voxelization

Voxelization is the process of converting geometric objects or continuous spaces into a three-dimensional grid of volumetric elements known as voxels. A voxel, similar to a pixel in two dimensions, represents a value on a regular grid in three-dimensional space. This technique is widely used in computer graphics, medical imaging, scientific visualization, and 3D printing.

The voxelization process involves discretizing continuous geometric data into discrete volumetric elements. This can be achieved through various methods, including ray casting, surface voxelization, and volumetric reconstruction. The resolution of the resulting voxel grid determines the level of detail preserved from the original object.

Voxelization offers several advantages, including simplified collision detection, efficient rendering of complex scenes, and support for interior visualization. It is particularly useful for representing irregular or heterogeneous materials that are difficult to model with traditional polygonal meshes. However, voxel-based representations typically require more memory and storage compared to polygonal models, and may introduce aliasing artifacts at lower resolutions.

The technique has found applications in medical imaging for CT and MRI scans, in video games for terrain and destructible environments, and in 3D printing for preparing models for additive manufacturing processes.