Geometrical shapes and swaying movements of realistic tree: design and implementation

Trees and plants are important elements of outdoor scenes, therefore, it makes demands of research involved in computer graphics on methods to realize the natural-looking trees and plants in various environmental condition, such as windy or stormy weather, to contribute more facticity to the virtual reality. The paper starts from introducing the general background. Then, an approach adopting a series of statistical curves as inputted parameters of tree morphogenesis and motion depiction, which represent ramification modes, phyllotaxes or motion profiles of leaves and stems. Finally, some experimental models in virtual scene were showed. We focus on the faithful morphogenesis of tree, swaying motion in wind and the appropriate rendering speed. Aside, all the inputted statistical curves can be modified interactively to integrate the research work of botanists and other experts, which vary with species and districts. Within this methodology, various plant models can be created easily and rapidly without any botanic background, and faithful motion of tree in wind can be simulated easily with proper engineering accuracy and effective computation.