BowyerWatson

BowyerWatson is a term used to describe software implementations that perform Delaunay triangulation using the Bowyer–Watson algorithm. It is typically a library or module designed to generate triangulations from a set of points, often in 2D but in some cases extended to higher dimensions. The name reflects the algorithm on which these implementations are based.

The Bowyer–Watson algorithm is an incremental method for constructing a Delaunay triangulation. Points are inserted one at a time into an existing triangulation. For each insertion, all triangles whose circumcircles contain the new point are removed, creating a cavity. The cavity is then retriangulated by connecting the new point to the boundary edges, preserving the Delaunay property. This approach tends to be efficient in practice and is widely used in mesh generation and geometric modeling.

BowyerWatson implementations commonly provide features such as support for 2D triangulation, optional 3D extensions, and input/output of standard formats. They may include mechanisms for numerical robustness, handling of degenerate configurations (such as co-linear or co-circular points), and utilities for merging or refining meshes. In practice, BowyerWatson can be used in applications ranging from finite element analysis and terrain modeling to computer graphics and GIS workflows.

The project or library name BowyerWatson is typically one of several open-source or proprietary implementations that implement the Bowyer–Watson approach. While specifics vary by project, the core idea remains the same: maintain and update a Delaunay triangulation efficiently as new points are added.

See also: Bowyer–Watson algorithm, Delaunay triangulation, Mesh generation.