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From: mark@giza.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Jansen)
Newsgroups: comp.theory.dynamic-sys
Subject: particle system numerical methods
Message-ID: <85892@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 13 Nov 90 14:53:45 GMT
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Organization: Ohio State Computer Science
Lines: 25


	I am interested in doing a computer animation of flocking birds and
	such and am looking for pointers and references to reducing the
	computational cost of doing large swarms.  Any help would be 
	appreciated.

	I know that physicists have been doing particle systems for 
	some time.  I occasionally see advanced papers on the subject
	but am looking for more basic approaches.  Interestingly enough
	in computer animation, numerical accuracy is NOT the most 
	important issue.  Reasonable 'looking' simulation with computational
	efficiency and strong generalization is more important.

	Also, I am interested in extending the method to sound, where the
	messages do not travel instantaneously, seems that some of the 
	issues might also be addressed in very large scale astronomic
	simulations.  I am looking for readable papers and textbooks on
	these matters.  Any help would be appreciated.

	Mark

--
Mark Jansen, Department of Computer and Information Science
The Ohio State University; 2036 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH USA 43210-1277
mark@cis.ohio-state.edu