Master Thesis

1. PARAMETRIC ARCHITECTURE – MY THESIS JUNE 1993 Creating botanical trees on AutoCAD

3. Algorithm: L-Systems Lindenmayer systems can create organic shapes as well as strictly geometric ones. It all depends on the angles.

4. Algorithm: L-system applied Write a recursive grammar for the movements of a 3D “turtle” moving in space according to angles &(a), ^(b), +(d) and repeat until maximum branching level has been reached. Note: trees usually branch once a year, but nature curtails them to a maximum branching level determined by the environment. This grammar, however, could be used indefinitely.

6. Interface Type in “Baum” (German for tree) at AutoCAD command prompt, tree interface will come up. Select tree type, type in age, toggle leaves on or off, pick drawing level Select drawing level: Line Cylinder Cone Hyperbolic curves Topsy-turvy cone shape

7. Interface continued To craft your own tree either from imagination or based on real data: Edit tree interface Specify new tree parameters such as angle, branch/branch length and width rations, angle contraction rate, tree maximum life expectancy, etc. Specify leaves, Specify environmental factors such as: gravitational parameter, wind direction and strength, etc.

8. Interface continued Craft your own leaves in a 3D modeling program, then use “edit leaf” interface to associate 3D leaf with tree and build a branch structure. Use interface to switch to AutoCAD drawing mode, bend, mirror, draw leaf and display in perspective

9. Fun Pictures / Variations

10. Fun pictures / variations continued One program / many shapes

11. Questions?