Interactive Large‐Scale Procedural Forest Construction and Visualization Based on Particle Flow Simulation

dc.contributor.authorKohek, Štefanen_US
dc.contributor.authorStrnad, Damjanen_US
dc.contributor.editorChen, Min and Benes, Bedrichen_US
dc.date.accessioned2018-04-05T12:48:44Z
dc.date.available2018-04-05T12:48:44Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractInteractive visualization of large forest scenes is challenging due to the large amount of geometric detail that needs to be generated and stored, particularly in scenarios with a moving observer such as forest walkthroughs or overflights. Here, we present a new method for large‐scale procedural forest generation and visualization at interactive rates. We propose a hybrid approach by combining geometry‐based and volumetric modelling techniques with gradually transitioning level of detail (LOD). Nearer trees are constructed using an extended particle flow algorithm, in which particle trails outline the tree ramification in an inverse direction, i.e. from the leaves towards the roots. Reduced geometric representation of a tree is obtained by subsampling the trails. For distant trees, a new volumetric rendering technique in pixel‐space is introduced, which avoids geometry formation altogether and enables visualization of vast forest areas with millions of unique trees. We demonstrate that a GPU‐based implementation of the proposed method provides interactive frame rates in forest overflight scenarios, where new trees are constructed and their LOD adjusted on the fly.Interactive visualization of large forest scenes is challenging due to the large amount of geometric detail that needs to be generated and stored, particularly in scenarios with a moving observer such as forest walkthroughs or overflights. Here, we present a new method for large‐scale procedural forest generation and visualization at interactive rates. We propose a hybrid approach by combining geometry‐based and volumetric modelling techniques with gradually transitioning level of detail (LOD). Nearer trees are constructed using an extended particle flow algorithm, in which particle trails outline the tree ramification in an inverse direction, i.e. from the leaves towards the roots. Reduced geometric representation of a tree is obtained by subsampling the trails. For distant trees, a new volumetric rendering technique in pixel‐space is introduced, which avoids geometry formation altogether and enables visualization of vast forest areas with millions of unique trees.en_US
dc.description.number1
dc.description.sectionheadersArticles
dc.description.seriesinformationComputer Graphics Forum
dc.description.volume37
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/cgf.13304
dc.identifier.issn1467-8659
dc.identifier.pages389-402
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.13304
dc.identifier.urihttps://diglib.eg.org:443/handle/10.1111/cgf13304
dc.publisher© 2018 The Eurographics Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.en_US
dc.subjectnovel applications of the GPU
dc.subjectlevel‐of‐detail algorithms
dc.subjectparticle systems
dc.subjectI.3.5 [Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modelling; I.6.8 [Simulation and Modelling]: Types of Simulation—Parallel
dc.subjectVisual
dc.titleInteractive Large‐Scale Procedural Forest Construction and Visualization Based on Particle Flow Simulationen_US
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