The Coverage Generator is a utility developed by Optimal Satcom to digitize satellite antenna contour map images into an electronic grid in the ACP format used by Optimal Satcom applications for computing satellite gain towards points on the earth, and for generating maps. The Coverage Generator works by allowing the user to identify contours and reference points, and fits a 3D surface to the contour data. The surface is then sampled at grid points to generate the pattern file. The Coverage Generator can also import and interpolate ITU GXT files and point-data files, and export files in GXT format. The Coverage Generator is not a product, but is used internally by Optimal Satcom and provided to Optimal Satcom customers for generating coverage data in computable form in cases where the data are not directly available in suitable format.