# 3D DataSets

### 3D Data

Contrary to its two dimensional counter part, three-dimensional (3D) data comes in several shapes.

* **Mesh**: A mesh is structural build of a 3D model based on polygons. Every point in a mesh represents a point in space called vertex. This point is itself connected to two or more vertices, thus creating a base geometry shape such as triangles and quads. Connecting multiple triangles together, they form a three dimensional structure that can be displayed on a monitor.

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDka5_1COH_quy3tIa2%2F-MDkeG99ZQuIB_CW_hTd%2Fbunny.png?alt=media\&token=400fdf61-ec09-4929-ab0a-a3cbc257fa50)

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDkozv1CW9Z4_8AN5fy%2F-MDkpxd4X_bJmqy-2f-_%2F3d_mesh_building.png?alt=media\&token=e7d6c743-a475-4816-937d-f34d0e85fdd5)

* **Point Cloud**: A point cloud is a set of geo-referenced points.  They provide high-resolution data without the distortion sometimes present in 3D mesh models and are commonly used in industry-standard software.

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDkiQ4yFgSyP7-81DjA%2F-MDkklb6fsyghr1d38xd%2Fpoint_cloud_tea_pot.png?alt=media\&token=890bceaa-2dd7-4caf-a141-4886f4fa3b9a)

* **Volume Data**: In a nutshell, volume data is a set of 2D sliced images that stack together forming a regular pattern assembling a 3D structure. Most of the time this type of data is acquired by a CT, MRI, or MicroCT scanner. 

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDkozv1CW9Z4_8AN5fy%2F-MDkqVMjofJxUy9zACw-%2F800wm.jpg?alt=media\&token=c20a4902-fdca-4929-b542-4deaf7cd411c)

* **Height Elevation Data**: This type of data is used to display terrains. Usually one of the channels in the data contains information on a displacement or height from the floor of a surface.

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDkr5i7BFOPVDsSDLqL%2F-MDtpGA2MzKYNdEBgG2U%2F3dterrain.jpg?alt=media\&token=859ff4cd-7d6a-4405-8d90-e33b210b730d)

![](https://1564297567-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LvpZTppa56OvfLm71ut%2F-MDkr5i7BFOPVDsSDLqL%2F-MDtpI9Ao8vDKci-HYk3%2FMoon_Terrain_01.jpg?alt=media\&token=af184872-af82-4323-a89b-67d6de0e09eb)

###  3D data software

1. [Paraview](https://www.paraview.org/)
2. [Imaris](https://imaris.oxinst.com/) (Licensed)
3. [Blender](https://www.blender.org/)
4. [Inkscape](https://inkscape.org/)
5. [Open Scene Graph](http://www.openscenegraph.org/)
6. [SDL](https://www.libsdl.org/)
7. [AutoDesk Maya](https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview?support=ADVANCED) (Licensed)
8. [MinVR](https://github.com/MinVR/MinVR)
9. [BioBlender](http://www.bioblender.org/)
10. [Rino 3D](https://www.rhino3d.com/) (Licensed)


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