The addition of texture to Computer Image Generation (CIG) systems has increased the potential for realism and cuing effectiveness in visual data bases used for flight simulation. While the visual simulation industry has already embraced texture technology, most of its attention has been focused on synthetic or statistical patterns. The use of photographic texture has been demonstrated and shows great promise, but it has not yet been thoroughly exploited in the production environment. Although photographic texture can significantly enhance the realism of a data base, its indiscriminate use often introduces unrealistic visual anomalies into the scene. However, when it is applied correctly, photographic texture can improve the efficacy of current and future CIG systems. The enhanced realism in flight simulation which accrues from the proper use of photographic texture provides a critical advantage in training effectiveness.

This paper discusses the scope of usefulness for photographic texture in production data bases, particularly for constructing self-repeating texture patterns. The results of new modeling strategies which mitigate or eliminate some of the visual anomalies inherent in the use of photographic texture are also described. Finally, examples are given of how photographic texture can be exploited to meet some specific training requirements for current and future flight simulators.