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Triangular Meshing and Volume Determination

Published

Author(s)

Christoph J. Witzgall, Geraldine Cheok

Abstract

Parametric studies are reported for investigating the feasibility and accuracy of calculating volumes from LADAR scans of artifacts. The TIN (=Triangulated Irregular Network) technique was employed to construct surfaces on which the volume calculation was based. The artifact used was a plywood box of known size and volume. Scans were taken of a tight fitting background screen, with and without the box placed against it. The volume of the box was then recovered as the difference between respective cut or, alternatively, fill volumes. A procedure for determining cut and fill volumes is described. The representation of point clouds by triangulated surfaces offers several algorithmic options as well as choices of parameters. The accuracy of volume calculations was examined for several alternative algorithmic options and parameter settings.
Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7142
Report Number
7142

Keywords

approximation, Delaunay, experiments, LADAR, meshing, surface, TIN, triangulation, volume

Citation

Witzgall, C. and Cheok, G. (2004), Triangular Meshing and Volume Determination, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7142, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860576 (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created June 30, 2004, Updated October 12, 2021