Vertex OpenGL buffer object, can I access vertex data for other purposes, such as conflict detection?

Question

I am currently using the GLTools classes that ship with the Superbible 5th edition. I am looking at the GLTriangleBatch class and has the following code:

// Create the master vertex array object
glGenVertexArrays(1, &vertexArrayBufferObject);
glBindVertexArray(vertexArrayBufferObject);


// Create the buffer objects
glGenBuffers(4, bufferObjects);

#define VERTEX_DATA     0
#define NORMAL_DATA     1
#define TEXTURE_DATA    2
#define INDEX_DATA      3

// Copy data to video memory
// Vertex data
glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, bufferObjects[VERTEX_DATA]);
glEnableVertexAttribArray(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_VERTEX);
glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(GLfloat)*nNumVerts*3, pVerts, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
glVertexAttribPointer(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_VERTEX, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, 0, 0);

// Normal data
glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, bufferObjects[NORMAL_DATA]);
glEnableVertexAttribArray(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL);
glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(GLfloat)*nNumVerts*3, pNorms, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
glVertexAttribPointer(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, 0, 0);

// Texture coordinates
glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, bufferObjects[TEXTURE_DATA]);
glEnableVertexAttribArray(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_TEXTURE0);
glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(GLfloat)*nNumVerts*2, pTexCoords, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
glVertexAttribPointer(GLT_ATTRIBUTE_TEXTURE0, 2, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, 0, 0);

// Indexes
glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, bufferObjects[INDEX_DATA]);
glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(GLushort)*nNumIndexes, pIndexes, GL_STATIC_DRAW);

// Done
glBindVertexArray(0);

// Free older, larger arrays
delete [] pIndexes;
delete [] pVerts;
delete [] pNorms;
delete [] pTexCoords;

// Reasign pointers so they are marked as unused
pIndexes = NULL;
pVerts = NULL;
pNorms = NULL;
pTexCoords = NULL;

From what I understand, the code passes arrays that are pointers pVerts, pNorms, pTexCoords, pIndexes and store them in a Vertex array object, which is essentially an array of vertex buffer objects. They are stored in memory on the GPU. The source pointers are then deleted.

I'm interested in accessing the positions of the vertices that were contained in the pVert array that it points to.

. GLTriangleBatch. vertexBufferObject , - ? pVerts getter? , GJK ...

Answer 1

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