Using Cellular Automata to create heightmaps
Hey there!
So I've now got the hang of C++ and SFML, and am starting to wade into OpenGL programming.
One of my current projects is to create a procedural world generation program. I'm not using Perlin Noise, and I don't want to (partly for the challenge, partly to experiment and see how things could be done in other ways, and partly because I want high levels of control, conceptually, over the finished world that Perlin doesn't seem to offer easily). For the moment, most of the program is based on modifying cells in a Voronoi diagram in accordance to certain rules, and the results aren't all that bad:
[media]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_AcHx38-2Y/Tkj-G4fe1fI/AAAAAAAAAGM/USkHHpDOoQE/s1600/19-8.jpg[/media]
But I the code is somewhat bloated, and I want to trim the fat.
I've been hearing a lot about using cellular automata to do terrain generation, but I've googled a lot and most of it is either highly technical stuff I can't read, or else simple things that only differentiate between land and water, or with similar limitations. I want to take a look at what others have done in terms of cellular automata being used to model pseudo-naturalistic heightmaps, i.e. mountain ranges, rivers, erosion, valleys, etc. So far, I've not found much to go on.
Can anyone point me in an interesting direction?
So I've now got the hang of C++ and SFML, and am starting to wade into OpenGL programming.
One of my current projects is to create a procedural world generation program. I'm not using Perlin Noise, and I don't want to (partly for the challenge, partly to experiment and see how things could be done in other ways, and partly because I want high levels of control, conceptually, over the finished world that Perlin doesn't seem to offer easily). For the moment, most of the program is based on modifying cells in a Voronoi diagram in accordance to certain rules, and the results aren't all that bad:
[media]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_AcHx38-2Y/Tkj-G4fe1fI/AAAAAAAAAGM/USkHHpDOoQE/s1600/19-8.jpg[/media]
But I the code is somewhat bloated, and I want to trim the fat.
I've been hearing a lot about using cellular automata to do terrain generation, but I've googled a lot and most of it is either highly technical stuff I can't read, or else simple things that only differentiate between land and water, or with similar limitations. I want to take a look at what others have done in terms of cellular automata being used to model pseudo-naturalistic heightmaps, i.e. mountain ranges, rivers, erosion, valleys, etc. So far, I've not found much to go on.
Can anyone point me in an interesting direction?
[quote name='ryan20fun' timestamp='1313657615' post='4850671']
what about useing a Digitel Elevation Map ?
Isn't that the same thing as a heightmap?
[/quote]
I looked it up, but that's essentially the conclusion I came to, as well. Since DEMs seem to be of greatest currency in the scientific community for mapping the Earth and other planets, I thought the intention might have been to take existing maps of places on Earth and adapt those, but that's not what I'm looking for, as I want full control over the kind of landscapes that appear, and I want to be able to create several and pick favorites, rather than be forced to find appropriate DEMs from Earth for every different attempt.
I looked it up, but that's essentially the conclusion I came to, as well. Since DEMs seem to be of greatest currency in the scientific community for mapping the Earth and other planets, I thought the intention might have been to take existing maps of places on Earth and adapt those, but that's not what I'm looking for, as I want full control over the kind of landscapes that appear, and I want to be able to create several and pick favorites, rather than be forced to find appropriate DEMs from Earth for every different attempt.
I agree, using data taken from real-world terrain is anything but adaptable. Well I can't offer any expert advice on this, but I'll be watching this thread very closely because it's one of my main interests.
[quote name='Saldan' timestamp='1313667612' post='4850718']
I looked it up, but that's essentially the conclusion I came to, as well. Since DEMs seem to be of greatest currency in the scientific community for mapping the Earth and other planets, I thought the intention might have been to take existing maps of places on Earth and adapt those, but that's not what I'm looking for, as I want full control over the kind of landscapes that appear, and I want to be able to create several and pick favorites, rather than be forced to find appropriate DEMs from Earth for every different attempt.
I agree, using data taken from real-world terrain is anything but adaptable. Well I can't offer any expert advice on this, but I'll be watching this thread very closely because it's one of my main interests.
[/quote]
that reminds me, i saw a post somewhere talking about getting the height data out of Google Earth, unfortunetly i dont have the link to that one.
<a href="http://www.ogre3d.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=48404">Og
[quote name='Saldan' timestamp='1313667612' post='4850718']
I looked it up, but that's essentially the conclusion I came to, as well. Since DEMs seem to be of greatest currency in the scientific community for mapping the Earth and other planets, I thought the intention might have been to take existing maps of places on Earth and adapt those, but that's not what I'm looking for, as I want full control over the kind of landscapes that appear, and I want to be able to create several and pick favorites, rather than be forced to find appropriate DEMs from Earth for every different attempt.
I agree, using data taken from real-world terrain is anything but adaptable. Well I can't offer any expert advice on this, but I'll be watching this thread very closely because it's one of my main interests.
[/quote]
that reminds me, i saw a post somewhere talking about getting the height data out of Google Earth, unfortunetly i dont have the link to that one.
Ogre Forums • View topic - Where to get height maps (real geo information): ( i think this is the right one, looks like it has the right links and looks fimilier )
one interesting thing to look at from the above link
be sure to check out the USGS and their free online store of maps.[/quote]
and heres one other
Getting Elevation Data Out of Google Earth
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