Several techniques have been developed in the literature for processing different aspects of the geometry of shapes, for representing and manipulating a shape at different levels of detail, and for describing a shape at a structural level as a concise, part-based, or iconic model. Such techniques are used in many different contexts, such as industrial design, biomedical applications, entertainment, environmental monitoring, or cultural heritage. This book covers a variety of topics related to preserving and enhancing shape information at a geometric level, and to effectively capturing the structure of a shape by identifying relevant shape components and their mutual relationships.
