Visualizing Landscape Dynamics / Dynamic Landscapes

Landscape modeling requires techniques for representing and manipulating essential landscape elements – landform, vegetation, water, infrastructure, animals, and atmosphere – and also landscape processes: movement, growth, change, flow, diffusion, evolution, et al.These processes happen at all scales, both spatial and temporal, and may ordinarily be \’invisible\’; digital rendering and animation can help to portray and analyze them. Landscape dynamics include natural processes, built systems, and perceptual effects; landscape animations need to include both \’movement through\’ and \’movement of\’. Digital representational, modeling, and analytic methods range from photo-and video- montage to algorithmically controlled 3D procedural techniques.This course is intended for students in any discipline who have achieved intermediate/advanced skills in 3D modeling and animation, CAD and GIS, and wish to explore more deeply the challenges of representing landscape dynamics / dynamic landscapes.A series of exercises devoted to separate elements and techniques is followed by a final synthetic project of some complexity.