Conceptual Model of Graph-based Individual Tree and Its Utilization in Digital Twin and Metaverse of Urban Forest

Abstract

3D city models are an important cornerstone in the development of digital twin cities, allowing for various analyses and simulations. CityGML, as an open standard for 3D city models, emphasizes five main aspects: scale or level of detail (LoD), semantics, geometry, topology, and appearance. One of the important elements in CityGML 3D city models is representation of vegetation. Vegetation in CityGML, especially individual trees, is still limited in terms of detail and resolution, reducing its effectiveness for specific applications. This paper proposes a graph-based conceptual model for individual trees that conforms to the CityGML v2.0 specification. The model refers to the morphological structure of a tree consisting of roots, trunk, and crown (including branches, twigs, and leaves), and considers the five main aspects of CityGML. By enhancing semantic information and geometric details, the model aims to provide an information-rich and realistic representation of individual trees in a 3D city environment. The 3D tree model created based on this conceptual model may be applicable in the development of digital twin urban forests and virtual forest simulations that utilize immersive technologies such as the metaverse. This research opens up new opportunities in the development of solitary vegetation objects through CityGML ADE by including more detailed semantic and topological information.