A Simulation Model for Interactive Tree Growth in a Complex Environment

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a dynamic modelling framework for simulating the growth of a tree with environment interactions which allows a tree to adapt to the distribution of light and proximity to solid obstacles. In our method, growth space of a tree was implemented as a grid of voxels and light was approximated as a Laplacian distribution where each voxel has a discrete intensity value. Sensitivity to the environment was simulated based on the hypothesis that a branch has a higher tendency to grow towards availability of light. Generation of a branch was determined by probabilistic evaluation of the growth candidates (buds) based on the resource availability in the environment. Geometric properties of the branches were continuously evaluated with addition of branches in order to represent the growth of the tree. Our model generates dynamic output which shows response to the light and the presence of obstacles in the growth space.