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Optimize globe satellite rendering with InstancedMesh matrix buffer updates #79

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Merged
seanwevans merged 1 commit into from
Apr 1, 2026
Merged

Optimize globe satellite rendering with InstancedMesh matrix buffer updates #79

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20 changes: 16 additions & 4 deletions web/src/components/GlobeCanvas.tsx
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ import {
Mesh,
MeshPhongMaterial,
PerspectiveCamera,
Quaternion,
Raycaster,
Scene,
SphereGeometry,
Vector3,
Vector2,
WebGLRenderer
} from 'three';
Expand All @@ -22,7 +24,9 @@ import { OrbitalObject } from '../types/orbit';

const EARTH_RADIUS_KM = 6378.137;
const SCALE_FACTOR = 1 / EARTH_RADIUS_KM;
const MAX_OBJECTS = 10_000;
const MAX_OBJECTS = 100_000;
const MATRIX_SIZE = 16;
const SATELLITE_SCALE = 1;

export interface GlobeCanvasProps {
objects: OrbitalObject[];
Expand All @@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ export function GlobeCanvas({ objects, onSelect, highlightedIds }: GlobeCanvasPr
const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null);
const instancedRef = useRef<InstancedMesh | null>(null);
const objectsRef = useRef<OrbitalObject[]>([]);
const matrixBufferRef = useRef<Float32Array | null>(null);

useEffect(() => {
const container = containerRef.current;
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -88,6 +93,7 @@ export function GlobeCanvas({ objects, onSelect, highlightedIds }: GlobeCanvasPr
const satelliteMaterial = new MeshPhongMaterial({ color: 0xffffff });
const instanced = new InstancedMesh(satelliteGeometry, satelliteMaterial, MAX_OBJECTS);
instanced.instanceMatrix.setUsage(DynamicDrawUsage);
matrixBufferRef.current = instanced.instanceMatrix.array as Float32Array;
instanced.instanceMatrix.needsUpdate = true;
scene.add(instanced);
instancedRef.current = instanced;
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -142,6 +148,7 @@ export function GlobeCanvas({ objects, onSelect, highlightedIds }: GlobeCanvasPr
resizeObserver.disconnect();
container.removeEventListener('pointerdown', onPointerDown);
instancedRef.current = null;
matrixBufferRef.current = null;
renderer.dispose();
satelliteGeometry.dispose();
satelliteMaterial.dispose();
Expand All @@ -154,10 +161,14 @@ export function GlobeCanvas({ objects, onSelect, highlightedIds }: GlobeCanvasPr
useEffect(() => {
objectsRef.current = objects.slice(0, MAX_OBJECTS);
const instanced = instancedRef.current;
if (!instanced) {
const matrixBuffer = matrixBufferRef.current;
if (!instanced || !matrixBuffer) {
return;
}
const matrix = new Matrix4();
const position = new Vector3();
const rotation = new Quaternion();
const scale = new Vector3(SATELLITE_SCALE, SATELLITE_SCALE, SATELLITE_SCALE);
const color = new Color();
const highlightSet = highlightedIds ?? new Set<string>();

Expand All @@ -167,8 +178,9 @@ export function GlobeCanvas({ objects, onSelect, highlightedIds }: GlobeCanvasPr
for (let i = 0; i < length; i += 1) {
const object = objectsRef.current[i];
const [x, y, z] = object.position;
matrix.setPosition(x * SCALE_FACTOR, y * SCALE_FACTOR, z * SCALE_FACTOR);
instanced.setMatrixAt(i, matrix);
position.set(x * SCALE_FACTOR, y * SCALE_FACTOR, z * SCALE_FACTOR);
matrix.compose(position, rotation, scale);
matrix.toArray(matrixBuffer, i * MATRIX_SIZE);
color.set(getObjectColor(object, highlightSet.has(object.id)));
instanced.setColorAt(i, color);
}
Expand Down
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