Computing generalized higher-order Voronoi diagrams on triangulated surfaces

We present an algorithm for computing exact shortest paths, and consequently distance functions, from a generalized source (point, segment, polygonal chain or polygonal region) on a possibly non-convex triangulated polyhedral surface. The algorithm is generalized to the case when a set of generalized sites is considered, providing their distance field that implicitly represents the Voronoi diagram of the sites. Next, we present an algorithm to compute a discrete representation of the distance function and the distance field. Then, by using the discrete distance field, we obtain the Voronoi diagram of a set of generalized sites (points, segments, polygonal chains or polygons) and visualize it on the triangulated surface. We also provide algorithms that, by using the discrete distance functions, provide the closest, furthest and k-order Voronoi diagrams and an approximate 1-Center and 1Median. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.