Three‐Dimensional Forest Stand Spatiotemporal Evolution Simulation Based on Multiple Environmental Factors

ABSTRACT

Forests are crucial terrestrial ecosystems. To understand long‐term forest community evolution driven by multiple environmental factors, we constructed a 3D forest stand spatiotemporal evolution framework featuring synchronous bidirectional coupling between terrain, hydrology, radiation, and vegetation. First, we simulated topographical evolution using a physics‐based procedural erosion method and introduced a multi‐layer soil moisture model and individual tree growth response mechanisms to reflect‐topography interactions, thereby establishing a realistic environmental basis for forest stand evolution. Second, leveraging real environmental data, we simulated growth responses and biomass changes of forest stands under different precipitation and radiation conditions, elucidated response mechanisms of individual tree attributes to environmental changes, and achieved intuitive evolution of 3D forest stands. The framework advances beyond unidirectional environmental forcing models by integrating hydraulic erosion, soil moisture dynamics, and slope‐aware radiation within a unified monthly timestep, enabling co‐evolutionary simulation of forest stands under dynamic landscapes. Finally, the computer‐based model incorporated natural disaster events such as fires and droughts, with real‐time interaction and visualization capabilities, supporting immersive and responsive forest landscape simulation and detailed spatiotemporal evolution analysis, enabling assessment of the dynamic recovery processes of forest stands under multiple disturbance scenarios.