Local terrain modification method considering physical feature constraints for vector elements

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many studies have been focused on rendering 2D vector elements on 3D terrain, and a series of algorithms have been proposed. Most of these algorithms struggle to provide a seamless overlay between vector elements and an irregular terrain surface. Despite their importance, the physical characteristics of vector elements are often ignored, which distorts the surface of vector elements. For example, if vector elements that represent roads and rivers are simply overlaid on terrain, the phenomena of uneven surfaces and rivers going uphill may occur because of elevation fluctuation. To correct these deficiencies, terrain should be modified according to the physical characteristics of vectors. We propose a local terrain modification method: First, the elevation of terrain covered by vector elements is recalculated according to vectors’ physical characteristics. Second, the multigrid method is used to realize a smooth transition between the modified terrain and its surrounding area. Finally, by setting different transition ranges and comparing the visualization effects, rules are given for the selection of a suitable range. After modification, the terrain conforms to vectors’ physical characteristics, and the overall relief is undamaged. The proposed method was applied to a CPU–GPU parallel heterogeneous model and demonstrated a high level of performance.