Adaptive T-spline surface approximation of triangular meshes

Digital 3D models represented by triangular meshes are now broadly available and they are becoming a new multimedia data type after sound, images and video. For many applications there is a need to convert such mesh models into spline surfaces. This paper describes an adaptive algorithm that automatically converts a triangular mesh into a T-spline surface based on optimization techniques. The key issues of the algorithm include the parameterization of input data points, the determination of topology of the T-spline surface, and the calculation of the least squares T-spline surface control points. Some examples are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithm.