ASTB-E · Performance Based Measures
Terrain Identification
Terrain Identification is the last section of the ASTB-E Performance Based Measures, in which you read a vehicle's heading from a turned camera view and a north-up map of the same ground.
- Items
- 18
- Time
- 30 s per item
- Answer options
- 12 directions, 30° apart
- Position
- Last PBM section
Screens of the trainer
The subtest
Measures
The subtest measures spatial orientation: finding a vehicle's heading by comparing a north-up map with the view from its downward camera.
Format
The subtest has 18 items, 30 seconds each.
A click on one of 12 directions, 30 degrees apart, answers the item. The subtest gives no feedback.
Item types
Two satellite images, one heading
The left image is north-up. The right image shows part of the same area, turned and enlarged, as seen from the vehicle.
The answer is the direction, on the map, in which the top of the right image points: the vehicle's heading. No heading figure is shown.
Free practice test
Item 1 of 5
Reference MapCamera View
What direction is your vehicle traveling?
Show the answer
Answer: N
The street grid stands upright in both images.
The large park sits lower right in both images.
The view is only enlarged, so the vehicle heads north.
Item 2 of 5
Reference MapCamera View
What direction is your vehicle traveling?
Show the answer
Answer: 30°
A straight road runs north-south on the map, hills east of it.
In the view the road leans left, the hills upper right.
North sits 30° left of straight up: the heading is 30°.
Item 3 of 5
Reference MapCamera View
What direction is your vehicle traveling?
Show the answer
Answer: 60°
On the map, the ship channel runs west to east.
In the view it runs from upper right to lower left.
The tank farms, east on the map, sit upper right: 60°.
Item 4 of 5
Reference MapCamera View
What direction is your vehicle traveling?
Show the answer
Answer: 150°
On the map, the railroad runs east-northeast to west-southwest.
In the view it lies flat, with the river above it.
Perpendicular to the tracks, on the river side: 150°.
Item 5 of 5
Reference MapCamera View
What direction is your vehicle traveling?
Show the answer
Answer: 240°
On the map, the highway runs east-northeast to west-southwest past the airport.
In the view it runs straight down, runways to its right.
The airport is northwest of the highway: the heading is 240°.
The Frontline Forge trainer
-
The camera's outline on the map
The trainer asks "What direction is your vehicle traveling?" and, after each answer, marks the correct direction and outlines the Camera View on the Reference Map with an arrow for its top. The clock stops until you press Continue.
-
Real aerial imagery
Test mode runs 18 scenes in 30 seconds each, drawn from a bank of real aerial imagery over the United States, each scene chosen for its straight features. The results give your median response time beside the score; it does not count.
-
Ranked against other test-takers
Each score is ranked against the scores of other test-takers. The Statistics page plots the ranking of every attempt, so you see whether you are beating more test-takers than before.