Shape-matching and classification usign structural descriptors

Technological improvements related to object acquisition, visualisation and modelling, have caused a considerable growth of the number of 3D models in digital form. Digital 3D models are now available in large databases of shapes, ranging from unstructured repositories, like the web, to specialised catalogues used in engineering and simulation. In this panorama it is clear that methods for the retrieval and automatic classification of 3D content will play a crucial role in the development of efficient applications for the organisation and filtering of 3D data. In this paper, a methodology based on the coupling of geometric and structural information will be discussed for the global and partial matching of 3D shapes and for their automatic classification. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)