Visually Improved Erosion Algorithm for the Procedural Generation of Tile-based Terrain

Fong Yuan Lim, Yu Wei Tan, Anand Bhojan

2022

Abstract

Procedural terrain generation is the process of generating a digital representation of terrain using a computer program or procedure, with little to no human guidance. This paper proposes a procedural terrain generation algorithm based on a graph representation of fluvial erosion that offers several novel improvements over existing algorithms. Namely, the use of a height constraint map with two types of locally defined constraint strengths; the ability to specify a realistic erosion strength via level of rainfall; and the ability to carve realistic gorges. These novelties allow it to generate more varied and realistic terrain by integrating additional parameters and simulation processes, while being faster and offering more flexibility and ease of use to terrain designers due to the nature and intuitiveness of these new parameters and processes. This paper additionally reviews some common metrics used to evaluate terrain generators, and suggests a completely new one that contributes to a more holistic evaluation.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Lim F., Tan Y. and Bhojan A. (2022). Visually Improved Erosion Algorithm for the Procedural Generation of Tile-based Terrain. In Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (VISIGRAPP 2022) - Volume 1: GRAPP; ISBN 978-989-758-555-5, SciTePress, pages 49-59. DOI: 10.5220/0010799700003124

in Bibtex Style

@conference{grapp22,
author={Fong Yuan Lim and Yu Wei Tan and Anand Bhojan},
title={Visually Improved Erosion Algorithm for the Procedural Generation of Tile-based Terrain},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (VISIGRAPP 2022) - Volume 1: GRAPP},
year={2022},
pages={49-59},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0010799700003124},
isbn={978-989-758-555-5},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (VISIGRAPP 2022) - Volume 1: GRAPP
TI - Visually Improved Erosion Algorithm for the Procedural Generation of Tile-based Terrain
SN - 978-989-758-555-5
AU - Lim F.
AU - Tan Y.
AU - Bhojan A.
PY - 2022
SP - 49
EP - 59
DO - 10.5220/0010799700003124
PB - SciTePress