Wavelet-based hierarchical surface approximation from height fields

This paper presents a novel hierarchical approach to triangular mesh generation from height fields. A wavelet-based multiresolution analysis technique is used to estimate local shape information at different levels of resolution. Using predefined templates at the coarsest level, the method constructs an initial triangulation in which underlying object shapes are well preserved. Wavelet detail coefficients directly control the selection of appropriate templates, and are then used for subdividing and refining the initial mesh.