Data streaming: Levels of detail

This section discusses the Levels of detail (LOD) datasets (from Gaia DR2 on) where not all data fits into the CPU memory (RAM) and especially the GPU memory (VRAM).

In order to solve the issue, Gaia Sky implements a LOD structure based on the spatial distribution of stars into an octree. The culling of the octree is determined using a draw distance setting, called $\theta$. $\theta$ is actually the minimum visual solid angle (as seen from the camera) of an octant for it to be observed and its stars to be rendered. Larger $\theta$ values lead to less octants being observed, and smaller $\theta$ values lead to more octants being observed.

Balancing the loading of data depends on several parameters:

• The maximum java heap memory (set to 4 Gb by default), let’s call it maxheap.

• The available graphics memory (VRAM, video ram). It depends on your graphics card. Let’s call it VRAM.

• The draw distance setting , $\theta$.

• The maximum number of loaded stars, $\nu$. This is in the configuration file ($GS_CONFIG/global.properties) under the key scene.octree.maxstars. The default value balances the maximum heap memory space and the default data set.

So basically, a low $\theta$ (below 50-60 degrees) means lots of observed octants and lots of stars. Setting $\theta$ very low causes Gaia Sky to try to load lots of data, eventually overflowing the heap space and creating an OutOfMemoryError. To mitigate that, one can also increase the maximum heap space.

Finally, there is the maximum number of loaded stars, $\nu$. This is a number is set according to the maxheap setting. When the number of loaded stars is larger than $\theta$, the loaded octants that have been unobserved for the longest time will be unloaded and their memory structures will be freed (both in GPU and CPU). This poses a problem if the draw distance setting is set so that the observed octants at a single moment contain more stars than than $\theta$. That is why high values for $\theta$ are recommended. Usually, values between 60 and 80 are fine, depending on the dataset and the machine.

$\theta$

Draw distance, minimum visual solid angle for octants to be rendered

$\nu$

Maximum number of stars in memory at a given time