3D Shape Analysis in a Nutshell - Mathematical Tools for Shape Analysis and Description - page 12

2. 3D SHAPE ANALYSIS IN A NUTSHELL
Hence the medical field is facing the generation of increasingly complex and heterogeneous
3D content, which requires the help of new technologies for being classified, stored and
retrieved efficiently. For example, morphometric analysis of shape data, acquired in several
modalities, is suggested as a key process for the diagnosis of healthy or diseased patients.
• Biology and bioinformatics: shape models play a fundamental role in the scientific pro-
cesses related to the understanding of bio-systems. For example, the possibility to visualize,
analyze and compare molecular surfaces in a computational environment highly improves
the capabilities of the scientists and offers new insights into very complex problems. For
example, the geometric shape of molecular surfaces strongly influences the docking pro-
cesses where shape complementarity is a necessary condition to define the binding affinity
of molecules.
• Gaming: the great majority of real-time games, no matter the genre, take place in a 3D
virtual world, and every game entity (player controlled avatars, non-player controlled char-
acters or objects) have a position in this world, where a high level of realism is often essential
to beat competitor titles, to offer a higher sense of immersion or maximize the learning ex-
perience. e computer game industry is constantly growing and game sales have already
outstripped cinema box office revenues. Also serious games, designed for a primary purpose
other than pure entertainment, are gaining increasing importance in defense, education,
scientific exploration, health care, emergency management, city planning, engineering, re-
ligion, and politics. Simulations games are conceived as mathematical/algorithmic models
which allow prediction and visualization of the evolving conditions over time on the base
of the players' decisions and actions. In simulation learners typically explore a model of a
particular process or phenomenon with the goal of developing certain skills without forcing
users to travel through time or space or face physical risks. A common aspect of these cat-
egories of games is that they make a massive use of 3D shape data, and 3D shape analysis
is fundamental to improve the gaming experience.
• Geographic systems and environment: the technologies that physical geographers use in
their efforts to learn more about Earth were only a dream 30 years ago. e amounts of data,
information, and imagery available for studying Earth and its environments have exploded.
Graphic displays of environmental data and information and increased computer power al-
low the presentation of high-resolution images, three-dimensional scenes, and animated
images of Earth features, changes, and processes. Technology may provide maps, images,
and data, but tools which extract geographical aspects of the subject being studied are es-
sential to solve the problems of understanding our planet and its environments. Efficient
and effective approaches for the analysis and understanding of large-scale 3D environments
represented by heterogeneous data (radar, satellite, GPS) are needed.