Cover | EcoViz: a visualization tool for forest landscape model simulations
The authors retain all image rights and release the images under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
April Cover
Illustration by authors of the publication
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The image shows a scene in the Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany and depicts the hypothetical forest state in the year 2150, as simulated by a process-based forest landscape model (iLand).
The image blends "symbolic rendering" (trees are simplified shapes with distinctive colors, lower right), with a photo-realistic rendering (based on 3d tree models).
Both types of visualization (symbolic vs photo-realistic) represent the same population of simulated trees.
Read the open access paper in Ecography, by Rammer et al. (2026): EcoViz: a tool for visual analysis and photorealistic rendering of forest landscape model simulations
From the abstract:
Simulation outputs from forest landscape models are complex, and tools for their visual analysis and effective communication are often limited.
In this paper, we present EcoViz, a novel, open-source visualisation platform designed to complement existing forest models by providing advanced 3D visualisation capabilities. EcoViz facilitates the exploration of simulation results through two primary modes: symbolic rendering, designed for analytical tasks, such as pattern recognition and model evaluation, and photorealistic rendering, leveraging physically based rendering (Mitsuba 3) and a custom library of European 3D tree models for communication purposes.
The platform imports spatially explicit individual tree or cohort data and employs a temporally coherent sampling technique to visualise individual trees derived from cell-based density maps. Key features include: interactive side-by-side comparison of different simulation scenarios or time points, with synchronised navigation (viewpoint, timeline, transects), a mini-map overview, timeline controls with linked ecological metric graphs, and transect analysis tools.
The practical application of EcoViz is demonstrated by visualising simulations of the Berchtesgaden National Park under baseline and climate change scenarios exported from a forest landscape model. This case study showcases EcoViz's utility for comparative scenario analysis across spatial scales and how it aids model evaluation through visual inspection. While symbolic views support detailed analysis, the photorealistic output offers a compelling tool for science communication with diverse audiences, including scientific peers, forest managers, and the public.
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