From point cloud to surface : the modeling and visualization problem

Commission V – WG 6 In this paper we address all the problems and solutions of converting a measured point cloud into a realistic 3D polygonal model that can satisfy high modeling and visualization demands. Close range photogrammetry deals since many years with manual or automatic image measurements. Now 3D scanners are also becoming a standard source for input data in many application areas, providing for millions of points. As a consequence, the problem of generating high quality polygonal meshes of objects from unorganized point clouds is receiving more and more attention. After reviewing the different 3D shape techniques for surface reconstruction, we will report the full process of converting a usually unstructured point cloud into a consistent polygonal model. Some triangulation algorithms, modeling methods and visualization techniques are also described and different examples are presented