This award addresses the problem of reconstructing a three- dimensional object from a set of planar contours (cross- sections). This is an important problem in many research areas. For example, biologists, medical clinicians, and quality control inspectors all try to understand the shape of objects, based on serial sections. There are two basic approaches to the problem: volume-based and surface-based reconstruction. If the spacing between the sections is relatively small, then the volume-based approach is preferred and the intermediate contours may not be necessary. However, when the spacing between sections is large, a surface-based approach is necessary. This research will continue the Principal Investigator's investigations into reconstruction surfaces from sparsely-spaced planar contours, using a surface-based approach and comparing it with volume- based approaches. The algorithms and methods developed should be useful in both scientific and industrial applications.
