Terrain visualization through progressive refinement

It is noted that terrain visualization systems attempt to fulfil the competing demands realism (or information volume) and image generation speed. An approach that compromises between these competing demands by addressing the major requirements of each is suggested. The approach is called progressive refinement. With this approach, a reduced informational version of an image is generated at interactive rates, allowing operator exploration of the informational domain. As particularly interesting locations are identified, viewing orientation is frozen and the image progresses through a sequence of increasingly detailed displays. For terrain visualizations, this permits both interactive examination of a gaming area and detailed investigation of key locations on a less expensive computing platform