An interactive digital design system for corn modeling

An interactive digital design system for corn modeling is presented in this paper. The system is designed and developed based on the growth model of corn, thus the digital design for corn is suitable for biological and physiological characteristics according to the natural growth process of corn. The framework is supported by the agricultural knowledge model in steps: knowledge model, mathematical model, geometric model and display model. Specially, a template-based method is implemented for leaf modeling. The system is composed of several key function modules: computer graphic design, template, geometric modeling, database support, data processing and graphic–user interface, and developed by C++ program language based on OpenGL graphic library. The main functions of this system include plant type design, organs of corn model design, plant model design, corn colony design, display of colony and calculation of light distribution in the plant canopy layer. As an interactive digital design tool for corn modeling, the system provides a convenient way for rapid three-dimensional data acquisition and construction.