Simulation of the giant wild goose pagoda in immersive virtual reality environment

Abstract

This research project focuses on the VR simulation of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) in southern Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China, as an investigative subject for the use of virtual reality and digital simulation in engineering graphics. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a typical Chinese pagoda built in AD 652, during the Tang Dynasty (from AD 618 to 907); because the Tang Dynasty is regarded as the most prosperous and magnificent dynasty in Chinese history, the buildings constructed during this period have frequently been referenced in Chinese architecture since then. The VR simulation presented in this research is intended to show the uniqueness of the complexity of the structure of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda as well as the beauty of structural and landscape design principles dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Firstly, using modern graphical technology, the authors completed a 3D model of the Dayanta, through which to create a 3D database by translation from 2D drawings and literature documentation. Secondly, the authors used Lumion as the advanced rendering tool to build the dynamic environment. To create the environment around the pagoda, the authors added natural scenery elements such as vegetation and terrain features from the natural libraries, and to make the elements more realistic for the scale of the model, the authors then made adjustments for the size of the elements. Lastly, the authors employed the Unity VR package to create an immersive experience inside the pagoda for viewing the structure.