Adaptive Algorithms for Intelligent Geometric Computing

This chapter spans topics from such important areas as Artificial Intelligence, Computational Geometry and Biometric Technologies. The primary focus is on the proposed Adaptive Computation Paradigm and its applications to surface modeling and biometric processing. Availability of much more affordable storage and high resolution image capturing devices have contributed significantly over the past few years to accumulating very large datasets of collected data (such as GIS maps, biometric samples, videos etc.). On the other hand, it also created significant challenges driven by the higher than ever volumes and the complexity of the data, that can no longer be resolved through acquisition of more memory, faster processors or optimization of existing algorithms. These developments justified the need for radically new concepts for massive data storage, processing and visualization. To address this need, the current chapter presents the original methodology based on the paradigm of the Adaptive Geometric Computing. The methodology enables storing complex data in a compact form, providing efficient access to it, preserving high level of details and visualizing dynamic changes in a smooth and continuous manner. The first part of the chapter discusses adaptive algorithms in real-time visualization, specifically in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications. Data structures such as Real-time Optimally Adaptive Mesh (ROAM) and Progressive Mesh (PM) are briefly surveyed. The adaptive method Adaptive Spatial Memory (ASM), developed by R. Apu and M. Gavrilova, is then introduced. This method allows fast and efficient visualization of complex data sets representing terrains, landscapes and Digital Elevation Models (DEM). Its advantages are briefly discussed. The second part of the chapter presents application of adaptive computation paradigm and evolutionary computing to missile simulation. As a result, patterns of complex behavior can be developed and analyzed. The final part of the chapter marries a concept of adaptive computation and topology-based techniques and discusses their application to challenging area of biometric computing.