research-article

Large-scale Terrain Authoring through Interactive Erosion Simulation

Authors:

Lucie Fournier,

Eric GalinAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Graphics, Volume 42, Issue 5

Article No.: 162, Pages 1 - 15

https://doi.org/10.1145/3592787

Published: 28 July 2023 Publication History

Abstract

Large-scale terrains are essential in the definition of virtual worlds. Given the diversity of landforms and the geomorphological complexity, there is a need for authoring techniques offering hydrological consistency without sacrificing user control. In this article, we bridge the gap between large-scale erosion simulation and authoring into an efficient framework. We set aside modeling in the elevation domain in favour of the uplift domain and compute emerging reliefs by simulating the stream power erosion. Our simulation relies on a fast yet accurate approximation of drainage area and flow routing to compute the erosion interactively, which allows for incremental authoring. Our model provides landscape artists with tools for shaping mountain ranges and valleys, such as copy-and-paste operations; warping for imitating folds and faults; and point and curve elevation constraints to precisely sculpt ridges or carve river networks. It also lends itself to inverse procedural modeling by reconstructing the uplift from an input digital elevation model and allows hydrologically consistent blending between terrain patches.

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Cited By

Meng QHuai YWang XLi ZZhang RNie X(2025)Three dimensional forest dynamic evolution based on hydraulic erosion and forest fire disturbanceComputers & Graphics10.1016/j.cag.2024.104152126(104152)Online publication date: Feb-2025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cag.2024.104152
Jain ABenes BCordonnier G(2024)Efficient Debris-flow Simulation for Steep Terrain ErosionACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/365821343:4(1-11)Online publication date: 19-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3658213
Schott HGalin EGuérin EParis APeytavie A(2024)Terrain Amplification using Multi Scale ErosionACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/365820043:4(1-12)Online publication date: 19-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3658200
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Index Terms

Large-scale Terrain Authoring through Interactive Erosion Simulation
1. Computing methodologies
  1. Computer graphics
    1. Shape modeling

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Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Graphics

ACM Transactions on Graphics Volume 42, Issue 5

October 2023

195 pages

ISSN:0730-0301

EISSN:1557-7368

DOI:10.1145/3607124

Editor:
Carol O'Sullivan
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

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Publication rights licensed to ACM. ACM acknowledges that this contribution was authored or co-authored by an employee, contractor or affiliate of a national government. As such, the Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free right to publish or reproduce this article, or to allow others to do so, for Government purposes only.

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 28 July 2023

Online AM: 25 April 2023

Accepted: 13 March 2023

Revised: 18 January 2023

Received: 06 October 2022

Published in TOG Volume 42, Issue 5

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Cited By

Meng QHuai YWang XLi ZZhang RNie X(2025)Three dimensional forest dynamic evolution based on hydraulic erosion and forest fire disturbanceComputers & Graphics10.1016/j.cag.2024.104152126(104152)Online publication date: Feb-2025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cag.2024.104152
Jain ABenes BCordonnier G(2024)Efficient Debris-flow Simulation for Steep Terrain ErosionACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/365821343:4(1-11)Online publication date: 19-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3658213
Schott HGalin EGuérin EParis APeytavie A(2024)Terrain Amplification using Multi Scale ErosionACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/365820043:4(1-12)Online publication date: 19-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3658200
Jain AKerbl BGain JFinley BCordonnier G(2024)FastFlow: GPU Acceleration of Flow and Depression Routing for Landscape SimulationComputer Graphics Forum10.1111/cgf.1524343:7Online publication date: 24-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.15243
Tzathas PGailleton BSteer PCordonnier G(2024)Physically‐based analytical erosion for fast terrain generationComputer Graphics Forum10.1111/cgf.1503343:2Online publication date: 27-Apr-2024
https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.15033
Jain ASharma ARajan K(2024)Learning Based Infinite Terrain Generation with Level of Detailing2024 International Conference on 3D Vision (3DV)10.1109/3DV62453.2024.00077(1048-1058)Online publication date: 18-Mar-2024
https://doi.org/10.1109/3DV62453.2024.00077
Kanai TEndo YKanamori Y(2024)Seasonal terrain texture synthesis via Köppen periodic conditioningThe Visual Computer: International Journal of Computer Graphics10.1007/s00371-024-03485-140:7(4857-4868)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s00371-024-03485-1
Hartley MMellado NFiorio CFaraj N(2024)Flexible terrain erosionThe Visual Computer10.1007/s00371-024-03444-w40:7(4593-4607)Online publication date: 5-Jun-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-024-03444-w
Paris AGuérin ECollon PGalin E(2023)Authoring and Simulating Meandering RiversACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/361835042:6(1-14)Online publication date: 5-Dec-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3618350
Cordonnier GJouvet GPeytavie ABraun JCani MBenes BGalin EGuérin EGain J(2023)Forming Terrains by Glacial ErosionACM Transactions on Graphics10.1145/359242242:4(1-14)Online publication date: 26-Jul-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3592422
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