A Fractal Height Map Generator in Ruby

Midpoint Displacement in One Dimension

For the creation of the 1 dimensional height map, similar to a horizon, a very simple algorithm is used:

    def generateLine(length)

      # Due to this algorithm being simple for
      # the articles sake, length should be 
      # constrained to the powers of 2. 
      #
      # As we need a midpoint, however, length
      # should be defined as (2^n)+1.

      # Create an array which describes a line.
      # Set the default values to 0American Standard Code for Information Interchange 
      line = Array.new(length, 0)

      # Define the range of the terrain values.
      # For this example we shall take the range
      # of values to be -63 to 63, with the midpoint
      # at 0, out default value. 
      # Range is then 128.
      range = 128;

      # Work out the number of line segments
      # levels there are in the line. As each line 
      # segment level is defined by deviding by two 
      # until length is 1, the number of segments
      # is the log_2 of the length.
      noSegments = Math.log(length-1, 2)

      #Iterate through the levels
      (1 .. noSegments).each{ |level|

        # Work out the line segment length so you
        # can properly address the offset.
        segLength = (length/2**level)

        # Work out the number of line segments
        # within this level
        noSegL = (2**level)-1

        # Iterate through the line segments and 
        # apply your random function.
        (1 .. noSegL).each{ |segOffset|

          # If value is not zero, skip over it, done on a previous
          # level
          if( line[segLength*segOffset] == 0 )

            # Make sure the current value of the line
            # is directly midway between its two parents.
            line[segLength*segOffset] = (line[segLength*(segOffset-1)] + line[segLength*(segOffset+1)])/2

            # Apply random function to value
            line[segLength*segOffset] = randomFunction(line[segLength*segOffset], level, range)

          end
        }
      } 

      return line
    end

Now as you can see the most important part of that algorithm is that which I have purposely missed, randomFunction. This is where you, quite obviously, define how you want your heights defined. A good way is to simply use a bounded random function, where the bounds are defined by the line segment level you are currently within. For example, a function like:

    def randomFunction(value, level, range)

      # Roughness constant 0 < h < 1
      # As h approachs 0, the level dependent
      # bounds grow and tend to 1 for all values
      # of level
      h = 0.8

      # Define bounds in terms of level and a roughness
      # function
      multiplier = 2 ** (-h * level-1)

      # Perform random function, bound it, and then apply 
      # multiplier
      value += (rand() * (range) - (range / 2)) * multiplier

      # Return
      return value
    end

Would offset the value of the line a random amount which is bounded by a function dependent on the line segment level and a roughness coefficient. As this function is the heart of this algorithm and the 2 dimensional algorithm, I will go into some detail on the use of the roughness coefficient. If the roughness coefficient is set to 1, then the multiplier acts the same as : . This gives us the gaseous image that has been generated above.