Convert a High-Polygon Mesh to a Low-Polygon Mesh with a Displacement Map

In recent works 3D scanning technology advances rapidly, delivering extremely accurate digital models of a scanned object. Unfortunately, the produced files are too large to work with, limiting the usability of 3D scanners. We propose a method for efficient mesh representation using a displacement map. Our
implementation uses the well-known quadric edge decimation algorithm to produce a coarse base mesh. Details lost during decimation are then encoded in a displacement map. We show that this method can be used to greatly reduce the file size while losing only a fraction of its accuracy.