Blending Custom Terrain Patches in 3D Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional geographic information systems do not allow users to modify the terrain of virtual environments, limiting their ability to represent custom features or changes such as geological shifts or erosion.
Innovation Solution
A method to blend custom terrain patches onto the surface of a three-dimensional environment by converting terrain data into a surface grid and custom terrain data into a patch grid, aligning and interpolating altitudes and colors to modify the terrain, allowing users to insert or modify terrain features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If terrain data is stored in a fixed mesh format with primitives, then the three-dimensional environment maintains structural integrity and rendering efficiency, but users cannot modify the terrain to represent custom features or geological changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the terrain modification process into separate grid systems: a surface grid representing the base terrain and a patch grid representing custom modifications. This segmentation allows independent handling of original terrain data and user-defined changes, enabling terrain modifiability without compromising the overall mesh structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a patch grid as an intermediary layer between the fixed mesh structure and user customization needs. This intermediary grid stores altitude modifications without altering the underlying mesh primitives, allowing terrain modification while preserving structural integrity and rendering efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom terrain patches are blended onto the surface grid, then users can dynamically modify terrain features, but the processing complexity and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing modifications only in specific regions through the patch grid, which corresponds to particular areas on the surface grid. This enables custom terrain features to be integrated locally without requiring complex global modifications to the entire terrain mesh, reducing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies terrain characteristics by changing altitude parameters in the patch grid, which are then blended with the surface grid. This parameter-based approach allows dynamic terrain modification through simple numerical adjustments rather than complex geometric transformations, reducing computational requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If the patch grid resolution matches the surface grid resolution, then terrain modifications align precisely with the original terrain, but the data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by allowing the patch grid to have the same resolution as the surface grid only where modifications are needed, rather than requiring full-resolution data across the entire terrain. This enables precise terrain alignment in modified regions while reducing overall data storage requirements through sparse representation of unchanged areas.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for blending custom terrain patches onto a terrain of a virtual three-dimensional environment. A method includes accessing terrain data that describes a mesh representing the surface of the terrain of the three-dimensional environment. The mesh is constructed of primitives that are defined by a terrain altitude at each vertex. A surface grid is determined from the primitives such that each point in the surface grid includes the terrain altitude where the point falls on the mesh. Custom terrain data is also accessed that includes a custom grid of terrain altitudes. A patch grid is determined from the custom grid such that each point in the patch grid includes a terrain altitude derived from the custom grid. The patch and surface grids are blended such that each terrain altitude in the patch grid modifies its corresponding terrain altitude in the surface grid.