Landscape-scale forest information

Computer visualization techniques that integrate detailed information can c ommunicate general characteristics of a landscape to audiences from diverse backgrounds. But credibility with viewers may be lost if details-character istics for which data are lacking-are generated to make visualizations more realistic. One solution is to present obvious abstractions for landscape a ttributes that have not been measured. In most cases, presenting a landscap e via several complementary techniques conveys information most successfull y. A sampling of presentation tools describing an actual forest landscape r eveals their advantages,disadvantages, and suitability for lay audiences.