This thesis addresses the visibility computation between two polygons and its representation. We bring up the potential of this information to solve difficult problems in image synthesis and in electromagnetic waves propagation. We present a new algorithm for the visibility computation in the Plücker space. In comparison to previous méthods, it reduces the time computation and the memory requirements. In image synthesis, we use the computed information to design a new solution for the analytic computation of soft shadows. This solution is both accurate and fast in comparison with stochastic approaches. In electromagnetic waves propagation, we present the first ray based model optimisation without path lost. This optimisation allows to perform accurate simulations using significative environments.
Polygon-to-polygon visibility : Computation, representation, applications