> "adjusting their level of detail according to the distance from the camera, a technique known as “billboarding”
No, billboarding is a technique in three-dimensional graphics in which a sprite is rendered perpendicular to the camera without respect to camera movement. Commonly used in early 3D racing games to display background details such as trees, people, and... billboards. It looks ok when driving normally, but the illusion fails when you stop driving and face the side of the road.
Level of detail is a separate concept.