Wind Turbine Visualisation

Although this page uses techniques already discussed on some of the preceeding visualisation pages, we consider that it merits its own space due to the particular characteristics of wind farms and turbines.

Apart from size and form, the single most obvious characteristic of wind turbines is the rotation of their blades. Static methods of representing turbines clearly cannot communicate this particular characteristic of continuous movement although most windfarm visualisations are presented in print, for the purpose of EIA and Public Inquiry. However, computers and the Internet make new presentation methods possible and desirable, and in our view these methods should form part of the planning proces.

We have tested a number of methods of presenting wind farms using animation methods - please click on the links to the right to see some examples.

We continue to refine these techniques and would be interested in hearing from any parties with an interest in visualising wind farms and wind turbines.

Other areas of our site which may be of interest include: Photomontage, Landscape Assessment and Zones of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV).

Visualisation examples:

Static Turbine Photomontage

Where paper is the only practicable medium, static photomontages are required to show a simple before-after effect. Arguably, the web allows us to show the transition more effectively, by cross-fading to show the view with and without turbines.

Animated Wind Turbines

This shows the use of an animated photomontage to demonstrate the movement of the turbine blades. Note that the furthest turbine is partially hidden behind a tree, showing that multiple layers can be combined with animation to give genuine distance and partial view effects. This view would benefit from better perspective and depth effects to blend the turbines into the view, but as proof of concept, it works well.

Animated Fly-through

This video is based on the Aire & Calder windfarm (15 turbines) and was produced as 'proof of concept' to show an animated windfarm. It is esentially featureless apart from turbines and flat fields. A production version would require vegetation and settlements to be shown.

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