====== Visitor 3 Terrain 101 ======

Here's how I would start:

  - Create a high-resolution composite image sat map of the area from Google Earth, making sure 1 pixel = 1 meter.
  - Create a heightmap from DEM to match the sat map. Do some erosion and the like.
  - Create basic mask file and ground textures.
  - Import into Visitor and create a .PEW file.
  - Clean up the coastline - always a problem getting that neat.
  - Using the sat map, create a background image for street and building placement reference.
  - Do roads.
  - Do buildings and other objects.
  - Create new sat map for in-game using heavily edited original Google Earth image as a starting point.
  - Refine mask file.

Creating the hi-res sat map from Google Earth is the initial time eater. Use Google Earth Image Downloader which automated the process, few such utilities are available.