diff --git a/include/osg/NodeVisitor b/include/osg/NodeVisitor
index 77147e2c6..886d25cd2 100644
--- a/include/osg/NodeVisitor
+++ b/include/osg/NodeVisitor
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 #include <osg/Matrix>
 #include <osg/FrameStamp>
 
+
+namespace osgUtil { class UpdateVisitor; class CullVisitor; class IntersectionVisitor; }
+namespace osgGA { class EventVisitor; }
+
 namespace osg {
 
 class Billboard;
@@ -44,6 +48,10 @@ class CameraView;
 class Drawable;
 class Geometry;
 
+
+
+
+
 const unsigned int UNINITIALIZED_FRAME_NUMBER=0xffffffff;
 
 #define META_NodeVisitor(library, name) \
@@ -104,6 +112,40 @@ class OSG_EXPORT NodeVisitor : public virtual Object
           * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const NodeVisitor*>(this).*/
         virtual const NodeVisitor* asNodeVisitor() const { return this; }
 
+        /** Convert 'this' into a osgUtil::UpdateVisitor pointer if Object is a osgUtil::UpdateVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* asUpdateVisitor() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const osgUtil::UpdateVisitor pointer if Object is a osgUtil::UpdateVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual const osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* asUpdateVisitor() const { return 0; }
+
+        /** Convert 'this' into a osgUtil::CullVisitor pointer if Object is a osgUtil::CullVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual osgUtil::CullVisitor* asCullVisitor() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const osgUtil::CullVisitor pointer if Object is a osgUtil::CullVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual const osgUtil::CullVisitor* asCullVisitor() const { return 0; }
+
+        /** Convert 'this' into a osgGA::EventVisitor pointer if Object is a osgGA::EventVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual osgGA::EventVisitor* asEventVisitor() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const osgGA::EventVisitor pointer if Object is a osgGA::EventVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const osgGA::EventVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual const osgGA::EventVisitor* asEventVisitor() const { return 0; }
+
+        /** Convert 'this' into a osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor pointer if Object is a IntersectionVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor* asIntersectionVisitor() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor pointer if Object is a IntersectionVisitor, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor*>(this).*/
+        virtual const osgUtil::IntersectionVisitor* asIntersectionVisitor() const { return 0; }
+
+
+
 
         /** Method to call to reset visitor. Useful if your visitor accumulates
             state during a traversal, and you plan to reuse the visitor.
diff --git a/include/osg/Object b/include/osg/Object
index 32bcc8b8f..4f8597c83 100644
--- a/include/osg/Object
+++ b/include/osg/Object
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class Node;
 class NodeVisitor;
 class StateAttribute;
 class Uniform;
+class Drawable;
+class Camera;
 class Callback;
 class CallbackObject;
 
@@ -136,6 +138,14 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Object : public Referenced
           * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const Uniform*>(this).*/
         virtual const Uniform* asUniform() const { return 0; }
 
+        /** Convert 'this' into a Camera pointer if Node is a Camera, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<Camera*>(this).*/
+        virtual Camera* asCamera() { return 0; }
+        
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const Camera pointer if Node is a Camera, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const Camera*>(this).*/
+        virtual const Camera* asCamera() const { return 0; }
+
         /** Convert 'this' into a Drawable pointer if Object is a Drawable, otherwise return 0.
           * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<Drawable*>(this).*/
         virtual Drawable* asDrawable() { return 0; }
diff --git a/include/osg/State b/include/osg/State
index 68ff52d5c..131bd91ca 100644
--- a/include/osg/State
+++ b/include/osg/State
@@ -1744,7 +1744,7 @@ class OSG_EXPORT State : public Referenced
         {
             if (as.last_applied_attribute != attribute)
             {
-                if (!as.global_default_attribute.valid()) as.global_default_attribute = dynamic_cast<StateAttribute*>(attribute->cloneType());
+                if (!as.global_default_attribute.valid()) as.global_default_attribute = attribute->cloneType()->asStateAttribute();
 
                 as.last_applied_attribute = attribute;
                 attribute->apply(*this);
@@ -1770,7 +1770,7 @@ class OSG_EXPORT State : public Referenced
             {
                 if (setActiveTextureUnit(unit))
                 {
-                    if (!as.global_default_attribute.valid()) as.global_default_attribute = dynamic_cast<StateAttribute*>(attribute->cloneType());
+                    if (!as.global_default_attribute.valid()) as.global_default_attribute = attribute->cloneType()->asStateAttribute();
 
                     as.last_applied_attribute = attribute;
                     attribute->apply(*this);
diff --git a/src/osgFX/Technique.cpp b/src/osgFX/Technique.cpp
index 9ec1a2cf8..0ca7cc85f 100644
--- a/src/osgFX/Technique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgFX/Technique.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void Technique::traverse_implementation(osg::NodeVisitor& nv, Effect* fx)
     }
 
     // special actions must be taken if the node visitor is actually a CullVisitor
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor *cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor *>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor *cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
 
     // traverse all passes
     for (int i=0; i<getNumPasses(); ++i) {
diff --git a/src/osgGA/EventHandler.cpp b/src/osgGA/EventHandler.cpp
index ecfc97103..9ab3f3fb5 100644
--- a/src/osgGA/EventHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/osgGA/EventHandler.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ using namespace osgGA;
 
 void EventHandler::operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
 {
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv->asEventVisitor();
     if (ev && ev->getActionAdapter() && !ev->getEvents().empty())
     {
         for(osgGA::EventQueue::Events::iterator itr = ev->getEvents().begin();
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void EventHandler::operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
 
 void EventHandler::event(osg::NodeVisitor* nv, osg::Drawable* drawable)
 {
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv->asEventVisitor();
     if (ev && ev->getActionAdapter() && !ev->getEvents().empty())
     {
         for(osgGA::EventQueue::Events::iterator itr = ev->getEvents().begin();
diff --git a/src/osgGA/GUIEventHandler.cpp b/src/osgGA/GUIEventHandler.cpp
index b518100ca..a46672732 100644
--- a/src/osgGA/GUIEventHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/osgGA/GUIEventHandler.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ GUIEventHandler::~GUIEventHandler()
 // adapt EventHandler usage to old style GUIEventHandler usage
 bool GUIEventHandler::handle(osgGA::Event* event, osg::Object* object, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
 {
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv->asEventVisitor();
     osgGA::GUIEventAdapter* ea = event->asGUIEventAdapter();
     if (ea && ev && ev->getActionAdapter())
     {
diff --git a/src/osgGA/Widget.cpp b/src/osgGA/Widget.cpp
index 7756b482e..8d5594ce3 100644
--- a/src/osgGA/Widget.cpp
+++ b/src/osgGA/Widget.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void Widget::setExtents(const osg::BoundingBoxf& bb)
 
 void Widget::updateFocus(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
     osgGA::GUIActionAdapter* aa = ev ? ev->getActionAdapter() : 0;
     if (ev && aa)
     {
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ void Widget::traverseImplementation(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     if (!_graphicsInitialized && nv.getVisitorType()!=osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR) createGraphics();
 
 
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
     if (ev)
     {
         updateFocus(nv);
diff --git a/src/osgManipulator/Dragger.cpp b/src/osgManipulator/Dragger.cpp
index 9a9a9b97c..1079adbf5 100644
--- a/src/osgManipulator/Dragger.cpp
+++ b/src/osgManipulator/Dragger.cpp
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ void Dragger::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
     if (_handleEvents && nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::EVENT_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
         if (ev)
         {
             for(osgGA::EventQueue::Events::iterator itr = ev->getEvents().begin();
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ bool Dragger::handle(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea, osgGA::GUIActionAdapter&
                                     ritr != nodePath.rend();
                                     ++ritr)
                                 {
-                                    osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(*ritr);
+                                    osg::Camera* camera = (*ritr)->asCamera();
                                     if (camera && (camera->getReferenceFrame()!=osg::Transform::RELATIVE_RF || camera->getParents().empty()))
                                     {
                                          rootCamera = camera;
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
index 0f2a8622b..c8ba61b9a 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ osgParticle::ParticleProcessor::ParticleProcessor(const ParticleProcessor& copy,
 void osgParticle::ParticleProcessor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
     // typecast the NodeVisitor to CullVisitor
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
 
     // continue only if the visitor actually is a cull visitor
     if (cv) {
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
index 0b05952ea..5effdb702 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::update(double dt, osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     if (_sortMode != NO_SORT)
     {
         // sort particles
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             osg::Matrixd modelview = *(cv->getModelViewMatrix());
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystemUpdater.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystemUpdater.cpp
index 1c826e870..e2aeef75b 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystemUpdater.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystemUpdater.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ osgParticle::ParticleSystemUpdater::ParticleSystemUpdater(const ParticleSystemUp
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystemUpdater::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor *cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor *>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (cv)
     {
         if (nv.getFrameStamp())
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/PrecipitationEffect.cpp b/src/osgParticle/PrecipitationEffect.cpp
index 08c295d1d..d710c2e12 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/PrecipitationEffect.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/PrecipitationEffect.cpp
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ void PrecipitationEffect::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
         return;
     }
 
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (!cv)
     {
         return;
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/pov/ReaderWriterPOV.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/pov/ReaderWriterPOV.cpp
index 4ca9129fc..ca1a2b224 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/pov/ReaderWriterPOV.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/pov/ReaderWriterPOV.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ writeNodeImplementation( const Node& node, ostream& fout,
                          const osgDB::ReaderWriter::Options* options )
 {
    // get camera on the top of scene graph
-   const Camera *camera = dynamic_cast< const Camera* >( &node );
+   const Camera *camera = node.asCamera();
 
    Vec3d eye, center, up, right;
    double fovy, aspectRatio, tmp;
diff --git a/src/osgPresentation/Cursor.cpp b/src/osgPresentation/Cursor.cpp
index e0f605c9a..bf71e61d9 100644
--- a/src/osgPresentation/Cursor.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPresentation/Cursor.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void Cursor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::EVENT_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
         if (!ev) return;
 
         osgGA::EventQueue::Events& events = ev->getEvents();
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ void Cursor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
                     if (event->getNumPointerData()>=1)
                     {
                         const osgGA::PointerData* pd = event->getPointerData(event->getNumPointerData()-1);
-                        osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(pd->object.get());
+                        osg::Camera* camera = pd->object.valid() ? pd->object->asCamera() : 0;
 
                         _cursorXY.set(pd->getXnormalized(), pd->getYnormalized());
                         _camera = camera;
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ void Cursor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 #if 0
         if (!_camera)
         {
-            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
             if (cv)
             {
                 _camera = cv->getCurrentCamera();
diff --git a/src/osgPresentation/Timeout.cpp b/src/osgPresentation/Timeout.cpp
index 5718441ef..04d226372 100644
--- a/src/osgPresentation/Timeout.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPresentation/Timeout.cpp
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ void Timeout::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
     if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (_displayTimeout && cv)
         {
             osgUtil::RenderStage* previous_stage = cv->getCurrentRenderBin()->getStage();
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ void Timeout::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
         bool previous_displayTimeout = _displayTimeout;
         bool needToDismiss = false;
 
-        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
         osgViewer::Viewer* viewer = ev ? dynamic_cast<osgViewer::Viewer*>(ev->getActionAdapter()) : 0;
         if (ev)
         {
diff --git a/src/osgShadow/ShadowTechnique.cpp b/src/osgShadow/ShadowTechnique.cpp
index 809f07ad8..aa5002117 100644
--- a/src/osgShadow/ShadowTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgShadow/ShadowTechnique.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void ShadowTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType() == osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv) cull(*cv);
         else _shadowedScene->osg::Group::traverse(nv);
     }
diff --git a/src/osgShadow/ViewDependentShadowMap.cpp b/src/osgShadow/ViewDependentShadowMap.cpp
index 8d0ff9160..3ae43ef6f 100644
--- a/src/osgShadow/ViewDependentShadowMap.cpp
+++ b/src/osgShadow/ViewDependentShadowMap.cpp
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ VDSMCameraCullCallback::VDSMCameraCullCallback(ViewDependentShadowMap* vdsm, osg
 
 void VDSMCameraCullCallback::operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
 {
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(nv);
-    osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(node);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv->asCullVisitor();
+    osg::Camera* camera = node->asCamera();
     OSG_INFO<<"VDSMCameraCullCallback::operator()(osg::Node* "<<camera<<", osg::NodeVisitor* "<<cv<<")"<<std::endl;
 
 #if 1
diff --git a/src/osgSim/Impostor.cpp b/src/osgSim/Impostor.cpp
index 7f9aa8a80..39f54c959 100644
--- a/src/osgSim/Impostor.cpp
+++ b/src/osgSim/Impostor.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ void Impostor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
         return;
     }
 
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (!cv)
     {
         LOD::traverse(nv);
diff --git a/src/osgSim/LightPointNode.cpp b/src/osgSim/LightPointNode.cpp
index 1c03170b4..15909c0a0 100644
--- a/src/osgSim/LightPointNode.cpp
+++ b/src/osgSim/LightPointNode.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void LightPointNode::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     t1 = timer.tick();
 #endif
 
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
 
 #ifdef USE_TIMER
     t2 = timer.tick();
diff --git a/src/osgSim/OverlayNode.cpp b/src/osgSim/OverlayNode.cpp
index 1f59f308b..bce459373 100644
--- a/src/osgSim/OverlayNode.cpp
+++ b/src/osgSim/OverlayNode.cpp
@@ -1330,7 +1330,7 @@ void OverlayNode::traverse_OBJECT_DEPENDENT_WITH_ORTHOGRAPHIC_OVERLAY(osg::NodeV
         return;
     }
 
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (!cv)
     {
         Group::traverse(nv);
@@ -1384,7 +1384,7 @@ void OverlayNode::traverse_VIEW_DEPENDENT_WITH_ORTHOGRAPHIC_OVERLAY(osg::NodeVis
         return;
     }
 
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (!cv)
     {
         Group::traverse(nv);
diff --git a/src/osgTerrain/DisplacementMappingTechnique.cpp b/src/osgTerrain/DisplacementMappingTechnique.cpp
index 0e434c853..a037bbbee 100644
--- a/src/osgTerrain/DisplacementMappingTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgTerrain/DisplacementMappingTechnique.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void DisplacementMappingTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         // if (_terrainTile->getDirty()) _terrainTile->init(_terrainTile->getDirtyMask(), false);
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void DisplacementMappingTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgTerrain/GeometryTechnique.cpp b/src/osgTerrain/GeometryTechnique.cpp
index 53044979a..b363f4a52 100644
--- a/src/osgTerrain/GeometryTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgTerrain/GeometryTechnique.cpp
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ void GeometryTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_terrainTile->getDirty()) _terrainTile->init(_terrainTile->getDirtyMask(), false);
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ void GeometryTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgTerrain/Terrain.cpp b/src/osgTerrain/Terrain.cpp
index 3b6d87b16..09c2cb56e 100644
--- a/src/osgTerrain/Terrain.cpp
+++ b/src/osgTerrain/Terrain.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void Terrain::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::UPDATE_VISITOR)
     {
         // need to check if any TerrainTechniques need to have their update called on them.
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             typedef std::list< osg::ref_ptr<TerrainTile> >  TerrainTileList;
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ void Terrain::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 
     if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         osg::StateSet* ss = _geometryPool.valid() ? _geometryPool->getRootStateSetForTerrain(this) : 0;
         if (cv && ss)
         {
diff --git a/src/osgTerrain/TerrainTechnique.cpp b/src/osgTerrain/TerrainTechnique.cpp
index 1d9b027ae..b0efe8b17 100644
--- a/src/osgTerrain/TerrainTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgTerrain/TerrainTechnique.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void TerrainTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_terrainTile->getDirty()) _terrainTile->init(_terrainTile->getDirtyMask(), false);
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void TerrainTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgUI/Callbacks.cpp b/src/osgUI/Callbacks.cpp
index 9821b5afc..bf14e19dc 100644
--- a/src/osgUI/Callbacks.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUI/Callbacks.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ bool CloseCallback::run(osg::Object* object, osg::Parameters&, osg::Parameters&)
         _closeWidget->setVisible(false);
     }
 
-    osg::Node* node = dynamic_cast<osg::Node*>(object);
+    osg::Node* node = object->asNode();
     if (node)
     {
         osg::NodePathList nodePathList = node->getParentalNodePaths();
diff --git a/src/osgUI/Widget.cpp b/src/osgUI/Widget.cpp
index d586ca8e8..d7a261031 100644
--- a/src/osgUI/Widget.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUI/Widget.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void Widget::setExtents(const osg::BoundingBoxf& bb)
 
 void Widget::updateFocus(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
     osgGA::GUIActionAdapter* aa = ev ? ev->getActionAdapter() : 0;
     if (ev && aa)
     {
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void Widget::traverseImplementation(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
     if (!_graphicsInitialized && nv.getVisitorType()!=osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR) createGraphics();
 
-    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = dynamic_cast<osgGA::EventVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgGA::EventVisitor* ev = nv.asEventVisitor();
     if (ev)
     {
         if (_visible && _enabled)
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ void Widget::traverseImplementation(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     else if (_visible ||
             (nv.getVisitorType()!=osg::NodeVisitor::UPDATE_VISITOR && nv.getVisitorType()!=osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR && nv.getVisitorType()!=osg::NodeVisitor::INTERSECTION_VISITOR) )
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR) ? dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv) : 0;
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR) ? nv.asCullVisitor() : 0;
         if (cv && _widgetStateSet.valid()) cv->pushStateSet(_widgetStateSet.get());
 
         GraphicsSubgraphMap::iterator itr = _graphicsSubgraphMap.begin();
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ bool Widget::computeExtentsPositionInLocalCoordinates(osgGA::EventVisitor* ev, o
     if (event->getNumPointerData()>=1)
     {
         const osgGA::PointerData* pd = event->getPointerData(event->getNumPointerData()-1);
-        camera = dynamic_cast<const osg::Camera*>(pd->object.get());
+        camera = pd->object->asCamera();
         if (camera)
         {
             x = pd->getXnormalized();
diff --git a/src/osgUtil/SceneView.cpp b/src/osgUtil/SceneView.cpp
index fa195c450..e08783a2e 100644
--- a/src/osgUtil/SceneView.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUtil/SceneView.cpp
@@ -719,11 +719,11 @@ void SceneView::cull()
         else
         {
 
-            if (!_cullVisitorLeft.valid()) _cullVisitorLeft = dynamic_cast<CullVisitor*>(_cullVisitor->clone());
+            if (!_cullVisitorLeft.valid()) _cullVisitorLeft = _cullVisitor->clone();
             if (!_stateGraphLeft.valid()) _stateGraphLeft = dynamic_cast<StateGraph*>(_stateGraph->cloneType());
             if (!_renderStageLeft.valid()) _renderStageLeft = dynamic_cast<RenderStage*>(_renderStage->clone(osg::CopyOp::DEEP_COPY_ALL));
 
-            if (!_cullVisitorRight.valid()) _cullVisitorRight = dynamic_cast<CullVisitor*>(_cullVisitor->clone());
+            if (!_cullVisitorRight.valid()) _cullVisitorRight = _cullVisitor->clone();
             if (!_stateGraphRight.valid()) _stateGraphRight = dynamic_cast<StateGraph*>(_stateGraph->cloneType());
             if (!_renderStageRight.valid()) _renderStageRight = dynamic_cast<RenderStage*>(_renderStage->clone(osg::CopyOp::DEEP_COPY_ALL));
 
diff --git a/src/osgViewer/CompositeViewer.cpp b/src/osgViewer/CompositeViewer.cpp
index c126ea593..c32ca443e 100644
--- a/src/osgViewer/CompositeViewer.cpp
+++ b/src/osgViewer/CompositeViewer.cpp
@@ -916,7 +916,8 @@ void CompositeViewer::reprojectPointerData(osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& source_event,
 
     dest_event.setMouseYOrientationAndUpdateCoords(osgGA::GUIEventAdapter::Y_INCREASING_UPWARDS);
 
-    osg::Camera* camera = (source_event.getNumPointerData()>=2) ? dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(source_event.getPointerData(1)->object.get()) : 0;
+    osg::Object* object = (source_event.getNumPointerData()>=2) ? source_event.getPointerData(1)->object.get() : 0;
+    osg::Camera* camera = object ? object->asCamera() : 0;
     osg::Viewport* viewport = camera ? camera->getViewport() : 0;
 
     if (!viewport) return;
@@ -1030,7 +1031,8 @@ void CompositeViewer::eventTraversal()
         }
 
         osgGA::PointerData* pd = event->getNumPointerData()>0 ? event->getPointerData(event->getNumPointerData()-1) : 0;
-        osg::Camera* camera = pd ? dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(pd->object.get()) : 0;
+        osg::Object* object = pd ? pd->object.get() : 0;
+        osg::Camera* camera = object ? object->asCamera() : 0;
         osgViewer::View* view = camera ? dynamic_cast<osgViewer::View*>(camera->getView()) : 0;
 
         if (!view)
diff --git a/src/osgViewer/Keystone.cpp b/src/osgViewer/Keystone.cpp
index 66bca206c..10466cf64 100644
--- a/src/osgViewer/Keystone.cpp
+++ b/src/osgViewer/Keystone.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ struct KeystoneUpdateCallback : public osg::DrawableUpdateCallback
     /** do customized update code.*/
     virtual void update(osg::NodeVisitor*, osg::Drawable* drawable)
     {
-        update(dynamic_cast<osg::Geometry*>(drawable));
+        update(drawable->asGeometry());
     }
 
     void update(osg::Geometry* geometry)
@@ -418,8 +418,8 @@ osg::Vec2d KeystoneHandler::incrementScale(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea) con
 
 bool KeystoneHandler::handle(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea, osgGA::GUIActionAdapter& /*aa*/, osg::Object* obj, osg::NodeVisitor* /*nv*/)
 {
-    osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(obj);
-    osg::Viewport* viewport = camera ?  camera->getViewport() : 0;
+    osg::Camera* camera = obj ? obj->asCamera() : 0;
+    osg::Viewport* viewport = camera ? camera->getViewport() : 0;
 
     if (!viewport) return false;
 
diff --git a/src/osgViewer/Renderer.cpp b/src/osgViewer/Renderer.cpp
index 25fc8e608..53c9abfcd 100644
--- a/src/osgViewer/Renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/osgViewer/Renderer.cpp
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ void Renderer::operator () (osg::Object* object)
     osg::GraphicsContext* context = dynamic_cast<osg::GraphicsContext*>(object);
     if (context) operator()(context);
 
-    osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(object);
+    osg::Camera* camera =object->asCamera();
     if (camera) cull();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/osgViewer/View.cpp b/src/osgViewer/View.cpp
index a3a5b8173..637dc6b90 100644
--- a/src/osgViewer/View.cpp
+++ b/src/osgViewer/View.cpp
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ bool View::computeIntersections(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea, osgUtil::LineS
     if (ea.getNumPointerData()>=1)
     {
         const osgGA::PointerData* pd = ea.getPointerData(ea.getNumPointerData()-1);
-        const osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<const osg::Camera*>(pd->object.get());
+        const osg::Camera* camera = pd->object.valid() ? pd->object->asCamera() : 0;
         if (camera)
         {
             return computeIntersections(camera, osgUtil::Intersector::PROJECTION, pd->getXnormalized(), pd->getYnormalized(), intersections, traversalMask);
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ bool View::computeIntersections(const osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& ea, const osg::Nod
     if (ea.getNumPointerData()>=1)
     {
         const osgGA::PointerData* pd = ea.getPointerData(ea.getNumPointerData()-1);
-        const osg::Camera* camera = dynamic_cast<const osg::Camera*>(pd->object.get());
+        const osg::Camera* camera = pd->object.valid() ? pd->object->asCamera() : 0;
         if (camera)
         {
             return computeIntersections(camera, osgUtil::Intersector::PROJECTION, pd->getXnormalized(), pd->getYnormalized(), nodePath, intersections, traversalMask);
diff --git a/src/osgViewer/Viewer.cpp b/src/osgViewer/Viewer.cpp
index 4c984e663..22e1744c5 100644
--- a/src/osgViewer/Viewer.cpp
+++ b/src/osgViewer/Viewer.cpp
@@ -849,7 +849,8 @@ void Viewer::reprojectPointerData(osgGA::GUIEventAdapter& source_event, osgGA::G
 
     dest_event.setMouseYOrientationAndUpdateCoords(osgGA::GUIEventAdapter::Y_INCREASING_UPWARDS);
 
-    osg::Camera* camera = (source_event.getNumPointerData()>=2) ? dynamic_cast<osg::Camera*>(source_event.getPointerData(1)->object.get()) : 0;
+    osg::Object* object = (source_event.getNumPointerData()>=2) ? source_event.getPointerData(1)->object.get() : 0;
+    osg::Camera* camera = object ? object->asCamera() : 0;
     osg::Viewport* viewport = camera ? camera->getViewport() : 0;
 
     if (!viewport) return;
diff --git a/src/osgVolume/FixedFunctionTechnique.cpp b/src/osgVolume/FixedFunctionTechnique.cpp
index ba97c43dc..19e94315c 100644
--- a/src/osgVolume/FixedFunctionTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgVolume/FixedFunctionTechnique.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ void FixedFunctionTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_volumeTile->getDirty()) _volumeTile->init();
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ void FixedFunctionTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgVolume/MultipassTechnique.cpp b/src/osgVolume/MultipassTechnique.cpp
index 450847bd0..e2f97da37 100644
--- a/src/osgVolume/MultipassTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgVolume/MultipassTechnique.cpp
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ class RTTCameraCullCallback : public osg::NodeCallback
 
         virtual void operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
         {
-            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(nv);
+            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv->asCullVisitor();
 
             cv->pushProjectionMatrix(_tileData->projectionMatrix.get());
 
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ class RTTBackfaceCameraCullCallback : public osg::NodeCallback
 
         virtual void operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
         {
-            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(nv);
+            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv->asCullVisitor();
 
             cv->pushProjectionMatrix(_tileData->projectionMatrix.get());
 
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@ void MultipassTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_volumeTile->getDirty()) _volumeTile->init();
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ void MultipassTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgVolume/RayTracedTechnique.cpp b/src/osgVolume/RayTracedTechnique.cpp
index f014f3ab9..787e10291 100644
--- a/src/osgVolume/RayTracedTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgVolume/RayTracedTechnique.cpp
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ void RayTracedTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_volumeTile->getDirty()) _volumeTile->init();
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ void RayTracedTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);
diff --git a/src/osgVolume/VolumeScene.cpp b/src/osgVolume/VolumeScene.cpp
index 78a43748b..56133b798 100644
--- a/src/osgVolume/VolumeScene.cpp
+++ b/src/osgVolume/VolumeScene.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class RTTCameraCullCallback : public osg::NodeCallback
 
         virtual void operator()(osg::Node* node, osg::NodeVisitor* nv)
         {
-            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(nv);
+            osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv->asCullVisitor();
 
             _volumeScene->osg::Group::traverse(*nv);
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ TileData* VolumeScene::getTileData(osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv, osgVolume::VolumeTi
 
 void VolumeScene::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
-    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+    osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
     if (!cv)
     {
         Group::traverse(nv);
diff --git a/src/osgVolume/VolumeTechnique.cpp b/src/osgVolume/VolumeTechnique.cpp
index bda2983a9..21da95973 100644
--- a/src/osgVolume/VolumeTechnique.cpp
+++ b/src/osgVolume/VolumeTechnique.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ void VolumeTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     {
         if (_volumeTile->getDirty()) _volumeTile->init();
 
-        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::UpdateVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::UpdateVisitor* uv = nv.asUpdateVisitor();
         if (uv)
         {
             update(uv);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void VolumeTechnique::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
     }
     else if (nv.getVisitorType()==osg::NodeVisitor::CULL_VISITOR)
     {
-        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = dynamic_cast<osgUtil::CullVisitor*>(&nv);
+        osgUtil::CullVisitor* cv = nv.asCullVisitor();
         if (cv)
         {
             cull(cv);