The use of an aesthetic measure for the evolution of fractal landscapes

Abstract

This paper explores the use of an aesthetic measure to aid the generation of fractal landscapes. Virtual landscapes are important for applications ranging from games to simulation. This paper extends work done on the auto generation of virtual landscapes for climate change visualisation, by adding an aesthetic measure based fitness function to the evolutionary algorithm, thus reducing the reliance of the method on user based evaluation. A genetic algorithm that uses an aesthetic measure of fitness based on information theory is defined. This GA is used to explore a multi-dimensional parameter space that defines how 3D virtual landscapes are created. The utility of this fitness measure is assessed by evaluating the solutions generated by the system with real users. Results indicate that genetic algorithms that use information theory based fitness measures do indeed generate virtual artefacts that match user preferences. Moreover the images generated are visually appealing enough to be curated for public exhibition along side human artists in art galleries by professional art critics.

Fractal Complexity in Built and Game Environments

“…In particular these mathematical patterns can often provide more natural appearing shapes and three-dimensional structural forms [5]. The use of fractal/recursive methods to automatically create complete structural game environments has been explored in several projects and this offers potential to address some issues regarding the scale of modern interactive computer games and the need for increasing numbers of new spaces and environments [3], [13].…”

“…Every location and surface is created geometrically and carefully designed to provide players with a particular visual, ideally immersive, experience. The repetitive process, at heart of fractal mathematics, generates engaging, often uncannily natural patterns, images and objects [1,2,3]. The potential to use this fractal technique to enhance the surface textures and bump maps in game spaces was the key focus of this project.…”

“…[1]. It is this "roughness" that creates the link to natural surfaces, spaces and objects, where fractal patterns are comparatively common [1], [3], [4], [5]. Analysis of architectural design also identifies fractal "cascade of details" in many iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House, Taj Mahal and others, all applying fractal systems to positive impact [6,7,8].…”

“…Games design procedural techniques, including fractal systems have been used for content generation to good effect [3], [4], [9]. Aesthetics are less clearly understood.…”

Use of GCF Aesthetic Measure in the Evolution of Landscape Designs

“…However, we address this by the use of an aesthetic measure where the evolution of images is guided without the need for significant user involvement. In previous work, (Walsh and Gade, 2011) implemented a Kolmogorov complexity aesthetic measure (Li, 1997) to generate landscape designs automatically. The results were encouraging and have led us to integrate additional aesthetic measures into our library, hoping to improve the ability of our algorithms to generate more pleasing landscape designs for users.…”