Three Dimensional Cloud Modeling Approach Based on L-system

Typical methods for cloud modeling in simulation software are usually classified into static and dynamic modeling. While static modeling is accomplished by modeling tool such as 3ds max, dynamic modeling is implemented by particle system. In the former one, it is very hard to create a variety of realistic cloud models due to long implementation time. On the other hand, in the dynamic modeling case, rendering speed becomes slow because of computing overhead to handle large number of particles. Based on mentioned features of two schemes, it is required to create realistic three dimensional cloud model with small computing overhead. In order to fulfill this requirement, in this paper, we propose a cloud modeling and rendering approach based on L-system which is expected to provide scalability and low complexity. To create cloud, existing cloud dynamic model is transformed to rules of L-system in recursive way. In order to verify applicability of the proposed method, we present experimental result which is implemented by OpenSceneGraph(OSG) library.