For our project of making botanical data available on Internet, we need 3D images. We need a compact, non proprietary, preferably XML, clean definition for complex 3D geometries.
A representation both compact and flexible should be based on mathematics. We can have reunions and intersections of volumes defined by equations:
f(x,y,z)>=0
NURBS and Beziers patches are just special cases of surfaces defined by 3 functions R2 ---> R3
(u,v) ---> (X(u,v),Y(u,v),Z(u,v))
A solution is to use the content part of World Wide Web's MathML . I have reviewed it: it has the desired capabilities, i.e. allows to define functions and sets, it is XML.
More details on our site:
http://wwbota.free.fr/3Dgeometry.htm
Perspectives
This need for a compact, non proprietary, preferably XML, clean definition
for complex 3D geometries is common with other important domains:
CAD is a very important domain that has currently no XML non-proprietary
language. The current non-XML formats, IGES, STEP, etc, are not satisfactory
for a number of reasons. It seems that the proposed solution could bring
an interesting synergy.
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<person>
<firstName>Jean-Marc</firstName>
<lastName>Vanel</LastName>
<project>Worlwide Botanical Knowledge Base -
making botany available on Internet
<a href="http://wwbota.free.fr/" >site</a>
</project>
<a href="http://jmvanel.free.fr/>home page</a>
<a href="mailto:jmvanel@free.fr">mail (possibly put "wwbota"
in subject to route your mail in relevant folder)</a>
</person>