Abstract: This paper discusses the research methods, new research evolvement and some issues that still exist in terrain model simplification area. This article describes adaptive terrain visualization modeling method based on both irregular triangulation and grid data sources. According to whether model simplification algorithm is friendly for modern graphics hardware or not, these terrain model simplification algorithms are divided into traditional fine granularity and modern graphical hardware oriented coarse granularity multi-resolution model simplification algorithms. Finally, we summarized and analyzed the devel opment current and future research emphasis in the terrain visualization modeling area.

Key words: visualization, adapt, multiresolution model, GPU oriented LOD algorithm