Agroforestry Extension Resources

bullet1 Resources A080-089

bullet2 A086 3D Virtual Terrain Modelling

Miscellaneous resources (networking and software)

The illustration of forestry extension material using computer graphic software is becoming more and more feasible and appropriate. There now exist many programs that allow landscape, including vegetation, to be modelled in a very realistic way, in three dimensions. Some programs are quite easy to use for people with limited artist and computer-using talent, and could be a great help in developing new material

  • A Virtual Terrain Project is keeping track of different terrain modelling software, and has a website at: http://www.vterrain.org/index.html . This is worth visiting to understand what is involved, and  the range of possible resources available.
  • An example of a good, easy-to-use program for illustration is Vue d'Esprit. The older 3.1 version is available cheaply, and is worth a try to get the idea. The later version 4 is more expensive (US$240) but probably worthwhile if extensive graphic illustration is being contemplated. The big advantage of the Vue program is that it has a very good vegetation generation engine, which could be used to generate the various components of an agroforestry system: http://www.e-onsoftware.com/ . because the program generates views that are rendered very accurately, it is possible to produce stereo pairs of a scene, easily viewable with a simple stereoscope. This could be useful for clarifying spacial arrangements of agroforestry systems, and for providing a novel and attractive approach for illiterate users. Examples of Vue d'Esprit images and stereo pairs (see below) available from marcus.robbins@virgin.net
  • Note that such "artistic" programs, which help to create illustrative scenes, are distinct from Mapping / GIS programmes  which use geographic data to represent actual terrain. If a cheap but well-featured GIS mapping program is needed, which can convert topographical data into 3D views, Mapmaker is recommended: http://www.mapmaker.com/  The software comes in two integrated versions. The basic version is free and is OK for very simple mapping. The extended (Pro) version has to be paid for, and allows 3D views.

Example below of a scene created in Vue d'Esprit (with the stereo pair - but note that the stereo effect will not be properly viewable on screen - the original high resolution images need to printed out.

   

Example below of Mapmaker Pro 3D view, generated from a map.