This book brings together novel concepts in machine vision, computer graphics, and threedimensional modelling, in solving real practical inspection problems. Automated inspection of three--dimensional shape and the analysis of both two-- and three--dimensional surface defects and texture patterns, represents one of the most challenging and rapidly developing applications for machine vision today. CONTENTS INCLUDE:* Introduction* Automated surface inspection* An alternative surface description* Photoclinometry* Reconstruction of acquired surface details* Experimental work* Analysis of surface defects* Example case study applications to industrial machine vision surface inspection* Overview of a generic inspection system. System Inspection Techniques will appeal to practising engineers and scientists. As well as undergraduate and postgraduate students, offering a better understanding of the theory and practical application of image processing and computer graphics in surface inspection tasks. Manufacturing engineers and inspection system developers, quality engineers, and anyone requiring an insight into the complex issues involved in automated surface inspection will find this book useful.