Three Dimensional Signed Euclidean Distance Transform and Its Applications
Lin Hong · Chinese Journal of Computers · 2003
The researches for distance transform have long history in image processing. In this paper, we extend two dimensional signed distance transform to three dimension, optimize it and analyze its computational complexity. Furthermore, we apply it to computer graphics. Firstly, it can be employed to transform the triangular mesh representation of graphics model into its distance field representation. By the three dimensional signed distance transform on the voxel representation of a graphics model, the global search for the point, which is closest to a given space point and on the graphical model, can be simplified to a local search. It greatly reduces the computational complexity. Secondly, and similarly, it can be employed to calculate the minimum distance between two pieces of surfaces in the space.