Interactive Modeling of Virtual Ecosystems

Abstract

We present a novel technique for interactive, intuitive, and efficient modeling of virtual plants and plant ecosystems. Our approach is biologically-based, but shades the user from overwhelming input parameters by simplifying them to intuitive controls. Users are able to create scenes that are populated by virtual plants. Plants communicate actively with the environment and attempt to generate an optimal spatial distribution that dynamically adapts to neighboring plants, to user defined obstacles, light, and gravity. We demonstrate simulations of ecosystems composed of up to 140 trees that are computed in less than two minutes. Various phenomena previously available for non-realtime procedural approaches are created interactively, such as plants competing for space, topiary, plant lighting, virtual forests, etc. Results are aimed at architectural modeling, the entertainment industry, and everywhere that quick and fast creation of believable biological plant models is necessary.