Shape-based retrieval of 3D mesh models

This paper addresses the issue of 3D mesh indexation by using shape descriptors (SDs) under constraints of geometric and topological invariance. A new shape descriptor, the canonical 3D Hough transform descriptor (C3DHTD) is here proposed. Intrinsically topologically stable, the C3DHTD is not invariant to geometric transformations. Nevertheless, we show mathematically how the C3DHTD can be optimally associated (in terms of compactness of representation and computational complexity) with a spatial alignment procedure which leads to a geometric invariant behavior. Experiments carried out upon the categorized MPEG-7 3D model database objectively show that the C3DHTD outperforms both the MPEG-7 3D SD and classic EGIs descriptor.