A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to visualize a point cloud dataset. A grid, having cells, is mapped over the point cloud dataset. The points are sorted and a contribution factor is computed for each cell. Each cell and its contribution factor is stored. A viewing area and total number of viewing points is determined. The cells are intersected with the viewing area to determine visible cells. The contribution factors for the visible cells are accumulated and divided into the total viewing points to determine a point extraction value. A number of points to read (and display) from each visible cell is determined by multiplying the contribution factor of each visible cell by the point extraction value.