fractal algorithm

[lajevardi.am]

Hi
i want to create a device for calculate surface/area of rough objects like mountain (but in small scale)
for example i want to calculate  area of small piece of bread . but i don't know which algorithm  should i use  .
i have a device that measure the height of each points but i don't know how use them for calculate area of objects . please help me   
i`m confused 
Thank You !

[cKleinhuis]

what is your plan ? you want to greate graphics ?
or you want to create numbers based on real-live measurement ? please elaborate a bit more, what is that hardware you describe doing ? and what is the result you want to generate ?

[fractower]

If you have your measurements in (X,Y,Z) coords and you have triangulated the surface, then the area of each triangle is easily calculated. Assume you have defined a triangle as 3 points P1, P2, and P3, The the area of the triangle is given by.

A = |(P1-P2)X(P2-P3)|/2

Where "X" is the vector cross product. You will then need to sum up all your triangles.

[DarkBeam]

The more your surface is fractal, the more the area will grow.

Example; Menger sponge has an infinite area!

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Long_Is_the_Coast_of_Britain%3F_Statistical_Self-Similarity_and_Fractional_Dimension