Vector‐Based Terrain Modelling

Abstract Vector‐based graphics offer numerous advantages over grid‐based models, including resolution independence and ease of manipulation. Despite these benefits, their use in landscape modelling remains uncommon because of a lack of direct editing and interactive feedback, essential for matching the artist's vision. We introduce a new vector‐based model for creating digital terrains based on computationally efficient primitives. We propose a method to convert grid‐based digital elevation maps to this representation with a user‐defined level of accuracy. Once vectorized, the terrain can be authored using interactive high‐level skeleton‐based tools adapted to the primitive representation, allowing local deformations that automatically adapt to underlying geomorphological structures and landforms of the terrain.