First Presentation: To Do

Reading:
1) Basic reading on Intelligent Agents (esp from Norvig & Russell) Try and include a few papers esp. one on difference between software and an agent

2) Terrain Generation algorithms
a Midpoint Displacement/Diamond-Square
b Collaging/Faulting
c Particle Deposition
d Perlin Noise
e Physical=based and derivative methods
f Composition of functions
g From actual data (last choice)



Objectives and Milestones
To complete a basic terrain generator and an agent which can go from pt A to pt B, by Feb. end

Useful Links
Paul Martz on Diamond Square
Virtual Terrain Project
Nice one on MPD, Fault Formation & Perlin noise
Particle deposition@Lighthouse 3D

begin {

First up...terrain generation..

Prof note (27th Jan): Generate random heights in correlation to surrounding and make a curved surface pass through those points i.e. smoothen

Initial objective: To generate "reasonably realistic" hard surface/rocky terrain in the form of colour/B&W contour maps.

Basics consulted here

Options
********
1) Random generation based on simple/complex fractal algos
2) Random gen through other means (not aware right now)
3) Terrain generation based on actual terrain maps (say like DEM (digital elevation maps) from the USGS (United States Geological Survey))

Footnote: TerraGen for Windows is a free terrain generator for photorealistic landscapes...or so it says :)