Steve Zhang | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Optimization of Cost Functions in Absolute Plate Motion Modeling

We consider the implementation of optimization techniques within the study of tectonic plate motion. Specifically, we examine the optimization underlying optAPM, a leading code for modeling absolute plate motion. We highlight that modifications in the construction of the objective function, composed of individual cost functions, can improve modelling performance. In particular, we propose a simpler and more intuitive formulation of the hotspot cost function. A key part of the new hotspot analysis is the pre-interpolation of hotspot trail data, crucial geological markers for validating absolute plate motion over O(100) Myr timescales. By reducing the propagation of modeling errors, our refined model provides more precise reconstructions of historical plate movements. Our modified hotspot modelling improves the accuracy and reliability of the optAPM outputs.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2025

CULTURE3D: A Large-Scale and Diverse Dataset of Cultural Landmarks and Terrains for Gaussian-Based Scene Rendering

Current state-of-the-art 3D reconstruction models face limitations in building extra-large scale outdoor scenes, primarily due to the lack of sufficiently large-scale and detailed datasets. In this paper, we present a extra-large fine-grained dataset with 10 billion points composed of 41,006 drone-captured high-resolution aerial images, covering 20 diverse and culturally significant scenes from worldwide locations such as Cambridge Uni main buildings, the Pyramids, and the Forbidden City Palace. Compared to existing datasets, ours offers significantly larger scale and higher detail, uniquely suited for fine-grained 3D applications. Each scene contains an accurate spatial layout and comprehensive structural information, supporting detailed 3D reconstruction tasks. By reconstructing environments using these detailed images, our dataset supports multiple applications, including outputs in the widely adopted COLMAP format, establishing a novel benchmark for evaluating state-of-the-art large-scale Gaussian Splatting methods.The dataset's flexibility encourages innovations and supports model plug-ins, paving the way for future 3D breakthroughs. All datasets and code will be open-sourced for community use.

cs.CV↗