Efficient free-form surface modeling with uncertainty

This paper describes the use of a previously developed surface model for representing 3D geometric information that is subject to uncertainty. The proposed model is based on a geometric data fusion technique that allows the efficient approximation of arbitrary triangular meshes in space with smooth surfaces. This paper shows how the shape modifiers defined in that model can be used to represent both global and local uncertainty associated with the input data. The possibility of handling scattered 3D points, taking into account their corresponding uncertainties, makes this technique a suitable tool for modeling free-form surfaces acquired through sensing, as well as for integrating 3D data obtained from multiple sensors with different associated confidences.