Abstract: - Temporally sensitive tree modeling and urban park spatially explicit simulation offer advantages to

large-scale landscape planning and design, especially in the context of smart applications for virtual parks and

forests, while Blockchain technology provides collaborative engineering, data integrity, and information

confidence. A proof-of-concept 2.5D tree architecture and Blockchain integration technique (distributed

Internet-of-Trees images, “IoTr-images”) was presented as a low-cost metaverse case study that affects the

forest monitoring and digital landscape architecture design infrastructures. At the core of the proposed feature-

based parametric modeling methodology is a 2.5D tree CAD model composed of two perpendicular 2D tree

frames on which recorded tree texture has been assigned. A “Batch command-line programming” technique has

parametric tree model added new value to the CAD-Blockchain integration industry because a plain

parametric transactions (i.e. controlled hash tree magnification/scaling). So, metaverse functionality

(decentralized, autonomous, coordinated, and parallel design; same-data sharing; data validation), modification

and redesign ability, and planning intelligence are effectively supported by the proposed technique. Main

contributions are regarded as the ability for smart forest distributed surveillance and collaborative parallel

landscape architecture design, open-source Web-based educational simulations, as well as the potential for off-

the-shelf contractual collaborative frameworks (smart contracts between designers and clients). Stratification

based on forest types improved above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation, especially when AGB was greater

than 500 Mg/ha, using the proposed “IoTr-images” technique. So, this research provides new insight into AGB

Received: April 29, 2023. Revised: July 17, 2023. Accepted: September 12, 2023. Published: October 10, 2023.

This is a descriptive paper on a complex process

regarding tree architecture and Blockchain. Here,

Instead, we focus on the application of the results in

distributed and collaborative design and planning

with metaverse Blockchain functionality.

and terrestrial close-range photogrammetry

techniques provides the necessary data for tree

architecture, forest and park monitoring, and urban

transformations. In, [1], the authors declare that an

adaptive urban transformation needs tree and flora

visualization data, and according to, [2], tree

digital design needs a CAD-Blockchain integration

strategy. This literature approaches the “Trees/Flora

– Forest/Urban parks – collaborative

design/Blockchain” problem in detail but without

describing a low-cost integration solution. Similarly,

in, [5], the authors discuss data for structural

monitoring in asynchronous communication, while

in, [6], the authors discuss the consequences of

Blockchain technology on the building information

modeling (BIM) process but without reference to

environment but means time, cost, and an

exhausting “Blockchain/Merkle hash tree”. In, [7],

the authors describe in detail a method for linking

image-based metrics to 3D model-based ones for the

assessment of visual landscape quality, but no

information is given about a potential Blockchain

integration. Finally, according to, [8], decision-

support models, for sustainable urban investment

optimization, could be useful in urban

transformation processes, but no implementation

ground reference point (GRP) for tree CAD

geometry deployment (geo-referenced tree-CAD

frame’s). Thus, with the proposed technique we

save time, greatly reduce costs, and achieve the

integration” methodology for parametric, relative,

and untagged geo-referenced tree modeling; (iv)

The smart “Batch command-line programming”

implementation technique, associated with key-ins

(domain-dependent dedicated CAD software tools)

for 2.5D generic and parametric tree modeling by

simply writing -in an online text editor (Notepad)-

commands with phrases from the English language

(plain ASCII text data files for job control); and (v)

smart forest, and digital documentation apps where

there are no requirements on the accuracy of the tree

representation, [10], [11], [12].

Section 2 (“Method and Technique”) the proposed

low-cost “2.5D tree CAD modeling – Blockchain

integration” method and the “Batch command-line

programming” implementation technique are

introduced. In Section 3 (“Results”) the outline

design of an “Internet-of-Tree images” Blockchain

suggestions for improvements and further study are

discussed, followed by concluded remarks.

Parametric modeling lets designers modify the

entire shape of the design at once, not just individual

dimensions one at a time. Also, a feature-based

parametric modeling CAD software design tool

saves time as it eliminates the need for a design

Fig. 4: The “PLACE Tree Frame” icon tool:

Graphic design and assignment to user-defined key-

in “PLACE Parametric Relative Tree Frame”.

(Customized GUI technique) / Trees / 2.5D tree

CAD geometry/setup FRONT Frame) and on a

“left-button” event (cursor hit activation) the

dedicated user-defined software procedure “PLACE

Parametric Relative Tree Frame” is called (Figure

5).

Fig. 5: The pull-down menus: “Smart Tree

Landscapes (Customized GUI)”, “Setup NFT

At the heart of the batch command-line

programming implementation technique is a

NotePad or WordPad ASCII text file located outside

of the CAD platform, e.g., the batch command file

(Figure 6). The “2.5D tree CAD modeling –

Blockchain integration” methodology is performed

with a batch top-down job control (Figure 6).

For the demonstration of the introduced distributed

and collaborative smart tree landscape framework

(method and implementation technique), an

“Internet-of-Tree images” Blockchain outline

design, for an urban landscape architecture design

project, is presented in Fig 7. Follows a comparative

analysis’s usability test for validation purposes.

3.1 “Internet-of-Tree images” Blockchain:

The Outline Design

transactions (tree-frame dimensions and raster

image data in autonomous collaborative design)

tracking tree geometry growth and AGB texture

change over time, [3], [4]. The “Root of Hash Tree”

points to a “Merkle hash tree” chain of transactions,

[6].

Blockchain the “Merkle hash tree” is relatively

compact in its extension (small-scale Blockchain

functionality), plain, and easily manageable

geometry “Data Blocks” respectively (i.e.

transactions for the “IoTr-images” Blockchain).

creator “Satoshi Nakamoto” mined the genesis

Bitcoin, which led to the mining of the first 50

Bitcoins.

4. The reference to the genesis Bitcoin is made

because, in self-executed agreements (smart

contracts under the proposed “IoTr-images”

Blockchain) between management (as urban

planning project managers), landscape architects (as

designers), and local authorities (as clients), the

payments decided to be made with Bitcoin (BTC).

3.2 Comparative Validation Analysis

This research conducted a comparative analysis of

different tree datasets and modeling algorithms,

between the proposed 2.5D tree modeling technique

and traditional 3D modeling methods (laser

scanning, terrestrial close-range photogrammetry for

Above-Ground Biomass/AGB monitoring), [16].

Tree and forest type, as well as AGB range,

influence tree modeling and they are important

faster (time), user-friendly, and more flexible

management analytics, planning intelligence (smart

forest monitoring, landscape architecture design),

and IoT efficiency in (nearly) real-time, [15], and

at a client level, can modify the offline and outside

of the CAD environment the whole process by using

transactions in a secure, low-cost, and transparent

manner without the need for superintendence by a

central authority (i.e. track the design process and

verify the tree and AGB data authenticity and

ownership, create and manage decentralized AGB

identity and authorization, verify ownership of AGB

data as a digital asset, and support applications that

run at the top of the “IoTr-images” decentralized

Blockchain environment). An obvious limitation of

the proposed “Batch command-line programming”

problem.

An improvement (open research issue) is an IoTr-

images Blockchain with spatial analysis

functionalities in near real-time for a secure and

decentralized autonomous GIS. For this case, we

need to incorporate georeferenced data into the

tangible raster tree-image NFTs (ISO/TC 211 series

of standards for geoinformation compliance).

configurable template. Nowadays, terrestrial

videometry can provide the necessary point clouds

for 3D tree geometry growth and 3D texture change.

(method and implementation technique) is a low-

cost metaverse application that supports smart forest

monitoring, coordinated and parallel design, plain

and controlled hash tree scaling, same-data sharing,

and a trustworthy collaborative design process

(digitally distributed consensus); enabling

[10] Fox, N., Lidquist, M., Berkel, V.D., Vergel,

[11] Hasanagas, N.D., Styliadis, A.D.,

[13] Mavlutova, I., Lesinskis, K., Liogys, M.,

[14] Sharma, R.P., Vacek, Z., VacekA, S. et al.,

[16] Li, D., Jia, W., Guo, H., Wang, F., Ma, Y.,

[17] Hasanagas, N.D., Styliadis, A.D.,