1. A method for parallel population of a grid with a plurality of objects using a plurality of processors, the method comprising the following acts: a) dividing a grid into n distinct grid portions, where n is the number of processors available for populating the grid; b) dividing a plurality of objects into n distinct sets of objects; c) assigning a distinct set of objects to each processor such that each processor determines by which distinct grid portion(s) each object in its distinct set of objects is at least partially bounded; d) assigning a distinct grid portion to each processor such that each processor populates its distinct grid portion with any objects that were determined at c) to be at least partially bounded by its distinct grid portion.