Large-Scale Dynamic Terrain in Three-Dimensional Construction Process Visualizations

Visualization can be of significant value in improving the verification, validation, and communication of discrete-event simulation models of construction operations, which in turn can make the models more credible and thus useful in operations planning. The presented work extends the state-of-the-art of visualizing simulation models of construction operations in three-dimensions. The writers present efficient methods and a tool, ViTerra, that can be used to automatically generate photorealistic, digital, three-dimensional ~3D! terrain computer-aided design databases to represent construction job sites in animations of simulated construction processes. The work capitalizes on the availability of detailed topographical and aerial imagery data that are readily available in digital format from several government and private organizations. In addition to automated terrain generation techniques, the presented work implements animation methods to describe the evolution of virtual jobsites by depicting deformations to the visualized terrains in response to common construction operations such as earthmoving and trenching. The writers’ first contribution alleviates the need to manually create 3D terrain models for use in animations as has been the case hitherto. The writers’ second contribution ~1! enhances realism in animations of several common construction operations; and ~2! allows the visualization of several other construction processes that were hitherto impossible to animate accurately in 3D. DOI: 10.1061/~ASCE!0887-3801~2005!19:2~160! CE Database subject headings: Computer graphics; Construction sites; Digital mapping; Simulation; Terrain models; Imaging techniques.