Content-Based 3D Model Retrieval: A Survey

A comprehensive survey of the up-to-date methods and technologies for content-based 3D model retrieval is presented. After introducing the system framework, the primary key techniques of content-based 3D model retrieval, including canonical coordinate normalization, geometrical shape feature extraction, appearance feature extraction, similarity measurement, query specification, user interface, and index and retrieval mechanism, are analyzed and reviewed in detail. The currently available content-based 3D model retrieval systems and search engines are also introduced. At last, some challenges, together with the future directions of content-based 3D model retrieval are indicated, and an extensive bibliography is also provided.