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Computing spanning line segments in three dimensions

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Abstract

A set of spanning line segments ℊ in a polyhedronP preserves the property of intersection; that is, a plane intersectsP if and only if it also intersects ℊ. This paper gives a linear time algorithm for constructing ℊ for a polyhedron withN extreme vertices. IfN is odd, the algorithm is optimal in yielding [N/2] + 1 spanning line segments. IfN is even, it gives (N/2) + 1, which is optimal in some cases and nearly optimal in others.

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Wang, ME., Woo, T.C., Chen, LL. et al. Computing spanning line segments in three dimensions. The Visual Computer 12, 173–180 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01782320

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