A robust method for filling holes in 3D meshes based on image restoration

Abstract

In this work a method for filling holes in 3D meshes based on a 2D image restoration algorithm is expounded. Since 3D data must be converted to a suitable input format, a 3D to 2D transformation is executed by projecting the 3D surface onto a grid. The storage of the depth information in every grid provides the 2D image which the restoration algorithms is applied in. Finally, an inverse transformation 2D to 3D is performed and the new produced data added to the damaged mesh. To test the method, artificial holes have been generated on a set of 3D surfaces. The distances between 3D original surfaces (before damaging it) and 3D repaired ones have been measured and a comparison with a commercial software has been established. Furthermore, the relation between holes areas and success rates has been also studied. This method has been applied to the sculptures of the collection from the National Museum of Roman Art in Spain with good results.