In this paper

we propose a new algorithm to realize rapid buffer analysis of vector data in three-dimensional digital earth using a Graphic Processor Unit（ GPU）. In this algorithm

a texture map with four channels is used as the container to transmit the vector data to a GPU with highly efficient parallel computing features. The distance between the vector point corresponding to each pixel in the target buffer texture and the original object is calculated in the GPU

and the buffer texture is obtained by r endering one frame before the boundaries of the buffer zone are finally extracted. Our proposed algorithm is also compared with two traditional CPU algorithms by processing data for selected rivers and lakes in China. The result shows that the proposed method has improved the computation efficiency by 11—20 times compared to the CPU raster algorithm and 9—16 times compared to the CPU vector algorithm. The proposed algorithm is simple to use and also can solve the self-intersection problem which is presented in conventional algorithms. With the growth of number of vertexes

the speed of buffer analysis realized with this new algorithm is significantly higher than with traditional ones.