Three dimensional thinning of octree encoded objects

Describes an efficient thinning algorithm for octree encoded objects. The algorithm takes advantage of special features of the octree data structure to greatly reduce the magnitude of the thinning procedure. Fundamental, optimized, low-level octree processing operations provide fast access to the encoded object data. Preservation of the topological and geometrical properties of the object is insured by strict connectivity and topology preserving constraints. The selection of the octree as the 3-D representation method was based on its emergence as a well organized and highly compressed data structure for three-dimensional data. It has also demonstrated its accessibility to image and object processing algorithms, display techniques and numerical analysis methods. Basic operations, directly applied to the octree encoded data, form the foundation of complex analysis algorithms like thinning