Visualization of landscape by VRML system

Virtual reality modeling language (VRML) is a high performance language for three-dimensional (3-D) visualization on the World Wide Web (WWW). Three-d imensional information can be easily transferred through the Internet by th is technology. In this study, we made a landscape visualization system that enables virtual experience in a planned landscape by using VRML and the ap plicability of the system to the landscape design was shown. To perform rea l-time rendering of landscape, a tree was expressed by using two textured p lanes instead of thousands of polygons. Trees were placed automatically on a textured terrain based on the plant database by the system developed in t his study. With the system, we made models of real gardens based on measure d data and walk-through simulations in the gardens were tested. The system showed good performance and it also indicated the potential of VRML systems . The information on the virtual landscape can be placed on WWW. This metho d can be utilized both for the design of and for the public discussion on l andscape planning. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.