The usefulness of the image produced by a CIG system is not well characterized by just the number of edges or surfaces displayed, but is a strong function of the effectiveness with which the scene details provide visual cues. This paper presents some examples of what can be achieved using hardware capabilities and modeling techniques to enhance the ability of the CIG to present useful scene detail.

Previous CIG systems changed scene details when their image size was small enough so as not to be distracting to the observer. Recently introduced system capabilities allow scene details to evolve in a more continuous, smooth, and independent manner. By using these capabilities, details need not be included in the scene until they are of visual importance. A hierarchical management structure is utilized to provide efficient data base culling and level of detail control. This enables data bases with thousands of square miles, many levels of detail, and thousands of surfaces per square mile to be processed efficiently by the image generator. Such data bases, rich in two- and three-dimensional textural features, can be efficiently produced by using automated generation procedures that require a minimum of modeler effort.