A New Approach to Euler Calculus for Continuous Integrands

Abstract

Euler calculus is based on integrating simple functions with respect to the Euler characteristic. This paper makes the case for extending Euler calculus to continuous integrands by integrating with respect to (Gaussian) curvature. This requires a metric but is nevertheless defined within any O-minimal theory. It satisfies a Fubini theorem and extends to a functor. Euler calculus is the "adiabatic limit" of this "curvature calculus". All this suggests new applications of differential geometry to data analysis.