Abstract: A technique manages graphics processing units (GPUs), as well as associated algorithm advancements, to improve and effectively hide computational costs of adaptive mesh refinement (AMR). A cloud-based framework dynamically utilizes a distributed pool of the GPUs to parallelize computations of physical simulation software (solver) partitioned across multiple GPUs. A highly parallelized and distributed architecture of the framework provides a hybrid approach that operates partly on GPUs, e.g., to perform the solver computations, and partly on general-purpose processing units (CPUs) to accelerate portions of AMR and mesh processing of an AMR module. In an illustrative embodiment, the technique leverages the GPUs to perform as much of the AMR module processing (e.g., algorithms that rely on fixed topology) that can be naturally and efficiently implemented on the GPUs, while maintaining those portions of processing that do not naturally map onto the GPUs (e.g., algorithms with dynamic topology changes) on CPUs.

Abstract: An automatic differentiation (AD) technique and implementation processes multi-physics solver code entirely on graphics processing units (GPUs) to automatically differentiate one or more outputs of the code with respect to one or more inputs. The technique provides a “factory” framework that ingests arbitrarily complex solver code to produce a version of the code that is automatically differentiated (AD code) and mapped to the GPUs. The technique provides a derivative of the solver code output with respect to the inputs that enables analysis of the output of the computed solver code with initially provided inputs coherent with sensitivity analysis of that output as the inputs are changed. The adjoint information derived from solver code execution (AD code) computed by the AD technique may also be used to estimate one or more estimates of the numerical error in a solution to the physical simulation.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for computing indirect lighting in a cloud network. In operation, one or more scenes for rendering are identified. Further, indirect lighting associated with the one or more scenes is identified. Additionally, computation associated with the indirect lighting is performed in a cloud network utilizing at least one of a voxel-based algorithm, a photon-based algorithm, or an irradiance-map-based algorithm.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for tiled deferred shading. In operation, a plurality of photons associated with at least one scene are identified. Further, a plurality of screen-space tiles associated with the at least one scene are identified. Additionally, each of the plurality of screen-space tiles capable of being affected by a projection of an effect sphere for each of the plurality of photons are identified. Furthermore, at least a subset of photons associated with each of the screen-space tiles from which to compute shading are selected. Moreover, shading for the at least one scene is computed utilizing the selected at least a subset of photons.

Abstract: A system, process, and computer program product are provided for sampling a hierarchical depth map. An approach for sampling the hierarchical depth map includes the steps of generating a hierarchical depth map and reading a value associated with a sample pixel from a target level of the hierarchical depth map based on a difference between the sample pixel and a target pixel. The hierarchical depth map includes at least two levels.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for computing indirect lighting in a cloud network. In operation, one or more scenes for rendering are identified. Further, indirect lighting associated with the one or more scenes is identified. Additionally, computation associated with the indirect lighting is performed in a cloud network utilizing at least one of a voxel-based algorithm, a photon-based algorithm, or an irradiance-map-based algorithm.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for tiled deferred shading. In operation, a plurality of photons associated with at least one scene are identified. Further, a plurality of screen-space tiles associated with the at least one scene are identified. Additionally, each of the plurality of screen-space tiles capable of being affected by a projection of an effect sphere for each of the plurality of photons are identified. Furthermore, at least a subset of photons associated with each of the screen-space tiles from which to compute shading are selected. Moreover, shading for the at least one scene is computed utilizing the selected at least a subset of photons.

Abstract: A system, process, and computer program product are provided for sampling a hierarchical depth map. An approach for sampling the hierarchical depth map includes the steps of generating a hierarchical depth map and reading a value associated with a sample pixel from a target level of the hierarchical depth map based on a difference between the sample pixel and a target pixel. The hierarchical depth map includes at least two levels.