3D computational geometry models needed...

[homercles337]

A while back i developed an algorithm to characterized the surface shape of 3D small molecules and proteins using alpha shapes (published, PM me for reference). Im giving a job talk next month and want to apply the analysis to other 3D objects. I need a large collection of discretely sampled 3D point sets (e.g., bunny). I know Stanfurd (bad joke, but i went to Berkeley) has a 3D scanner and offers some data, but ideally i would have more than a hundred (more is better) point sets of diverse objects. Hopefully in an easy to read format. I have found some data sets for a dozen or so objects that are in varied formats, but that is not ideal. Any ideas? TIA.

 

[Leros]

I don't know if something like this would help, but there are several 3d scans on Thingiverse. Most of the files are 3d models, but there are some scans too.

I have no idea how useful the stl file is to you. It appears that the ply file is a pointcloud file which might be more handy? Once again, I have no idea.

Examples:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1535

 

[Cogman]

Why not take the non-ideal model sources, push them through blender, and convert them to some ideal model source?

 

[homercles337]

Thanks for the suggestions. Thingiverse looks promising, but perhaps a bit too much on the 3D printing thing (i have blender installed and downloaded Meshlab to deal with stl files). More specifically i am looking for plain old 3D point clouds, like those used for surface reconstruction, geometric compression, etc. No triangulation (since that is the first step of this algorithm), but if i can just grab the vertices and eliminate dupes (thus the ply files seem like a good option).

 

[CycloWizard]

I've sent out a request to some people here who might have this kind of data. I just wanted to check: you're interested in the (x,y,z) data describing discrete points on a surface? Most of the data I can probably get will be from medical imaging, so it would have multiple surfaces which could make processing a lot more difficult.

 

[homercles337]

I just wanted to check: you're interested in the (x,y,z) data describing discrete points on a surface?

Exactly. I triangulate the surface using alpha-shapes.

Most of the data I can probably get will be from medical imaging, so it would have multiple surfaces which could make processing a lot more difficult.

Thanks. Anything you can provide would be awesome. Do you still have my email?

 

[CycloWizard]

Exactly. I triangulate the surface using alpha-shapes.



Thanks. Anything you can provide would be awesome. Do you still have my email?

Sorry, they said they can't give me anything. 🙁 They apparently would have needed patient permission before doling out their images.

 

[homercles337]

Sorry, they said they can't give me anything. 🙁 They apparently would have needed patient permission before doling out their images.

D'oh! Thanks for looking into it. I wrote a quick PLY reader in matlab and found about a dozen ply models on the intarwebs, but i really want a couple hundred. This job talk is at a company in San Diego, and i so want to get out of Boston permanently. If you have any other ideas please share...

 

[CycloWizard]

D'oh! Thanks for looking into it. I wrote a quick PLY reader in matlab and found about a dozen ply models on the intarwebs, but i really want a couple hundred. This job talk is at a company in San Diego, and i so want to get out of Boston permanently. If you have any other ideas please share...

I did a bit more looking, and I'm not sure if this will help or not, but there are a couple of 3D repositories housing hundreds of models. They are in different formats and primarily rendered rather than being based on actual data, but maybe they can be used for your purpose.

http://www.focusk3d.eu/
http://www.aimatshape.net/

The other idea I had was that you might try contacting manufacturers of 3D scanners to see if they have sample data sets you could use. I would think they would be eager to put these out there for anyone who is trying to develop tools which will make their products more useful. A couple of them:

https://www.nextengine.com/
http://www.3ddigitalcorp.com/3d-scanner.shtml