Teaching geometric modeling algorithms and data structures through laser scanner acquisition pipeline

Abstract

Experience from geometric modeling course based on a specific teaching medium, namely trochlear surface reconstruction from laser scans, its evaluation in terms of shape feature measurements and finally its instantiation through 3D printing, are presented. Laser scanner acquisition, reconstruction and 3D printing lend well to teaching general concepts in geometric modeling for several reasons. First, starting and ending with real physical 3D objects (the talus and its 3D print) provide in addition to the classical visual feedback a material feedback for correctness of treatments all over the pipeline. Second, the notion of error during each step of the pipeline is illustrated in a very intuitive way through length measurements, manual ones with callipers on the tali, and numerical ones with arc and chord lengths on the numerical reconstructions. Third, students are involved with challenging scientific problems and produce semester-long projects included in larger scaled project of cultural heritage preservation. Our believe is that this approach gives a deeper understanding of both theoretical and application issues in geometric modeling. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.