Intelligent Shape Editing with Robust Feature Analysis

With the development of 3D acquisition techniques, geometric models are more and more widely available. Model editing is an effective way to generate new geometric models from existing ones. This project aims to develop a new editing framework based on robust feature analysis, which has been largely unexplored. We propose to study two related problems: robust feature analysis suitable for surface editing, and improving editing in both efficiency and quality with the guidance of features. Methods developed by the project will enable more effective editing to be carried out on triangular meshes, which has potential to be useful in wide application areas. The most direct applications are in Computer Graphics, where triangular meshes are widely used for rendering, animation and arts and Computer Aided Design, where such meshes are used to represent a variety of natural and designed shapes. Robust feature analysis techniques are fundamental to more general settings when geometric models are used, so the framework focussing on feature analysis and interactive techniques may also stimulate further research.

The impact of the proposed work will exist in a variety of fields at different levels. The project will improve the understanding of geometric features, and their potential relationship and usefulness to editing. The relationship between image processing and geometry processing will be studied in various subareas; the insight will lead to further development and research. Potential end users will include e.g. game designers and animators in the entertainment industry, who will benefit from the techniques developed in the project by improving both their productivity and the quality of surface editing results. Software vendors producing packages for healthcare, artistic design and entertainment software will be able to enhance their current software to include new editing tool functionality, and improve existing tools. The project will be carried out in collaboration with an industrial partner: Delcam plc, a world leading supplier of CAD/CAM products, and in particular in their healthcare product lines, to e.g. improve the organic shape sculpting while preserving the geometry of functional features. The developed techniques will also be potentially useful to a variety of other applications e.g. cultural heritage protection.