A case study towards validation of global illumination algorithms: progressive hierarchical radiosity with clustering

In this paper, we present an efficient global illumination technique, and t hen we discuss the results of its extensive experimental validation. The te chnique is a hybrid of cluster-based hierarchical and progressive radiosity techniques, which does not require storing links between interacting surfa ces and clusters. We tested our technique by applying a multistage validati on procedure, which we designed specifically for global illumination soluti ons. First, we experimentally validate the algorithm against analytically d erived and measured real-world data to check how calculation speed is trade d for lighting simulation accuracy for various clustering and meshing scena rios. Then we test the algorithm performance and rendering quality by direc tly comparing the virtual and real-world images of a complex environment.