A density based algorithm to detect cavities and holes from planar points. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Jie; Sun, Yizhong; Pang, Yueyong
• Is Part Of: Computers & geosciences. Volume 109(2017)
• Page Start: 178
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Cavity and hole -- Shape reconstruction -- Delaunay triangulation -- Planar point -- GIS; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cageo.2017.08.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-3004

Abstract

Abstract: Delaunay-based shape reconstruction algorithms are widely used in approximating the shape from planar points. However, these algorithms cannot ensure the optimality of varied reconstructed cavity boundaries and hole boundaries. This inadequate reconstruction can be primarily attributed to the lack of efficient mathematic formulation for the two structures (hole and cavity). In this paper, we develop an efficient algorithm for generating cavities and holes from planar points. The algorithm yields the final boundary based on an iterative removal of the Delaunay triangulation. Our algorithm is mainly divided into two steps, namely, rough and refined shape reconstructions. The rough shape reconstruction performed by the algorithm is controlled by a relative parameter. Based on the rough result, the refined shape reconstruction mainly aims to detect holes and pure cavities. Cavity and hole are conceptualized as a structure with a low-density region surrounded by the high-density region. With this structure, cavity and hole are characterized by a mathematic formulation called as compactness of point formed by the length variation of the edges incident to point in Delaunay triangulation. The boundaries of cavity and hole are then found by locating a shape gradient change in compactness of point set. The experimental comparison with other shape reconstruction approaches shows that the proposed algorithm is able to accurately yield the boundaries of cavity and hole with varying point set densities and distributions. Highlights: Density-based algorithm for detecting cavities and holes was proposed. Delaunay triangulation was utilized to model the density variation. Efficient statistical indicator conveyed the mathematical formulation for a hole. The algorithm was compared with two other Delaunay-based approaches. Efficiency with varying point set densities and distributions was demonstrated.