Computer Graphics  
Lecture 09 Procedural Geometry  
Edirlei Soares de Lima  
<edirlei.lima@universidadeeuropeia.pt>  
Procedural Content Generation  
Procedural content generation is the method of creating data  
algorithmically.  
In computer graphics, it is commonly used to create textures and 3D  
models.  
In video games, it is used to automatically create several kinds of  
content: vegetation, buildings, sound, textures, indoor maps, outdoor  
maps, ecosystems, road networks, urban environments, puzzles,  
levels, stories, ...  
Procedural Geometry in Unity  
3D objects are represented by a set of triangles. Each triangle  
is defined by three vertices. In addition, each vertex has a  
normal vector, which usually points outward (perpendicular to  
the mesh surface), and a UV coordinate for texture mapping.  
The vertices and triangles define the spatial structure of the object.  
The normals define how light affects the surface of the object.  
The UV coordinates define how textures are mapped to the surface.  
Procedural Geometry in Unity  
Creating a procedural quad:  
public class ProceduralQuad : MonoBehaviour {  
private Mesh mesh;  
void Start()  
{
mesh = new Mesh();  
mesh.name = "MyQuad";  
GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh = mesh;  
Vector3[] vertices = new Vector3[4];  
vertices[0] = new Vector3(0, 0, 0);  
vertices[1] = new Vector3(1, 0, 0);  
vertices[2] = new Vector3(0, 1, 0);  
vertices[3] = new Vector3(1, 1, 0);  
mesh.vertices = vertices;  
2
0
3
1
.
..  
int[] triangles = new int[6];  
triangles[0] = 0;  
triangles[1] = 2;  
triangles[2] = 1;  
triangles[3] = 2;  
triangles[4] = 3;  
triangles[5] = 1;  
mesh.triangles = triangles;  
2
0
3
1
Vector3[] normals = new Vector3[4];  
normals[0] = -Vector3.forward;  
normals[1] = -Vector3.forward;  
normals[2] = -Vector3.forward;  
normals[3] = -Vector3.forward;  
mesh.normals = normals;  
Vector2[] uv = new Vector2[4];  
uv[0] = new Vector2(0, 0);  
uv[1] = new Vector2(1, 0);  
uv[2] = new Vector2(0, 1);  
uv[3] = new Vector2(1, 1);  
mesh.uv = uv;  
}
}
Procedural Geometry in Unity  
Creating a procedural grid:  
public class ProceduralGrid : MonoBehaviour {  
private Mesh mesh;  
public int xSize = 5;  
public int ySize = 3;  
void Start(){  
mesh = new Mesh();  
GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh = mesh;  
mesh.name = "MyGrid";  
Vector3[] vertices = new Vector3[(xSize + 1) * (ySize + 1)];  
int vetCount = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y <= ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x <= xSize; x++){  
vertices[vetCount] = new Vector3(x, y, 0);  
vetCount++;  
}
}
mesh.vertices = vertices;  
int[] triangles = new int[(xSize * ySize) * 6];  
int triCont = 0;  
int vertIndex = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y < ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x < xSize; x++){  
triangles[triCont] = vertIndex;  
triangles[triCont + 1] = vertIndex + xSize + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 2] = vertIndex + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 3] = vertIndex + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 4] = vertIndex + xSize + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 5] = vertIndex + xSize + 2;  
triCont += 6;  
vertIndex++;  
}
vertIndex++;  
}
mesh.triangles = triangles;  
Vector3[] normals = new Vector3[vertices.Length];  
for (int i = 0; i < vetCount; i++){  
normals[i] = -Vector3.forward;  
}
mesh.normals = normals;  
Vector2[] uv = new Vector2[vertices.Length];  
vetCount = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y <= ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x <= xSize; x++){  
uv[vetCount] = new Vector2((float)x/xSize, (float)y/ySize);  
vetCount++;  
}
}
mesh.uv = uv;  
}
}
Procedural Terrain - Hightmap  
A heightmap is a raster image used mainly for elevation  
modeling, where each pixel store values of the elevation data.  
Procedural Terrain Using Perlin Noise  
Procedural Terrain (Mesh):  
public class ProceduralTerrain : MonoBehaviour  
{
private Mesh mesh;  
public int xSize = 100;  
public int ySize = 100;  
public float xScaleFactor = 0.2f;  
public float yScaleFactor = 0.2f;  
public int resolution = 512;  
public float refinement = 0.01f;  
public float heightScale = 0.04f;  
public float sampleModifier = 0f;  
void Start()  
{
mesh = new Mesh();  
GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh = mesh;  
mesh.name = "MyTerrain";  
float[,] heightData = new float[xSize + 1, ySize + 1];  
for (int x = 0; x <= xSize; x++){  
for (int y = 0; y <= ySize; y++){  
float noise = Mathf.PerlinNoise(  
sampleModifier + (x * refinement),  
sampleModifier + (y * refinement));  
heightData[x, y] = noise * heightScale;  
}
}
Vector3[] vertices = new Vector3[(xSize + 1) * (ySize + 1)];  
int vetCount = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y <= ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x <= xSize; x++){  
vertices[vetCount] = new Vector3(x * xScaleFactor,  
heightData[x, y], y * yScaleFactor);  
vetCount++;  
}
}
mesh.vertices = vertices;  
int[] triangles = new int[(xSize * ySize) * 6];  
int triCont = 0;  
int vertIndex = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y < ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x < xSize; x++){  
triangles[triCont] = vertIndex;  
triangles[triCont + 1] = vertIndex + xSize + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 2] = vertIndex + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 3] = vertIndex + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 4] = vertIndex + xSize + 1;  
triangles[triCont + 5] = vertIndex + xSize + 2;  
triCont += 6;  
vertIndex++;  
}
vertIndex++;  
}
mesh.triangles = triangles;  
Vector2[] uv = new Vector2[vertices.Length];  
vetCount = 0;  
for (int y = 0; y <= ySize; y++){  
for (int x = 0; x <= xSize; x++){  
uv[vetCount] = new Vector2((float)x/xSize, (float)y/ySize);  
vetCount++;  
}
}
mesh.uv = uv;  
mesh.RecalculateNormals();  
mesh.RecalculateTangents();  
mesh.RecalculateBounds();  
}
Procedural Terrain Using Perlin Noise  
Procedural Terrain (Using Unity Terrain Component):  
public class ProceduralTerrain : MonoBehaviour {  
public int size = 50;  
public int resolution = 512;  
public float refinement = 0.01f;  
public float heightScale = 0.04f;  
public float sampleModifier = 0f;  
void Start() {  
float[,] heightData = new float[resolution, resolution];  
Terrain terrain = GetComponent<Terrain>();  
for (int x = 0; x < resolution; x++){  
for (int y = 0; y < resolution; y++){  
float noise = Mathf.PerlinNoise(  
sampleModifier + (x * refinement),  
sampleModifier + (y * refinement));  
heightData[x, y] = noise * heightScale;  
}
}
Procedural Terrain Using Perlin Noise  
TerrainData terrainData = new TerrainData();  
terrainData.heightmapResolution = resolution + 1;  
terrainData.size = new Vector3(size, size, size);  
terrainData.baseMapResolution = 1024;  
terrainData.SetDetailResolution(1024, 8);  
terrainData.SetHeights(0, 0, heightData);  
terrain.terrainData = terrainData;  
TerrainCollider terrainCollider = GetComponent  
<TerrainCollider>();  
terrainCollider.terrainData = terrainData;  
}
}
Exercise 1  
1) Create a script to generate hexagonal grids.  
The size of the grid must be defined by a parameter.  
Example of a 6 x 6 grid:  
Further Reading  
Watkins R. (2016). Procedural Content Generation for  
Unity Game Development. Packt Publishing. ISBN: 978-  
1
785287473.  
Web:  
http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/procedural-grid/  
http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/rounded-cube/