DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2013.128
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/975
Date of Award
6-2013
Degree Name
MS in Computer Science
Department/Program
Computer Science
Advisor
Zoe Wood
Abstract
Culling out non-visible portions of 3D scenes is important for rendering large complex worlds at an interactive frame rate. Past 3D engines used static prebaked visibility data which was generated using complex algorithms. Hardware Occlusion Queries are a modern feature that allows engines to determine if objects are invisible on the fly. This allows for fully dynamic destructible and editable environments as opposed to static prebaked environments of the past. This paper presents an algorithm that uses Hardware Occlusion Queries to cull fully dynamic scenes in real-time. This algorithm is relatively simple in comparison to other real-time occlusion culling techniques, making it possible for the average developer to render large detailed scenes. It also requires very little work from the artists who design the scenes since no portals, occluders, or other special objects need to be used.