Computational Geometry 202-2-5121
Fall 2015

Prerequisite: Algorithms


Announcements:

Assignment no. 2 (see below) is due December 29, 2015.

Assignment no. 1 (see below) is due December 1, 2015.


Instructor:

Matya Katz  ( matya@cs.bgu.ac.il

Office hours: Sunday 12:00-14:00, Alon building (37), room 212, Tel: (08) 6461628

 

Teaching Assistant:

          ???

Office hours:

 

Class Time:

Monday 16-18 (building 90, room 125)

Tuesday 16-18 (building 90, room 239)


Course Description:

This is an introductory course to computational geometry and its applications. We will present data structures, algorithms and general techniques for solving geometric problems, such as convex hull computation, line segment intersection, orthogonal range searching, construction of Voronoi diagram and Delaunay triangulation, polygon triangulation, and linear programming. We will also present several applications of geometric (optimization) algorithms to problems in robotics, computer graphics, GIS (geographic information systems), communication networks, facility location, manufacturing, and VLSI systems design.
 


Bibliography:

The main textbook of the course is

[dBCvKO] Computational Geometry: Algorithms and Applications (3rd edition),
M. de Berg, O. Cheong, M. van Kreveld and M. Overmars, Springer-Verlag, 2008.
 

Additional textbooks

[BY] Algorithmic Geometry, J-D Boissonnat and M. Yvinec, Cambridge University Press, 1998.

 

[DO] Discrete and Computational Geometry, S. Devadoss and J. O’Rourke, Princeton University Press, 2011.

[E] Algorithms in Combinatorial Geometry, H. Edelsbrunner, Springer-Verlag, 1987.

[M] Computational Geometry: An Introduction Through Randomized Algorithms, K. Mulmuley, Prentice Hall, 1994.

[O] Computational Geometry in C (2nd edition), J. O'Rourke, Cambridge University Press, 1998.

[PS] Computational Geometry: An Introduction (2nd edition), F. Preparata and M. Shamos, Springer-Verlag, 1988.


Assignments, Exam and Grades:

The final grade will be determined by 3-5 homework assignments (4% each) and a final exam.

 

Many of the exercises in the HW assignments are taken from [dBCvKO].

 

Assignment no. 1 (due December 1, 2015)

Assignment no. 2 (due December 29, 2015)

Assignment no. 3 (due January 19, 2016)

 

Some old exams: exam 2005 A; exam 2005 B; exam 2007 A; exam 2007 B; exam 2009 A; exam 2009 B


Topics:

The following list of topics is tentative.

The convex hull of a set of points in the plane (applications: computing the diameter and width of a point set).

An output sensitive algorithm for computing the intersection points formed by a set of line segments; the plane sweep technique.

A representation for planar maps (based on doubly-connected edge lists).

Computing the overlay of two planar maps; boolean operations on two polygons (union, intersection, and difference).

The art gallery theorem; introduction to polygon triangulation.

An O(n log n) polygon triangulation algorithm (partitioning a polygon into y-monotone pieces; triangulating a y-monotone polygon).

Orthogonal range searching.  

Casting; transforming the problem of determining whether a polyhedron P with n faces is castable into n instances of the problem of finding a point in the intersection of n half-planes. Computing the intersection of n half planes in O(n log n) time.

Linear programming - introduction; A randomized incremental algorithm for linear programming in the plane.

Planar point location, vertical decomposition / trapezoidal map, a randomized incremental algorithm.

Nearest site queries, nearest site Voronoi diagram.

Triangulation of a set of points in the plane; the Delaunay triangulation.

Arrangement of lines; duality; computing the discrepancy of a set of points in the unit square.

Segment trees; computing the area of a set of n axis-parallel rectangles in O(n log n) time.

Hidden surface removal: problem definition, image space / object space, the z-buffer algorithm, depth order,   the painter's algorithm. Output sensitive hidden surface removal algorithm for horizontal fat triangles.  

Introduction to geometric optimization through facility location optimization and wireless networks.

 


Course summary:

Below you will find, after each class, a brief summary of the topics covered in class.
This should not be taken as a complete description of the course's content.


26.10.15
Introduction

 

27.10.15

The convex hull of a set of points in the plane (gift wrapping, quickhull, O(n log n)-time incremental algorithm and divide and conquer algorithm

 

2.11.15

The diameter and width of a set of points; rotating calipers

 

3.11.15

Sweeping; an output sensitive algorithm for line segment intersection

 

9.11.15

Sweeping with a ray;

Implementing the decision problem “do two line segments intersect?” and a more general discussion on implementation issues and general position

 

16.11.11

The doubly-connected edge list representation for planar maps

 

21.11.11

Map overlay; Boolean operations

 

10.11.15

The art gallery theorem, introduction to guarding problems

 

16.11.15

Introduction to polygon triangulation

 

17.11.15

Partitioning a polygon into y-monotone pieces

 

23.11.15

triangulating a y-monotone polygon

 

24.11.15

Orthogonal range searching

 


Last update: November 29, 2015