Optimize Shallow Simplification of Mesh Model

This article traces the development of mesh model simplification methods, and presents a refinement using edge collapse. The idea is sacrificing depth of simplification to ease the burden of error metrics, edge selection and vertex placement. To prevent model contraction, the method adjust clustered vertex; it also restricts triangle flipping and vertex degree to improve output quality. Experiment shows, for a shallower simplification, the output quality can match popular methods, but time consumption is greatly reduced, and even more significantly if input is denser or flatter.