A Stochastic Functional Approach for Terrain Modeling

Abstract

A new functional modeling approach - -functional modeling, is presented to depict various classes of natural terrain. While this approach possesses the functions of several previous methods, it does not suffer the drawbacks of creases or periodity. By choosing the control parameters properly, our approach can easily generate different terrains related to various smoothness, such as cliffs,fractal mountains and smooth terrains. It can also simulate the natural weathering processes as from the cliff to the fractal mountain and to the smooth terrain not only in the appearance but also in quantity. And it is capable of modeling the terrain whose "rock bed” and "rock quilt" are associated with different smoothness.