Computer drawn perspective landscapes from contour data

Abstract

“Computer drawn perspective landscapes from contour data" describes a computer program which, makes a plotter drawing of a landscape using map data. The user must supply 1) a matrix of heights in a certain area, 2) an observation point and 3), a point to indicate the boundary of the view and the direction the observer is facing. The user may also supply information about bodies of water, cities or towns. The program stores the input and calculates the lines of the landscape and draws them on the plotter. It also supplies a frame for the drawing. The program calculates the landscape lines by forming a field of vision, the left radius being formed by the observation point and the view point (both supplied by the user). The arc of vision is divided into 240 radiating lines. The angle of elevation for 80 points along each radiating line is calculated and the points with the largest angles are connected to form the outlines which are drawn. The first chapter is a general survey of computer graphics. The rest of the thesis is concerned with the program itself, first there is a general description of the project and the problems involved in going about it, and then a detailed description of the Fortran* program. The last chapter describes further work that would be relevant to this project. Also included are illustrations and the Fortran program itself.