We describe and demonstrate an algorithm that takes as input an

unorganized set of points fx1􀀀


􀀀 xng 􀀀 IR3 on or near an unknown

manifold M, and produces as output a simplicial surface that

approximates M. Neither the topology, the presence of boundaries,

nor the geometry of M are assumed to be known in advance — all

are inferred automatically from the data. This problem naturally

arises in a variety of practical situations such as range scanning

an object from multiple view points, recovery of biological shapes

from two-dimensional slices, and interactive surface sketching.-We describe and demonstrate an algorithm that takes as input anunorganized set of points fx1