Modeling and visualization of layered objects

Natural and manufactured objects are usually layered. For example, a human thigh has layers of skin and bone, among others; architectural buildings ha ve walls of exterior sheeting, insulation, and interior finishing. By model ing each layer with a sheet of cuboids, the thickness property that is inhe rent in many objects is preserved. In addition, modeling layers with cuboid s simplifies the making of virtual holes in external layers to view portion s of hidden internal layers, which is suitable for geometric volume visuali zation. In this paper, algorithms, data structures, and the prototypal impl ementation that allows interactive construction of virtual holes on 3D laye red objects are presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.