A method of identifying surfaces within a discretized mesh model is provided. The method comprises identifying a number of faces in the mesh model and constructing an adjacency graph of connections between the faces. A value is assigned to each connection in the adjacency graph according to a metric of similarity between incident faces of the connection. Connections with a metric of similarity value that satisfies a prescribed policy of elimination are removed from the adjacency graph. From the remaining connections in the adjacency graph a number of strongly connected components in the mesh model are determined.