From: toby@cs.man.ac.uk (Toby Howard) Subject: EDUC: Building Synthetic Landscapes and Planets Date: 07 Jun 1996 12:06:37 +0100 Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester *********************************************************** A Tutorial on Building Synthetic Landscapes and Planets *********************************************************** Details and on-line registration: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/peve/Courses/vr.html F. Kenton Musgrave Venue and Date ************** The Department of Computer Science The University of Manchester Manchester, UK June 26th. 1996 Outline ******* In this tutorial you will learn how to create realistic synthetic landscapes in their correct geometric context: on the surface of a planet. We will start with a description of fractal geometry and how fractal terrain models are generated. We will review methods for realistically rendering complex terrain geometry with adaptive level of detail. We will study simple, efficient, and realistic atmospheric scattering models that are critical for realism in landscape scenes. Con- struction of fractal procedural textures will be detailed, with examples including clouds, sedimentary rock strata, and entire planets. We will discuss throughout how to map the various models into the spherical geometry of a planet. Finally, we will describe the Slartibartfast pro- gram that implements all of these elements in under 1,000 lines of C code. The lectures will be richly illustrated with Dr. Musgrave¹s world renowned synthetic landscape artworks. Aims and Objectives ********************* Delegates at this tutorial will gain: * familiarity with the basic elements critical to realism in landscape renderings; * a working knowledge of fractal models of natural phenomena; * exposure to rendering algorithms for detailed, realistic scenes; * insight into the procedural approach to computer art; * appreciation for the elegance with which all this can be accomplished; and * source code that creates an entire synthetic planet, to use and modify. Presenter ********** Ken Musgrave is a researcher in computer graphics, and a computer artist of world renown. His fractal images have led Benoit Mandelbrot to credit him with being "the first true fractalbased artist". Since receiving his Ph.D. in computer science at Yale in 1993 he has been creating, from first principles of logic and mathematics, an entire planet that is well-defined everywhere and at all scales and has visual complexity comparable to Earth's. His research involves mapping fractal geometry and scientific models of nature into image synthesis algorithms, which in turn create visual models of various natural phenomena. These models are in turn used to produce visual art through a complex and novel creative process. Professor Musgrave's artworks have been exhibited in the Guggenheim Museum and around the world. You can find further information and examples of Professor Musgrave's work at: http://www.seas.gwu.edu/faculty/musgrave/ Timetable ********** 08.45 - 09.30 Registration and Coffee 09.30 - 11.00 Session 1 * Introduction: Synthetic Landscapes in Context * The five basic elements of realism * The procedural approach * Fractals * What is a fractal? * Fractal geometry as a language of form in nature * Fractal Terrains * Building fractional Brownian motion * Fractional Brownian motion as terrain 11.00 - 11.30 Coffee 11.30 - 13.00 Session 2 * Multifractals * What is a multifractal? * Multifractals in nature * Multifractal Models * Terrain * Turbulence 13.00 - 14.00 Lunch 14.00 - 15.30 Session 3 * Rendering Algorithms * Dealing with complex geometry efficiently * Adaptive level of detail * Rendering Terrain * Incremental methods * Procedural methods * Atmospheric Effects * Beer's Law * Non-homogeneous density models * Rayleigh scattering approximation 15.30 - 16.00 Tea 16.00 - 17.30 Session 4 * Procedural Textures * Fractal textures * Clouds, rock, and planets * Slartibartfast * Putting it all together in one small program * Program structure and features * Conclusion * The elegance of fractals and proceduralism * Creating fine art, procedurally * Creating virtual planets to populate a virtual universe Who Should Attend ******************** Graduate students in computer graphics, designers of simulators and games, designers of virtual real- ity systems, technical directors and artists involved in special effects for television and movies, scien- tists interested in simplified models sufficient for visual realism, and programmers interested in sci- ence fiction and virtual worlds. Students are assumed to have an understanding of the basics of computer graphics. Catering and Accommodation ****************************** Special dietary requirements will be catered for if details are provided on the application form. Accommodation can be arranged if requested and will be charged at cost. The University of Manchester ******************************* Manchester University is Britain's largest campus university. The University is within a couple of miles of the city centre and is easily accessible by train and road and also by air via Manchester's International Airport. The Tutorial will be held in the Department of Computer Science. The Department was one of the earliest Computer Science Departments. The world's first stored programme computer was built, and virtual memory was invented here. It now has over 50 academic staff, a similar number of researchers and more than 600 undergraduate stu- dents making it one of the largest Computer Sci- ence Departments in the country. The Department has access and facilities for dis- abled visitors. Application Form ****************** To: Ursula Hayes Department of Computer Science University of Manchester Manchester M13 9PL England Telephone: +44 (161) 275 6157 Fax: +44 (161) 275 6200 email ursula@cs.man.ac.uk Title........................Forename............................. Surname................................................................. Address................................................................... ................................................................... Postcode................................................................... Telephone..................................................... Fax................................................................... email............................................................... The fee includes the tutorial fee, course notes, plus lunch and refreshments. Fee: UK Pounds 95.00 Please invoice my company........................... I enclose a cheque for the fee....................... Dietary Requirements:....................................... Cheques payable to 'The University of Manchester' [ends] -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Toby Howard, Lecturer Co-editor *The Skeptic* magazine toby@cs.man.ac.uk http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/staff/toby Tel: +44(0)161-275-6274 Fax: +44(0)161-275-6236 Advanced Interfaces Group, Department of Computer Science University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK --------------------------------------------------------------