Plastic trees: interactive self-adapting botanical tree models

  • Authors:
  • Sören Pirk;Ondrej Stava;Julian Kratt;Michel Abdul Massih Said;Boris Neubert;Radomír Měch;Bedrich Benes;Oliver Deussen

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Konstanz, Germany;Purdue University;University of Konstanz, Germany;Purdue University;University of Konstanz, Germany;Adobe Systems Inc.;Purdue University;University of Konstanz, Germany

  • Venue:
  • ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG) - SIGGRAPH 2012 Conference Proceedings
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

We present a dynamic tree modeling and representation technique that allows complex tree models to interact with their environment. Our method uses changes in the light distribution and proximity to solid obstacles and other trees as approximations of biologically motivated transformations on a skeletal representation of the tree's main branches and its procedurally generated foliage. Parts of the tree are transformed only when required, thus our approach is much faster than common algorithms such as Open L-Systems or space colonization methods. Input is a skeleton-based tree geometry that can be computed from common tree production systems or from reconstructed laser scanning models. Our approach enables content creators to directly interact with trees and to create visually convincing ecosystems interactively. We present different interaction types and evaluate our method by comparing our transformations to biologically based growth simulation techniques.