Terrain generation finds many applications such as in CGI movies, animations and video games. This paper describes a new and simple-to-implement terrain generator called the Uplift Model. It is based on the theory of crustal deformations by uplifts in Geology. When a number of uplifts are made on the Earth’s surface, the final net effect is an average of the influence of each uplift at each poi...

Building a digital terrain model (DTM) from LiDAR data can successfully be performed using a few techniques, but the quality of the resulted model and the way the terrain information is handled during the processing phase remain a challenge. A new framework for creating a DTM from LiDAR data within ArcGIS ® utilizes the new ESRI data structure known as Terrain Data Set (TDS). This article prese...

We present an algorithm for eeciently computing ray intersections with multi-resolution global terrain partitioned by spheroidal height-augmented quadtrees. While previous methods support terrain deened on a Cartesian coordinate system, our methods support terrain deened on a two-parameter ellipsoidal coordinate system. This curvilin-ear system is necessary for an accurate model of global terra...

site-specific approach is presented to characterize terrain and target visibility and terrain clutter as seen by a shipboard radar in a coastal environment. The method takes into account the location of the ship, the particular terrain topography, the radar parameters, and the propagation effect. The method incorporates atmospheric refractive index conditions surrounding the radar, an optical r...

There are many applications involving featured terrains visualization. One of them is for gaming purposes. However, when dealing with real data, many of this applications fail to cope with such information. So, this work presents an efficient way to minimize or even remove this kind of problem. We propose a method based on image-based rendering and view-dependent visualization techniques. These...

We present an algorithm for efficiently computing ray intersections with multi-resolution global terrain which is partitioned by spheroidal height-augmented quadtrees. While previous methods support terrain defined on a Cartesian coordinate system, our methods support terrain defined on a two-parameter ellipsoidal coordinate system. This curvilinear system is necessary for an accurate model of ...

Geographically contours are virtual lines drawn across the terrain to join points that are at same elevation from certain reference point. Contours are essential morphological features that are used along with the associated elevation as basis for generating Terrain Model or Digital Elevation Model for the area of interest. These lines are represented at different scales depending upon the scal...

We present a randomised potential-field based motion planning approach for rough-terrain mobile robot navigation. The motion planning component is closely integrated with a real-time capable rigid-body kinematics and dynamics simulation module. The terrain is approximated as a polygonal surface generated from height data. The robot interacts with the terrain, modelled as a series of physically ...

This paper presents a terrain avoidance control methodology for autonomous rotorcraft applied to low altitude flight. A model predictive control formulation is used to adequately address the terrain avoidance problem, which involves stabilizing a nonlinear highly coupled dynamic model, while avoiding collisions with the terrain and preventing input and state saturations. Computing the model pre...