DIGITAL SECURITY: 3D GEOMETRY PROTECTION OF THE AUTOMATICALLY RESTITUTED HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

This paper describes a novel method of data protection of the three-dimensional (3D) models that are obtained from automatic process of geometric restitution, using old two-dimensional (2D) architectural and artistic drawings. The first contribution of our research is the algorithm that includes several image processing steps, which are required in order to define walls, staircases and openings from the digitalized hand drawn architectural plans. The result of this step is detailed 3D model of the digitally processed historical building plans. The experimental confirmation of the algorithm accuracy is 3D model of the Chateau de Versailles, which is descripted by old hand drawings, dating between the end of the XVII and the XIX century. Next part of our research is theoretical and mathematical analysis of geometrical features of such 3D model that is a result of the image processing algorithm. The key-achievement of this part is new method of protecting the geometrical data using optimized adaptive Sparse Quantization Index Modulation (QIM) for embedding data bits into essential structure of the generated model. As a final result we present a secure authentication of the automatically restituted 3D model of the historically important artifact

A numerically stable fragile watermarking scheme for authenticating 3D models

International audienceThis paper analyzes the numerically instable problem in the current 3D fragile watermarking schemes. Some existing fragile watermarking schemes apply the floating-point arithmetic to embed the watermarks. However, these schemes fail to work properly due to the numerically instable problem, which is common in the floating-point arithmetic. This paper proposes a numerically stable fragile watermarking scheme. The scheme views the mantissa part of the floating-point number as an unsigned integer and operates on it by the bit XOR operator. Since there is no numerical problem in the bit operation, this scheme is numerically stable. The scheme can control the watermark strength through changing the embedding parameters. This paper further discusses selecting appropriate embedding parameters to achieve good performance in terms of the perceptual invisibility and the ability to detect unauthorized attacks on the 3D models. The experimental results show that the proposed public scheme could detect attacks such as adding noise, adding/deleting faces, inserting/removing vertices, etc. The comparisons with the existing fragile schemes show that this scheme is easier to implement and use

When Copyright Can Kill: How 3D Printers Are Breaking the Barriers Between “Intellectual” Property and the Physical World

This article examines copyright’s applicability to 3D printing technology, by analyzing the facts surrounding the (formerly) proposed development of a fully 3D printable firearm. Critical to this analysis however, is an understanding of how copyright has traditionally protected intellectual property, and why 3D printers do not fit into this conventional framework. As 3D printing is advancing at an extraordinarily rapid rate, any discussion of this topic would be incomplete without reference to the “moving target” that is 3D printing technology. In the short time between when this article was initially submitted for evaluation to the PIPSELF Law Forum in December 2012, and when it will be published in May 2013, many new uses for 3D printing have already been demonstrated, and indeed some of the issues discussed in this article have already become outdated, all within a six month timespan. This article discusses at length, the efforts of the Defense Distributed project to develop a 3D printable firearm. When the article was originally submitted in 2012, Defense Distributed had already managed to prove the feasibility of using 3D printed firearms components, but the gun utilizing the printed component promptly broke apart after only successfully firing 6 shots. However, in February 2013, Defense Distributed released a new video, demonstrating a redesigned 3D printed component that was successfully used to fire over 600 rounds without a structural failure. Other recent developments in 3D printing include a company whose goal is to produce 3D printable cultured leather and edible meat products. Finally, in January 2013, the organization Public Knowledge released a whitepaper entitled “What\u27s the Deal with Copyright and 3D Printing?” written by Michael Weinberg. As both the whitepaper and this article discuss the same basic principles, but do so by analyzing slightly different areas of the law, I view the whitepaper as a companion piece to this article. UPDATE (5/5/13): Defense Distributed has completed (and successfully test fired) the world’s first entirely 3D printed pistol. UPDATE (5/10/13): In the timespan of a single week after the release of the first 3D printed pistol, the U.S. State Department has initiated procedures to force Defense Distributed to remove all its 3D printable gun components from the Internet, with the State Department claiming it needs to review the files for compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Further there are other measures being proposed by Congressman Steve Israel to outright ban 3D printed guns. However, considering that the 3D printable pistol was already downloaded over 100,000 times before the recent ITAR action, and the fact that the inherent design of the Internet means that many websites are foreign based, and therefore entirely outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., it appears to be an increasingly futile effort to force “removal” of these files from the Web. These files are still widely available on the Internet, and likely will continue to remain so, as websites like The Pirate Bay will continue to host & distribute 3D firearm files, regardless of any laws passed or litigation filed attempting to compel their removal

Shaping the Place - A Digital Design Heuristics Tool to Support Creation of Urban Design Proposals by Non-professionals

This paper is exploring a solution to foster civic engagement in urban design projects by applying the concepts of creativity to ICT tools. We propose a framework to support interactions between non-professionals and professionals that will ease the understanding of urban design and creation of design proposals for non-trained people and, on the other hand, offer valuable propositions and inspiration to experts. This make tool should have the presented creativity affordances known as fluency, flexibility and originality during the divergent phase of the creation process. We propose to implement a 3D collage metaphor to facilitate creative expression with 3D models. An underlying technical challenge of our application is to provide an interactive 3D mesh cutting tool to help users to express their creative potential in urban design projects. We present a non-exhaustive survey of mesh segmentation and cutting methodologies and finally, first results of implementation of a cutting algorithm

An analysis of UK copyright and design laws on 3D printing and product design.

The thesis aims to investigate the implications of 3D printing for UK copyright and design rights, with an emphasis on the creation, access and use of computer-aided design (CAD) files by consumers for product design. The thesis has two major objectives. The first is to identify and present the context of 3D printing for legal analysis, and the second is to investigate the implications of 3D printing for UK copyright and design laws, especially relating to consumers. To this end, the thesis employs the ‘law in context’ methodology, with the aim of building a contextual framework for the legal analysis of 3D printing. Following the contextual analysis of technological, corporate and societal aspects of 3D printing, it presents the most relevant five scenarios of consumer use of 3D printing, capturing various design activities that are occurring or likely to occur in the 3D printing environment. The thesis demonstrates that consumers’ increased product design prosumption (consumption plus production), as depicted in the scenarios, will pose legal challenges. It is found that there are uncertainties over the protection of and ownership of CAD files, whilst infringement and enforcement issues arise in relation to online platforms facilitating the unauthorised reproduction and dissemination of CAD files. To address the issues, the thesis asserts that there is a need for the review of UK copyright and design laws to seek further clarity on regulation of consumers’ design activities in the 3D printing environment. It is also vital to improve clarity over the regulation of 3D printing online platforms, for which further research is recommended on the enforcement landscape in the 3D printing environment

Emerging Informatics

The book on emerging informatics brings together the new concepts and applications that will help define and outline problem solving methods and features in designing business and human systems. It covers international aspects of information systems design in which many relevant technologies are introduced for the welfare of human and business systems. This initiative can be viewed as an emergent area of informatics that helps better conceptualise and design new world-class solutions. The book provides four flexible sections that accommodate total of fourteen chapters. The section specifies learning contexts in emerging fields. Each chapter presents a clear basis through the problem conception and its applicable technological solutions. I hope this will help further exploration of knowledge in the informatics discipline