Geometric Modelling of Moving Virtual Humans: A Survey of Various Practices
Résumé
This paper surveys various approaches for modelling moving virtual humans for uses in various contexts. Three categories of human body models are identified: 1) the image-based reconstructed models; 2) the synthesized models; and 3) the synthesized and reconstructed models. Models in each of these categories are overviewed and discussed with reference to the context of use, the geometry adopted, the image analysis technique, and the overall performance of the approach. This paper is prepared within the context of the CYBERII project. It serves in drawing an agenda for the development of a corresponding prototype application. The paper is divided into five sections. The first section describes the background motivations and initiatives for conducting this survey and provides a quick overview of the surveyed literature. The second section overviews the prevalent standards for modelling virtual humans, these include the H-Anim and MPEG standards. The third section provides the results of the survey of various virtual human models. The fifth section draws an agenda for the CYBERII project in light of the results of the conducted survey. The paper concludes with a brief summary and a framing of the major findings.