a technique for spatial partitioning and a data structure for storing references to objects in a scene . a grid - based loose octree is a data structure that combines advantages of a uniform grid - based subdivision method and an octree - based subdivision method to provide a general purpose spatial partitioning method that works well with both static and dynamic scenes . in a glotree , objects are located at lower levels of the tree than in the prior art octree . this allows traversals to search for specific objects to be accomplished more quickly when a starting search level of the glotree is predicted . the glotree uses loose octree nodes that adapt the sizes of octants to the scene . a portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection . the copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure , as it appears in the patent and trademark office patent file or records , but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever .