Exploring the emerging field of computational topology, this book introduces fundamental concepts that are applicable in various disciplines. It highlights how these concepts are being utilized to tackle complex problems across diverse areas, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature and practical implications of computational topology.
Written by a computer scientist for computer scientists, this book teaches topology from a computational point of view, and shows how to solve real problems that have topological aspects involving computers. Such problems arise in many areas, such as computer graphics, robotics, structural biology, and chemistry. The author starts from the basics of topology, assuming no prior exposure to the subject, and moves rapidly up to recent advances in the area, including topological persistence and hierarchical Morse complexes. Algorithms and data structures are presented when appropriate.