Procedural landscape modeling with geographic information: the IMAGIS approach

In this paper, we present and discuss the procedural technology developed i n the framework of the Image Metropolis project, to model landscapes at reg ional scale. We call it "IMAGIS" to symbolize the alliance, in one single i nformation system, of the two most powerful visual media for the representa tion of a territory: the image and the map. IMAGIS is an interface between the 2 D world of plans and the 3 D world of perspectives. It implements a set of procedures specifically designed to tr ansform landscape forms described in a GIS quite synthetically by 2 D entit ies, into much more elaborate objects in a 3 D space. It is intended for cr eating broad landscape models, from which photorealistic images can be comp uted with Atelier de Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes (AMAP) soft ware. AMAP is a modeling workshop allowing users to generate and visualize a larg e number of plant models at various growth stages. AMAP was created from th e outset for the needs of agronomists who seek to simulate very accurately the architecture and growth behavior of plants, in a natural or a designed environment. It is now quite established in the realm of landscape architec ture. IMAGIS is aiming at a different community of users: the planning and GIS or ganizations who need to visualize regional development plans for impact ass essment, communication and decision-making purposes. Although, it may be ap plied in a wide variety of contexts, its built-in features makes it particu larly suitable for suburban planning. The first, part of the paper sets the rationale for the development of IMAG IS and focuses on issues of perception and representation of broad landscap es. The second part provides a short description of AMAP's features and int roduces IMAGIS' new functions, showing how they widen the application spect rum of AMAP from the plant to the land cover. Finally, some preliminary con clusions from Imago Metropolis are presented, that set-up the agenda for fu ture researches and developments in the field of landscape procedural model ing. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.