Abstract: A distributed multiresolution modeling system has a database management system on a first server. The database management system provides access to a hierarchical tree representation of surfaces of geometric models. Client programs executing on computers connected to the first server accesses and updates the model by traversing the hierarchical tree representation until a terminating criterion has been satisfied. During the traversal the client programs request quad-tree nodes from the database management system.

Abstract: Simplifying a surface represented as a height field. The simplification resulting in a triangular mesh having n vertices, such that the topology of the surface is maintained in the simplified surface representation. The simplification including assigning error values to each vertex not having a missing value, identifying as required vertices those vertices that may not be removed without altering the topology of the surface; and (1) if n is less than or equal the number of required vertices, remove all other vertices or (2) if n is greater than or equal the number of required vertices, remove u-n vertices, where u is the number of vertices that do not have missing values in the original height field.

Abstract: A method of fairing a non-manifold model as disclosed which includes smoothing the model by applying a fairing operator to a set of features such that noise is removed after determining the features of the model.

Abstract: Simplifying a surface represented as a height field. The simplification resulting in a triangular mesh having n vertices, such that the topology of the surface is maintained in the simplified surface representation. The simplification including assigning error values to each vertex not having a missing value, identifying as required vertices those vertices that may not be removed without altering the topology of the surface; and (1) if n is less than or equal the number of required vertices, remove all other vertices or (2) if n is greater than or equal the number of required vertices, remove u-n vertices, where u is the number of vertices that do not have missing values in the original height field.

Abstract: A method, computer system and article of manufacture for visualizing a model including a first surface is disclosed. The method includes determining, as the model is being built, the rendering resolution of a portion of the first surface based on a view frustum from which the first surface is to be viewed and rendering the portion of the first surface on the output device using the rendering resolution. The vertices and edges to be rendered are selected based on the view frustum, using view frustum culling and bounding sphere projection. The vertices and edges selected to be rendered are tessellated using incremental and decremental tessellation. The tessellated vertices and edges are rendered. Predictive techniques are used to estimate future view frustums. Quality may be traded off against performance by adjusting parameters. Material properties are represented.

Abstract: A distributed multiresolution modeling system has a database management system on a first server. The database management system provides access to a hierarchical tree representation of surfaces of geometric models. Client programs executing on computers connected to the first server accesses and updates the model by traversing the hierarchical tree representation until a terminating criterion has been satisfied. During the traversal the client programs request quad-tree nodes from the database management system.

Abstract: A method of fairing a non-manifold model as disclosed which includes smoothing the model by applying a fairing operator to a set of features such that noise is removed after determining the features of the model.