Abstract: Make Fractal Landscapes and Fly-Through Animations Using USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM's)
John K. Nakata, Robert K. Mark
Photo-realistic renderings and animations were once exclusively the domain of high-end workstations. Now with the increasing sophistication of geometric algorithms, ray-traced landscapes and fly-through animations can be created on the desktop without massive CPU capability.
USGS digital elevation models are used as a framework over which fractal landscapes are placed using KPT Bryce and Scenery Animator software. End products include photo-realistic recreation of past, present, or future geologic environments and terrain "fly-throughs" that facilitate scientific "visualization". The ray-traced rendered landscapes can be presented as slides, overheads, video or printed on photographic paper while the "fly-throughs" can be viewed on the desktop or output to video.
These products are ideal for outreach and will enhance presentation of geologic data.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90958©1995 AAPG Pacific Section Meeting, San Francisco, California