Plane-sweep algorithms for intersecting geometric figures

The plane sweep algorithm is a foundational algorithm for many geometric and spatial computations; thus, improvements in the algorithm have far reaching effects in many applications. In this paper, we examine the performance of the serial plane sweep algorithm, and introduce a parallelization technique for the algorithm that is suitable to multi-core computers. The parallelization technique is described in detail and shown to be correct. Finally, experiments are performed using multiple data sets on computers with varying numbers of processing cores. We show that our algorithm achieves significant speedups over the serial plane sweep algorithm using a wide range of input parameters; thus, our algorithm achieves good performance without the need to tune the input parameters for specific input cases.

This paper has two goals. First, we point out that most problems in computational geometry in fact have fast parallel algorithms (that is, in NC*) by reduction to the cell decomposition result of Kozen and Yap. We illustrate this using a new notion of generalized Voronoi diagrams that subsumes all known instances. While the existence of NC* algorithms for computational geometry is theoretically significant, it leaves much to be desired for specific problems. Therefore, the second part of the paper surveys some recent results in a fast growing list of parallel algorithms for computational geometry.

The landing site decision has direct relation to the safety of a spacecraft. This paper presents the use of computational geometry (CG) and genetic algorithm (GA) in the landing site selection. In order to describe the obstacles, we use computational geometry to compute the minimum enclosing circles and ellipses. Taking the obstacles as discrete circles and ellipses, we use the genetic algorithm to simplify and to solve the difficult problem of finding the largest empty circle (LEC) in circles and ellipses for the spacecraft landing on the surface. The results of tests on the solution procedure are presented.

We consider a collectionH ofn hyperplanes in Ed (where the dimensiond is fixed). An ?-cutting forH is a collection of (possibly unbounded)d-dimensional simplices with disjoint interors, which cover all Ed and such that the interior of any simplex is intersected by at most?n hyperplanes ofH. We give a deterministic algorithm for finding a (1/r)-cutting withO(rd) simplices (which is asymptotically optimal). Forr≤n1??, where ?>0 is arbitrary but fixed, the running time of this algorithm isO(n(logn)O(1)rd?1). In the plane we achieve a time boundO(nr) forr≤n1??, which is optimal if we also want to compute the collection of lines intersecting each simplex of the cutting. This improves a result of Agarwal, and gives a conceptually simpler algorithm. For ann point setX⊆Ed and a parameterr, we can deterministically compute a (1/r)-net of sizeO(rlogr) for the range space (X, {X ? R; R is a simplex}), In timeO(n(logn)O(1)rd?1+rO(1)). The size of the (1/r)-net matches the best known existence result. By a simple transformation, this allows us to find ?-nets for other range spaces usually encountered in computational geometry. These results have numerous applications for derandomizing algorithms in computational geometry without affecting their running time significantly.

Solid modelling and computational geometry are based on classical topology and geometry in which the basic predicates and operations, such as membership, subset inclusion, union and intersection, are not continuous and therefore not computable. But a sound computational framework for solids and geometry can only be built in a framework with computable predicates and operations. In practice, correctness of algorithms in computational geometry is usually proved using the unrealistic Real RAM machine model of computation, which allows comparison of real numbers, with the undesirable result that correct algorithms, when implemented, turn into unreliable programs. Here, we use a domain-theoretic approach to recursive analysis to develop the basis of an e3ective and realistic framework for solid modelling. This framework is equipped with a well de5ned and realistic notion of computability which re6ects the observable properties of real solids. The basic predicates and operations on solids are computable in this model which admits regular and non-regular sets and supports a design methodology for actual robust algorithms. Moreover, the model is able to capture the uncertainties of input data in actual CAD situations. c 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Algorithms in computational geometry often use the real-RAM model of computation. This model assumes that exact real numbers can be stored in memory and retreived in constant time, and that field operations (+, –, *, /) and certain other operations, square root, sine, and cosine for instance, are exact, and can be applied in constant time. These assumptions are often difficult to discharge at implementation time. Even well-understood algorithms, like line-sweep for polygon union [PS85], present much trouble. Why? Such algorithms obtain good combinatorial complexity bounds by exploiting geometric orders on the input. These relations are often implicit, so an algorithm can only probe them pointwise with a collection of predicate functions answering, e.g., “Is point p left of edge e?”. In implementations, the reply must depend on arithmetic with finitely represented numbers. The trouble originates here.

In school development problem, determining location is one of important things to consider. In this research, the purpose is to determine the location of SMAN 9 Denpasar if it will be built. One of algorithms in computational geometry that can be used to find solution of facility location problem is multiplicatively weighted Voronoi diagram in two dimensions. The result of weighted Voronoi diagram shows the influence of each site to the surrounding area. Then, the location of SMAN 9 Denpasar is obtained by determining the center of the largest empty circle of the weighted Voronoi diagram.

Introduced by Agarwal, Har-Peled, and Varadarajan [J. ACM, 2004], an epsilon-kernel of a point set is a coreset that can be used to approximate the width, minimum enclosing cylinder, minimum bounding box, and solve various related geometric optimization problems. Such coresets form one of the most important tools in the design of linear-time approximation algorithms in computational geometry, as well as efficient insertion-only streaming algorithms and dynamic (non-streaming) data structures. In this paper, we continue the theme and explore dynamic streaming algorithms (in the so-called turnstile model). Andoni and Nguyen [SODA 2012] described a dynamic streaming algorithm for maintaining a (1+epsilon)-approximation of the width using O(polylog U) space and update time for a point set in [U]^d for any constant dimension d and any constant epsilon>0. Their sketch, based on a polynomial method, does not explicitly maintain an epsilon-kernel. We extend their method to maintain an epsilon-kernel, and at the same time reduce some of logarithmic factors. As an application, we obtain the first randomized dynamic streaming algorithm for the width problem (and related geometric optimization problems) that supports k outliers, using poly(k, log U) space and time.

In the last years, the field of non-linear Computational Geometry has produced very relevant algorithmic advances, for instance, by adapting to low-degree curved objects techniques dealing with linear primitives. Moreover the introduction of new algorithms and approaches for dealing efficiently with curves and surfaces has shown a considerable impact in fields such as Computer-Aided Design where final users are continuously demanding more efficiency, accuracy, robustness, etc. New approaches for solving geometric problems, coming from Computer-Aided Geometric Design and involving curves and surfaces with a Computational Geometry flavour is the main focus of this special issue. Contributions were asked in areas such as: arrangements of low degree curves and surfaces; Voronoi diagrams and medial axes involving curved ob jects; offset computations and their topology; distance predicates for curves and surfaces; closed formulae for geometric queries involving curves and surfaces; intersection detection for moving curved ob jects; adapting algebraic or geometrical techniques for solving algorithmic problems involving curves and surfaces. This special issue is a direct consequence of the Second International Conference on Mathematical Aspects of Computer and Information Sciences - MACIS 2007 (see http:// www- spiral.lip6.fr/ MACIS2007) held in Paris in December 2007 and where Computational Geometry and Computer Aided Geometric Design were one of the main topics (among other two, Polynomial System Solving and Algorithms and Complexity). Finally six papers (out of eight papers submitted by the March 2009 deadline) were finally accepted. The two papers by C. D'Andrea et al. and I. Z. Emiris et al. deal with the problem of analyzing the Newton polygon of the implicit equation of a rational curve starting from its parameterization: both papers are devoted to study from different viewpoints the properties of the set of monomials appearing in the implicit equation of the considered curve without computing it. The two papers by E. Berberich et al. introduce a new approach to deal with the problem of determining the shape of an arrangement of curves on several classes of parametric surfaces which is then applied to compute, for example, the Minkowski sum of polytopes or the envelope of surfaces. The two papers by D. Lazard and J. Cheng et al. deal with the problem of computing the topology of a semialgebraic set (i.e. a set in $\mathbb{R}^n$ defined by polynomial equations and inequations): the first one shows how to deal with the general case by using the so called Cylindrical Algebraic Decomposition and the second one introduces an extremely fast algorithm computing the topology of a real algebraic plane curve defined implicitely. We would like finally to thank all the reviewers who definitively helped with their work to improve the papers that appear into this special issue.

Enhancements to array processors in the form of broadcast buses have been proposed for improving the speeds of algorithms in linear algebra, image processing and computational geometry. In this paper, we consider certain practical issues in such arrays which include fewer processors connected to the broadcast buses and finite time, namely log N time for broadcasting data to N processors. We propose a modified broadcast bus VLSI architecture which consists of a √N × √N mesh connected structure and a hierarchy of broadcast buses in each row and in each column such that every bus has k PE's. That is, in any row or column, in the first level there are \(\frac{{\sqrt N }}{k}\)buses with groups of k PE's connected to each bus. One PE from each of this group is connected to second level of buses in a similar manner. This is recursively done until there are only k PE's left which are connected by a broadcast bus. With this architecture, maximum, minimum, or sum of N values can be found in O(log N), median row of a binary picture in O(log N), shortest distance between two points in O(log N). This architecture is well suited for parallel processing of applications in Linear Algebra, Image Processing, Computational Geometry and Numerical Computations. These restricted connections to buses reduces the I/O ports significantly, and therefore, is more suitable for VLSI implementation.

This paper initially develops the discrete-point sampling operator's concept, model, and parameters that we have previously proposed, and makes its belt-shaped regions in a discrete-point sampling map more salient and appropriate for centerline extraction. The cross-sectional features of these belt-shaped regions are then analyzed and seven types of feature points are defined to facilitate descriptions of such features. Based on these feature points, a three-level detection system is proposed, including feature points, line segments, and centerlines, to extract centerlines from the belt-shaped regions. Eight basic types of centerlines and five types of relationships among the centerlines are defined by computational geometry algorithms, and Gestalt laws are used to cluster them into groupings. If some prior information about a desired shape is available, retrieval grouping may be carried out by a discrete-point sampling map, the purpose of which is to find centerlines by best matching with prior information. Discrete-point sampling effectually overcomes the influences of interference from noise, textures, and uneven illumination, and greatly reduces the difficulty of centerline extraction. Centerline clustered groupings and retrieval grouping can offer a strong anti-interference ability with nonlinear deformations such as articulation and occlusion. This method can extract large-scale complex shapes combined of lines and planes from complex images. The wheel location results of noise test and other shape extraction experiments show that our method has a strong capability to persist with nonlinear deformations.

This work presents an adapted version of the Computational Geometry Algorithm (CGA) used for the development of audio-based applications and services. The CGA algorithm analyses an audio stream and produces a unique set of points that can be considered to be the audio data “fingerprint”. It is shown that this fingerprint is coding-independent, a fact that can render the proposed algorithm suitable for multiple purposes, including the categorisation of content identity and the identification of audio clips, hence providing support for the realisation of audio sorting/searching tasks and services. Additionally, based on specific novel applications and services, the overall algorithmic performance and efficiency characteristics of the CGA algorithm are discussed and analysed.

Traditional algorithms in computational geometry assume that the input points are given precisely. In practice, data is usually imprecise, but information about the imprecision is often available. In this context, we investigate what the value of this information is. We show here how to preprocess a set of disjoint regions in the plane of total complexity n in $O(n\log n)$ time so that if one point per set is specified with precise coordinates, a triangulation of the points can be computed in linear time. In our solution, we solve another problem which we believe to be of independent interest. Given a triangulation with red and blue vertices, we show how to compute a triangulation of only the blue vertices in linear time.

COMBINATORIAL AND DISCRETE GEOMETRY Finite Point Configurations, J. Pach Packing and Covering, G. Fejes Toth Tilings, D. Schattschneider and M. Senechal Helly-Type Theorems and Geometric Transversals, R. Wenger Pseudoline Arrangements, J.E. Goodman Oriented Matroids, J. Richter-Gebert and G.M. Ziegler Lattice Points and Lattice Polytopes, A. Barvinok New! Low-Distortion Embeddings of Finite Metric Spaces, P. Indyk and J. Matousek New! Geometry and Topology of Polygonal Linkages, R. Connelly and E.D. Demaine New! Geometric Graph Theory, J. Pach Euclidean Ramsey Theory, R.L. Graham Discrete Aspects of Stochastic Geometry, R. Schneider Geometric Discrepancy Theory and Uniform Distribution, J.R. Alexander, J. Beck, and W.W.L. Chen Topological Methods, R.T. Zivaljevic Polyominoes, S.W. Golomb and D.A. Klarner POLYTOPES AND POLYHEDRA Basic Properties of Convex Polytopes, M. Henk, J. Richter-Gebert, and G.M. Ziegler Subdivisions and Triangulations of Polytopes, C.W. Lee Face Numbers of Polytopes and Complexes, L.J. Billera and A. Bjoerner Symmetry of Polytopes and Polyhedra, E. Schulte Polytope Skeletons and Paths, G. Kalai Polyhedral Maps, U. Brehm and E. Schulte ALGORITHMS AND COMPLEXITY OF FUNDAMENTAL GEOMETRIC OBJECTS Convex Hull Computations, R. Seidel Voronoi Diagrams and Delaunay Triangulations, S. Fortune Arrangements, D. Halperin Triangulations and Mesh Generation, M. Bern Polygons, J. O'Rourke and S. Suri Shortest Paths and Networks, J.S.B. Mitchell Visibility, J. O'Rourke Geometric Reconstruction Problems, S.S. Skiena New! Curve and Surface Reconstruction, T.K. Dey Computational Convexity, P. Gritzmann and V. Klee Computational Topology, G. Vegter Computational Real Algebraic Geometry, B. Mishra GEOMETRIC DATA STRUCTURES AND SEARCHING Point Location, J. Snoeyink New! Collision and Proximity Queries, M.C. Lin and D. Manocha Range Searching, P.K. Agarwal Ray Shooting and Lines in Space, M. Pellegrini Geometric Intersection, D.M. Mount New! Nearest Neighbors in High-Dimensional Spaces, P. Indyk COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES Randomization and Derandomization, O. Cheong, K. Mulmuley, and E. Ramos Robust Geometric Computation, C.K. Yap Parallel Algorithms in Geometry, M.T. Goodrich Parametric Search, J.S. Salowe New! The Discrepancy Method in Computational Geometry, B. Chazelle APPLICATIONS OF DISCRETE AND COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY Linear Programming, M. Dyer, N. Megiddo, and E. Welzl Mathematical Programming, M.H. Todd Algorithmic Motion Planning, M. Sharir Robotics, D. Halperin, L.E. Kavraki, and J.-C. Latombe Computer Graphics, D. Dobkin and S. Teller New! Modeling Motion, L.J. Guibas Pattern Recognition, J. O'Rourke and G.T. Toussaint Graph Drawing, R. Tamassia and G. Liotta Splines and Geometric Modeling, C.L. Bajaj New! Surface Simplification and 3D Geometry Compression, J. Rossignac Manufacturing Processes, R. Janardan and T.C. Woo Solid Modeling, C.M. Hoffmann New! Computation of Robust Statistics: Depth, Median, and Related Measures, P.J. Rousseeuw and A. Struyf New! Geographic Information Systems, M. van Kreveld Geometric Application of the Grassmann-Cayley Algebra, N.L. White Rigidity and Scene Analysis, W. Whiteley Sphere Packing and Coding Theory, G.A. Kabatiansky and J.A. Rush Crystals and Quasicrystals, M. Senechal New! Biological Applications of Computational Topology, H. Edelsbrunner New! GEOMETRIC SOFTWARE Software, J. Joswig Two Computation Geometry Libraries: LEDA and CGAL, L. Kettner and S. Naher Index of Defined Terms New! Index of Cited Authors

The profile-based features of a mechanical computer aided design (CAD) system commonly have complicated shapes because of the guide curve, which is free-form type. However, while considering interoperability between different CAD systems, due to this kind of free-form guide curve, it is difficult to represent the corresponding feature shape in another CAD system, for example, ship CAD systems usually use relatively simple shape primitive to represent shape. Thus, in this paper, we propose a straightforward algorithm to represent profile-based features that is based on guide curve approximation using line and arcs segments. In addition, the solid alignment and filling operation are also given to complete the process of solid model reconstruction, and we use several test cases to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.