

Indemnity Clause:
The instructor reserves the right to modify any and all portions of this syllabus in any way he or she sees
fit while maintaining the academic integrity of this course.

Course Schedule
The times and dates listed are tentative and subject to change.

Monday
0900 - 0930
0930 - 0945
0945- 0950
0950 -1000
1000 - 1015
1015 -1020
1020- 1030
1030 - 1035
1035 - 1045
1045 - 1105
1105- 1200
1200 - 1300
1300 - 1310
1310 - 1325
1325 - 1330
1330 - 1430
1430- 1445

Welcome to the Course

Terrain Development Tools (Overview)
Compatible source Data
Inspecting Course Data
Break
Where to Obtain Source Data
Virtual Work Environment
Launching Visitor 4
Visitor 4 Interface
Build a Basic Terrain Demo
Build a Basic Terrain 1
Lunch
The Samplers Tab (Overview)
Surface Areas
Clutter Objects
Build a Basic Terrain 2
Break

30 minutes
15 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
55 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
5 minutes
60 minutes
15 minutes

1445 - 1455
1455 - 1505
1505 - 1605
1605 - 1610
1610 - 1700

Introduction to Vector Shapes

Introduction to Surface Masks
Build a Basic Terrain 3
Detail Textures
Build a Basic terrain 4

10 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
5 minutes
50 minutes

Morning Intro
Mapframes and terrain grids
Six Surface Areas
Build a Basic Terrain 5
Layers Manager Panel Functionality
Shape Creation and Editing
Break
Shape Creation Exercise
Objects (3D Models)
Object Manipulation in Buldozer
Template Properties
Terrain Editing in V4
Terrain Editing in Buldozer
Lunch
Village creation Exercise
Break
Build a Basic Terrain 6

10 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
20 minutes
20 minutes
20 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
60 minutes
105 minutes
15 minutes
120 minutes

Morning Intro
Instruction to Landbuilder
Landbuilder Interface (Overview)
Landbuilder Modules (Overview)
Break
What is a Shape File DBF
Landbuilder Modules
Lunch
Landbuilder Modules Cont.
Break
Landbuilder Modules Cont.

10 minutes
20 minutes
10 minutes
50 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
105 minutes
60 minutes
105 minutes
15 minutes
120 minutes

Morning Intro
Landbuilder Modules Review
Terrain How To
Lunch
Advanced Terrain Exercises

10 minutes
110 minutes
120 minutes
60 minutes
240 minutes

Tuesday
0800 - 0810
0810 - 0820
0820 - 0840
0840 -0910
0910 - 0920
0920 -0930
0930 - 0945
0945 - 1005
1005 - 1025
1025 - 1045
1045 - 1100
1100 - 1130
1130 - 1200
1200 - 1300
1300 - 1445
1445 - 1500
1500 - 1700

Wednesday
0800 - 0810
0810 - 0830
0830 - 0840
0840 - 0930
0930 - 0945
0945 - 1015
1015 - 1200
1200 -1300
1300 - 1445
1445 - 1500
1500 - 1700

Thursday
0800 - 0810
0810 - 1000
1000 - 1200
1200 - 1300
1300 - 1700