Abstract

Virtual reality is a powerful tool for modelling real life forms. Here we are concerned with virtual plants (computer models of plants), representing the behaviour and properties of a plant. Such models can be used to replace costly field tests and save time.

In this talk we will give an introduction to the modelling of leaf surfaces. Leaf surfaces can be represented by mathematical functions, using approximation or interpolation methods. However, the boundaries force us to 'cut leaves out', to restrict the surface to the actual shape of the leaf.

Having collected some real leaf data, we are then presented with the problem of triangulating a non-convex domain, fitting the surface and displaying the result.