Plant models faithful to botanical structure and development

Abstract

Some very impressive results have been obtained in the past few years in plants and trees image synthesis. Some algorithms are largely based on the irregularity and fuzziness of the objects, and use fractals, graftals or particle systems. Others focus on the branching pattern of the trees with emphasis on morphology. Our concern here is the faithfulness of the models to the botanical nature of trees and plants. We present a model which integrates botanical knowledge of the architecture of the trees: how they grow, how they occupy space, where and how leaves,flowers or fruits are located, etc. The very first interest of the model we propose is its great richness: the same procedural methods can produce "plants" as different as weeping willows, fir trees, cedar trees, frangipani trees, poplars, pine trees, wild cherry trees, herbs, etc. Another very important benefit one can deriw from the model is the integration of time which enables viewing the aging of a tree (possibility to get different pictures of the same tree at different ages, accurate simulation of the death of leaves and branches for example). The ease to integrate physical parameters such as wind, the incidence of factors such as insects attacks, use of fertilizers, plantation density, and so on makes it a useful tool for agronomy or botany.

Assessing the Impact of Canopy Structure Simplification in Common Multilayer Models on Irradiance Absorption Estimates of Measured and Virtually Created Fagus sylvatica (L.) Stands

“…The age of the AMAP trees was selected to mimic LAI values as encountered in natural conditions [31,32]. The AMAP model was successfully applied in different applications such as light penetration through tree crown [33], forest landscape visualization [34], and canopy parameters derivation from SAR data [35] and provides a quantitative approach of simulating plant architecture [20,36]. Information about the measured and simulated trees and stands are presented in Table 1.…”

“…For example, using in situ data of tree architecture [17][18] or virtual environment plant growth algorithms that respect the plant's genetic code and reconstitutes tree morphology [19] such as the Atelier de Modelisation et d'Architecture des Plantes (AMAP) model [20]. These geometric explicit canopy architecture models are capable of describing the radiation regime within canopies using current advances in computer power and path tracing algorithms such as tRAYci [1] and the PBRT path tracer [21].…”

Modelling kinetics of plant canopy architecture—concepts and applications

“…To do so the model must incorporate botanical 'laws' that explain and define plant growth and form (de Reffye et al 1988, Kurth, 1994, Lewis 1997, Fournier and Andrieu 1998.…”

Representation and realistic rendering of natural phenomena with cyclic CSG graphs

“…Carpenter's method for the generation of fractal terrain can be expressed as a rewriting system as first described by Smith in [SMIT84]. Many other techniques for the simulation of plant development can be mapped onto PLsystems, like the model of deReffye [REFF88].…”