Summary: Ray Tracing with Meta­Hierarchies
James Arvo
Apollo Systems Division of Hewlett­Packard
300 Apollo Drive
Chelmsford, MA 01824
arvo@apollo.hp.com, arvo@yale.edu
Abstract
Because ray tracing acceleration techniques differ in
their relative efficiency from scene to scene, no single
technique can be optimal in all circumstances. This
has lead researchers to develop hybrid algorithms that
combine two or more distinct techniques into one. In
this paper we describe a generalization of this idea,
the meta­hierarchy, which arises from a procedural
encapsulation of acceleration techniques described in
[Kirk 88]. We discuss the pros and cons of this mech­
anism and suggest future research directions.
1 Introduction
Ray tracing acceleration has received much attention
in the decade since Whitted introduced his illumina­

Source: Arvo, Jim - Departments of Information and Computer Science & Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Irvine

Collections: Computer Technologies and Information Sciences