Modeling rocky scenery using implicit blocks

Abstract

We present a novel geologically-based method to generate vertical walls of rocky cliffs, crags or promontories. Our method procedurally generates a distribution of fractures in the bedrock to create a set of tiling blocks defined as implicit volumetric primitives. Blocks are in turn implicitly replicated over the vertical parts of the terrain and combined together to obtain a consistent volumetric representation of the fractured bedrock patterns using generalized union and blending operators. Our framework provides multiple levels of control: in addition to automatically generated blocks, the geometry of specific ones can be prescribed by the user using implicit primitives or construction trees, the shape of the blocks can be controlled by several parameters, and the placement rules may adapt according to the underlying geological strata and geometry of the terrain.

Numerical approach to synthesizing realistic asteroid surfaces from morphological parameters

“…More recent works propose a hierarchical, implicit construction tree combining 3D implicit primitives (e.g., arches Becher et al 2017, caves Paris et al 2019, sea or rock cliffs Paris et al 2020) to model a variety of local landforms, which can then layed over the 2.5D heightfield or procedural terrains to author scenic terrain details. While effective for modeling general large-scale landforms with mesoscale or smallscale details, most existing terrain modeling methods suffer from a lack of physical precision and fail at reproducing their effects (3D features) on more complex irregular shapes, such as asteroids.…”