boundscans

Boundscans are a technique used in computer graphics and computational geometry to approximate the spatial extent of an object or a collection of objects. Essentially, a boundscan defines a simple geometric shape, such as a box or a sphere, that completely encloses the target geometry. The primary purpose of using boundscans is to accelerate computations by allowing for quick rejection of objects that are clearly outside a region of interest. For instance, when rendering a scene, a boundscan can be used to determine if an object is visible within the camera's view frustum. If an object's boundscan does not intersect the view frustum, then the entire object can be skipped, saving significant processing time.

Different types of boundscans exist, each with its own trade-offs in terms of accuracy and computational cost. Axis-aligned bounding boxes (AABBs) are common due to their simplicity and fast intersection tests. Oriented bounding boxes (OBBs) offer a tighter fit but are more complex to compute and test. Bounding spheres are also frequently used, particularly when dealing with objects that are roughly spherical or when high-speed intersection checks are paramount. The choice of boundscan depends on the specific application and the desired balance between performance and accuracy. Boundscans are a fundamental tool in various fields, including game development, scientific visualization, and collision detection systems.