Methods for visualisation of forest growth

Three-dimensional visualisation is a complement to single-tree modelling of forest growth and provides new possibilities for gaining insight into and spreading information on forest growth. Methods of scientific visualisation are described examplarily by means of stand profile drawings, crown maps, stand top views, walkthroughs and landscape image simulations all of which contribute towards illustrating natural developments and human operations i n the forest. Not only do they support forest science instruction and resea rch as well as forestry practice but they may also be useful in landscape p lanning and nature conservation. Scientific visualisation implies the use o f graphics programmes for the processing and exploiting of knowledge contai ned in measuring and simulation results. The visualisation of macro structu res at the individual tree, stand and landscape level assists in the illust ration and analysis of measuring data, model preparation of investigation o bjects and the didactic transportation of research results into forest scie nce. It represents an effective, methodological progress in the paradigm ch angeover from the stand concept to the single tree approach.