Raw terrain height becomes a heat field.
Discrete Laplacian (∂T/∂t = α∇²T) diffuses
energy outward from peaks. High-energy zones
suppress neighbouring height — mountains
thermodynamically carve their own valleys.
Fourier 1822 · Perlin 2001 · Marsaglia 2003.
Layer 02 · Chemistry
Reaction-Diffusion
Turing Morphogenesis 1952
Gray-Scott system: activator A and inhibitor B
diffuse at different rates. Their autocatalytic
reaction (A+2B→3B) spontaneously produces every
pattern found in nature — meadows, forests,
coral, coastlines. Seeded by terrain height.
Alan Turing, 1952.
Layer 03 · Biology
Strange Attractor Trees
Lorenz System × Botany
Each tree integrates dx/dt=σ(y−x),
dy/dt=x(ρ−z)−y, dz/dt=xy−βz using its
world position as initial conditions. Sensitive
dependence on initial conditions: two trees
1px apart are completely different. Same
species = same attractor topology.
Edward Lorenz, 1963.
Layer 04 · Sociology
Social Force Cities
Helbing Model 1995 · Inverted
Zone types emit Gaussian potential fields.
Residential repels industrial. Commercial
attracts residential. Roads crystallize
along gradient descent of the aggregate
field — the fault lines where forces meet.
Districts self-segregate. Nothing is placed.
Dirk Helbing, 1995.
▸ system ready
Seed
Speed6
Scale3.0
A world generated by physics, chemistry,
biology and sociology. In that order.