The topologically robust modeling of very high genus 2-manifold surfaces has always been a research interest in computer graphics and shape modeling. Very high genus manifold surfaces are common in art and are also useful in industrial applications since many man-made objects can have high genus. High genus manifold surfaces are functional models and therefore can be used in physical simulations. This talk presents two interactive and user friendly methods for topologically robust modeling of very high genus manifold meshes: Rind modeling and free-form handles. Rind modeling provides for the easy creation of surfaces resembling peeled and punctured rinds. Free-form handles method allows to interactively create multi-segment curved handles between two star-shaped faces of an orientable 2-manifold mesh or to connect two 2-manifold meshes along such faces. Based on these two methods, we have developed a system that allows users to simply and easily create rind shaped manifold meshes and multi-segment curved handles. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the system, we have created various polygonal meshes that would be extremely difficult to model interactively without our system.

Ergun Akleman is an associate professor at Visualization Sciences Program in Texas A&M University. He received a BS in electronic engineering from Istanbul Technical University and an MS and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, His research interests include computer graphics, computer aided geometric design, visualization and animation.