[vtkusers] smoothing / decimation / isocontours / distance between surfaces

[John Biddiscombe]

> and does anyone have any suggestions on how to get distances between two
> surfaces?

if the surfaces are simple, Shoot a ray from one to the other, normal vector
launching.

if the surfaces are complex, like unsmoothed cloud bases and tops

try (bone thickness analysis paper)

Hildebrand, T. and Ruegsegger, P. A new method for the model independent
assessment of thickness in three-dimensional images. J Microsc 185:67-75;
1997.

The addresses some of the problems related to surfaces which are not at a
constant separation and are not parallel. A maximal sphere fitting algorithm
is discussed.

JB