A point cloud is a set of individual 3D points representing the shape and location of objects but lacks surface and texture information, while a textured mesh is a more structured representation with surfaces composed of interconnected polygons and includes texture information for realistic rendering and visualization. Each has its own use cases and advantages depending on the application.
Feature | Point Cloud | Textured Mesh |
Representation | Collection of 3D points in space | Collection of vertices, edges, and faces |
Geometry | Only contains spatial coordinates | Contains both geometry and texture information |
Density | Can have variable point density | Typically has a uniform or controlled vertex density |
Surface Information | Lacks explicit surface definition | Represents surfaces with connected polygons |
Surface Texture | No inherent texture information | Stores texture maps for realistic rendering |
Realism | Less realistic, resembles scattered points | More realistic, resembling solid objects with surfaces |
Use Cases | - 3D scanning | - 3D modeling and rendering |
| - Lidar data processing | - Computer graphics and animation |
| - Initial data for mesh generation | - Virtual reality and gaming |
| - Environmental mapping | - Simulations and simulations |