Technology
Early Beginnings
Emiel Cockx, Co-founder and CEO of Genvision, wrote the first version of Genvision's nature simulating software while studying architecture at UC Berkeley. To bring his buildings to life, he wanted to surround them with realistic 3D models of trees.
Since such models did not exist, and Emiel wanted to be able to generate endless realistic models instead of just a few, he decided to submerge himself in the academic world of parametric 3D modeling. After some time, he began teaching classes on the subject at UC Berkeley, in cooperation with professor Kyle Steinfeld.
After graduating, Emiel decided to further develop the software that now enables Genvision to simulate natural environments in a realistic manner.
Current Technology
Nowadays, Genvision uses a mix of Artificial Intelligence and parametric 3D modeling to visualize, simulate and measure nature and its growth.
First, AI is used on satellite images to recognise individual trees, their species and their volume. While we do not use LiDAR to extract this information from new satellite images, our AI is trained on a combination of satellite images and LiDAR scans .
Then, the extracted information is supplemented with information about the trees' environment such as climate, soil type and access to light.
Lastly, all this information is used as input data for our parametric 3D modeling software. The result is a digital twin that is true to life