Virtual flythrough over a voxel-based terrain

Abstract

A voxel-based terrain visualization system is presented with real-time performance on general-purpose graphics multiprocessor workstations. Ray casting of antialiased 3D volume terrain and subvoxel sampling in true 3D space produce high quality images. Based on this rendering algorithm, an interactive flythrough system for mission planning and flight simulation has been developed on an SGI Power Challenge and a virtual reality environment using a Responsive Workbench. Arbitrary stereoscopic perspective views over the terrain and a 6D input device are supported.