Computational topology for shape modeling

Expands the role of the new field of computational topology by surveying methods for incorporating connectedness in shape modeling. Two geometric representations in particular-recurrent models and implicit surfaces-can (often unpredictably) become connected or disconnected based on typical changes in modeling parameters. Two methodologies for controlling connectedness are identified: connectedness loci and Morse theory. The survey concludes by identifying several open problems remaining in shape modeling for computational topology to solve.