Interactive Procedural Modelling of Trees and Landscapes

Virtual trees are an essential component of many computer generated outdoor scenes. Creation of digital tree models is a difficult and time consuming process requiring specially trained artists and therefore trees are often selected from a library of models. These pre-generated models are expensive, of limited quality and do not suffice when a particular artistic design is required. Moreover, when multiple tree models are combined into scenes, they lack important characteristics of trees that were grown together. My thesis focuses on the development of algorithms and modelling software capable of generating diverse tree forms that are botanically plausible yet easily controlled to meet artistic requirements. I propose a new model of tree growth which enhances the directability and diversity of previous algorithms. A novel multi-touch tablet interface is presented which allows for the free form creation of trees through brushing, pruning and bending of branches into the desired form. Furthermore, I present an algorithm and interface for interactively designing an entire landscape of trees. Neighboring trees exhibit characteristics of being grown together yet they are simulated independently, taking advantage of parallel computing techniques. This ability to easily generate realistic trees and landscapes has applications in the fields of computer graphics and animation, digital landscape design in architectural visualization and computer games.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Longay, Steven

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Prusinkiewicz, Przemyslaw

• Botany
• Plant Physiology
• Computer Science

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26605

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/1773