EcoMod
The developed application allows interactive modelling of natural trees and has an integrated simulator which simulates life of trees within ecosystem considering real terrain data. The interactive modeller module features rapid, yet flexible construction of new 3D procedural models for tree species. Procedural models can be used to instantiate differently personalized individual geometrical models of trees for same species, with different age and environmental impact. Obtained models of trees are used to animate spontaneous afforestation of forests during several centuries. To create a visually realistic distribution of trees across landscape, simulator for life of trees is used. The simulator considers real terrain data (DEM - Digital Terrain Model elevation data) and computes living conditions for trees to simulate biological principles. Main living conditions considered are height above sea level, slope, sun, and wind. Trees compete between them selves for space. Seed distribution is also considered, emerging in communities of trees on similar areas. Several hints and experience is used from literature to gain performance of the simulation process and create a realistic visualization of an emerging ecosystems.
In not so distant future: version v1.1 will be published, featuring stronger statistical analyses and natural catastropy simulation.
Contact: ales.zamuda@uni-mb.si
The application will be presented at the EUROCON 2007:
Screenshots
The application allows geometry export and reuse for video rendering:
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Implementation specifics
EcoMod application is a Qt4] and OpenGL OS-independent application, written in C++. It has three main interconnected modules, each having a special purpose.
1. Modeller of 3D geometrical natural trees is the first, very interactive component of the application. Procedural model of the tree bases on Holton strand model, but is modified/improved in many ways. It allows interactive parametrization of procedural tree model with use of graphs and other interactive widgets. Obtained parameters are saved in a flat file, where float numbers are saved in plain text format. These files can be loaded, as also some predefined library files are provided with the application. Rendering of a procedural model is done using OpenGL, and OpenGL context is reserved trough QGLWidget.
2. Visualization of ecosystems is the second module, rendering a real terrain data landscape. Vertex buffer is used for landscape mesh visualization. Tree models are obtained from the 3D modeller part, and placed on growth locations of trees. Instantiated geometrical models are simplified according to the LOD, or removed by culling. Up to several hundred thousand trees on scene can be used.
3. Artificial life simulation of trees/plants within the ecosystem is a real-data living condition, plant competition and plant spread model. Stochastic simulation with a LCG random generator is used. The real data is obtained from Digital Elevation Model (GIS-like data), and moisture, windiness and sunniness of loaded terrain is calculated on the fly. This component can be used as a framework, by using several of algorithms for other, multidisciplinary purposes.
The code uses the GLee library for work with the OpenGL extensions in a platform-independent manner.
Some scientific papers have already been published based on the application framework, as seen at http://labraj.uni-mb.si/~ales/ecomod, and everyone is encouraged to join the development (see http://sourceforge.net/projects/ecomod/ as well).
Application is licensed under the terms of the GPL license version 2.
Files
Stable version (EcoMod 1.0) is accessible under GPL open source license:
- Linux (ecomod-linux-1.0.zip),
- BSD (ecomod-bsd-1.0.zip),
- Windows (ecomod-win32-1.0.zip),
- Source code (ecomod-src-1.0.zip).
Requirements for run: a feasible graphical card driver, and Qt4 under Linux and BSD.
Papers
A. Zamuda, J. Brest, N. Guid, and V. Žumer. Modelling, Simulation, and Visualization of Forest Ecosystems. The IEEE Region 8 EUROCON 2007: International conference on "Computer as a tool", September 9-12, 2007, Warsaw, Poland, 2007, pp. ??. Accepted.
A. Zamuda, J. Brest, N. Guid, and V. Žumer. Construction of Virtual Trees within Ecosystems with EcoMod Tool. IPSI-2006 Slovenia, International Conference on Advances in the Internet, Processing, Systems, and Interdisciplinary Research, Book of Abstracts, 2006, pp. 15.
A. Zamuda, N. Guid. Modeliranje, simulacija in upodabljanje gozdov. Zbornik petnajste mednarodne Elektrotehniške in računalniške konference ERK, 2006, pp. 391-392.
A. Zamuda. Modeliranje, simulacija in upodabljanje drevesnih ekosistemov. Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko, diplomska naloga.
A. Zamuda, D. Strnad. Interaktivni modelirnik realističnih animiranih dreves. Zbornik trinajste mednarodne Elektrotehniške in računalniške konference ERK, 2004, pp. 11-14.
A. Zamuda. Modeliranje, simulacija in upodabljanje gozdov. Abakus, 2007, pp. 22-23.