Focal surfaces, skeletons, and ridges for shape analysis and processing

Abstract

Curvature is a central concept in the mathematical theory of shape [1]. Being one of the most important intrinsic characteristics of shape, curvature measures deviation from flatness. Visualization and analysis of curvature-based shape characteristics are key components of the shape analysis and understanding process. In this study, we deal with such curvature-based surface features as the focal surfaces, skeleton, and ridges and demonstrate their applications in shape analysis and processing.