We present novel techniques for visualizing, illustrating, analyzing, and generating carvings in surfaces. In particular, we consider the carvings in the plaster of the cloister of the Magdeburg cathedral, which dates to the 13th century. Due to aging and weathering, the carvings have flattened. Historians and restorers are highly interested in using digitalization techniques to analyze carvings in historic artifacts and monuments and to get impressions and illustrations of their original shape and appearance. Moreover, museums and churches are interested in such illustrations for presenting them to visitors. The techniques that we propose allow for detecting, selecting, and visualizing carving structures. In addition, we introduce an example-based method for generating carvings. The resulting tool, which integrates all techniques, was evaluated by three experienced restorers to assess the usefulness and applicability. Furthermore, we compared our approach with exaggerated shading and other state-of-the-art methods.

In this paper a new interactive digitization concept for large real world objects is described using the virtual reality (VR) environment Elbe Dom. The method combines augmented reality (AR) technologies with a high quality display of textured three dimensional (3D) models. One focus is thereby the display of valuable information of the actual measuring process. The proposed method is a non-contact technique, especially applicable to objects with freeform and a size up to 5 m times 5 m times 3 m. The method achieves an accuracy value of less than 1 mm within the whole measuring volume.

This paper presents a method for the real-time generation of grids from 3D line scan data for in-line scan previews and the evaluation of large point clouds derived from different 3D-scanners. By exploiting the underlying measuring principles, we generate regular grids for each scan operation even if the sensor movement is non-linear. These grids are finally used for NURBS patch approximations, which enable the determination of higher order features, e.g. curvature and quality evaluations. Experimental results at the example of different point clouds illustrate the effectiveness of our methods in practice.

A robot off-line programming and real-time simulation system, ROPSIM, which is based on the neutral interface concept and features simulation of the dynamics of both the controller and robot arm, has been developed. To avoid dependency on dedicated robot models, ROPSIM is based on generic models describing the robot controller, robot arm geometry, and the robot and arm kinetics. The software was developed using the C++ programming language. The key modules are discussed. The system is a true computer-integrated manufacturing and engineering subsystem which facilitates the exchange and reuse of robot model definition data and robot program definition data with systems of other origin or different functionality.>