Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Malhotra, Priya
Author's Email Address	pmalhotr@vt.edu
URN	etd-10142002-145150
Title	Issues involved in Real-Time Rendering of Virtual Environments
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Architecture
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Jones, Dennis B. Committee Chair Lockhart, Jason Committee Member Schubert, Robert P. Committee Member
Keywords	Real-time rendering photo-realism optimization virtual environments
Date of Defense	2002-07-19
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This thesis explores the issues involved in modeling and rendering virtual environments with special emphasis on photo-realistic visualization and optimizing models for real-time applications. Architectural walk-through systems are expected to give convincingly realistic interactive visualizations of complex virtual environments (Brooks, 1986). This pursued high degree impression of reality enhanced by interactivity, leads the user into a state of immersion, or the suspension of disbelief. The use of these systems ranges from virtual prototyping of building designs, stage and set lighting design, and architectural design reviews where the demands for greater realism and higher frame rates are always increasing. Until recently, the major focus has been on quickly rendering a complex model, rather than on photo-realism. The primary goal was reducing the number of graphics primitives rendered per frame without noticeably degrading image quality. The aim of this research is to study some of the real-time rendering and illumination techniques, bringing out the limitations and advantages of each. In addition the study investigates the extent of inclusion of standard 3 Dimensional modeling packages in the methodology pipeline, providing architects and designers with some guidelines for photo-realistic visualization and real-time simulation of their models. This is demonstrated through an example model of Tadao Ando's Church on the Water. A 3D photo-realistic reconstruction and real-time simulation is attempted, using widely available standard tools. The aim is to develop a methodology for building a compelling, interactive and highly realistic virtual representation. The whole methodology is based not on proprietary commercial 3D game engines, but on international open standard programming languages and API's, while leaving the user to freely select and use his/her 3D character-modeling package of choice. However, several shortcomings in both hardware and software became apparent. These are described, and a number of recommendations are provided.
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