Technologies for 3D mesh compression: A survey

Three-dimensional (3D) meshes have been widely used in graphic applications for the representation of 3D objects. They often require a huge amount of data for storage and/or transmission in the raw data format. Since most applications demand compact storage, fast transmission, and efficient processing of 3D meshes, many algorithms have been proposed to compress 3D meshes efficiently since early 1990s. In this survey paper, we examine 3D mesh compression technologies developed over the last decade, with the main focus on triangular mesh compression technologies. In this effort, we classify various algorithms into classes, describe main ideas behind each class, and compare the advantages and shortcomings of the algorithms in each class. Finally, we address some trends in the 3D mesh compression technology development.