Next: Introduction.
The Impact of Dense Range Data on Computer
Graphics
Lars Nyland, David McAllister, Voicu
Popescu, Chris McCue, Anselmo Lastra,
Paul Rademacher,
Manuel Oliveira, Gary Bishop, Gopi Meenakshisundaram, Matt Cutts, and Henry
Fuchs
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175
Abstract:
The ability to quickly acquire dense range data of familiar
environments has been met with enthusiastic response in our graphics
laboratory. In this paper, we describe our prototype range
collection system, based on a scanning laser rangefinder and a
high-resolution digital color camera, that allows us to create
panoramic color photographs where every pixel has an accurate range
value. To accommodate occlusions, the data acquisition process is
repeated from multiple locations and the results are registered with
software. We discuss the acquisition system and review how the data
from this prototype system have been used in existing graphics
projects. We speculate about future improvements to range
acquisition hardware and how those improvements impact graphics
applications. The data acquired from our system is just a hint of
what will be available in the future and we conclude with
speculation about the impact of such data on graphics hardware and
algorithms, since prevailing graphics hardware and software do not
support this data well.
Next: Introduction.
Lars S. Nyland
1999-04-30