The dynamic simulator of forest evolution

Forest evolution simulation and visualization are challenging tasks in terms of complex interactions at various time and space scales. In this paper we present a forest evolution simulator system, based on individual-based, spatially explicit forest gap model, incorporating with fine-scale process of neighbor competition and understory recruitment. The forest evolution for each growth cycle is visualized by taking advantage of the above simulation results to render forest scene. Users can walk through the forest scene interactively. We also adopt the billboard rendering technique to enhance the navigation experience effectively. The system is implemented by Visual C++ 6.0 and OpenGL/GLUT, and the simulation results are satisfying.