Project Plan

Objective:

I plan to create and implement simple real time graphics systems for artistic visualizations of industrial aesthetics. This engine will be used to push forward Computer Graphics further into the realms of Environmentalism and Visual Art.

 

Butte, Montana: source of inspiration.

Purpose:

The main purpose of this project is to produce an efficient and dynamic Graphics Engine that can be used to for video games, simulations, or educational programs to raise awareness about the impacts large scale industry has on the environment.  Compiling various systems into a collaborative whole will also give me essential experience for serious projects, and will help me develop a unique and artistic style with Computer Graphics.

 

Goals:

With this project I plan to study and create my own graphics systems for various effects of industrial operations.  These mainly deal with methods of pollution, but also imply the implementation of unified general aesthetics.  All these systems should be as simple as possible and very efficient, this will free up processing time for the rest of the program. 

I have compiled a video that shows examples of the following systems:

 Video footage mine own, except from Youtube sources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkrH-KYJ-Q4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba7ZBplVcys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCVD44ybTo

(In order of approximated complexity)

Light Bloom- Strong and piercing light sources on machines

            -Define Light Emitters, use separable bloom filters

Smoke-  Combustion Exhaust from machines and factories dissipating into the atmosphere

            -Particle System, emitters/point sprites

Steam- Thicker and longer lasting exhaust from factory smoke stacks

            -Particle System, emitters/point sprites

Land Alteration- Interactive land map that is physically modified when affected by machines or by exhaust

            -Land Grid, height modifications, hue/saturation transformations

Dirt Movement- Falling dirt from machines to the ground

            -Independent objects with semi transparent animated textures

Water Pollution- Dirt and pollutants mixing with clean water

            -Interactive water grid, simple fluid motion texture blending

Implementation:

All these systems will be present in a functional 3D environment that the user can move a camera through to explore an industrial wasteland.  This project will be coded in C# using XNA.  I will be using mostly custom HLSL shaders for my effects.

In this map there are 3 main components which implement the project's graphic systems.

Factory - Produces smoke and steam, and is dumping waste into the river

Coal Train - Runs across the map pumping exhaust into the air, leaving a trail waste behind it

Excavators - Continuously dig away at the hill side and dump the dirt onto the ground.

This project is to be completed by the end of the 2012 Spring Semester 


Starting Point:
I have already made a 3D map editor, I will adapt this system to accommodate this projects needs, I will also add some new features.

 

 

I also have some raw models to work with... I will also be finalizing these, and developing systems for movement and animation.