Innovation in Optimization of Virtual Space Experience Using Interactive Engine and Device—Example of a Song Dynasty Landscape Painting

Abstract

Computer visual simulation has been an important digital tool in environmental planning, design, learning, and cognition since digital tools began to be used in the landscape architecture industry in the 1960s. In recent years, computer software and hardware technologies have developed rapidly, especially in virtual reality and interactive design tasks. However, regarding architecture and related designs, users are most of the time still passively viewing the results of prerendered scenes, and designers usually produce scenes into a movie, a picture, or postproduction visuals for users to view, which however do not come with functions for instant interaction between users and scenes. Thus, the purpose of this study is to establish a preliminary model with a series of operating methods and processes for visual landscape simulation using an appropriate interactive engine to optimize the virtual space experience. Through the actual operating process using a Song Dynasty (960-1279) landscape painting as an example, we carry out the following five steps: (1) interactive software and engine analysis, (2) ancient landscape painting interpretation, (3) three-dimensional computer model and material reconstruction, (4) digital model conversion and modification, and (5) visual effect and interactive outcome optimization using sensors.