Filling holes in complex surfaces using volumetric diffusion

• Published in: Proceedings. First International Symposium on 3D Data Processing Visualization and Transmission pp. 428 - 441
• Main Authors: Davis, J., Marschner, S.R., Garr, M., Levoy, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2002
• Subjects: Computer science; Diffusion processes; Filling; Geometry; Hair; Laser noise; Reflectivity; Shape measurement; Surface reconstruction; Topology
• ISBN: 0769515214
• DOI: 10.1109/TDPVT.2002.1024098

We address the problem of building watertight 3D models from surfaces that contain holes - for example, sets of range scans that observe most but not all of a surface. We specifically address situations in which the holes are too geometrically and topologically complex to fill using triangulation algorithms. Our solution begins by constructing a signed distance function, the zero set of which defines the surface. Initially, this function is defined only in the vicinity of observed surfaces. We then apply a diffusion process to extend this function through the volume until its zero set bridges whatever holes may be present. If additional information is available, such as known-empty regions of space inferred from the lines of sight to a 3D scanner, it can be incorporated into the diffusion process. Our algorithm is simple to implement, is guaranteed to produce manifold non-interpenetrating surfaces, and is efficient to run on large datasets because computation is limited to areas near holes.