Constructing multi-resolution triangulated irregular network model for visualization

It is essential to generate multi-resolution triangulated irregular network (TIN) models dynamically and efficiently in three-dimensional (3D) visualization, virtual reality (VR), and geographic information systems (GIS), because the data processed is multiple in scale and large in volume. This paper proposes a new approach, which extends the iterative edge collapses and vertex splits algorithm, to dynamically generate multi-resolution TIN models. Moreover, a new method was proposed to improve the efficiency of vertex topological relationships storing in multi-resolution TIN models. And a set of rules were defined to improve the validity judgment of vertex splits and edge collapses. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the elevation of vertex and the quality of the shapes of triangles were measured to evaluate the quality of a generated multi-resolution TIN model. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach can generate multi-resolution TIN models with a higher accuracy and better time performance. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.